Your Homebuying Needs Come First

Your Homebuying Needs Come First

A CLEAR CHOICE When people are making the decision of the magnitude of buying a house, it s the biggest decision a great many families will ever make. They want to know who they re working with and we think that the Berkshire Hathaway name will be reassuring to many of those people. Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

THE POWER TO MOVE YOU Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is a real estate brokerage network built for a new era in residential real estate. The network, among the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name, brings to the real estate market a definitive mark of trust, integrity, stability and longevity. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group established as Tropical Realty in 1959 has an admired reputation and a successful history in Tampa Bay real estate, made even more powerful by its local ownership and management. When a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group sales executive works with you, he or she is representing an organization that consistently strives to provide the most effective homeownership experience possible, through innovative uses of technology, marketing and key business initiatives. Take a good look at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group and you ll see there IS a difference in real estate companies. We have a rich heritage, a strong local presence, and a connection to the community. We have the power to move Tampa Bay real estate.

HOME BUYER SERVICE GUARANTEE As your Real Estate Professional, I will manage all the details in order to effect a worryfree transaction. My Service Guarantee is as follows: Register you as a member of our CITY 24/7 property hotline service for use in your home search Conduct a counseling and information session to identify your needs and goals to plan a property search Offer to arrange pre-qualifying or pre-approval meeting with a lender to determine purchasing power and improve negotiating position at the point of offer Offer and explain the benefits of utilizing a Home Warranty Introduce you to our umbrella of services provided by Shelter Lending Services and Capstone Title Commit to mutually agreeable timetable for property research and showings in order to meet your relocation needs Offer VIP client services through Van Line Express Complete a thorough market search to identify properties consistent with your needs and price range Prepare a Competitive Market Analysis for you prior to making an offer Prepare a written offer to purchase the property of your choice reflecting your price and terms encompassing all required disclosures Provide advice and negotiating assistance on all offers to purchase Obtain and review with you the seller s written property history and disclosure statement Recommend professional inspections and review findings and remedies with you Monitor and communicate the status and satisfaction of contract contingencies Accompany you on a walk through property inspection before closing, if provided for in the contract Review the HUD statement with you prior to closing and attend the closing Contact you and follow up after closing to assure the satisfactory completion of all service details

FINDING AND BUYING A HOME The home finding process typically includes many of the following elements. Your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group Sales Executive will be your resource and guide every step of the way. initial Consultation Determine your priorities and needs Discuss financing options Register for CITY 24/7 Finding the Right Home Agent to show you properties based on your criteria Evaluate each property with agent to determine best home to purchase Preparing an Offer Review comparable sales to determine offer price Review progress of loan pre-approval; decide on financing Decide on other terms (inspections, possession date, personal property, etc.) Prepare earnest money deposit Obtaining Financing Consult with your Shelter Lending Services Loan Officer Complete loan application Obtain loan pre-approval Provide requested documentation Reaching an Agreement with a Seller Your agent will present your offer Negotiation of terms and possible counteroffers Agreed-upon sales contract with seller Property appraisal Loan processing Final loan approval Completing the Settlement Process Deposit of earnest money Review seller s property disclosures Review preliminary title report Roof, termite and other inspections Remove any remaining contingencies Arrange for homeowners insurance Arrange for home warranty Arrange for movers Final walk-through of property with agent Provide balance of down payment and closing costs Sign documents Loan funding Recording of title Receive keys from agent MOve in!

HOME BUYING TIPS Although the market has changed in recent years, there are still many multiple offer situations in which buyers have to compete with each other when purchasing a home. Avoiding these seller turnoffs can empower you to obtain a better price and allow some flexibility when negotiating additional items and move-in timelines. Here are some tips on how to effect a more positive and successful buying experience. negative Talk. Speaking badly about a seller s property in hopes of negotiating the list price down can in fact have the opposite effect and cost you the home you want. Keep your conversation respectful when you encounter the seller and avoid critiquing the house or the price. Being unqualified for mortgage financing. When a seller signs a buyer s offer, most often the seller agrees to take the home off the market, forgoing other buyers who might be interested. This can be detrimental to the seller when the contract falls apart because the buyer s loan falls through. Be sure to talk to a Shelter Lending Services Loan Officer about getting pre-approved BEFORE starting your home search. Making unjustified lowball offers. No one wants to feel like they are being taken advantage of so making ridiculously low offers is not a successful strategy. if you really want the house, do your homework before making an offer. Review comparables similar, nearby homes that have recently sold which will enable you to factor the home s fair market value into your offer price and also factor in how much you want the house, too. Renegotiating after making offer. If after getting into a contract you find out during inspections that costly repairs need to be made, and then propose a lower sale price or credit for repairs to the seller, that s sensible. But if you knew the property needed a lot of work before you made the offer, and then asked for price reductions or credit allowances, that s likely to cost you the transaction. Avoid renegotiating the entire contract or inflating small repairs to try to justify a major price cut unless of course something significant appears during inspections. Misleading the seller. Offering well above asking price in hopes of pressuring the seller for a reduction when the house doesn t appraise at the purchase price or making an as-is offer when your plan is to ask for every little repair noted by the inspectors is NOT going to foster the spirit of cooperation you need to get your transaction to close. While it is not necessary to divulge to the seller what your top dollar is, making offers with terms designed to intentionally mislead can lead the seller to call your bluff.

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES As a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group sales executive, my commitment is to make your home search as stress-free and efficient for you as possible. I am your single source for property information with access to virtually every property for sale in this market. I will show you the homes that best match your requirements, including: All properties listed by other brokers through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Many properties offered For Sale By Owner New construction properties Homes advertised in newspapers, real estate magazines and on the Internet Studies show that 94 percent of today s consumers use the Internet as part of their home-buying experience. Properties listed with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group are therefore promoted on bhhsfloridaproperties.com as well as more than 50 web sites including: berkshirehathawayhs.com, Realtor.com Company Showcase, Zillow, Yahoo! Real Estate, Google, and Trulia. When conducting your home search on the Internet whether on bhhsfloridaproperties.com or another real estate web site please remember the importance of signing in with the name of your real estate professional so that he or she can better assist you. Be sure to also ask about our Buyer Advantage that assists you and your agent in finding the perfect home and provides you with update notifications.

HOME FINDING WORKSHEET evaluation of (property address) Bedrooms/Baths Square Footage H/O assoc. dues $ Asking price $ Date visited: Exterior Below Average Above Overall Condition 1 2 3 4 5 Paint & Trim 1 2 3 4 5 Roof 1 2 3 4 5 Deck/Patio/Pool 1 2 3 4 5 Landscaping/Fencing 1 2 3 4 5 Garage 1 2 3 4 5 Other features Interior Below Average Above Overall Condition 1 2 3 4 5 Floorplan 1 2 3 4 5 Living Room 1 2 3 4 5 Family/Dining Rooms 1 2 3 4 5 Kitchen 1 2 3 4 5 Location Below Average Above Appearance of neighborhood 1 2 3 4 5 House value relative to area 1 2 3 4 5 Distance to work, schools, 1 2 3 4 5 shopping, etc. Summary Favorite features Least desirable features Copy as needed for notes on other properties previewed.

FINANCING YOUR HOME PURCHASE Unless you have the full purchase amount in cash, you ll need a home loan (mortgage) to buy your property. Getting pre-approved for a loan before submitting your offer will put you in a stronger negotiating position and can save you time in the approval process. i would be happy to put you in touch with an experienced mortgage professional in my office to be your guide through the home loan process. Our partnership with Shelter Lending Services gives you the power to realize your dreams. Working with the strength of a national company, Shelter Lending Services resources allow us to keep your transaction moving smoothly ahead while delivering other advantages: Quick pre-approvals & financing approval A full suite of loan options: Conventional, JUMBO, Investment, FHA/VA, 1st Time Buyer, Home Equity, Bridge, New Construction & specialty loans Competitive rates & terms One-stop convenience with local, in-house mortgage professionals & personal assistance if any issues arise With Shelter Lending Services as your preferred mortgage partner, you re almost home!

SUBMITTING AN OFFER Once you have the right property and financing in place, the next step is to make a purchase offer to the seller. Determine the price you want to offer. The best way to determine market value is with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) showing similar properties that sold recently, those that are currently active on the market and those that failed to sell. Your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group Sales Executive will assist you in this process. Your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group Sales Executive will discuss with you an estimate of costs associated with purchasing this property. Decide on other issues that are important to you, such as: Items of personal property you want included with the house. Warranty, inspections, repairs or other home enhancements by the seller. Closing date and possession. i will present your offer. The seller will have three choices: accept your offer as it is presented; reject it completely; or propose adjustments to your offer (counter offer). If there is a counter offer, you can choose whether to accept it, reject it or counter it. Once you have reached agreement with the seller, you have made a legal commitment to purchase the home and are bound to complete the purchase as outlined on the sales contract.

IMPORTANT WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS There are several ways to help support a trouble-free home purchase: A home warranty can give you peace of mind and protect you from unplanned expenses by providing repair-or-replace coverage of major home operating systems and appliances. If a home warranty is not offered by the seller of the property you have selected, ask your sales executive about purchasing a Capstone Home Warranty. A Capstone Home Warranty covers major operating systems and appliances regardless of age, make or model. A written property disclosure statement from the seller will reveal any problem with the house and the surrounding area that the seller is aware of. Professional inspections can reveal structural, roof, termite, and other problems with the property that the seller may need to remedy. A preliminary title report informs you of any problems with the property s title and a policy of title insurance protects your rights to the property. A walk-through before closing will allow you to make sure any required work has been taken care of, that all warranted items are in working condition, and that the property is ready to become yours.

INSURANCE SOLUTIONS Home insurance, also called hazard insurance or homeowners insurance, is a type of insurance that covers private homes. There are many types of policies to review before purchasing a specific plan. Your home is typically the most expensive asset an individual owns, and if destroyed, would leave you in great financial hardship. Homeowners insurance combines various personal insurance protections, which can include: losses to one's home, its contents, loss of its use, or loss of other personal possessions of the homeowner, as well as liability insurance for accidents that may happen at the home or at the hands of the homeowner within the policy s territory. The premium of a home insurance policy varies and typically depends on the cost to replace the property (including contents and personal possessions) and will also factor in the likelihood of the home being damaged or destroyed. Deductibles also vary and will affect the annual price of the policy. It is important to understand that the replacement value of your home is based on your insurance company s estimate of the cost to rebuild your home on your property, not on the purchase price or appraised value of the home. Please consult a Capstone Insurance representative for more information on home insurance policies.

THE ADDED VALUE OF A SMOOTH CLOSING We strive to make the home buying process as stress-free as possible and are pleased to offer you expert title and closing services in-house through Capstone Title, LLC. It is important to work with a title company when purchasing your Florida home as a Florida title gives you a legal right to own the property. Obtaining title insurance from a title company specializing in Florida real estate can protect you from financial loss should problems occur regarding the rights to ownership of your property. There may be hidden title defects that even the most careful title search will not reveal. In addition to protecting you from financial loss, title insurance pays the cost of defending against any covered claim. Our partnership with Capstone Title enables us to provide you with: The convenience of one-stop shopping with title professionals located on site A dedicated transaction coordinator to ensure that everything is completed accurately and on time

A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO YOUR NEW HOME Here are some things to consider as you make the move to your new home. I can suggest local professionals for many of these services. 4 weeks before your move Contact and contract with a reputable moving company. Transfer school records. Arrange to transfer (or take with you) medical, dental and other important records. Notify your homeowner s and auto insurance companies of your new location. Hold a garage sale to get rid of unneeded items; arrange to place excess items in storage. Keep track of moving-related expenses. (Check with your accountant to find out what expenses will be deductible). 3 weeks Obtain and mail change-of-address cards to the post office, subscriptions, credit card companies and important contacts.

A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO YOUR NEW HOME (continued) 2 weeks Arrange for final utility reading at your former residence the day after your move and have utilities and phone turned on at your new home the day before you move in. Close or transfer bank accounts. Terminate newspaper delivery service. Arrange for transfer of vehicle licenses and driver s licenses. Have an extra supply of prescription medications for the next four weeks. We will schedule a final walk-through of the property to make sure everything is in order. Moving Week Check in with your sales executive, mortgage company and title company for any last minute items that need your attention. Keep valuable financial records and personal papers with you; do not pack them with the rest of your household goods. On closing day, sign the home purchase documents and the home is yours. Move in! Settling in Consider plans for landscaping design, installation and maintenance. Review home security requirements and systems. New home furnishings, appliances and interior decorating will help make the house your home.

THE ANSWERS under one roof. Residential Real Estate Sales Mortgage Services Relocation & Business Development REO/Foreclosure Auction Condo/HOA Asset Portfolio Management/Leasing New Home Builder Sales Asset Portfolio Management Commercial Leasing Business Brokerage Office Retail Industrial Land Multi-Family Capstone Title Capstone Home Warranty Capstone Building & Maintenance Capstone Insurance bhhsfloridaproperties.com 2013 An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity.