The Buying Process
Finding your home is our number one goal.
Once you have obtained a mortgage pre-approval and hopefully entrusted me as your Real Estate Agent, you are ready to begin your home search in earnest.
Today, approximately 87 percent of home searches begin on the Internet, so it's important to utilize a web site that includes the most comprehensive technologies that can provide you access to all of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia's properties listed in the MLS on demand. Using the free public reciprocity search, you’re in control. Or sign up for the Virtual Office to manage, customize and automate your searches, receive e-mail updates on new listings before they're available on the MLS systems that match those search criteria, conduct several automated searches at once, receive more accurate search results from being able to select from exactly the criteria you want - all of which can save you time & money.
Review Listings — Using the guidelines you set forth, Ken Stef will present you with available listings. In addition to price and property attributes, pay close attention to data like property taxes, market time and monthly assessments for condos and town homes.
View Properties — Ken Stef will schedule showings and accompany you on each appointment. When you walk through a home, some things to consider are: how the space functions for your lifestyle; what’s included in the total square footage (balcony, basement or garage); and, in new construction, which features are standard and which are upgrades. The average buyer will view 11 homes before buying one. But that is just an average. Some buyers will purchase the very first home they see. Others will look at more homes.
Open Houses — Remember, if you are attending an Open Houses without your agent be sure to mention that you are being represented by Ken Stef. This will save you from being inundated with calls from other agents trying to represent you. Ask me to supply you with some of my business cards to make the Open House sign-in process even easier.
Compare Properties — Discuss each home you see with me, and provide candid feedback. Your expectations and the marketplace will begin to converge, and I will be able to adjust certain parameters such as location and features in order to present you with alternatives. Use a Property Comparison Sheet to track and compare each listing. When you find a home and are ready to make an offer, I will perform a Buyer's Comparative Market Analysis Report or Buyer's CMA. This report compares the property you're considering buying with other properties that are currently listed and recently sold to determine its market value and help you formulate your offer.
