There are ways to save time, money and effort when buying in real estate.
First, the agent you work with should be experienced and knowledgeable in the marketplace. If they are familiar with the homes in the Denver market and they know neighborhood values, they can help you determine which properties are fairly priced before you start your real estate search. Everyone at the Rickard Group works primarily in the southwest Denver/Metro area, so we know the territory.
Before you even visit an area, we can send you the detailed MLS listings and photos of homes available on the market that meet your criteria. This saves you time and eliminates looking at properties that do not meet your real estate criteria.
The Realtor you select should offer a Buyer Agency to you, which is an arrangement where the agent actively looks after your best interests, but usually gets paid by the Seller. This eliminates that age-old question in real estate transactions, “Just who is my agent representing, me or the seller?”
In the state of Colorado, you cannot by law have a "dual-agency". This means you either actively represent one side or another, but not both. You can be a "Transaction Broker", meaning you help complete a deal between a buyer and a seller, but niether one is actively represented with their best interests in mind.
A good Realtor will recommend that you get pre-approved for a mortgage before you look at homes to be sure you are looking in the appropriate price range and to strengthen your bargaining position when you locate the home you wish to buy. If your offer to the seller includes a letter from your lender indicating you already qualify for the loan, the seller will take you more seriously. We know many friendly, helpful lenders who offer the most competitive rates and top-notch service and who can usually pre-approve you in a short amount of time. visit our Preferred Vendors section to get in touch with a lender.
If you don’t find the perfect home right away, you’ll want to be notified about new homes that come on the market. We are happy to enroll you in our exclusive Buying Buddy system to email you new listings as soon as they come on the market. We want you to have first pick of the best properties in the Denver/Metro area!
When you find the home you want to buy, make your offer as ‘clean’ as possible, with only necessary contingencies. The less the seller needs to worry about, the better. Also, be prepared to compromise on issues like closing/possession dates in exchange for the seller agreeing to your price (or vice versa).
Try composing a letter about you, your family and why you want the home to submit with your offer. It ‘humanizes’ the offer to the sellers and may help them feel good about accepting your contract.
These are just a few hints that we use to insure your home buying experience is pleasant and profitable.
If you would like to arrange an appointment to discuss your home buying requirements, email us or call 303-880-5410 or 303-880-9781 to talk with a Realtor at The Rickard Group.
