Purchasing a home is probably the biggest investment you’ll ever make. It makes sense to have a great team of professionals working with you throughout your homebuying process.
Realtor
No one plays a bigger role in helping to find your new home than
your realtor. Your realtor will work with you and represent
your best interests. The realtor’s job is to help
you find the perfect home for you at the right price. He/she
will put together your offer to purchase and negotiate on your
behalf. Your realtor should be able to provide you with
important information about the community, be present for your
home inspection and save you plenty of time and trouble to make
your homebuying experience as easy and stress-free as possible.
A few questions to use to help you find a great realtor:
How long have you been licensed?
How do you keep current in your field?
What is your understanding of my real estate needs?
What areas do you work in?
Do you work in partnership with another realtor?
Do you have personal references from past clients?
Lender
You will need to find a good lender. It’s a very good
idea to shop around and speak with more than one lender. Mortgage
brokers can be very helpful in this regard, since it is their job
to find the lender with the terms and rates that suit you best. They
will assist you with the mortgage pre-qualification and purchasing
process.
Lawyer
To protect your legal interests, you need a lawyer. A lawyer
will review all contracts, give you peace of mind and make sure
that everything goes as smoothly as possible. Your lawyer
should be local and experienced in real estate law, have realistic
fees and make you feel comfortable by explaining everything to
you in a straight-forward manner.
To help you select a good lawyer, ask these questions:
Do you specialize in real estate law?
What is your fee schedule?
What services do you provide me?
Can you provide me with references?
How are your assistants involved in this process?
Home Inspector
Any home you consider buying should be inspected by a knowledgeable
and licensed home inspector. Your home inspector will
inform you of the property’s overall condition. You
will be informed of anything that needs to be done re: safety,
repairs, possible past or present problems.
The home inspection ‘checklist’ is extensive. A visual inspection of everything is performed. The foundation, doors and windows, roof, exterior walls, attic and insulation, plumbing and electrical systems, heating and air conditioning, ceilings, walls, floors, cabinets, ventilation, water lines, auxiliary buildings, decks, lot drainage, driveway, garage, structural integrity…everything! (well, everything the inspector can see- for example, if the roof is covered in snow, the inspection of the roof is impossible)
Insurance Broker
You will have insurance needs for your new home. An insurance
broker can help you with property insurance and mortgage life insurance. Lenders
insist on property insurance since your property is their security
for your loan. Mortgage life insurance provides coverage
for your family if you die before your mortgage is paid off. Mortgage
life insurance is generally available through your lender. You
do have the option to compare rates between both an insurance broker
and your lender.
You can relax and enjoy the homebuying process when you have qualified, caring professionals working for you to make everything go smoothly. Take the time to ask questions and find those who will work best for you.
Tammy Dufault
Century 21 BJ Roth Realty Ltd.
