Real estate agents share four pieces of advice for finding the right home.

It’s time to begin searching for the home of your dreams! What may seem like the start of an exciting adventure can surely backfire if you’re not prepared. With a bit of planning and legwork, you’ll be sure to find a home that fits your needs in no time.

These four house hunting tips are a great place to start.

Define Your Wants vs. Needs

You have many factors to consider when buying a home. With that in mind, it’s important to outline your wants versus needs in order to find the best fit for you. Before chasing a house with the state-of-the-art media room, prioritize the features you wouldn’t be able to live without.

Find the RIGHT Agent

Your real estate agent will be your guide throughout the entire home-buying process. Finding an agent who is knowledgeable, experienced and trustworthy is key to a successful real estate journey.  

Act Fast

With the competitive and fast-paced nature of residential real estate, there’s no time for dragging your feet. 

Having your dream home slip through your fingers sounds like a worst nightmare. As soon as you find a home that interests you, alert your agent to schedule a tour. 

Don’t Be TOO Picky

Nitpicking details of every house you see is inevitable, given your purchase will be one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your lifetime. Being too picky, however, can leave you unfulfilled in an endless quest for perfection. 

Refer back to your list of must-have home features and remember you can make renovations or upgrades down the road.

With these house hunting tips, you’re more likely to find your dream home. Looking for an experienced agent to help? Get in touch with a RE/MAX agent today!

Source: https://news.remax.com/house-hunting-tips-for-homebuyers

How homebuyers can stand out for all the right reasons in a busy real estate market.

In a competitive seller’s market, it doesn’t hurt to set yourself apart from other home-buying candidates when making an offer on a home. Writing an offer letter can be the key to standing out. But be careful – evoking the wrong tone can be a deal-breaker. Here are four important mistakes to avoid when writing an offer letter.

Negativity

If you aren’t happy about the price of the home, your real estate agent should discuss it during negotiation. If you’re in a time crunch, avoid pressuring the seller. And if you have a sob story about your last home, tell it to a friend instead.

Sellers need to feel good when they’re reading your letter, and whining will have the opposite effect. As an alternative, connect with the seller and address commonalities you share. Do you both have dogs? Great! Explain how much your pups would enjoy their beautifully fenced-in yard.

Changes to the House

You may love everything about the home but think the kitchen needs some renovating. Be careful about sharing that detail – after all, the kitchen just might be the seller’s favorite room in the house. Expressing the changes you would make may come across as insulting or offensive.

Flattery is a much better approach. Be specific and authentic with phrasing like, “We love the antique hardware and the checkerboard marble tile in the kitchen; it reminds me of the house I grew up in.”

Desperation

This house is everything you could have wanted and more! You cannot imagine a life without it!

If you’re feeling this way, that’s great. Enthusiasm means you’re serious about the home. Excitement and all, you should still avoid a tone of desperation. A competitive “I’d do anything for this house” attitude may actually hurt your chances in negotiating power. 

Writing an Essay

Don’t beat around the bush – keep the letter short and concise. Avoid boring the seller with a never-ending list of why you want the home.

Lastly, bring the letter back to yourself by succinctly highlighting your favorite features and simply telling the sellers why you’d like to live in their cherished home.

Source: https://news.remax.com/writing-an-offer-letter-4-things-to-avoid

Experience can make the most dramatic difference during a home purchase.

Negotiating the purchase of your new home is one of the most crucial aspects of your real estate journey. It’s also when your real estate agent’s experience can make the most dramatic difference during the process of buying a home. RE/MAX agent Tony Iacoviello with RE/MAX Escarpment Realty in Hamilton, Ontario, shares four ways an agent acts as a professional negotiator, helping to ensure you’ll receive a fair closing agreement for your new home.

Being in the Know

Your real estate agent is a scholar when it comes to the real estate market. With their niche industry knowledge, they can take lead when it comes to negotiating a reasonable closing agreement based on the appropriate value of the home.

Objectivity

Your agent is trained to resolve conflict and knows how to remain cool, calm and collected during any intense moments of negotiation.

Knowing What to Ask For

Agents are well-versed in the language that surrounds negotiation. As your advocate, they’ll request maintenance, like concessions and repairs, in a manner that’s appealing to the seller.

Building Bridges, Not Burning Them

Negotiation isn’t about working against the seller, it’s about working with the seller to get the best and most appropriate closing agreement for you.

Source: https://news.remax.com/4-negotiation-tactics-your-real-estate-agent-knows