Buyer Services

Here is a partial list of the professional service you will receive when you hire Kim White to represent your next home purchase. You will see that her service, experience and dedication are incomparable to any other Realtor.

Help you determine the required characteristics of your new home.

Identify available homes that meet your criteria which may employed company, other Realtors, For Sale by Owners, homes listed on the MLS, not yet on the market or new home construction.

Provide you with information on communities, schools, churches and any other area characteristics you request.

Determine the maximum amount of mortgage that you qualify for.

Discus with you what financing options are available.

Give you an estimate of the cash required for the purchase and monthly loan details.

Prepare a competitive market analysis for the neighborhood you select.

Meet with you periodically to review progress.

Assist you to prepare an offer when you find the home you want.

Accompany you on inspection(s) of the property.

Monitor progress towards closing when your contract is accepted.

Promptly advise you of events that may affect closing.

Monitor the appraisal and loan approval process.

Stays in touch with the listing agent to make sure things are proceeding smoothly.

Attend the settlement with you.

When We Make an Offer

Prepare a CMA (to make sure you are knowledgeable about the comparable properties).

Assist you in writing the offer to purchase and determining a price.

Make sure the offer to purchase is accurate, neat and timely.

Include any necessary addenda (ie: Financing, FICO Scores, Bank Statements, etc)

Negotiate and facilitate the closing and possession dates.

You will sign and date the contract when an offer to purchase is completed.

Present the offer to the Seller’s Agent and try to present to seller directly. (Often times seller has instructed their Listing Agent to accept all offers on the seller’s behalf).

The sellers have three options regarding your present offer:

1. Accept the offer exactly as present and the house is sold (subject to the provisions of the agreement)

2. Make a counter proposal-propose changes to the offer (ie: price, personal property, closing or possession dates, etc.), so that is acceptable to the seller.

3. Reject the offer.

Once the seller accepts the offer, a legally binding contract exists. If the seller makes a counter offer and you accept it, a legally binding contract exists.

When a Contract is Accepted

Both buyer and seller sign, date and record the time on the ordinal contract. The time and date of the last signature is the effective date.

Since this is the only copy, it’s important that there are no changes on the original. All changes made after an accepted offer will be place on an addendum drawn up through escrow.

You, the buyer will be given a list of inspectors (mechanical, structural, termite, etc.) to choose from or you may use any of your own inspectors. We will guide you and make sure appointments for inspections are taken care of within the time limits.

As soon as possible, your movers need to be contacted for and estimate and available dates.

The loan application is made by you (the buyer) if you are not already pre-qualified (our office can refer you to some excellent lenders). Appraisal and credit reports are paid at this time; the cost varies. You need to bring all checking and saving account numbers, plus information on investments and outstanding loans to loan application meeting. You will need to bring your last two Tax W2 statements. Last two paycheck stubs and last two bank account statements.

Verification of income, employment and prior housing are sent out by the lender.

An appraisal is made by the lender. The listing agent meets the appraiser and provides a list of comparable properties fro the area. The lock box is generally left on until the appraisal and other inspection are complete.

The loan process takes about four to five weeks. I will follow up with the lender on a regular basis.

Your insurance agent needs to be called for a new home owner’s policy.

A title report is ordered by escrow. This report reveals all matters of record relating to the property and becomes an insurance policy after closing. The lender, buyer, seller and realtor receive copies in the mail.

A termite inspection is ordered and copies and sent to the lender and buyer. If treatment or repairs are needed, the work should be done before you close escrow.

The physical inspection is made within the time period provided in the contract. The inspection is paid by the buyer and the buyer should be present to learn more abut his/her new home. The inspection report is sent to the buyer, seller and Realtors.

We will review all inspection with you and you will decide which repairs you want to be made. We will then present it to the listing agent and see if the seller is willing to correct the issues. Please note that the seller is not required to fix items on the inspection report. We will help and guide you when we get to this process.

We will conduct a walk-thru inspection prior to closing to make sure property is in the same conditions as when you bought and to make sure any agreed repairs have been made to by seller and to satisfaction of you.

Buyers and sellers need to notify the telephone, gas, eclectic and water companied to Read service in the new home. The service should never be disconnected (this will cause extra delays in getting it turned back on). You will find a list of these companies her on my website.
Most Escrows/Lenders require a CASHIERS CERTIFIED CHECK or Wire transfer prior to the closing for the exact amount of money owed by the buyers. That figure is usually available a few days before closing. You can get this amount from your escrow officer.

Address changes should be sent to credit card companies and magazines six weeks prior to possession.

Submit you mail forwarding card to the post office.

When you pack, mark the contents on the side of the box for easier identification when you unpack.

Our office will accompany you to the closing.

You will receive the keys on the possession date. Make sure you understand that usually possession does not occur until the deed is recorded.

Make sure you re-key your home as soon as possible to make sure nobody else (sellers family, neighbors, etc) have a key to your home.