Finding Your Home

Finding the right home and area to live can be fun, but it can also be overwhelming or frustrating. Though most homes for sale are widely available for buyers to assess on web sites, agents know the communities and homes in the area you are searching. And in some cases, sellers don't want the fact that they're selling to be widely publicized. In those instances, only the real estate agents know the houses for sale.

If you are like most buyers, you have specific wants and needs. Mendenhall calls it the "purple room" phenomenon. If a buyer wants a house with a purple room, she says, the experienced real estate agent will know the house that's for sale that has just that room!

Whether you want a home with a good yard for your four-legged roomy, a hobby room, or no-fuss landscaping, agents can help you narrow your search and focus your time and energy on homes closely matched to your particular hopes and needs.

Pricing Expertise

Once you find that special place, you have to decide how much you want to offer. You don’t want to pay too much, but you also don’t want to offer too little and walk away empty handed. You may be competing with other offers (see Art of Negotiation below), and making the right offer will give you the best opportunity to secure the home you want! An agent will be familiar with the market, communities and homes in the area, and can help you determine the true value of the home. If they have a lot of experience in a market, they will know how well a neighborhood holds its value, too.

There is more to consider than just price. Contingencies and financing play a part in the seller’s decision of what offers to accept or reject. Making sure you have all your ducks in a row – the information you need when your offer is presented – is critical. An agent can help you navigate these as well, making sure the strongest offer is put forward.

The Art of Negotiation

When you are ready to buy a home, even though it is emotional and personal to you, being focused, objective and level-headed can make or break a deal. A good agent is highly trained and skilled in price negotiations, counter offers, and repair requests that may come in after an inspection. Money is at stake, and this is the time for confidence and care. When you have an agent representing you, you have their broad expertise to help maximize your financial standing. They represent your best interest at this critical stage, and help guide you through the process.

The Players and The Process

There is a lot to navigate during the “closing process”, which is normally around 30-60 days. Right from the start you have deadlines – paying the deposit, setting the inspection, requests for repairs, appraisals, contingencies, etc. And there are lots of people to deal with during the transaction: the sellers, their agent, title company, inspectors, lawyers, lenders and more.

And all this is just the normal stuff, what happens if there is a problem? As a sale progresses to closing, all kinds of pitfalls can kill the deal. A real estate agent knows to watch for trouble before it's too late. For example, the title of the house may not be clear or maybe the lender is causing a problem by not meeting the timeline on financing.

Dealing with all this can make even the most organized and relaxed person want to pull their hair out. An agent will be familiar with each step of the process, and will be a steady source of support and information to keep everything moving along.

The Paperwork (YUCK!)

Navigating real estate forms and documents required in a home sale can be daunting. From offers to contracts to disclosures to inspection reports to title documents…oh my! Understanding and completing these documents is darn near the equivalent of a cardio workout. And while you may--and should--keep all these files yourself, you can count on your agent to keep that information organized and safeguarded for you not only during the sale but for years to come should you need them.

A real estate agent is trained and experienced in navigating the process from start to finish, no matter what surprises may bounce in and out. They are with you no matter what: we can’t promise it will all be easy, but we can promise we will stand by you all the way, helping ensure it is as smooth as possible, walking with you through to a successful closing on your new home.

Florida Plus Realty—Here’s Why!

• Nobody knows Central Florida 55+ active adult living like we do! We live and love the active adult lifestyle ourselves, which is why we know it better than anyone.
• This knowledge helps us to narrow your search to communities and homes that match your hopes and needs.
• Many team members hold the Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation, ensuring we serve with the education, information and integrity you deserve.
• We help you find the perfect property and negotiate the best possible price so you can stop searching and start living your ideal active adult lifestyle in Central Florida
• Service-oriented, communicative, and friendly team to serve you!
• Don’t just take our word for it! Click Here to see what our customers have to say about their experience with us.

(352) 978-1934 or info@floridaplusrealty.com
Your Friends ~ Your Neighbors ~ Your Realtors