Buyer Tips – Johnson Hometown Realty

Once you have talked to a lender and determined your price range and type of financing, it is time to begin looking for your new home. If you have done your “home work,” this will be the most fun and exciting part of the process!

Learn what is available in the price range and area(s) you are interested in.
1. Use our search link (on our Home Page or under the Buyer Tab) to check on everything currently listed for sale that may fit your needs.
2. Contact one of our Johnson Hometown Realty experts to receive an automatic email every time a new property comes on the market or is reduced within your parameters.
3. Begin doing drive-bys to check on the neighborhood, distance, exterior and setting of properties that appear interesting to you.
4. Call your Johnson Hometown Realty expert to set up a time to tour the properties that you think you might like.
Viewing Tips
1. 1. Try to give your Realtor a day or two notice ahead of your tour. Appointments need to be set, renters/owners need to be contacted, and your agent has a busy schedule too! (But, we will always do our best to accommodate your schedule.)
  2. Wear slip-on shoes. Sellers appreciate it if we don’t track water and mud into their homes. Slip-ons are quicker and far more convenient for you.
  3. Kids. We love kids! And they can accompany you on showings, but you will need to keep them with you and away from the seller’s things to avoid any damage to the property or injury to your children. Also, it is much easier for you to focus on the features of the home if you do not have to focus on the kids throughout the showing.
  4. Take some notes. Be efficient. Keep moving. We will plan on 15-20 minutes per home on our 1^st visit. Plan to preview properties the 1^st time through and go back for a 2^nd closer look at any of the homes you like the most.
  5. We have found it helpful for buyers if they take notes on the home information sheets and at the end of the tour organize those sheets in to 3 piles.
1. 1. 1. Homes you really like.
    2. Homes that are ok and might work.
    3. Homes that you wouldn’t live in if they were given to you for free.

This will make it easier to identify the properties you want to take a 2^nd look at after we have previewed a number of properties once. And, it will help you remember what properties you have viewed.

Writing an Offer
1. Plan on spending 60-90 minutes, especially on the first time you write on. We want to be thorough and explain all of your options so that you know exactly what is involved in the process and what you are signing.
2. Have your lender forward a copy of your pre-qualification letter to your agent prior to your meeting.
3. What you will need to know prior to writing the offer:
  1. What type of financing you will use?
  2. How soon you would like to close on the property? (typically approx.. 45 days)
  3. How much do you intend to offer?
  4. How much of a down payment will you be making?
  5. Will you need to ask the seller with help for your closing costs (and if so how much)?
  6. What personal property, if any, will you be asking for?
  7. Exactly whose names are going on the purchase agreement? (We will need full legal names of each person.)
4. Be prepared to present an earnest money check to accompany your offer. Typically this is for $500 to $1000 dollars. This is part of the offer, not additional money. The check will be made out to the company that has the property listed and will be deposited if the offer gets accepted with that company until closing or cancelation.

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