Have a Happy Real Estate Transaction
Home buying is a big and stressful ordeal. A bad outcome can be right around the corner, unless you are diligent and watch your step – every step – along the way.
One of the keys to ensuring that your real estate venture will have a happy ending is to make a commitment to stay involved at all times. Even though you hire professionals to assist you, they aren’t the decision makers. You are. Problems can arise if you relinquish control and let your real estate agent or mortgage person make decisions for you.
Let your agent know that you want to be kept informed of developments as they arise. The sooner you know about a problem, or potential problem, the sooner you can work on resolving it.
A common mistake home buyers and sellers make is to underestimate the time it takes to get the job done. Resist the urge to pile additional work on yourself while you’re in the midst of a home purchase or sale. By doing so, you’ll be better able to manage stress.
As tedious as it might be, it’s important to read and understand every document before you sign it. Make sure you receive copies of everything you sign. It’s a good idea to retain these documents, even after the transaction closes. If there’s a problem during or after the transaction, this documentation could prove invaluable in proving your case.
It’s also wise to keep a transaction log. This can be something as simple as a notepad on which you record important transaction-related conversations. Keep the log with your other transaction documentation in case you need to substantiate who said what later on.
Be nice, but let your real estate team know what you expect from them. This should include periodic written or verbal updates. If you’re not receiving the service you need, let this be known. Be firm, but be kind.
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