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Julia Vakulenko - Broker -

WHY choose Me to be your Buyer's Agent?

Expertise and Knowledge are the MOST essential from the time Buyers decide to put an Offer in until the Closing. Sellers have agent to protect their best interest, what about You?

Do Buyers need a Realtor to Search for homes?

Internet and technology make it easy and fun so most Buyers prefer to do the "searching" themselves. And they do a great job since nobody knows what they like as well as they do. But Realtor has access to more filters and can help narrow/widen the areas of interest. What I do for my Buyer-clients in this stage:

o    Educate on transaction process, closing costs, taxes, homestead HOA, CDD, inspections, Chinese dry wall and other things to watch out for during searching

o Choose areas you otherwise did not consider

o Understand how community fees might affect your monthly payment / loan amount

o Create custom Search Portal that has all up to date information about all the listings available based on your search criteria.

Do Buyers need a Realtor to Look for homes?

Without agent, it's hard and time consuming to setup showings. You would need to locate info of a listing agent for each and every home you wish to see, get hold of them and most likely spread out your showings during different days and times as those agents have different schedules. It's certainly more convenient when you have your own, Buyer's agent, who can just make all the arrangements and show you all the homes at the time convenient for YOU.

What a Realtor can do that a Buyer can not?

While searching and showing are, perhaps, the most time consuming tasks agents do, they are not the most important. Expertise and knowledge are essential from the time you decide to put an offer in until you close. Sellers have a listing agent to protect their best interest in the transaction, what about You?

Offer and Negotiations Stage:

  • Determine the best offer price by doing market analysis of the neighborhood. "Zestimate" often help, but not always accurate.
  • Prepare Offer Paperwork and appropriate Addendums/ Disclosure Forms
  • Structure and negotiate an offer with doable and convenient time frames, terms and contingencies that would protect You, The Buyer, from losing your deposit and the deal. Experienced agent can save $$$ in negotiation and DURING the transaction.
  • Advise on the best way to respond to a counteroffer
  • Your offer got accepted ... What's next?

Contract and Transaction Stage: 

  • Step by Step Guidance and Update throughout the transaction
  • Follow Up with Title Company to start the transaction 
  • Instructions for the Deposit
  • Provide All the Parties (Buyer’s agent, Title Company, Lender, Seller) with executed documents and contact information.
  • Share Information for inspectors, insurance companies, vendors, etc.
  • Schedule and Attend inspection
  • Assist with Repair negotiations
  • Timely and Consistent follow up with all the parties during the transaction to make sure deadlines are met for inspection, repairs, appraisal, financing, survey, warranty, utilities, etc. 
  • Assist with HOA communications and approval, if needed. Especially important for condos.
  • Ensure transaction is flowing smoothly by Anticipating and Resolving Potential Issues
  • Coordinate and Attend Final Walk-Through.
  • Review/Approve Closing Statement numbers
  • Coordinate and Attend Closing. Assist with receiving keys, openers, etc.
  • Act as Middleman. In any business, Buyers and Sellers have conflict of interest: seller sees the best in his product and wants highest possible price, buyer sees negatives (potential "expenses" and inconveniences) and wants to buy for lowest possible price.

    In many cases, when they start speaking to each other directly, without intermediary, the deal falls through over little things that could have been avoided with professional advice of experienced agent. I share my experience and educate my clients about different options during different stages of purchase.
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