BUYERS' "HOMEWORK"

Some things to think about that will help me help you most efficiently.  You may want to get some of this information to me before we meet, or you may already have told me some of this.)

Have you owned a home before?  Are you comfortable with your knowledge of the process, the decisions, the financing, or do you want the "introductory course" in home buying which I often give as we work together?  At any rate, there's no question you can't ask, and the aim of all this is to make you as comfortable as possible with the process and to give you all the relevant options and information, along with the best advice I can give.  Even if you've owned before, there are a lot of changes in the market, so you may still have questions.  I want to give you all the information you want, but not to bore you with elementary things you already know.

Financing:  This obviously involves some "need to know" information that we'd usually prefer to keep private.  If you prefer, I am perfectly comfortable with your using the enclosed information and any other information I can provide to help you make general decisions, so that you would need to give details only to a lender who can help you decide how much you want to spend, how much cash will be required, and what kind of financing you want.   On the other hand, you may wish to give me that information so I can help you evaluate choices more easily.  It's up to you. 

One advantage of having a buyer's agent representing you is that I can give you confidentiality.  If I were representing the sellers, I'd have a legal obligation to tell "the other side" all I knew or could find out which would help them decide how to counter any offer you made.  I was never comfortable with that, which is one reason I began offering to represent buyers several years ago.  When I am representing you, they need to know only enough to be sure you are qualified for the offer you make, which may be something as unrevealing as a letter from a good lender saying that based on a credit report and preliminary application, you appear to qualify for ... whatever you need for the house you want to make an offer on.

In addition to the privacy factor, this gives you a negotiating advantage in that if you do choose to let them see the financial information sheet that is required traditionally, it need have on it only enough to reassure them, not a full disclosure which would let them see how much higher you could go if necessary. 

Seeing properties:

Once you're comfortable that I know what you're looking for, do you want to see a lot of choices, or do you want me to preview for you and show you the best of what I find?  Either way is fine.

Have you already decided:

Rent or buy (I can help you weigh tax advantages, etc.)

Single family house

Style:  Colonial/ranch/split/cape/patio home

Mood:  Traditional/Contemporary    /Formal/Informal

Condo - high-rise / garden unit / recreation facilities / party room / security

Townhouse - end / number of levels / walkout basement / parking

YOUR LIKES AND DISLIKES

The list below will help you clarify what you want, what's most important, etc.   Once you decide you're comfortable working with me, the more I know about your needs and wants, the better I can help you.   Many of the things below re not "computer searchable" but it will help us both focus on what's most important so you'll know it when you see it.

LOCATION: 

Where do you work and how close do you need to be?  For example, balance the considerably higher prices of some areas with the convenience of proximity and perhaps the "status" of the address.  (I.e., a similar house on a much larger lot might be far less expensive if you were willing to drive a little farther

Proximity to place of worship/schools/work/recreation/public transportation

Traffic patterns - commuting routes/busy streets/easy access etc.

Resale considerations

Essential - or desirable?

Living room fireplace; family room fireplace

Garage / patio / deck / garden

Big kitchen - eating space / work space

Library / home office / computer room

Kind of heat - is this important?

Special interests to accommodate (e.g., piano, books, pet, hobby space)

Accommodation for people with disabilities

Entertaining:   

Sit-down dinners at home for _____ (maximum)  people

Relax by the fireplace / informal in the yard

A few friends / a "crowd" / some of both

Sleeping spaces:

How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? 

Do you have guests for whom you prefer bedroom and bath on different level from other bedrooms?   Long-term?  short-term?  How often?

Do you have large bedroom furniture?  Need large closets?

Exterior/Yard:

How important is curb appeal?  What appeals to you?

How much yard to you want, and what kind?

   Small, easy-care / Large enough for back-yard cookouts/gardening

   Is privacy is more important than size?

Trees/sun/formal yard/natural -   Are deck / patio important?

Would a pool be desirable, undesirable, or a "maybe"?

Condition:

New or older.   If older, do you want to consider only already-renovated homes?

Would you consider one that needed some redecorating (as opposed to renovation)?

Personal taste:  favorite colors, dislikes, hardwood or carpet, etc. - whatever occurs to you.   Sometimes it helps to know what you've liked/disliked about other homes.