Buying a home is the largest financial transaction most people will ever make. With my expertise I will help guide you through all the obstacles during this difficult decision.
When purchasing a home, you are faced with a multitude of decisions. The primary one is whether you are actually prepared to purchase a home. Locating the perfect home is not always an easy task, and obtaining a mortgage loan can be a complex and tiring process. Although, once you have determined that you are ready to move forward with the required effort towards your home-purchasing goal, the rewards are unquestionable.
At each step of the way, I will make the process of purchasing a home easier, more enjoyable, less time-consuming, and less expensive than if you undertook this challenge on your own. I will help you prepare so that sellers perceive you as a preferred buyer, help you locate and assess properties for sale that match your specifications, and help you through the myriad of details attending the actual purchase.
I am always familiar with the current homes on the market, and I know neighbourhood values well, so I can help you determine which properties are fairly-priced and in good condition before you start your search.
YOUR FIRST STEP
Your first step to buying a home is to first ask yourself why you want to buy a home. Whether it is to stop paying rent, to start building equity, to have a place of your own, to raise a family, to entertain business associates, or simply to move up to a bigger house. It is important to differentiate between your “must haves” from your “nice to haves.”
LOAN PRE-QUALIFICATION
Once you have addressed the above needs, your next step in the purchasing process is to get prequalified with a mortgage company. This can be done over the phone or even online in a matter of minutes. I can refer you to a mortgage professional that has an excellent reputation and track record for successfully acquiring loan approval for his/her clients.
NARROWING YOUR SEARCH
Once you’ve been pre-qualified and know what price range you want to stay in, I can help you determine which properties fit your needs by using the (MLS) Multiple Listing Service system to locate them.
I have the best possible resources and communication systems available today to help you locate the homes on the market that match your specifications. You can even search my listings here at my website.
When selling your house, my goal is to sell your home at top market value, quickly and painlessly. My combination of skill, experience, and technology ensures that I can sell your home for the highest possible price and in the shortest period of time. I have the tools to meet the demands of a highly competitive, modern market.
GUYBIGGAR.COM: AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY!
My online marketing system allows me to make information accessible 24-hours a day, and to respond immediately and directly to each and every prospective buyer. From my website, prospective buyers can get information immediately about your home. They can access my site 24 hours a day and view your property listing! Through my Personal Home Search, your listing will be sent by e-mail to every prospective buyer in my database, where your home meets their criteria. Plus it will be e-mailed automatically to future prospective buyers as well.
TRADITIONAL MARKETING
As soon as you list your home with me, I will enter your home in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database. Other agents can immediately access your property information by computer. Plus, your property will be included in any printed MLS books. I also regularly publish in magazines and newspapers in the area and send out direct mail pieces to potential buyers.
PRICING YOUR HOME
When you think about it, there are several other homes for sale competing with your home. I will help you price your home competitively to attract qualified buyers. The way I do this is by generating a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report, which will show you a range of prices being paid for homes in your area.
Using comparable data from your area, and my expertise in home market trends, I can accurately price your home for top dollar and fast sale.You can complete my online form to get a feel for your home’s market value.
Finding a real estate agent who is right for you requires doing a little homework, and asking the right questions. Choosing an agent is a decision that could ultimately cost or save you thousands of dollars. Keep in mind the individual you choose will be handling almost every maneuver in the biggest financial investment of your life. Experience, interests, and expertise vary from agent to agent, so you should be asking very specific questions in order to align your own needs with the abilities of an appropriate representative. Use the following list of questions as a guide to finding the agent that is right for you.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SELLING HOMES IN VANCOUVER?
If the agent hasn’t been connected to the residential real estate market for several years, s/he will be out of touch with the cyclical nature of the current market. Your agent must be familiar with trends of the local market and have an eye for the ways in which it will change. This knowledge could mean the difference of thousands of dollars in the long-run.
WHAT OTHER PROPERTIES HAVE YOU SOLD IN MY AREA?
The realtor should be able to provide you with a complete, detailed listing of their own sales in your area, as well as other comparable sales. You should get a clear idea of what you might be able to expect both from the realtor and from the current market.
WHAT IS YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY FOR MY HOME?
A realtor should be able to lay out for you, in detail, a marketing plan to sell your home. Examine this plan carefully. How much money does the realtor allot to advertising? What type of media does s/he use? S/he should be able to demonstrate the effectiveness of one form of media over another, explaining why his/her particular marketing strategy will sell your home faster and for top dollar. The realtor should employ current, innovative marketing techniques that indicate creativity and a willingness to market outside of the box. Stay away from realtors who rely on traditional, dated forms of advertising. They simply won’t work in the current real estate market.
HOW DO YOU SUPPORT ME AS A BUYER THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS?
A realtor should be able to indicate how s/he will support you through each step of the home-buying or selling process, offering you a unique system to suit your needs and goals. Also, ask if a specialist will be available at each level of the sale. Your realtor should always be on hand to answer questions, but the specific resources of an expert can be invaluable during different stages of the process.
HOW SHOULD I APPROACH MY OWN FINANCES WHEN PURCHASING A NEW HOME?
Each buyer requires a different financing strategy. A realtor should be able to suggest a plan catered specifically to your financial background and needs. Don’t just depend on your lender for information and guidance on financing a new home. Let your agent lead the way.
ON AVERAGE, HOW CLOSE IS THE SELLING PRICE OF YOUR LISTINGS TO THEIR ASKING PRICE, AND HOW LONG DO THEY TAKE TO SELL?
You can contact the Real Estate Board to obtain information on the selling record of an agent. The Board also has statistics on a broader scale, so you can see whether an agent’s selling performance is higher or lower than the board average, and whether s/he tends to sell faster or slower than the board average. Placing the realtor’s performance on a scale will help you get an idea of how much you might expect your home to sell for, and how long it might take to sell.
DO YOU HAVE A REFERENCE LIST OF CLIENTS I COULD CONTACT?
Yes! The stories of others who have gone through the home-selling process can be a valuable source of information. I am happy to provide you with a list of previous clients.