City Profiles > Charlottetown Home > Buy a House, Home, Property > Choosing the REALTOR® > REALTORS® need you to... > What you can expect
Your first and most important task is to find the right REALTOR® for You . . . to find a committed and knowledgeable real estate representative who will listen to your needs and work with you every step of the way. The right REALTOR® will have the training, the know-how and the experience to help you. He or she will work with a vast range of resources through the Multiple Listing Service to find the home you want for a price you can afford.
Your second task is to commit to working with that person through each stage of the process until you are safely moved in to your new home.
City Profiles > Charlottetown Home > Buy a House, Home, Property > Choosing the REALTOR® > REALTORS® need you to... > What you can expect
In order for REALTORS® to give you great service they need a commitment from you to work together in a partnership. REALTORS® do a lot of the legwork, so they need you to be there at all of those times when your decisions are crucial. Here's how you can help your REALTOR® give you the best service in the purchase of your home:
We cannot stress enough the importance of finding a REALTOR® you feel fully comfortable with, and can build a relationship of trust throughout the process. If you are going to have someone guide you through the process, it should be someone you can fully believe in.
They have access to all the listings in the area in which you are looking. It is unproductive to have 2 or 3 REALTORS® searching the same ground for your next home.
. . . on a sign, on the Web, or in a newspaper ad, write down the listing company's name and number, and the street address of the property, and phone/e-mail your REALTOR® as soon as you can. They will immediately get all the information so that you can decide whether or not you would like to see this property.
Usually REALTORS® will put a group of 3 to 5 properties together for you to see at one agreed date. It takes time to contact the listing agent for each property and for word to come back from the Sellers that the timing is convenient. Trying to set this up at the last minute frequently means 1 or 2 of the showings cannot be booked. Much too often these turn out to be the ones you wanted to see the most!
The seller in the negotiating process (See Agency Relationships) could use anything you say. Many a sale has been lost because of an unwitting remark by one of the parties before the deal was signed.
Keep your thoughts about the process open to them. If you talk with them about your concerns or disappointments, they can help solve the problems one by one.
Both before and after the agreement of purchase and sale (offer) has been signed, and the agreement is in place, there will be times when they will have to get in touch with you urgently. Your prompt return of calls will help them continue to work in your best interests.
City Profiles > Charlottetown Home > Buy a House, Home, Property > Choosing the REALTOR® > REALTORS® need you to... > What you can expect
In our view, REALTORS® are in the business to help you reach your goals and to satisfy your needs. Their job is to smooth the way for you, to make your home purchase as effortless as possible. Here are the steps we expect REALTORS® should take with you to purchase your new home:
One of the most important things is for REALTORS® to listen fully to your needs so they have all the background available to assist you in realizing your future home. Your needs will be their key priority when you sit down to plan this important step.
A vital step in the purchase of a home is to make sure you are pre-approved for a mortgage. If you require assistance, they can help you find a local institution who will pre-qualify you at a rate which can be fixed for up to 120 days. This means you know exactly what price range in which you are searching, and when the time comes to put in an offer, you can make your move within hours if the situation demands its.
Through the Multiple Listing Service they can keep you up to date with all the new listings of homes that come onto the market and meet your needs as soon as they are listed. They can then make appointments to look at those homes, which have carefully been selected for you or with you.
When you have found the home you love that best meets all of your needs, your REALTOR® will write up the Agreement of Purchase and Sale (offer) and go over it with you. They will guide you through the offer process, making sure all of your concerns and conditions are reflected in the offer.
Once the agreement is in place, they can refer professionals who can assist in any areas you may need prior to moving. These might include home inspectors , mortgage lenders, lawyers, insurance brokers, surveyors , movers, or anyone else who will ensure your concerns are taken care of.
There are many things that must be attended to after your agreement has been signed and accepted. Your REALTOR® should stay with you through all of the stages until you are safely moved in. After the move there may be little things that also have to be attended. Your REALTOR® should always be available to resolve any of those problems with you.
As a client, you have chosen a REALTOR® to represent you through the transaction of your purchase, instead of representing yourself. This REALTOR® will keep your best interests in mind. There are many benefits of this agency relationship, such as access to unlisted properties, confidentiality in bargaining and additional advice and counseling. For a complete explanation, see Agency Relationships.