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You've made your choice on your new Boston Condo... 
Now its time to make an appropriate offer.

Now that you have found the home you want to buy, your Realtor can now work with you to complete and present an offer. In addition to price, the offer includes other terms such as Financing, Inspections, a closing date and other contingencies that must be completed or resolved prior to closing.

You're offer may be accepted right away, or you may go through a period of negotiations. Your goal as a qualified buyer is to present an offer that demonstrates your seriousness in purchasing the property you choose. Here are some steps that you will be taking at this point.

• Understand and discuss all aspects of the purchase.
• Determine the earnest money deposit amounts, financing options and terms.
• Setting a closing date, place and time.
• Confirm the time allowed for inspections prior to commitments.
• Clarify all improvements and repairs.
• Confirm inclusion or exclusion or non-real estate items or furnishings.
• Get an explanation of all addendum's and contingencies.
• Negotiate through multiple offers, if necessary. Remember, its always better in writing.
• Obtain property disclosures.
• Confirm closing costs to you as a buyer - Appraisal, title work, tax and interest prorations recording fees, transfer tax and more.
• Review all sales statements and agreements.

Good of luck !

For more information on buying or selling a home in Boston, go to my buyer page. 

Your Boston Home Inspection Tips 

• You may find a home inspector on your own but talk with your Realtor®. They deal with many inspectors throughout the year and can often recommend one for you.
• Make sure the home inspector is experienced and credible, and does not have complaints against him or her. You can also check the better business Bureau.
• Your home inspector should be a professional home inspector or contractor. In most states, home inspectors now have to be licensed. Again, check with your Real Estate professional.
• Depending on your objectives, you can hire an inspector who only performs inspections, or one who will provide a no fee service, such as a contractor or renovations expert.
• Septic tank, mold, well water, radon gas and other envirmental factors may not be covered under the usual home inspection. Be sure you understand what will be covered under the normal, basic home inspection. Understand before you begin what will be inspected, the cost and how much each additional test may cost.
• When and how will you receive your written report? You may need that documentation as proof for the current owner as to what may be wrong with certain items. Without it, you have no negotiating power.
• Lastly, understand that an inspector does not “pass” or “fail” your inspection, they only report their findings. 

Here is a quick summary of what a Realtors ® duties and responsibilities may be in a dedicated “Client relationship vs. a “Customer” or “Non-Client” transactional relationship.

In a dedicated “Client Relationship”, the Realtor®

• Works “for” the client.
• Performs ministerial administrative functions.
• Demonstrates fairness, honesty, loyalty (good faith) and confidentiality.
• Discloses material facts
• Obeys the client
• Delivers accountability and advocacy
• Shows care, skill and diligence.
• Provides advice and investigation
• Discloses all agency relationships 

• Works “with” the customer.
• Performs ministerial administrative functions
• Demonstrates fairness and honesty
• Discloses material facts
• Provides good service throughout the transaction
• Provides information on other professional services
• Delivers a review of the real estate process
• Discloses all agency relationships
• Does not advocate.

As you can see from this summary, there are some duties performed that benefit a buyer or seller when your Realtor® is in a “Client Relationship”.

For other tips and information on buying and selling real estate, visit www.bostonresidentialre.com/real-estate-tips or feel free to contact me directly
at 617-595-5082.

Guiding Principles – The standards we follow for buyer and seller representation.

• Communicate early and often. Your Realtor® will explain how offers and counter offers will be handled, as well as the possibility of competing offers.
• The Realtor® advises, but you decide. Decisions about terms, negotiations, and acceptance or rejection will be made by you. All offers must be communicated by your Realtor® who will keep you informed.
• Offers and counter offers should always be in writing, to ensure that the terms, time frames and legal obligations of the parties are understood. Withdrawals of a written offer or counter offer should also be writing.
• The seller decides whether the existence of an offer or competing offer is confidential. Disclosing that an offer has been made, or that an offer may be received, is not confidential information unless the seller asks the Realtor® to keep such information confidential.
• A full price offer does not obligate the seller to accept the offer. Listing property for sale is an invitation from the seller for buyers to make offers. The seller is not obligated to sell the property even if a buyer makes a full price, cash offer.
• No priority is given to offers. The first or highest offer made does not bind or otherwise limit the seller to act upon that offer before considering any other offers.
• Realtor’s ® are NOT attorneys. If in doubt, seek legal counsel from a real estate attorney.

For other tips and information on buying and selling real estate, visit www.bostonresidentialre.com/real-estate-tips or feel free to contact me directly
at 617-595-5082.

The closing is the final exchange of legal documents, title and monies before you take possession of your new home. The buyers, sellers, Realtors® and attorneys for both sides and title company representatives may or may not all be present.

• You will most likely conduct a final walk through of the property with your Realtor® to insure the property has been left just as you negotiated and in “Broom Clean” condition. 
• Bring a valid photo ID, license and/or Passport for identification. You will need to provide evidence of homeowners insurance (pre-paid for a year) to the closing attorney.
• Certified funds are required and personal checks are not acceptable for closing costs. Please be sure to bring a treasures check, cashiers check or certified check for the monies due. Having the exact amount wired through the banks is also a very convenient way of completing a transaction.
• Have your personal checkbook on hand for last-minute adjustments and pro-rations, such as leftover oil in the tank, outstanding water bill, courier or attorney fees.
• Get the keys and start enjoying your new home! 

If your preparing to move, visit www.bostonresidentialre.com and go to the Resources Page for helpful phone numbers and web sites for area utility companies, post offices, government offices and other companies that you may need to contact before you make the a move. An easy PDF is available for you to download and take with you!

A key part of buying a home is the financing and getting a pre-approval by your lender. Sellers and their agents see a pre-approved buyer as a more serious, committed individual than one who shows up without any kind of pre-approval and/or commitment letter from their lender or financial advisor. Be sure to plan ahead and get a copy of such documents.

Before you look at any properties, you, your Realtor® and lender need to evaluate a few things. 

Before someone will lend you money to purchase your next home, they are going to want to know a lot about you….and you’re entitled to know as much about them.

This is important because retaining a mortgage is not just a one-time signing of documents, a handshake and receiving a check. You will be depending on your lender to fund the loan, on time, as promised and over the life of the loan, keeping good payment records, paying your taxes on time (should you choose the option to do so) and many other continuing services.

Talk with your Realtor® about the lenders you have in mind. Experienced agents are fairly familiar with mortgage lenders and banks in your area, and should be able to give you sound advice about the lender/banks reputation, qualifying procedures, and many unique programs and benefits they may offer.

The first thing you should do is have your locks changed. I am not saying your sellers will be stopping by the first chance they get, its just that you never know how many copies of your new keys are out in the world. And besides, the new locks will give you a peace of mind when you lay your head down at night.

In addition, you should place your deed and other important papers from your closing in a fireproof and secure place..preferably a safe deposit box. Even though your homes documents are all filed and on record with the county, its a good idea to know that your original copies are in a safe environment and you have access to them at all times.

Be sure the utilities have been changed into your name so there are no interruptions of service. If your not familiar with the utility companies names, phone numbers and web sites, ask your Realtor for a list of names and numbers to make the process easier for you. For my clients in the Boston area, I provide my buyers and sellers with a quick and easy printable resource sheet like the one found on my web site  @ http://www.bostonresidentialre.com/resources.

In most cases, you will be given the opportunity to have a final walk-through or inspection prior to closing on your purchase. At this time before the closing, it is important for you to check on those items you and the seller have agreed to have done in response to your initial inspection. 

You should carefully check the condition of all equipment, walls and ceilings from which window treatments may have been removed and/or any other attached furnishings that may have been removed.

If you find any problems, don't hesitate to bring them up to your Realtor and sellers before passing papers. Its the sellers responsibility to correct them.

For other real estate tips, visit http://www.bostonresidentialre.com/real-estate-tips. , or call me directly on my mobile.

There is really no steadfast rule when making an initial offer. However, be aware that when you do make that initial offer, it usually sets the sale's price of the home.

When I coach home owners prior to selling, I tell them everyone wants something from a deal to make the transaction happen. This means sellers really need to give something and the buyers also need to give a little as well…..so when setting a price as a seller, you want to make sure to leave room for that to happen. And as a buyer, know that you also will need to be reasonable…negotiation!