Choosing SRG means gaining access to a team of dedicated professionals committed to making your home-buying journey as smooth and successful as possible. With our extensive market knowledge and network, we’ll guide you through every step of the process, from finding the perfect property to negotiating the best deal and handling all the paperwork. Trust in our expertise to help you find your dream home and make your real estate goals a reality.
Here's our tried and true guide to buying
helping more than 1000 clients find home!
Timeline for buying
Choose your agent
Finding the best agent for you is the most critical decision you can make – think marketing, pricing, network, communication and negotiation skills. You want the best!
Cost: 2-3.5% of sale prices often paid by the seller
Establish your dream home
Work with your agent to establish – max purchase price if the house is perfect, min # of bedrooms/bathrooms, town(s) and any must-haves (garage, fenced yard, RV parking)
Cost: included in commission
Get pre-approved
Work with a lender of your choice or by your agent’s recommendation – get approved! We’ll confirm your max purchase price, loan type, down payment, and whether you need closing cost assistance!
Cost: included in commission
Start the hunt
We both keep a close eye on current and future homes on market – making list(s) and touring the one(s) that meet your dream-home criteria and are financeable by your loan type!
Most homes, unless vacant, require ~2 hour minimum notice for showings. To be sure your agent is available, scheduling for 2-3 days in advance is ideal – unless, of course, a hot home comes on and we need to see it ASAP!
Cost: Included in commission
They accepted our offer!
We found your dream home, made an offer – and they accepted! Congratulations! Earnest money is due usually within 3-5 days of this date to the title company.
One of the biggest benefits of using an SRG agent is their experience in negotiation and offer-making. We’ve all worked very hard to get to this point. That is, to be viewing the home you want with an approval letter and lender on board, ready to make an offer and secure your new home.
Now, we will go over the ins and outs of making an offer. Things like the closing date, earnest money, inspection and financing contingencies, special requests, and – the biggest one – offer amount. We will gage your interest and desire to secure the home, as well as your wants and needs within the offer, being sure to craft an offer that fits your needs AND is most enticing to the seller so your offer wins!
Cost: $100-$5000 depending on offer terms
The home inspection
The home inspection – let’s check out the nitty gritty of your dream home.
You will hire a home inspector (unless you waived inspection) – and we can help with the hiring and scheduling – within 1-2 days of an accepted offer. They tend to cost $400-500 and that is up-front, pay-at-time-of-service. You are encouraged to attend the inspection, but know that we will always be there.
We receive the findings within 24 hours via a detailed report (emailed). After reviewing that report together, you will decide if we want to ask for the seller to make any repairs or concessions (money off the price) for things detailed in the report. The negotiation may go back-and-forth with the seller until we reach an agreement. Sometimes the findings need further evaluation (electrician, plumber, roofer, etc.), and your SRG agent will help coordinate those experts to get the information we need to make an informed response based on the inspection’s findings.
Cost: ~$450 for inspection
The home appraisal
The lender will tell us when the appraisal is received. The majority come in “at value” with no work conditions. If there are any conditions, like replacing a piece of rotten wood, touching up peeling paint, etc., we work with the seller(s) to have them addressed before closing. If the appraisal comes in below value (aka below agreed-upon purchase price), there are a few options:
- Seller comes down to appraised value
- The buyer bridges the gap with cash down
- We meet somewhere in the middle
We will cross this bridge in more detail if it occurs. Low appraisals seem to happen approx. 5% of the time.
Cost: ~$1,000-1,200 and is part of the “closing costs” to buy. Most lenders don’t require you to pay it up front.
The final walkthrough
Within a week of closing, we will schedule our final walkthrough of your new home. This is our chance to make sure all repair requests are completed and there is no “surprise damage” like a roof or water leak, heating system not working, broken window, etc.
Cost: Included in commission
Sign, Close & Congrats
From acceptance to recording, most closings take 35-40 days! You’ll sign at the escrow company, bring any funds to close (they’ll tell you what to bring), and then we record typically that afternoon or the next day – the settlement date!
Cost: Depends on downpayment, closing costs, etc – lender and escrow will confirm with you!
Time to move in
Contractually, the seller has until 9pm on the recording date to vacate. Normally, they’re out already so you get the keys once we get the “home has recorded” call from escrow! We coordinate together for key delivery. Congrats again!ou should plan to be completely moved out by 9pm on day of recording unless otherwise agreed on in writing with the buyer.
Average time to close 35-40 days
Average cost: 2.5-3%%
(assuming seller pays commission)
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