Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery Counties Real Estate. Tips for home buyers, home sellers by Gita Bantwal,Realtor at Re/Max Centre Realtors.: FIVE BIGGEST MISTAKES BUYERS MAKE WHEN LOOKING FOR HOUSES

FIVE BIGGEST MISTAKES BUYERS MAKE WHEN LOOKING FOR HOUSES

1.  Failing to get preapproved. Before you start your home search, please sit down with a loan officer and discuss your financing options. There may be some issues with your credit that you might not be aware of. It is a good idea to know how much you qualify for and what to expect in monthly payments and how much cash you will need.

2. Not working with a Real Estate Agent.  Real Estate Agents have knowledge of the homes for sale and homes that sold. If you just look at the open houses and sale by owners you will be wasting a lot of time and may not get to see many homes that are listed.

3.Working with many Real Estate agents. You may not want to be stuck with an inefficient agent so you should ask your friends for referrals or go to a few open houses and see if you are comfortable with an agent. But if you call different agents from the sale signs and look at those houses, you should remember that the listing agent represents the seller. You could ofcourse  ask the agent to be a dual agent . You should check out your state laws on agency. Some do not allow dual agency. If you work with many agents, they may sense it, and they may not want to waste time with you and you might miss out on some good opportunities.

4. Not working with a Buyers Agent. A Buyers agent can help you by showing you homes that suit your criteria, the agent will save you time by emailing you listings, by making appointments and  coordinating the showings. Once you find a house you like, the agent will do a market evaluation to determine a price and help with negotiations. The agent will help you every step of the way .

5. Not searching for homes online. You can save a lot of time and gas by narrowing your search online. the agent may recommend the site, you may go on www.Realtor.com  or some other sites .Many  companies like ReMax, Prudential,Century 21,  etc show all listings on web site  through cooperation with other Brokerages.

If you are a home buyer in Pa, go to www.parealtor.org  and read the consumer notice to read about agency relationships in Pa .

If you are looking for homes in Philadelphia and suburbs look up listings on my web site www.gitabantwal.com

 

 

Gita Bantwal is a Realtor with RE/MAX Centre Realtors in Bucks County, a Northern suburb of Philadelphia. You can view 1000s of listings on her web site www.GitaBantwal.com

She can be reached at 215-343-8200x124 or direct 215-275-8491 or via email gita01@aol.com

If you would like a FREE MARKET EVALUATION OF YOUR HOME IN PHILADELPHIA, BUCKS or MONTGOMERY COUNTY call me at 2152758491

 Gita specializes in Active adult communities and is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. She holds the ABR designation (Accredited Buyers Representative) and specializes in selling to first time buyers as well as move up buyers.Gita also hold the CRS designation , Certified Residential Specialist and the CDPE designation as well. Information about real estate market is deemed to be correct but is subject to errors and omissions and should be verified independently.. Opinion expressed by me or others  in my post and comments is not to be construed to be  legal advice.

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7 comments • GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI BUCKS County & Philadelphia, PA HOMES • August 03 2007 07:21AM

Comments

Gita- Very true. Getting pre-approved would have to be #1. Without pre-approval your not going to be looked at as a serious buyer. I know I would never let a seller client even think about accepting an offer without a pre-approval.
Posted by Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) almost 5 years ago
Gita- I hope this information is on Google :)  it would help a lot if some people understood their options/resources before just trying to buy.
Posted by Kathy McGraw, Riverside County CA Real Estate (CELLing Realty) almost 5 years ago
I have it posted on localism. Hope people will find it. I do not know how people would find it on google.
Posted by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI BUCKS County & Philadelphia, PA HOMES (RE/MAX Centre Realtors) almost 5 years ago
Gita - Pre Approval is a definate number 1 for buyers.  Another mistake buyers make, especially the first time ones, is understanding the process from start to finish.  I find that not only do I send them to get pre approved, but I also do an education process with them.  None seem to know about the deposit escrow, inspections so i make an effort to explain everything that they might encounter.
Posted by Jayne Vaughan, ABR,SRS,CNE (Re/Max Home Team) almost 5 years ago
I agree. When I first meet buyers they are so eager to start looking at houses that they do not want to spend time at my office , I try to spend half an hour explaining the process, and give them some hand outs. I wish they can spare more time to learn more about the home buying process. Then when they are ready to make the offer, I spend a lot more time explaining the process before they sign anything.
Posted by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI BUCKS County & Philadelphia, PA HOMES (RE/MAX Centre Realtors) almost 5 years ago

Hi Gita,

Nice blog. Great advice for buyers and some agents too.

Roy

 

Posted by ROY GIORDANO - Top Realtor Marlboro NJ Marlboro/Manalapan Home Sales in N.J. (RE/MAX Central, Marlboro, Manalapan, Freehold, Old Bridge NJ) over 2 years ago

Roy, Thank you. Good luck in 2010.

Posted by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI BUCKS County & Philadelphia, PA HOMES (RE/MAX Centre Realtors) over 2 years ago

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