The Deb Ward Team

Home Buying: Top 5 Things to Look For

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Home buying is exciting, but don’t let the excitement blind you to what will possibly become your everyday reality. The top 5 things to look for before you buy are important to making a great decision.

Home Buying: Top 5 Things to Look ForDo your homework. Make sure to do research on a neighborhood or area ahead of looking at home buying in it. What should you be looking for? Visit the home/neighborhood at various times of day or evening. Is it quiet or busy; is there a school next door that will be very busy 9 months out of the year? Check the newspaper for things like crime stats, or recent issues with water quality, proposed “improvements” to the area, etc. Talk to neighbors and see who owns or rents. Check land records for things like high turnover or the city/county for permits to rent properties.

Look for neighborhood/homeowners associations. They can protect property values, and socializing in the neighborhood. A great association can mean making fast friends who will be helpful look outs for your kids or your home if you go away. They can also be very restrictive, or prohibit you from doing things with your property. If you have a boat you want to park in the yard off season, will they let you?

Ask questions! What has the seller fixed and when? What improvements did they do and where are permit records? A perfect example would be a “fix” done to stop a leak in the basement. You wouldn’t want to unwittingly undo it, so being aware is a good idea. However, finding there were no permits pulled for that new room, kitchen or bath can be a huge red flag. Get a home inspection. Know what you are getting into when you buy. Forewarned is forearmed.

Ask about “incidental” bills. Find out average utility costs, electric, water and sewer. Find out what the yearly real estate taxes are and if they are slated to go up. If the home hasn’t been assessed in several years, expect that the sale will trigger a new assessment and tax bill.

When you are home buying, look at the extras on the home and make sure you can afford the upkeep. That pool or automatic sprinkler system may be great, but there are costs. Water bills, maintenance and so forth. They won’t go away, so be sure it is something you can afford.

Lastly, what is the area like? Look at what is two blocks away. Is there an airport nearby? Find out how far away the closest farm is. Agriculture is great for keeping wide open spaces, but it also means dust, and seasonal smells when it’s time to fertilize.

5 Tips For Buying A St Pete Home – Keller Williams St Pete

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So you want to buy a St. Pete home. It’s a great area, but you know that home buying can be stressful. Here are some tips to make your home shopping easy breezy.

Check your finances

Before you ever walk through a home or talk to a Realtor, check your finances. Know your credit score, check all credit reports with 5 Tips For Buying A St Pete Home - Keller Williams St Petethe big three (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax). If you find mistakes or misreports, work to correct them. If you have a lower score or issues on your credit report such as late payments, charge offs or bankruptcies, take a few months to work to improve your score and report. Also work with a lender to get pre-approved for a mortgage. A pre-approval will be a huge plus when you are ready to make an offer on a home.

Know how much home you can afford

Of course, be sure that you know how much home you can afford before you look. One thing a Realtor will ask is a price range to start a search. A good rule of thumb is that your home should cost about 2½ times your annual salary (or combined annual salary if you are buying as a couple. BUT, keep in mind other factors like your current expenses, utilities and taxes for the new home. Be sure that you can afford the home you want. Don’t pollyanna yourself into thinking you COULD BE making enough, be sure it IS what you will be making.

Using a buyer’s agent

Hire your own agent to help you search. Using a buyer’s agent will protect you. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking a seller’s agent will have your best interests at heart. As nice as they will be, their loyalty is to their client, the seller.

Do your homework about the area

Check into different neighborhoods, school districts and such. Check on sales from the last few months for homes in those areas. That way you know the fair pricing and have an idea of how you should bid on homes you see and want to purchase.

Think long term

Also keep in mind that you should be thinking long term. If you are newly married, or planning to be married, chances are you will be in this home when you start your family. So schools are important. Also pay attention to whether a seller has done a pre-sale inspection and ask to see a copy of one for homes you are very interested in. That way you have an idea of any expensive repairs that might become necessary.

If you are looking for a great St. Pete Realtor, give Deborah Ward a call today! 727-410-0336

What Is The Proper Etiquette For Requesting A Home Showing?

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There is proper etiquette involved for requesting a home showing. If you’ve driven through a neighborhood scoping out a few homes you saw online but you What Is The Proper Etiquette For Requesting A Home Showing?have a buyer’s agent helping you with the buying process, should you call them, or just call the listing agent to see a home that particularly tickles your fancy?

Well, if you find a great home with a sign out front, what is the proper way to go about getting a showing of the home?

You start off by calling your buyer’s agent and giving them the address. Either your agent will agree to showing you the home or the unfortunate answer is “no, I can’t show you that home.” If that happens you can call the listing agent, but be prepared for them to be uncomfortable showing it to you when you have an agent. Also keep in mind that it’s not their responsibility to show it to you. Most will, because it IS in their interest to get their client’s home sold.

Your best bet is to convince your agent to get involved for you. Have them call the listing agent for a time to go see it. That is the proper etiquette.

Whatever you do, please don’t lie to the listing agent about whether you are represented or not. If you decide to just call the listing agent without talking to your own Realtor, it could cause issues. It’s unethical to “poach” another agent’s client, and even if they didn’t know, the appearance of impropriety isn’t good. An agent is an agent to support their families. Don’t endanger their livelihood. It’s also not the best way to start off a business relationship!

The Deb Ward Team

Keller Williams Realty
30522 U.S. Highway 19 N, #107
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
Phone: 727-410-0336
Fax: 727-474-9069
Email: info@DeborahWard.com
The Deb Ward Team at Keller Williams Realty specializes in all of Pinellas County, Florida including: Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, St. Petersburg, and the Gulf Beaches from Clearwater Beach down to St. Pete Beach serving buyers and sellers with a focus that is rarely found in the real estate world!