BUYERs frequently asked questions

A lot of people have questions about the home buying process because many have never gone through it before, or it has been a long time since they have done it. And that’s ok! There is no such thing as a bad question, as I want you to feel that you understand and trust the process throughout the entire transaction. I’ve compiled a list of questions that I find buyers frequently ask me when searching for a home, with the answers below.

Question: Should I send in a love letter with my offer?

Answer: If you feel really strongly about a house, and really want to show the sellers that you care about this property and want to stand out, there is nothing wrong with this. There are two different ways to go about it - you can write a long note that is separate from the offer that I attach when I submit it. Or I can include a short few sentences that you have written up in the body of the email that I send to the agent. In the latter case, they have to read it.. in the former, the listing agent may choose not to present it to the seller. The reason why love letters can become a legal grey area is because there is a major concern over fair housing violations. When drafting your letter, please don’t include ANY information about yourself that may expose that you are a part of a protected group, based on but not limited to - race, gender, ethnicity, marital status, children, sexual orientation, veteran status, etc. Keep your love letter focused around the seller’s decor OR the house / neighborhood itself and what you enjoyed about it during your showing.

QUESTION: CAN WE SUBMIT AN OFFER ON AN OFF MARKET PROPERTY WE LIKE?

Answer: Sure, if the homeowner is willing to sell. Don’t expect this to work out, because it’s tricky, and typically doesn’t. If I’ve procured the off market listing to show you myself, that’s a much easier and more realistic scenario to coordinate, because I likely have a pre-existing relationship. If you just walk down the street and find a home you love and note the address, you don’t know what the home is worth, you don’t know the seller’s situation or if they are willing to move. I can try to do some light internet stalking to try to find the seller’s information and send them an email or give them a call to see if they respond, but typically they say no or we won’t get a response at all, unless they are seriously considering selling soon.

Key things to look for in terms of a random home potentially coming soon: Dumpster or POD in the driveway, lockbox on the door, home is completely vacant

QUESTION: How many homes should I expect to look at before we submit an offer or before we go under contract?

Answer: Really depends on what you’re looking for. I like to think I have a gift for being able to connect buyers with homes, so my average is typically 2-5 properties per buyer before we submit an offer (and sometimes go Under Contract). Worst case scenario, I have shown some clients 40 homes before we found their dream property. That’s not ideal.. and if that happens to you, we likely aren’t doing a great job of identifying exactly what it is that you want or like and should be weeding out more properties before we go to see them.

QUESTION: What are your hours and availability and what should we expect in terms of response times from you?

Answer: It’s no question that real estate agents work a lot, and we work unconventional hours that typically are not M-F, 9-5. I work a lot on weekends and a lot after work. I also hear a lot from my clients that they appreciate my communication and that I’m typically very responsive. That said, I do sometimes get wrapped up and get distracted by other things. All I ask is that if you have something you’d like to discuss, to be respectful of my time and I will do the same for you. I will try to respond as quickly as I can.. if you haven’t heard from me for a few hours or a day on something important, feel free to give me a little nudge and remind me that you asked your question or that you wanted to go see a certain home and I will get it set up for you. Know when a phone call vs. a text message is most appropriate. I ask that you contact me within reasonable hours, and I will tell you if I will be working late or if I will be out of town, etc. so that you know what to expect as I both try to live a balanced life and serve you within my business.