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Before You Buy
Choosing the right "buyer's agent" to assist you throughout the entire home-buying process is essential to avoiding "buyer's regrets" after closing. Select an agent who will competently and professionally assist you to:
- Establish your criteria for your home.
- Pre-qualify for financing and secure commitment for loan approval.
- Compare neighborhoods and communities that offer homes that satisfy your criteria.
- Evaluate the market value of available homes by reference to recent sales and active listings of comparable properties.
- Identify special issues that affect market value (siding issues, home owner's association dues and restrictions, zoning restrictions, resale certificates for condominiums, builder's reputation, underground storage tanks, septic systems, private water systems, flood plain issues, etc.).
- Structure your initial purchase offer - and negotiate counteroffers.
- Engage home inspectors and/or appraisers.
- Negotiate resolution of conditions discovered during inspections.
- Shepherd your transaction through a successful closing by coordination with the title insurance company and the escrow agent.
- Choose an experienced agent - Associate Broker, Member of the National Association of Realtors, Certified Relocation Specialist, and "Sterling Society" agent.
- Choose an agent who knows Greater Seattle area, not just one small area.
- Choose an agent who is supported by a network of real estate professionals. Amanda's network includes home inspectors, appraisers, interior decorators, mortgage brokers, title insurance companies, real estate attorneys, painters, roofers, garden and tree specialists, plumbers, electricians, movers, and storage companies who can assist you in making your move less stressful.
- Choose an agent whom you trust - there is no substitute for integrity, honesty and professionalism. Select an agent who will give you his/her honest opinion and best advice at each step of the process.
- Choose an agent who will exclusively represent your interests - be cautious of "dual agents" who attempt to both list and sell your home. Dual agents must disclose to both the seller and the buyer that he/she disavows fiduciary duties to either, resulting in a loss of effective representation for both.
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