Partners
Mortgage Brokers
Most banks, credit unions, or mortgage companies have experts who can help you determine the best loan for your situation and what specific terms will work for your upcoming home purchase. The details of various loans have many specific terms and details so having a trusted advisor walk you through the process is invaluable when selecting a Mortgage Broker.
Working with a quality Mortgage Broker allows you to have all your finances, interest rates, closing costs, and payment details defined prior to identifying neighborhoods and homes that will work within you budget. The extra preparation and education about lending options will allow you to make a strong offer on a home that will be recognized by a seller as a viable and preferred over others.
When the real estate market is strong, sellers can often expect to get multiple offers on their home and they can be selective with the final buyer they choose. Having your financing all pre-approved is one of several things you can do to put your offer is the best position over the other buyers! As a prospective buyer of a home, it makes the most sense to start your financing approval process early on so you can get a firm handle on the lending options and process.
Contact Us if you decide that you want to get pre-approved, and we can connect you with a number of certified mortgage professionals in the area. Our trusted list of Mortgage Brokers will assist you in getting the absolute best interest rate and lowest closing costs on your mortgage!
When the time comes for you to shop and purchase a home, it makes a great deal of sense to get pre-approved with a lender before you begin the home buying process.
Insurance Agents
So you are going to be a home owner, congratulations! The day that you become a home owner you need another very important product to protect that asset – homeowners insurance. There are numerous companies that offer these products but it’s important that you select a knowledgable and experienced Insurance Agent to offer you the right insurance policy.
If you have a mortgage on the home, your mortgage lender will likely require a certain level of coverage. In order to find the best insurance policy for you, consider getting quotes from a handful of home insurance companies so you can assess their coverages, limits, and deductibles.
Remember, you’re going to want your house insured for the replacement cost, not its market value. While the market value represents what a buyer pays for the home, the replacement cost concerns the expenses needed to repair or rebuild the entire home and associated buildings. Quality insurance companies will be able to assess the home and give you quotes based on various coverage options and your current situation. And since you’re probably going to be communicating with your Insurance Agent during stressful moments, consider picking someone that is known for quality customer service.
Get all the information you can on the home you are going to buy. You can get this information through seller disclosure statement or even through a home inspection report. These document should detail any previous damage to the home, like flooding, fires, storm damage, and other incidents. These documents can help identify any problem with the home or areas of concern that could increase your homeowners insurance rates. Because factors like the age of the roof, electrical system, plumbing, and other components within the home could impact premiums, try to gather as much information as you can to be accurate with the condition of the home. Keep in mind, newer homes are generally in better condition than older home, so they could actually be cheaper to insure in some situations.
Contact Us now to learn more about homeowners insurance and be connected to our trusted list of licensed Insurance Agents.
Quality insurance companies will be able to assess the home and give you quotes based on various coverage options and your current situation.
Home Inspectors
Getting a home inspection is often a good idea, especially for an older home. It offers you an objective independent examination of the home, existing structures and systems from the roof to the foundation. If a licensed Home Inspector finds problems or concerns with the home, they may recommend further action or contractors to assess these issues.
When you get a home inspection, the report will review the condition of the home’s main systems: heating/cooling, plumbing, electrical systems. Home inspectors will also offer a professional opinion on the walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, insulation, roof, attic, foundation, based on what is visible during the inspection.
As you move to make a major investment in a home, you should learn as much as you can about the condition of the property and the need for any major repairs. Home ownership is an investment and a home inspection can help to make sure there are no major issues at the time of purchase. The Home Inspector can help you to understand exactly what you are getting into and what long term maintenance will also be required on the property you are buying.
For those who already own a home, having certain systems inspected periodically or prior to selling your home can be helpful to identify problems or concerns. This proactive inspection could help you to avoid some major costs by identifying preventative maintenance. If you are looking to sell your home in the near future, a home inspection can be helpful in identifying any necessary repairs before you put the home up for sale.
Contact Us now to learn more about home inspections and be connected to our trusted list of licensed Home Inspectors.
Home ownership is an investment and a home inspection can help to make sure there are no major issues at the time of purchase.
Title Companies
The title company is a third party organization that works on behalf of both the mortgage lender and the Buyer. As a real estate client you hire them to research and insure the title of the home you’re buying. This is important so that you know all the historic ownership and potential liens against a property before you purchase. In addition to researching public records to verify ownership and check for liens on the property, your title company will make sure all property taxes are paid in full. When their research is complete, the company provides a report to you and your lender to review before you close on your home.
Title companies also provide two kinds of title insurance policies: one for you, the buyer, and one for your lender. The purpose of title insurance is to protect the Lender and the Buyer against loss from mistakes which could have occurred or claims which cannot be discovered by an examination of public records. Because your lender has a financial interest in the property, title insurance protects them the same it does you: legally and financially. The good news is that you only have to pay title insurance once when you close on the property, then you are covered for as long as you own the home. Your title company will help you understand what title insurance is best for you and how the property should be titled.
Title companies also can manage the closing on your home. This service may be called “settlement services” and they appoint a signing agent to review all closing documents and finalize the deed and title transfer. In this process, the title companies may hold and manage money, determine expenses, finalize a list of all fees, and finalize the transfer of funds to your lender. The signing agent can help guide you to the safest and most convenient process for settlement and the closing of your home.
The title company you decide to use is completely up to you but we can discuss options and help get you in touch with numerous closing agents. Contact Us now to learn more about title services and the process, and to be connected to our trusted list of Title Companies in the area.
The signing agent can help guide you to the safest and most convenient process for settlement and the closing of your home.
Storage & Moving Companies
When it is time to move, people often require some time to transition and that often includes Storage & Moving Services. Finding a quality company and service by searching the Internet or skimming a phone book can be a huge task. There are so many options for local moves or larger companies for longer cross country moving needs. Along with the standard recommendation from friends, family members and coworkers, we can also help you to identify a storage solution or moving service that will fit your needs.
Storage solutions can be found in nearly any community, but be sure to deal with a company that is able to house all of your stuff in a safe and secure location. For sellers, storage units are often helpful to help declutter or stage the home for prospective buyers. Getting some of the items out of the home or placed in shop-term storage can really help to improve showings and help you prepare for you upcoming move when the home does sell.
For buyers, if you can find storage near your new home that is an ideal scenario so that you can move items and have some time to transition everything into the new home over weeks or months This is help fun to getting settled in a new home and is especially helpful if you are doing any work to the home upon arrival. (cleaning, painting, etc.) There are even storage companies that can drop off portable storage units at your current residence and deliver the storage box to your new home!
If you chose to have professional movers transfer your belongings, there are several options. When getting estimates, make sure to ask for at least 3 different companies to give you an in-person quote, since nobody can really give you an accurate estimate without seeing your stuff and understanding the travel time between locations. Also, during the estimate, note how professional the movers seem; if they show up late, can’t answer your questions, seem unsure of specifics, or don’t have quality moving equipment, look for another company. Hiring a reputable moving company can take lots of stress, workload, and heavy lifting off your plate and let you focus on getting everything else done for your next move!
Contact Us if you need Storage or Moving services and we can connect you with a number of quality companies in the area.
If you chose to have professional movers transfer your belongings, make sure to ask for at least 3 different companies to give you an in-person quote, since nobody can really give you an accurate estimate without seeing your stuff.
Landscapers
When looking at upgrades to your home, new landscaping and yard improvements can be a great choice! There is great potential to increase the value of your home and to create a more enjoyable outdoor space for you and your family, so it’s important you hire the right company for the job.
The first step in finding a landscape contractor is to determine what your goals are. Some contractors focus on building decks, patios, driveways, fences, and retaining walls while other are more specialized in lawns, weed control, fertilizer applications, trees, shrubs, or any number of unique garden styles. If you don’t know what you want, start by hiring a landscape designer to help you come up with a plan for construction and ongoing maintenance.
When discussing the project with a landscape contractor, be sure to ask if they are licensed and insured for the type of work that you are requesting. Many contractors also have some type of professional license, certificate, degree, or membership in a professional landscaping association. You should try to discuss your landscaping and yard needs with at least a few contractors; have them meet you for a consultation to discuss your needs and explain their services. That way you can have the contractor assess situation at your property and provide you with designs, photos, and client references from past projects they’ve completed.
Contact Us if you need Landscaping or Lawn Care services and we can connect you with our preferred list of companies in the area.