FAQ

How do I know what to offer?

As your realtor I will take make sure you are aware of what properties in the area have been selling for as well as how the current market will impact a successful offer.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

What steps should I take when I want to buy a home?

Call me first and I’ll make sure you are ready to buy, fully qualified and aware of all the costs involved. We’ll determine what is important in your new home, discuss areas, freehold vs condo’s and get you looking at potential options. If you need to sell a home, we’ll need to determine the market value of your home and discuss what needs to be done to get top dollar for your home.

Do I need a home inspection?

It’s always a good idea to get an opinion before you are committed to your new home as well in some cases a pre-listing inspection on the home you are selling can be a great insight as well as a way to avoid surprises when a buyer makes an offer.

How do I make an offer?

If you are looking to make an offer on a property, I would be happy to represent you and guide you through the process.

How do I know how much I can afford?

Pre-approval for a mortgage is extremely important. It’s very difficult to start your search and not know exactly what you not only qualify for but also what you can comfortably afford. You don’t what to be disappointed to find out you can’t afford your dream home.

If you need help in finding how and where to get a mortgage, I’d love to provide you with some great resources. A great place to start your research is RateHub. For more information, feel free to call or email me.

Do I need to hire a real estate agent? Why not just deal with the listing agent of the property I’m looking to buy?

This comes down to a personal preference but a realtor must represent the interests of their client first. As soon as a listing agreement is signed a client relationship is formed. A client relationship creates the highest form of obligation for a Realtor to a consumer. This is where a potential conflict may arise, as a buyer wouldn’t you want someone looking out for your best interests?

The great thing about being a buyer is you get all the benefits of professional representation, someone on your side and you don’t pay anything for the service. The seller offers a commission to the buyer’s representative so commission only becomes a consideration when it’s time to sell. Having your own Realtor allows you to have someone working for you and only you.

As a buyer why should I pay for a real estate agent?

What should I do to ensure I get top dollar for my current home?

I’d be more than happy to take a look at your home and guide you through any improvements you are considering to increase its value. Some improvements are all about your personal enjoyment and some are excellent opportunities to add value, functionality and appeal.

I’m not sure if I should buy new or resale?

I would be happy to go over both options and help you determine which is best for you. I can guide you through the process of building new and most builders will work with Realtors so you won’t have to do it alone.

What cities/towns do you operate in?

Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge, Listowel, St. Clements, St. Jacobs, Hawksville, Ayr, Brantford, Heidelburg, Rockwood, Elmira, St. Agatha, Baden, New Hamburg, Wellesley, New Dundee, Preston, Breslau, Maryhill, West Montrose, Ariss, just to name a few.

Will I get a better deal if I buy a private sale or with a discount company?

Let’s face it at the end of the day dealing directly with a seller is a risk and you need to ask yourself, why are they selling privately? They more than likely had a professional in to see their home but may not agree with the value they have been given for their property. Overpricing is very common with private sellers and even if you feel you are willing to overpay is your lender willing to finance your overpriced purchase? You may need a bigger down payment to make up the difference. In some cases, there may be defects with the property and not having a professional involved is only for the benefit of the seller.

Some private sellers just haven’t had a great experience with a realtor in the past but maybe willing to work with a realtor so if you see something of interest I can certainly approach the seller and find out if they are willing to cooperate.

Why make the biggest purchase of your life without some guiding you and looking out for your interests?

FAQ