Guiding you through the home buying process

SOUP — The Initial Meeting
1. Set up initial meeting - allow 45 minutes for dialog
  1. Get acquainted
  2. Explain what services I will provide
  3. Overview of the steps in the buying process
2. Discuss home needs and wants
  1. Style
  2. Location
  3. Price
  4. Required features
3. Review financial alternatives
  1. Types of loans
  2. Prequalification
  3. Interest rates
4. Review home finding/viewing game plan
  1. cbmove.com
  2. Email / fax receipt of listings
  3. Agent accompaniment / open houses
5. Review buyer agency
  1. Virginia law
  2. How it benefits you
  3. Review and completion of document
SALAD — Viewing Properties
1. Viewing properties
  1. Courtesy to sellers
  2. Prime viewing times
  3. Agent / client accessibility
2. Feedback
  1. Necessary to take place shortly after viewing
  2. Be candid with me, we will be more effective
3. Refinements of search
  1. Eliminate areas, features, and styles that are unacceptable
  2. Prioritize features now that you have seen properties (Multiple buyers should do this together)
  3. Communicate (a) and (b) to me
4. That magical home
  1. You have found it, move on to the main course
  2. You have it narrowed down but need to see them a second time
  3. You can't find anything quite right (then becomes necessary to sit down with agent and review objections)
MAIN COURSE — Submitting the Offer
1. Preparing the contract
  1. Determine a price you will pay. I will provide comparables and advice. This will include the preparation of a Purchaser's Estimated Cost of Settlement sheet.
  2. Discuss the need for home inspections and home warranties
  3. Discuss anything major that would impact the contract
  4. Review the contract in necessary detail to your comfort level
  5. Finalize financing (if necessary), establish settlement date
  6. Acquire earnest money deposit and required signatures
  7. Give you a copy of everything you have signed
2. Negotiating the final document
  1. I will quickly present your contract and any counteroffers.
  2. I will oversee the process to make sure all required documentation and signatures are present on all offers / counteroffers.
  3. Upon acceptance of all parties I will arrange for deposit of earnest money into an escrow account.
DESSERT — The Final Walkthrough
1. When to schedule
  1. After the home inspection is completed if ordered
  2. The day before closing if possible to allow time for any problems to be resolved
2. Things we will look at
  1. Anything that was agreed upon to be fixed per the contract
  2. Plumbing, electrical, heating
  3. Broom cleanliness
3. Take three deep breaths because we are almost there
NUTS — The Settlement
1. Preparing for the Settlement
  1. Settlement Company will be in contact with amount due (by certified funds) at settlement, along with any additional information they might require for the legal closing
  2. The Settlement Company, your lender, and I will work in tandem with you to make sure everything is in order
  3. Ask questions — resolving issues beforehand will make for a smooth closing
2. Attending the Settlement
  1. All buyers must be present unless pre-arrangement for power of attorney has been made.
  2. I will be there with you to see the process through.
3. Presentation of Settlement by the attorney
  1. Review of seller's sheet / seller's ok
  2. Review of buyer's sheet / buyer's ok
  3. Handing over the check (gulp), signing loads of forms
4. Receipt of the keys - CONGRATULATIONS