IN SEARCH OF A DREAM HOME

By DR. RUTH MIRON-SCHLEIDER
Recipient of NJAR Circle of Excellence Award
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

The search for your dream home should be an exciting and highly satisfying experience. At times, however, it evolves into a complex and drawn-out process. At worst, the search turns into a financial, legal and emotional roller coaster. Choosing the right Realtor for you can greatly enhance your chances of finding that special home and enable you to arrive at prudent and well-informed decisions.

Many buyers rely on their Realtor primarily for showing them all available properties that meet their particular specifications. These buyers assume they must do the rest of the “homework” on their own, with some assistance from well-meaning friends and relatives. This approach represents an unfortunate underutilization of the skills, tools and resources of expert Realtors who specialize and excel in residential buyer representation.

In addition to showing you available inventory, you can expect your Realtor to perform many other tasks on your behalf:

Conduct an initial interview and draft an in-depth needs analysis.
Custom-tailor your home search and explain, in detail, the entire home buying process.
Provide you with a comprehensive inventory of available homes, as well as an extensive listing of properties recently sold.
Offer you neighborhood and tax data, school reports, street maps, transportation information, and directory of other professionals and services you may need.
Help sell your current home (if applicable).
Maintain, at all times, a high quality level of client communication.
Help you identify potential pitfalls and subtle nuances.
Negotiate on your behalf and procure the lowest price and best terms for you.

Since this will be one of the costliest purchases you will make in your lifetime, you want to do it right! Unless you are already working with a Realtor, you may wish to meet with two or three professionals prior to selecting the right one for you. Here are some questions for your introductory interviews:

How long have you been licensed?
What professional designations and awards have you earned?
Are you a member of any professional associations?
Do you specialize in residential buyer representation?
How often will you communicate with me?
Can you provide the names of at least three previous clients as references?

Finding and purchasing your dream home takes a lot of hard work and professional know-how. Making even a small mistake can sometimes spell serious trouble. By working with a trustworthy and experienced Realtor, you will gain the services of a skilled professional with advanced training and expertise in residential sales. The right Realtor will carefully listen to your needs and wishes, and will steadfastly walk you through the entire process, from A to Z. Your chosen real estate professional will be your dedicated and loyal advocate. She will help make your home buying experience an unqualified success.

Good luck and happy home ownership !!!

Ruth Miron-Schleider, a 33-year resident of Bergen County, is a Certified Residential Specialist, an e-PRO Internet Professional and an Accredited Buyer Representative. She is a member of the Eastern Bergen Board of REALTORS®, National Association of Counselors, the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council, and the Graduate Realtor Institute. For a complimentary consultation, call her at MIRON PROPERTIES, 201.266.8555, or contact Ruth via e-mail: Miron@MironProperties.com.

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed, subject to errors and omissions.
No parts of these articles may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.