Are you ready to buy a home? Not just financially, but prepared to make major decisions quickly? To go through periods of waiting and uncertainty? As with many things in life, you won't really know how much is involved in something until you've been through it. And unless you go through it often, it's easy to be thrown for a loop when unexpected circumstances arise.

Most first-time buyers recognize that they are not familiar with all the ins and outs of a home purchase, and welcome any guidance. I've helped many clients by providing a written overview of the process, along with discussions of strategy, what-if scenarios, and answering plenty of questions which crop up along the way.

Many home buyers already have some experience with the process, having gone through it when purchasing their current home, but may not realize how much has changed in the intervening years. A refresher is often helpful, and there still may be many questions.

Yet other buyers have more recent experience but can nonetheless benefit from having professional help. Being unfamiliar with the real estate practices of a different state, or the particulars of, for instance, waterfront properties, can cause some confusion.

Of course, for those at any experience level, unexpected difficulties can arise which require careful consideration and skillful handling. One recent example was a first-time buyer who faced three last-minute hurdles: an appraisal which came up short of the agreed-upon sales price, a requirement for a letter of expert opinion on the condition of the house, and a seller who was unable to remove all the personal items and garbage which were left on site. That was a lot to handle in a short period of time. We re-negotiated the sales price, engaged a licensed contractor to examine the house and provide a letter, and had the listing agent haul away the items which needed to go. It came down to the wire for closing on time, but we made it.

Another example was when an unforeseen snag developed for a couple who were depending on the money from the sale of their home to make their new purchase. On the day both sales were set to close, a delay in receipt of funds put both transactions in jeopardy. It took a lot of phone calls, brainstorming, relaying of information to all the affected parties, plenty of patience, and faith. We were able to push the second closing back a couple of hours, and all ended well that day.

As a buyer, you have options on how to approach your purchase. You can view properties on a transactional basis, moving from agent to agent if you do not want to be tied down to one person, although you'll have to sign a new agreement with each one as you go. Or, you can choose to work with an agent who will listen, make recommendations, advise you, and really go to bat for you. One who will walk the entire way at your side. The advantages to the second option are clear.

No matter how you choose to move forward, having the information you need to make informed decisions is critical to your satisfaction in the long run. Are you ready to work with a professional who will guide you, keep you informed and protect your interests every step of the way? Give me a call!