Thinking - How do I prepare to buy a home?

In this section, discover the steps that will prepare you to look for a home. I provide details on everything from questions to ask Me, to getting your finances organized.

The more prepared you are as you start looking for a new home, the easier and more enjoyable the process will be. Thanks to the wide variety of services offered by Me and Royal LePage, we've got you covered every step of the way.

Looking - With all of the homes on the market, how do I find the one that's right for me?

Get familiar with the market. Drive around the areas that you are interested in and get an idea of what's available. You will probably use several resources in your search for the right home. These may include friends, the Internet, community newspapers, catalogs from local real estate companies, and don't forget Myself. That's why you have Me.

I will work with you to expand your choices, making you fully aware of what your home-buying dollar will buy in various communities. Then I will help you separate good options from those that are less-than-optimal, educating you on the features and benefits of specific homes and their neighbourhoods.

Purchasing - What do I do when I have found a home I'm interested in?

Once you have found the home that suits you best, it's time to make an offer.

Deciding what to offer is one of the most difficult decisions to make. Offer too little and you stand a chance of losing the house (particularly in a seller's market). On the other hand, nobody wants to pay more for something than it's worth.

I can help you enormously by showing you what comparable houses are selling for, helping you assess the condition of the house, and judging the type of competition you may face. Once you have decided on the price you are prepared to offer, I will draft the offer and explain the details to you.

I will communicate the offer, sometimes known as an Offer to Purchase (a legal document specifying the offers terms and conditions) to the seller, or the seller's representative, on your behalf.

The offer can be firm or conditional.

Firm Offer to Purchase: usually preferable to the seller, because it means that you are prepared to purchase the home without any conditions. If the offer is accepted, the home is yours.

Conditional Offer to Purchase: means that you have placed one or more conditions on the purchase, such as subject to home inspection, subject to financing, or subject to the sale of the buyer's existing home. The home is not sold until all the conditions have been met.

Closing - What does the term closing mean?

Closing refers to the preparation for the transfer of ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer.

There is no standard method for closing. In some places, "round table" closings bring all parties together at the closing table. In other areas, buyers and sellers complete the process through separate, individual appointments with their lawyer.

I will tell you what is customary in your area and help lead you through the process.