“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
HomesJustForYou Team
Handout Guide How To Buy A Home
RE/MAX Property Promotions / Twin City Plaza / Suite 212 975 Merriam Avenue / Leominster, MA 01453 800 743-1161 ext. 847 / Direct: 978 847-0847 E-Mail: Info@HomesJustForYou.com
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
About the Team The Premier Central Massachusetts Real Estate Team serving communities along the Route 2 corridor from Littleton to Athol.
Our goal is to empower the home seller in an area where our experience makes the difference
Anne and David La Liberty The Team founders, Anne and David have been selling homes for 26 years. They are committed to continuously improve the way they help people with Real Estate. Ultimately all they do in real estate is focused on helping their past, current and future customers. They are always searching for better ways to help get the results their clients want– and have developed a marketing plan that will help you to see that SOLD sign in front of your home. In addition to their other advanced training, Anne and Dave are Certified Residential Specialists and have earned their GRI, SRES and ABR designations. Anne has been selling real estate for 27 years and has been involved in more than 1000 transaction sides. She entered the profession after having taught school and raised her own children. Anne is the “ultimate matchmaker” and takes great pride in finding people the homes of their dreams. Dave has been selling real estate for 27 years and has devoted a large amount of research and time to developing the marketing systems for the team. He entered the field from the computer industry, and has brought that knowledge with him. He has been involved in more than 300 real estate transaction sides in his career.
Team Leader, Kurt Thompson, has been serving home buyers and sellers for over 15 years. Chosen as Sales Agent of The Year by the North Central Massachusetts Association of Realtors in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012, Kurt was also named NCMAR’s Realtor of the Year in 2012. He was also chosen as the Massachusetts Realtor of the Year in 2012. Kurt contributes time to the local, state, and national REALTORS® associations, was the 2011 President of NCMAR, the 2012 Central Region Vice President at the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, and is the 2013 Focus Area Vice President of Technology and Communications at the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. Kurt is a Certified Residential Specialist, a Certified Buyer Representative, and holds a Loss Mitigation Certification.
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
Sales associate Diane Haley Brooks specializes in listing and selling homes in the Templeton, Gardner, Winchendon, Phillipston, Royalston, and Athol region. She knows the area and how to position your home for price and marketing, both online and offline. Follow her local information blog TuesdaysInTempleton.com for restaurant reviews, introductions to local businesses, and of course real estate information. Diane volunteers time for local events and with her town’s Community Emergency Response Team. Diane has completed her Loss Mitigation Certification and has a strong background in the mortgage industry.
Sales associate April Cover is an agent with a very strong online presence. She comes from a background of banking and auditing, and brings this valuable experience to the clients she services. She utilizes the latest technology, making home buying and selling a pleasant and efficient experience, and her approach dovetails well with the HomesJustForYou Team marketing philosophy. As a member of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, she has helped clients through the process of buying or selling a home with honesty, courtesy, integrity and diligence. She lives in Templeton with her husband and her two children. She states, “My family has taught me how to prioritize. I feel that this has added so much to my ability to service my clients. I know how to listen, and can handle everything!” She services all of Worcester County.
Team Support and Online Media Specialist Diane Guercio is working for you behind the scenes to help implement the most comprehensive real estate marketing plan in the area. She believes that focused social media use helps your home sell faster- and new/online media approaches are only going to become more valuable to clients, especially when blended with a more traditional approach. She has attended and presented at many regional and national real estate events, and loves to blog. She is a licensed real estate sales associate and brings years of buying and selling experience to the table as well.
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
Results
Example of what We Strive to Accomplish in Real Estate: Email From Past Seller: Pat Thompson Property At: 53 Mountainview Rd., Leominster, Ma. Days On Market: 13 Seller relocated to: California (prior to home being put on the market) From: Sent:
Pat Thompson Monday, November 05, 2007 7:49 PM
To: Subject:
Anne La Liberty Recommendation
Hello Anne, There are many businesses today who claim they care about their customers and give good service, but few of them really mean it. Without question, you certainly do mean it! Thank you so much for handling the sale of our home in Leominster, and managing the property, while we were relocating to California. I can’t tell you what a relief it was to us to work with someone who made sure that every detail was attended to. I interviewed a number of realtors and you were honest about market conditions and gave the most thorough market analysis, and also demonstrated the most in-depth knowledge of the area. You also recommended a great home stager who helped the house really sparkle, and the online home tour you produced was awesome. In tough market conditions, we had 2 serious buyers within 1 week of listing and we closed the following month! It was such a pleasure to work with you, Anne. We have bought and sold four homes in 3 states, and you are the best realtor I have had the pleasure to work with. I highly recommend that anyone looking to buy or sell their home to trust in your expert advice! Kind regards, Pat Thompson
(no relation to Kurt)
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
How our goal Matches your Goal” At the successful conclusion of a Home Sale transaction we want all of our Buyers to say: “I paid what I planned on spending” “I purchased in the time frame I planned on” “Anything unexpected was taken care of” “It was the best decision I ever made!” “I will always tell anyone who even whispers the word “Real Estate”, they need to get in touch with Team HomesJustForYou” ________________________________
What Happens After The Sale – Expect Good Things From Us! We want to hear from our past customers whatever their question is. What repairs to make. Who they can trust for making improvements. What improvements make sense for their use and what will add to future home sales value. “We’re here to listen, understand your real estate needs and then give you exceptional service.” This service is designed to save you $$ Thousands of Dollars and prompt you to share this positive experience with your friends and acquaintances. In addition you will automatically receive our bi-monthly mailer – updating you about Real Estate news and if you choose - continue to have total access to our web site, allowing you to “check up” on home values. We’re never too busy for any of your questions and referrals to help your family members or acquaintances.
The HomesJustForYou Team
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
“The Start of Something New” Our business is built on service & trust. Concern for the best interest of others is what drives us in our Real Estate business. Our lifetime pledge – help when you need it - guidance offered freely and without reservation to all, at anytime. “We will never be too busy for your
call, referrals or questions about Real Estate!“
If we don’t have an answer we
will research and find it for you.
Share us with everyone. The saddest words for us to hear:…. “We thought
they were too busy …. we didn’t want to bother them …. and we lost $ thousands without their advice”. We prefer working with people who know you, people you respect and know would benefit from the same commitment we have to you. If anyone you know just whispers the word “Real Estate”, let them know they need to get in touch with the HomesJustForYou Team”
Help Us, Help You, Help Someone You Know! Join us – As we spread the word about our continuous Before/ During and After the Sale - Real Estate Service. Thanks For Your Consideration – and Always remember to Lean On Us !
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
OUR GOAL:
“Quickly Find The Right Home For You”
Key Strategies:
Completely understand what you need for a home.
Understanding financing options that will give you the best advantage.
Target and identify a comfort range of homes that will meet your budget while allowing flexibility for current market conditions.
Provide negotiation tactics for the home of Your choice.
Provide guidance and transaction follow through from acceptance through the actual home purchase
Provide after the sale service.
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
Understanding what you need for a home - Why It’s So Important! Single family, condo, multi-family or land to build on. Each type offers you different benefits and responsibilities. What things must the property have: size of home, yard, number of rooms and bathrooms and type of location. No home or property will have everything your looking for, so leave in some flexibility. The key is to make sure your basic needs and wants are taken care of. It's so important to be open minded! If a home doesn’t have an extra bath, does it have extra rooms that adding a bath in the future could easily be accomplished at a reasonable cost? It’s similar for a garage. Location is the most critical component in the home selection process. A better location will always bring you the highest price and a higher level of interest from future buyers regardless of what current market conditions are. Again flexibility is the key, you are trying to balance your immediate needs, current finances and future needs. This means making choices and having a good understanding about the benefit to you now and the effect in the future.
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
Mortgage Finance (Pre-Approval & Comfort Level) - Give Yourself the Advantage! Meet with a mortgage lender you trust, someone you know who has an excellent reputation for completing loans quickly and competently. (We maintain a list of proven lenders who can be trusted to work for your best interest.) With this person determine how much of a mortgage you can QUALIFY FOR and what the estimated payment will be (principal, interest, taxes and insurance). This is the maximum you could afford at this time. It’s what you will use for a pre-approval letter when you begin negotiations with a Seller.
When negotiating with a Seller, a mortgage pre-approval letter with the highest amount of a mortgage that you could qualify for if you wanted to, sends a message to the seller about how well qualified you. It does not mean that you are willing to offer this to the seller or even take out a mortgage for this amount. When the amount of the pre-approval is greater than the price of the property, it let’s the seller know you could be looking at other properties, not just theirs.
A pre-approval letter that is less than or equal to the price you offer for a property makes a seller wonder can you even afford to purchase their property or if they were to counter offer your proposal, can you even qualify for the higher mortgage required. A situation like this puts you at a real negotiation disadvantage.
Now determine a monthly payment you are COMFORTABLE with, one that may be much lower than what you may qualify for. This gives you the price range of homes you should be looking for.
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
Use Caution! - Be sure you count the other cost of owning a home: “In addition to the mortgage, what are the other costs I should be aware of that I will also be responsible for when I Buy a home?”
Deposit money ($500 when making an offer + 1-5% of the purchase price at Purchase & Sale) How much down payment is required by your mortgage lender for the particular mortgage program you will be using or will you be borrowing 100%
Home Inspection ($300-500): including Lead Paint, Radon, Pest (insects etc), Well test (if applicable) Up-front appraisal ($400-500) Closing costs and pre-paids ($4000 - 6000)...
Mortgage acquisition cost Required Escrows (monies held in advance from you) for taxes & ins. Title insurance Owners Title insurance PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) Massachusetts Homestead Real Estate taxes escrows Home Owners insurance ($600-800)
Moving costs - rent a truck or hire a moving company
Even with 100% financing you will need money up front to purchase your new home. A local reputable mortgage lender can help you get a fairly accurate estimate of what your particular closing cost will be.
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
Other Costs to Consider Closing costs are the first step to consider when you are purchasing your home Make sure to factor in your living expenses when preparing your budget, and trying to figure out how much of a mortgage payment you can afford...
Known Home Repairs and Maintenance Water, Heat, Electricity (you can get a good sense for this by having your agent request current seller’s costs) Food Car – (payment, gas, maintenance, insurance) Clothing Entertainment Phone, Internet, Cable or Dish TV
Consider a contingency fund for unplanned repairs (money in the bank that you replace if used)
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
Keep in mind this “Don’t Do” List when applying for a mortgage…
No new inquiries on your credit report Do not incur more debt No late payments on any accounts Do not pay off collections or charge off accounts Do not consolidate your debt into one or two credit cards or close credit cards Do not dispute any item on your credit report No large deposits other than payroll All deposits other than payroll must be documented and accounted for Do not make any large cash purchases which result in lowering verified bank balances No increases in balances on credit cards or lines of credit which would increase your minimum monthly payment Do not change jobs without notifying your loan officer If commission, bonus or overtime income decreases notify your loan officer A NEW CREDIT REPORT WILL BE ORDERED PRIOR TO CLOSING! Should the second credit report reveal a decrease in your credit scores, the rate and/or costs involved may change or could result in your loan being declined. You will need to obtain a homeowner’s insurance quote from an agent of your choosing within five days of application. A higher premium than quoted on the Good Faith Estimate may result in your loan not being approved.
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
Our Negotiation Strategies and Process Give You the Buyer the Advantage! Finding all the homes that meet your needs is of no value unless you are prepared to enter into negotiations to purchase the home. When a Seller places a home on the market there is no scientific formula that’s used to arrive at an asking price. Most often there is room to negotiate a lower price and/or closing cost or items you want to go with the home. We know what questions to ask and the answers you need, to make an informed decision when the time for submitting an Offer to Purchase finally arrives. Call us for a demonstration of how this will work for you. This is the time where information, careful deliberation and advice can yield you the best price on the purchase of your home. We’ve developed a list of critical areas that assure we don’t miss a key issue that will save you $$ thousands.
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
Our Home Sale Completion Assurance Process Our buyer clients all receive a 200 page Consumer Guide book. This book is designed not to answer your questions, but to spark conversations. We’ve fully documented our entire Home Sale process to assure consistent delivery of quality home buying services to all of our Buyers. There are approximately 27 items from Offer to Purchase to a Completed Home Sale that require close attention to assure completion of a smooth transaction. These 27 items guide and allow us to customize each transaction so even though each transaction is different requiring special attention, nothing is missed and the results you expected are reached. When You’re Ready - Let us demonstrate this process to you. It’s your assurance that we will deliver a Home Purchase on your behalf that meets all of your expectations! What Happens After The Purchase – Expect Good Things From Us! We expect to hear from our past customers whatever the question is. What repairs to make. Who they can trust for making improvements. What improvements make sense for their use and future home sale value. Automatically receive our bi-monthly mailer – updating you about Real Estate news. Total access to our web site, allowing you “check up” on home values.
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
What Our Past Customers Say
"Thanks for all you did to make selling our home a breeze! " Always in Friendship, E.& L.B.
“...Kurt was very patient and accommodating in helping my sisters and I sell my parents’ 2 family home in a community that was noted… as a very depressed real estate market.” B, J and S
“I met Diane [Haley Brooks] 3 1/2 years ago when she helped me purchase my first house. She was so knowledgeable and helpful. She knows the market in the area and will go to bat for her clients to get them any and all possible savings. You rock Diane! “ A
“You made my house buying experience as good as the fairy tale.” L.O.
“Thank you for helping us find our first house and for making the experience enjoyable! We appreciated your efficiency and attention to detail.” L & J
“We really enjoyed doing business with you, it made the entire experience very pleasant and worry free.” P & C. P. & R & J
"The best of what an agent should be. There for us at every step and at any hour. Smart, professional and knowledgeable. Top of the line." A.&A.K.
"Exceptional and helpful in every aspect. I was extremely satisfied and I am very grateful for all that was done. - Thank you!" R.L.
"Recommended to us by a colleague - very helpful to us, always available. We would definitely recommend to others." E.&J.B.
"One of the greatest people we ever met as a person and a Realtor. Made my husband and myself feel extremely comfortable. Thank you for the great work." C.&M.M.
"Was a tremendous help in all aspects of selling and buying a home. We enjoyed working with and would recommend to anyone interested in high quality, high integrity help!" T.S.
"We really enjoyed working with you, we felt it was very important to have someone helping us who understood our needs, what we were trying to accomplish and kept us involved and active in the decision making. You demonstrated all of that with us. It was great having someone who listened. I would highly recommend your services to anyone we know." W.&S.P.
"You were very helpful through the selling process! I have recommended you to my father-in-law and I am happy you will be the listing agent. We were both very satisfied with the Re/Max company." P.&C.F.
"Integrity" = says it all! G.C.
"Your Service was exceptional! My banker commented on your "Good follow-ups" during the whole process. Your web site and on-line access to current MLS Listings was an enormous help …” P.G.
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.� (comments from our customers)
AGENCY CHOICES WHEN BUYING A HOUSE Before you buy, decide what type of real estate agent will best serve your needs. As a Buyer, you have a choice: you can work with an agent who represents the Seller or an agent who represents the Buyer. Traditional Listing and Selling Agents represent the seller. This means they must negotiate in favor of the Seller and put the Seller's interest first. Buyer Agents are advocates of the Buyer. Only a Buyer's Agent can legally negotiate in favor of the Buyer and put the Buyer's interest first. A seller's Agent works with you and provides information (customer level services). A Buyer's Agent works for you and provides both information and advocacy (client level services). A Dual Agent works for both the Buyer and Seller on the same property when both parties have contracts with RE/MAX Property Promotions. Agents (who work for RE/MAX Property Promotions) are legally permitted to represent a Buyer and Seller in the same transaction only after both the Buyer and Seller are informed of the situation and voluntarily consent. The agents may act only with written authorization from the Buyer and Seller, and may not reveal any unauthorized information which would provide a negotiating advantage to either party. Services and Duties Provided
Seller's Agent
Buyer's Agent
Dual Agent *
Arrange property showing
*
*
*
Assist with financing
*
*
*
Provide accurate information
*
*
*
Explain forms and agreements
*
*
*
Monitor closing
*
*
*
Prepare a property value study
*
*
Keep your bargaining and financial position confidential
*
*
Promote and protect your best interest and advise you
*
Negotiate the best price and terms for you
*
Point out reasons not to buy
*
Pass on information that may enhance your bargaining position
*
Assist in writing an offer with your best interests in mind
*
Exposure to entire market both listed and unlisted properties
*
*
Provide anonymity if needed
*
*
Research the seller
*
Research the property
*
*
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
Our dedication and commitment to our customers is enhanced by the education and training we continually seek. This commitment has collectively earned us advanced real estate designations (CRS, GRI, ABR, SRES, CBR, LMC) enabling us to deliver the best possible real estate services to all of our buyers and sellers. As a result of our advanced training and dedication to helping our customers get the results they want with real estate, we have consistently received recognition from the North Central Massachusetts Association of Realtors (NCMAR) and RE/MAX for consistent annual property sales.
“Our goal is to give sellers and buyers of Real Estate a level of service that prompts them to share this positive experience with their friends and acquaintances.” We want all our customers to Expect Good Things From Us! “We’re here to listen, understand your real estate needs and then give exceptional service”. We know we are reaching our goal when our customers comment : "They listened, understood our needs and gave exceptional real estate service". This confirmation assures our future customers we will do everything necessary to bring a real estate transaction to a satisfactory conclusion. Our business is built on service & trust that saves our customers $$ Thousands of Dollars giving them a level of service, that prompts them to share, this positive experience with their friends and acquaintances. Concern for the best interest of others is what drives us in our Real Estate business. Our lifetime pledge – help when you need it - guidance offered freely and without reservation to all, at anytime. “We will never be too busy for your call, referrals or questions about Real Estate!”. If we don’t have an answer we will research and find it for you. The saddest words for us to hear:…. “We thought they were too busy …. we didn’t want to bother them …. and we lost $ thousands without their advice”. We are committed to constantly improving the way we help people with Real Estate. Ultimately all we do in real estate is focused on helping our past, current and future customers. We are
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.� (comments from our customers)
SOLD per Agent for fiscal year 2012 for the Towns of Ashburnham, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hubbardston, Leominster, Lunenburg, Phillipston, Templeton, Westminster and Winchendon per the Multiple Listing Service
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.� (comments from our customers)
HomesJustForYou.com Sales Team
We are part of RE/MAX Property Promotions Centrally located at Twin City Plaza in Leominster/Fitchburg
“They listened, understood our needs
and gave exceptional service.” (comments from our customers)
Why You can Trust
RE/MAX Property Promotions & the HomesJustForYou.com Team with The Sale Of Your Home: RE/MAX is America’s #1 Real Estate Network Thanks to people like you, RE/MAX is the top choice of Americans buying and selling real estate: Sales/Experience • RE/MAX Associates average more sales than other real estate agents. • RE/MAX Associates have more real estate sales experience than other real estate agents. • RE/MAX has the most productive sales force in real estate. Advertising/Brand • RE/MAX is the most recognized name in real estate. • When you join RE/MAX you're receiving the benefit of billions of dollars of advertising that have made RE/MAX the real estate leader it is today. • RE/MAX dominated national TV advertising in 2011, reaching more viewers than all other real estate brands combined. • In 2011, RE/MAX dominated national TV advertising, with a 57-percent Share of Voice, for viewers 25-54. • When consumers find real estate online, "remax" is the most used search term among real estate brokerages. Remax.com • Millions of buyers and sellers visit remax.com for their real estate needs. • Remax.com is the most visited real estate franchise Web site. "ComScore, Compete.com and Hitwise for 6-month period ending June 30, 2012")
• Remax.com shows all of the listings in thousands of cities and towns. Countries • RE/MAX is in over 85 countries, more than any of its competitors. And potential buyers in these countries will see your property Hot Air Balloon • The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon fleet is the largest in the world. General • RE/MAX agents make up less than 2 percent of real estate agents, but account for nearly 10 percent of all agents' sales. • RE/MAX offers support and services not available at other real estate companies. • RE/MAX leads the industry in professional designations. • RE/MAX has more Certified Residential Specialists than anybody else. (Same claim can be made for ABR, CDPE, SRES and CRP designations.) • RE/MAX has helped millions of families buy or sell a home.