Buyer’s Guide
Benefits of Using a Buyer’s Agent
• Research and Expertise:
• Research areas and share expertise
• Furnish real-time market data, showing trends and competitive activity
• Property Search and Selection:
• Preview homes
• Locate appropriate properties
• Advise on properties the buyer may not have noticed
• Furnish private/pocket listings as options
• Advise on appreciation potential and historic property track record
• Recommend emerging areas the buyer may not have considered
• Guidance and Negotiation:
• Act as a tour guide for the entire area the buyer is considering
• Advise on proper amounts for due diligence/earnest money and terms
• Structure contracts
• Arrange multiple inspections, appraisals, verify permits, and representations
• Interface with local governance on property compliance and modifications
• Concierge Resources and Services:
• Identify quality contractors, interior designers, and vendors
• Furnish vendor lists of professional trades
• Furnish professional services relationships with attorneys, financial advisors, CPAs, insurance, and banking
• Lifestyle and Daily Needs:
• Aggregate school, lifestyle, dining, lodging, and buyer needs information
• Assist with day-to-day lifestyle needs, such as doctors, hair and nail salons, clothing stylists, nannies, elder care, etc
• Recommend community and special interest spaces such as equestrian, boating, golf, shooting, etc
Buying a Home in North Carolina
• Research areas you are targeting online
• Select an agent with experience in those areas
• Identify homes you’d like to see. Your agent can set you up with a search
• If your agent has a buyer’s home search app, download that to your phone
• Be prepared to visit new homes immediately as they come on the market
• Consider FaceTime tours for quick access, but understand due diligence fees are upfront and non-refundable once an offer is signed
• Line up financial resources & documentation to move quickly
Multiple Offers
• Go the extra step to get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified. Have your pre-qualification letter, cash or cash equivalents such as Ribbon, or a letter from a licensed financial advisor available for cash transactions.
• Confirm with the listing agent that there are multiple offers in hand
• Ways to differentiate your offer
• Cash
• Quick Closing Time Frame
• Rent Back Option for Seller
• Short Due Diligence Period
• Waive Inspections
• Appraisal Waiver
• High Due Diligence Fee
• Quick wire/deposit option
• Can be split into two payments to “buy” days to inspect
• Be careful starting low, this can alienate a seller who gets another offer
• If you are the first offer in, confirm whether the list agent will call for highest and best if multiple offers received
• A seller does not have to:
• Allow a second chance on an offer or call for “highest and best”
• Disclose that there is a second offer
• If you “win,” Due Diligence fees will likely be due immediately upon acceptance
Offered, Signed, and Accepted
• Review terms of the offer to purchase disclosures, particularly fixtures section
Fees Due: Credited to Sales Price
• Due Diligence
• Non-refundable to seller
• Earnest Money
• Can be deposited at contract or another date
• Refundable up to the end of Due Diligence Inspection Period
Due Diligence Period
• Buyer can cancel for any reason
• Due diligence fee
• Due within 24 hours of acceptance
• Non-refundable/payable to the seller
• Credit to the sales price at closing
• Earnest money
• Refundable until due diligence date expiration
• Credit to the sales price at closing
• Inspection period
• Schedule all inspections and survey immediately with your agent’s help
• Review HOA documents and review for potential assessments
• Secure any approvals or permits
• Due Diligence expiration is at 5 pm on the agreed-upon due diligence date:
option to proceed to closing or cancel
• Earnest money may become non-refundable
• Submit the repair request, however, repairs are optional to the seller
ASHEVILLE OFFICE
18 S Pack Square
Asheville, NC 28801
828.367.9001
HIGH COUNTRY
144 Poplar Grove Rd #221 & #223
Boone, NC 28607
HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS OFFICE
210 North 5th Street
Highlands NC 28741
828.526.0000
828.222.0602 MOORESVILLE OFFICE
704.209.5066 Our Offices
350 Morrison Plantation Parkway, Suite C1
Mooresville, NC 28117
CHARLOTTE OFFICE
1515 Mockingbird Lane, Suite 900
Charlotte, NC 28209
704.499.3054
BALD HEAD ISLAND
2C Merchants Row Bald Head Island, NC 28461
910.457-6463
CORNELIUS OFFICE
21025 Catawba Avenue, Suite 101
Cornelius, NC 28031
704.655.0586
WILMINGTON OFFICE
527 Causeway Drive
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
910.300.5140
