7 Steps to Moving Into Your Dream Home in Scottsdale

Real estate can be a complex world to understand and learn how to make it work for you. Therefore, we’ve compiled these 7 steps to help you make the process of finding, closing and moving into your Scottsdale dream home a smooth experience.

Take a few minutes and read through these simple guidelines to purchasing your dream home and what you can expect from your first contact with a Scottsdale realtor like me to the big move.

Step 1 – Getting Acquainted with a Scottsdale Realtor

Getting acquainted with your agent may be the most important step. It will help ensure success in finding the right home for you while making it a pleasurable experience for the both of us.

We first want to make sure we communicate well – ask any questions you may have as I want you to feel confident that I can and will provide the services you expect. You should feel comfortable in confiding with a Scottsdale realtor about what you want in a new home – how much it should cost, what it should look like and how it should function for you and your family.

In short, both you and your Scottsdale realtor need to feel good about working together. This would be time to say if either of us feels I’m not the right Scottsdale real estate agent for the job. In that event, I would be happy to help you find the right Scottsdale realtor to meet your needs.

If you’re new to the Scottsdale area, you should get acquainted with the area if you haven’t done so. Become as familiar as possible with the look, feel, personalities and differences among the various communities. I can provide you with helpful resources to that effect.

Step 2 – Getting Down to Business

Once we’re acquainted and feel good about working together, it’s time to get down to the exciting business of finding the right Scottsdale dream home for you. We will review and complete an agreement setting forth my agency status. It will detail our obligations to each other and help eliminate any potential misunderstandings.

“How much home can I afford?” is one of the first questions you and your Scottsdale realtor will need to answer if you haven’t done so already.

Next, we will discuss getting pre-qualified and obtaining a pre-qualification letter from a lender if you haven’t done so already. Starting this process as soon as possible because mortgage prequalification offers several advantage, including:

• You will immediately know how much you’re qualified to borrow and any issues that need addressing. You will also learn of anything you will need to prepare before applying for the loan
• Your Scottsdale dream home search will be more efficient since we can then focus on listings you’re qualified for
• Sellers will more likely accept an offer that’s accompanied by a pre-qualification letter since it removes any doubt about your ability to buy

Step 3 – Searching for your Scottsdale Dream Home

As soon as we know the amount you’re willing to spend and a clear idea of exactly what you’re looking for, I will begin a comprehensive search of homes. Each licensed Scottsdale realtor has access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a system we use to locate homes that meet your requirements. We will select homes together that we feel deserve a second look and make arrangements to visit them.

(Keep in mind that I can show you any MLS listing you’re interested in, not just listings through my Scottsdale real estate agency)

Providing me with honest feedback on each house we see will be crucially important. Telling me everything you like or dislike about a house helps me refine my picture of exactly what you’re looking for. We may need to tweak our search, but we should soon find the best home for the best price.

With the information we have from our online search and after looking at a few properties, you will become pretty good at appraising a property and being able to tell if it’s overpriced or not.

Step 4 – Making an Offer

After we’ve found your Scottsdale dream home, it’s time to make an offer. We will consider how long the property has been on the market, any price reductions, any other offers that may have been made and the seller’s motivation. Also, we’ll look at prices of comparable homes that have recently sold, their price per square foot and the average time they were on the market.

When we’re comfortable with our offer, we will complete a Purchase and Sale Agreement and go over every item to be sure we both understand everything. Next, I will present the offer to the Seller’s Scottsdale real estate agent.

The Seller will sometimes accept an initial offer but it’s not unusual to have one or more counteroffers by a seller and buyer before an agreement is reached. We will determine what your response will be to any such counteroffers but should be able to quickly conclude with an acceptable offer to both parties.

Step 5 – Preparing for Closing

Once the offer for your Scottsdale dream home is accepted, a number of items need to be put in motion.

Your lender should be contacted immediately to begin the formal loan approval process. You will need to provide them with any necessary documents, like a Purchase Agreement, that you may not have been provided with when you were pre-qualified. Some lenders may require you to pay non-refundable fees for the appraisal and credit reports. Within a few days, you should be issued a formal Loan Approval Letter or Loan Commitment Letter.

Your lender will handle things like an appraisal, survey and title insurance if they are required to. Even if they do not ask, you should consider whether you want personal title insurance. In general, title insurance protects the insured against legal claims (I.e. undiscovered liens, invalid deeds, etc.) that rarely arise around issues that can affect ownership.

Title insurance, which protects the bank’s loan, is a standard practice in the mortgage industry but personal/owners title insurance is optional. It protects the equity in your home and remains in effect as long as you own the home, even if you pay off the loan.

You may also want to consider purchasing a Home Warranty if the seller hasn’t done so. This can help protect you against any unforeseen repairs.

You will certainly want to get a home inspection and a wood destroying infestation inspection report (the seller is normally required to provide the latter). As a Scottsdale realtor, I can suggest some reputable companies for you to consider, contact them and arrange to meet them at the property. However, I do strongly recommend you attend the home inspection so you can see firsthand how the mechanics of the house work along with determining if any repairs should be asked to be taken care of by the Seller.

Next, obtain homeowners insurance effective the date of closing and be sure the insurance company or agent provides proof of coverage to the lender before closing.

Now is also the time to make moving arrangements - transfer utilities, phone and TV services into your name effective the date of closing. And don’t forget to give your new address to family, friends, magazine subscriptions and anyone you do business with.

Shortly before closing, we will do a “walk through” – a final inspection of the property to make sure everything is in order and all repairs have been satisfactorily completed.

Step 6 – The Closing

Closings normally take place at a closing agent’s office (i.e. attorney, Title Company, etc.) In case you and/or the Seller cannot be present, notarized documents can be shipped. Prior to the closing, the closing agent will provide a copy of the closing statement for our review.

This statement will detail the dollars involved in the closing, including closing costs, loan and down payment. The closing statement will specify exactly how much you need to bring to the closing if necessary. Remember, these funds need to be cash or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted.

An attorney will go over closing costs and all the documents to be signed, answering any questions you or the Seller may have. When all parties are satisfied, the documents are signed and the exchange is made. Certain documents must be recorded, making a public record of your ownership. Your final original deed will be sent to you after it has been recorded. It and other important documents related to your purchase of the property should be kept in a safe place.

Step 7 – The Move

Your Scottsdale dream home is no longer a dream – it’s yours!

Now for the most exciting part – moving in and getting settled. A move is always difficult but can be made much easier if you take care of as much as you can before closing. I know what’s involved; I’ve moved many times so please let me know if there’s anything I can do to make it as easy as possible.

As a premier Scottsdale realtor, I want you to remember that I will always be available to help you in any way I can. I hope the closing won’t spell the end of our relationship but is instead the beginnings of a long lasting friendship.

So why wait any longer to contact a Scottsdale realtor? Let’s begin looking for the right home today!

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