It’s more complicated than it used to be with the amount of paperwork, types of programs, conditions of properties and current guidelines/codes. Our job is to help you navigate through the process as stress free as possible.
It’s all about choices and we are not talking about just the property!
Before shopping for a property there are a few things to take into consideration:
- Know your price range. This should be step one. Establishing your price range is typically accomplished by talking to a bank or lender about financing. A bank will run numbers and determine what you are qualified to borrow/pay for a property. Remember as you figure out your budget to keep in mind that you may not want to max yourself out (if you want to eat out periodically or need to make unexpected repairs to your car or around the home). Not sure what bank to talk to? If you are satisfied with the bank that you currently have accounts with, talk to them or ask us and we can provide you with the names of banks/lenders that service satisfied customers.
- Know what’s important to you. As you start your search, it’s important to know what you need/want in a property. Consider the area you want to live (commuting distance to work, health care, schools...), living in vs. out of town, how much acreage you need for the way you want to live (lawn/gardens/pets). For a home; number of bedrooms, size/square footage, style and amount of work you are willing to put into it. It’s also helpful for us to know your hobbies and things you like to do. Knowing what you like/don’t like helps us narrow down the search and find a property that you will want to call your own.
- Find your agent. Find a home by going through an agent that you are comfortable with. Represented or not, being comfortable with the agent you are working with is key to a relatively stress free experience.
- Timing. Keep in mind that from the time you find your home to the time you close (with a bank involved) it typically takes 60 days from start to finish.
- Home Inspection vs. No Home Inspection. A home inspection is an information gathering stage on a property typically completed in the process of purchasing. An inspector will go through the house with you and give you an idea of what needs to be addressed for safety or current code, items that will make the home more comfortable and offer tips/tricks for maintaining the home. A home inspection is up to you. Occasionally buyers decide not to do a home inspection; however, it’s informative and sometimes reveals things that no one knew previously. We have names of inspectors that are licensed in the State of Vermont and it’s not a bad idea to interview and check the availability of a few of them.
- Not looking to move immediately? That’s okay. Talk to an agent and let us know that you are looking down the road or whenever the right property presents itself. Agents can set you up to receive automatic emails of new listings as they become available, keeping you updated in what’s happening in the market.
- Agents are there to give you assistance and guidance through the buying process. Call us to discuss how we can assist you.
Agency Relationships:
In the State of Vermont, larger agencies are now allowed to represent both sides in a transaction as long as the respective agents lock up their files. This is called Designated Agency.
Non-Designated agencies are those smaller offices (like us) that represent one side or the other in a transaction. Our office typically represents the seller; however, code of ethics mandates that even if we do not represent someone in a transaction (a customer), we must treat them honestly and fairly. This has been our policy right along... to treat people with integrity and respect.
When we meet with you, we will be reviewing the attached form. This form is non-contractual and information based... more paperwork we get to keep for 7 years to say ‘we told you so.’
Vermont Real Estate Commission Mandatory Consumer Disclosure Form
