|
You
certainly want to make sure that the home that you buy in Sarasota Florida
meets your real estate needs, but you will drive yourself crazy if you go
through dozens and dozens of homes searching for the “perfect”
home.
Make
a list that includes your price range, all the items you must have in your
home, along with the items you don’t want. Take it with you whenever you
look at homes, so you don’t get sidetracked.
You
will want to thoroughly research the real estate values in your area. You
need to know what people are asking for their homes, and most importantly,
what they are selling for. You want to be on the lookout for and avoid
areas that are experiencing depreciation in value.
The services of a good real estate
agent can be quite valuable during this stage. They can pull up all of
this information in minutes by pushing a few buttons on their computers.
Once
you have a home that you are interested in, you need to find out more
information. There are several questions that you must ask the seller before
you start any negotiations. You need to know as much as possible about the
seller’s position and motivation.
1.
Why are you selling?
The
answer to this question will tell you a lot about the seller. Everyone
selling their home has a reason. The seller may have been transferred,
bought another home, be going through a divorce, or need the cash to pay
off debts. All of these things can be to your advantage when negotiating!
2.
Are there any defects or structural problems with the house?
Watch
the seller very carefully when you ask this question. If they look away or
get nervous, HIT THE ROAD! Most states now have mandatory property
disclosure laws that require the seller to fully disclose any problems
with the property.
3.
How long has the home been on the market?
If
the home has been on the market for many months, you need to find
out why. Is it simply because they are asking too much for it, or
are there much deeper problems? Also, the seller may be more anxious to
sell as the months go by – a big plus for you.
4.
Are you offering any special financing or assistance?
The
seller may have an assumable loan, or be willing to finance the purchase
and carry the mortgage themselves. They also could pay some of your loan
costs or points to help you get a lower interest rate.
5.
Are there any repairs you were planning on doing?
This
question is similar to number 2, but still needs to be asked. The
answers to this question can give you valuable insight as to how
the home has been maintained, and also give you some negotiating leverage.
When
you have answers to these questions, you will have a good feel for the
sellers situation and the house itself. You’ll be in a position to
decide if you want to move forward with the house or not.
|
