Buying a home in Charleston?
Whether you’re a first or fifth time homebuyer, this home buyer’s guide will help you successfully navigate buying a home.
In today’s information packed Internet world, you don’t really need an agent to help you find a home (but I’d be happy to help with your search if you prefer). What you do need is a “go-to” resource throughout the buying process to help guide you through the complicated process from contract to closing.
Find out how and why and it’s important to select a buyer’s agent to represent you and help you develop a strategy to buy the right house at the right price that meets both your wants and needs. Learn how an agent can protect your interests, negotiate on your behalf and then help to insure the smoothest possible closing by guiding you through the complexities of inspections, financing and understanding legal issues.
With homes for sale in Charleston ranging from luxury homes in the Historic Charleston Penisula or oceanfront or ocean oriented homes in world class resorts to homes for any budget in suburban communities and neighborhoods, with that kind of money at stake, it just makes sense to have a professional to help you.
A Client – First Philosphy
There are many characteristics, skills and qualities that exemplify being an excellent real estate professional: personal integrity, in depth community and housing market knowledge, a high quality professional network and outstanding negotiating skills.
Having said that, in my experience as a Charleston real estate professional, I’ve found that providing the very best possible service is essentially about putting my client first. This means being available and responding quickly to your needs along with being an excellent communicator.
This client – first philosphy has always been my approach. It’s my version of the Golden Rule, treat others like you would like to be treated.
The Home Buying Process
Home Search
It’s very easy for today’s buyer to find homes for sale but sorting through the options available requires that you prioritize what is most important to you. Having a good idea of what you’re looking for will simplify the process.
Your wants and needs will determine how many bedrooms, bathrooms, the minimum square footage and any additional rooms including formal living, separate dining, great room, home office or bonus room you might be looking for. What about the kitchen, the heart of the home today. The age of the home, condition, floor plan, how many stories, master up or down or split from the secondary bedrooms, garage and lot size are just some of the many considerations to take into account in your home search.
Location
Again, you have lots of considerations to factor including how convenient the home is to work, schools, shopping, dining and recreational facilities. Additionally, how the home is located within a neighborhood as well as views are important as well.
Personalized Home Buying Services
If you prefer, I’d be happy to help you refine your search and set up listing alerts when new homes come on the market or there is a price change for any properties that meeet your search criteria. Additionally I can:
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Provide immediate access to any new listing
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Preview homes that may be of potential interest to you
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Provide a comprehensive market evaluation of all homes you choose to investigate further
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Provide consultation and recommendations of the written offer to purchase with terms approved by you
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Negotiate the best possible price for you
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Offer step by step communication of all processes leading to the transaction closing
Contact me for personalized assistance with relocation to Charleston.
Using A Buyer’s Agent
When you are buying a home, the advantages of using your own buyer’s agent as your buyer representative are significant. Whether you are interested in buying an existing home or new construction, your own agent will negotiate for you and protect your interests in the transaction.
Many consumers don’t realize that when they go to a builder’s model home that the salesperson actually represents the seller of the property, in this case, the builder. Likewise, when you call on a yard sign or an ad, the agent you are calling represents the seller and the seller’s best interests. While you can successfully conclude a transaction, your interests are not being fully represented. For more information, please ask about South Carolina’s required agency disclosure form.
Buying a home is often one of the largest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. Sellers have agents working for them and home buyers should too.
Why choose me to be your buyer’s agent? As a dedicated buyer’s agent, I perform services for you that a seller’s agent can’t – such as showing you reasons not to buy a certain property, negotiating the best possible price and terms for you including any contingencies in the contract that protect you rather than the seller and keeping confidential any information that could hurt your bargaining position. Value added services include using my extensive vendor support network team where I can provide you with referrals to legal, financial, home inspection, warranty and other services – all tailored to your unique needs.
My personal commitment to you extends beyond a single point of sale. From house hunting to closing, I’m here for you every step of the way – don’t leave home without me!
Mortgage Prequalification or Preapproval
Do you want to get the best house for the least amount of money? Of course you do, everyone does. Then make sure you put yourself in the strongest possible negotiating position. Price is only one bargaining chip and not necessarily the most important one.
The strongest position you can be in when making an offer to buy a home is to be preapproved for your loan.
Terms such as purchase price or closing date are critical to a seller. In years past, I always recommended that buyers get prequalified by a lender. This means that you spend a few minutes on the phone with a lender who asks you a few questions and based on the answers, pronounces you prequalified and issues a certificate that you can show the seller.
Sellers are aware that such certificates are worthless and here’s why. None of the information has been verified! Oftentimes, unknown problems can surface including recorded judgements, child support payment due, glitches on the credit report due to any number of reasons that may or may not be accurate, down payments that have not “seasoned” in a bank account for enough time, etc.
Therefore, the way to make a strong offer in today’s market is to get preapproved. This occurs when all the information is both checked and verified. The only loose end is the appraisal of the property. The preapproval process takes anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks depending on your situation. And a preapproval letter demonstrates that you are a strong buyer when a seller is reviewing your offer.
Quick Tip – Develop Your Wish List and “Rule Outs”
Before house hunting, make a list of ten things you want in your new home. Then make a list of ten things you don’t want. Create a scorecard to rate each property to help avoid confusion and keep things in perspective when you are comparing homes.
When house hunting, keep in mind the difference between “skin and bones”. Skin represents easily changed surface finishes like flooring, paint, wallpaper and window coverings. Bones are things that cannot be changed such as location, view, size of lot, school district, noise in the area, etc. Buy a house with good bones because the skin can always be changed to suit your taste.
And I always recommend you imagine each home as if it were vacant and consider each on its merits, not the sellers decorating skill.
Finally a Word About the Benefits of Home Ownership
Home ownership offers a number of benefits including building equity, saving for the future, a hedge against inflation and most importantly, creating an environment for your family. There are tax advantages to home ownership and the equity you earn is yours. Despite the downturn of the past few years, over time homes have historically increased in value.
