Hire a buyer’s agent to save you time and money
This should be an important consideration if you are considering buying a home. For starters, since the seller usually pays the whole commission (including the buyers agent) it’s like getting professional representation for free. An experienced buyers agent will save you valuable time in finding a home. Besides sending you listings to view the details and photos before actually setting foot out the door. Seasoned agents often know of new listings that aren’t on the market yet.   Â
Square away the financing for your new home purchase early
Get the loan approved first before falling in love with a home. Besides it is smarter to go house shopping with a preapproval letter in your hand. So when that day comes, (and it will)  that you want to make an offer, your offer a lot stronger when the seller doesn’t have to worry about your financing the transaction. Â
Let your agent help you negotiate a successful deal Â
Besides your buyer’s agent providing lists of comparable sales in the area. Your agent will help you negotiate a fair deal on the property. Those comparables will help you determine how much to bid on the home. The last 3 months sales are often a good gauge for what to bid. Remember there is more to the offer than just the price. How soon you want to move in, having a
pre-approval, seller’s assist, the items that stay in the house, and much more all should be a factor in your offer. There are many details so be sure to work with your agent and think of the things that are important to you.Â
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Make home inspections part of your offer
You may want to make your offer contingent on the home inspection. If you find out the home has foundation issues, you may decide against buying it. Having a home inspection will let you know exactly what you are getting into. Some people hate to spend another $300-$500 on the inspection, but it does give you the opportunity to address with the seller the problems of the home. Also, it lets you negotiate the items you would like them to address.  Â
Remember buying a home is a process. There are many steps to take to end up living in your dream home, but if you take them one step at a time, and stay focused on the goal, you’ll be well on the road to  home ownership in no time.