Ask youself, “What are the real reasons we are thinking of buying a new home?”
Some common scenario’s are:

• You’ve outgrown your existing home.
  
  
• You’ve attained the income to be a purchaser rather than a renter.
  
  
• You no longer like living in your existing neighborhood.
  
  
• You’re ready to downsize.
  
  
• You’ve been relocated for a job.

Find a real estate agent who will listen to your needs, stay within your financial comfort zone and work diligently to guide you in the home buying process. The home search, offer, contract, disclosures, inspections, title searches and closing, are just a few of the steps necessary to close a transaction. A real estate agent is the professional trained in handling all the details of the home buying process.

BEFORE you start looking for a home, look for a trustworthy lender!!! YOU MUST BE PRE APPROVED! This will tell us what price range you can afford to buy in. Many people want to start looking at homes right away. There is no point in looking at homes you cannot afford to purchase.

If you are paying for your home in cash, meet with your financial advisor to make sure the funds are readily available.

Take the time to learn about the different subdivisions and locations that you believe you will want to live in. This will make your search much easier. Your agent will be able to concentrate the home search to specific locations and save you a great deal of time.

As my broker, June Jeffrey once told me, “There is nothing life threatening about buying real estate.” These words have helped me and my clients relax throughout the buying process. There can be bumps along the way to work out. Relax and take everything step by step, one document at a time. Enjoy the anticipation of moving into your new home---I’ll worry about the rest!!!

• Illuminate Your Home. Turn on all exterior and interior lights, including accent & picture lights to welcome buyers in.
  
  
• Give the Buyers Space. Potential buyers may feel like intruders and hurry through your home if your family is around. Send the kids to a neighbors — take a walk while your house is being shown.
  
  
• Silence is golden. When Lisa is showing your home have radios and TV’s off. Allow Lisa and the buyers to talk freely without having to talk over noise.
  
  
• Put Fido outside. Keep pets out of the way, not underfoot.
  
  
• This is not a social call. Be courteous and friendly, but don’t force conversation with a prospective buyer. They are there to inspect your home. Let Lisa do the talking.
  
  
• This is not a garage sale. Don’t try to sell furnishings that you don’t want to take with you. They haven’t bought the house yet—you could ruin the sale.
  
  
• Trust Lisa! Let Lisa Behr, your professional REALTOR® talk to the customer about selling price, terms, possession date and other factors. She has the training and experience necessary to close the deal!

• A lasting first impression. Curb appeal is vital. Your lawn should be trimmed, the walkways swept, the front door clean and a doorbell that works.
  
  
• Decorating for a quicker sale. A small investment in paint and wallpaper will pay you dividends in the form of a better price and quicker sale.
  
  
• Let the sun shine in! Open the drapes. Clean the windows so that prospective buyers can see how bright and cheerful your house is. Dark and dreary rooms don’t appeal to most home buyers.
  
  
• Don’t be a drip. Fix leaky faucets. Dripping water suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing (major repair bills). Discolored, rust-stained sinks are also warning signs; they should be properly cleaned and sparkling.
  
  
• Little things mean a lot. Loose doorknobs or cabinet pulls, sticking doors and drawers, wobbly hinges, stuck windows—all are negative factors. Take a few minutes to check and repair all these seemingly minor flaws.
  
  
• Safety first. Keep stairways and hallways clear. Clutter is unattractive and causes accidents.
  
  
• Top to bottom. Let prospective buyers see the full value in your basement, attic, garage and closets by removing junk and cartons. Rent a short-term storage space if necessary.
  
  
• Bathrooms sell homes. Make bathrooms sparkle. Clean stained sinks and bowls, repair any damage or discolored caulking around bathtubs and showers.