Planning Phase
We take the time to get to know you and understand your wants & needs. This is the only way to know how to serve you best. More than just answering your questions, we proactively educate you about the process and what to expect. Our guidance and recommendations are customized to you and your unique situation.
1. Introductory Phone Call
Take the opportunity to speak with Jeff, with no obligation. This call lets you discover if Jeff’s communication style aligns with your needs.
Does he listen effectively and answer your questions thoroughly? Are you confident in his knowledge and that of his team?
It’s essential to feel assured we’re the right fit before we proceed.
2. Buyer Questionnaire
After our call, we’ll send you a questionnaire to better understand your needs. It covers everything you desire, require, and want to avoid in a home and community.
We’ll prompt you with questions to explore options you might not have considered. This sets the initial direction and priorities—though remember, you’re free to adjust your preferences anytime; just keep us informed!
3. Research & Planning
Next we’ll review your questionnaire responses so that we can all be on the same page about what your needs are as a client.
This is especially important when there’s more than one buyer, it’s critical to flesh out any differences in priorities, and where each buyer might need to compromise.
We then develop a search strategy to present to you based on what we see as the most viable locations/options to meet your needs and wants.
4. Buyer Consultation
We then book a meeting with you to present you our proposal and strategy based on what we’re understanding from your answers.
This is the first of many opportunities for you to ask more questions, and clarify or adjust what you feel your priorities are.
The goal is to start with a targeted focus and adjust from there. We always use a process of elimination to keep you moving forward.
5. Market Education Outing
Together we will chose 4-5 properties to go look at on one weekend, because boots on the ground is the best way to learn areas and eliminate what you don’t want.
In the beginning of a search, it’s easier to eliminate what you don’t like over choosing between two things you do like. So don’t be shy, we need your feedback!
The Market Education outing is designed to be hands on so you’ll have a better idea of what is available in your price range and criteria.
Execution Phase
We use our tools & expertise to search and find homes that fit your criteria. We always provide the research, analysis and guidance for you to make an informed decision. We prepare all the paperwork, ensuring your interests are protected, and then expertly negotiate with all parties to reach an agreement.
6. Home Search
With the initial five steps completed, we’re ready to begin the search effectively.
Our goal isn’t just to show you numerous homes; it’s to empower you to evaluate them as we do—considering factors that are important to you—to ensure accurate comparisons.
You’ll learn to assess a home’s true value, boosting your confidence in making decisions. This knowledge helps streamline the buying process, allowing you to proceed more efficiently.
7. Challenge Criteria
This is the make or break stage where your realtor must keep hold of the reigns and continue to steer you towards your goals.
Often times buyers can feel conflicted over different wants and needs, and even more so if there’s 2 people buying the home.
Interpersonal skills and strong communication come into play as we navigate changing priorities and/or decide what is a viable compromise given a fixed element; which is often your budget.
Navigating client emotions and steering you through the fog takes a high level of skill that is not to be underestimated.
8. Offer Prep
Once you find the home you want to buy, we don’t just take the last street sale and add on X% as the offer price.
Our analytical skills ramp into high gear as we determine what are actual comparable properties to know true value.
Armed with this information and our advise based on the market, you will decide the price you will offer on the home.
9. Negotiations
Have you ever asked a realtor how they negotiate? What are their strategies in different situations? What are the common pitfalls during the process and how they overcome them?
Really, this stage is critical, and no one talks about it. In a hot sellers market you might think, what negotiating is there to do? But you would be mistaken.
Negotiations are essentially about mitigating emotions, including yours, so that they don’t blur or impede good decisions. It’s also about explaining relevant info and the likely outcome of different decisions.
Without strategy, you will find yourself putting in endless offers and never winning.
Management Phase
As your representative, we’re on your side. Now is the time when other professionals such as lawyers, bankers, appraisers etc., come into the equation to process your transaction. The problem is that they often do their job with blinders on, and only see their individual role within the big picture. We act as your pilot with the 30,000 foot view to circumvent any issues and advise you with the best options. We use technology and project management software to ensure we remain on track to our goal of getting your home purchase CLOSED.
10. Offer Accepted
Regardless of the market, our clients usually find their ideal home fairly quickly. Not because it was a secret perfect gem, but because they adopted our process of prioritizing and refining criteria.
As the buyer you now have a lot of steps to complete before you can close. If you buy cash, you can bypass many of the volatile hurdles with lenders, but there is often still inspections and insurance and further talk with the seller.
We work with the selling agent to review conditions, inspections, and input dates and deadlines to make sure nothing gets missed.
We act as the leader and project manager because too many people can drop the ball and we want to prevent this, to keep the process moving forward.
11. Contingencies
As part of the Better Homes and Gardens Professional Network, we collaborate with a team of dedicated lenders, inspectors, and attorneys who are committed to superior service and communication.
While you’re free to choose any professionals you prefer, working with unknowns can introduce risks due to varying levels of skill in communication, advocacy, perseverance, or negotiation.
To minimize the risk of a deal going sideways, we proactively communicate with all involved parties, ensuring clear communication of needs and expectations
12. Home Closing
Once we get through all the contingencies, you can start to get a little excited about your home purchase closing.
However, if you aren’t paying in cash, there’s always hiccups that the lenders can throw our way. Often, closings get delayed, and since we cannot control what lenders do, we focus on making sure you are prepped and prepared for any eventuality. Stress and anxiety happens when you need and expect one outcome, but then you get sidelined and are unprepared for anything else.
Part of this is to work with the most reputable and dependable professionals, because skill and experience go a long way.
13. After-Sale Support
We have finally reached lucky step 13…it has always been a lucky number for us. We are here for you long after your home closes for anything you need.
Home maintenance related referrals, design/reno advice, long term real estate portfolio planning, and so on.
We want to make sure your investment grows over time and/or becomes the home you dreamed it to be.
You are now part of The Village Guru family and we’ll continue to provide you value every step of the way. Be ready for your invite to our free family photo events and other fun get togethers!
