BUYING

*Once the decision to buy a home has been made, take the time to prepare before you go on your home search.*
1.	Get your financial house in order first, It will save you an enormous amount of time, aggravation and heartache.
2.	Determine what your budget will comfortably allow and stick to it. Don't spend yourself into a "house poor" situation.
3.	Get pre-approved for a mortgage. This will not only give you a clear idea of how much a lender will approve for you, it will make your home-buying process a great deal easier (and save a lot of time later).
4.	Get familiar with the different housing types available to narrow your search.
5.	Determine your minimum requirements as well as any desired additional features--your needs and wants.
6.	Take note of any items that you don't want in a house. This can be just as important as knowing what it is you want in a home.
7.	Determine the desired location (schools, work, public transportation, etc.)
8.	Familiarize yourself with the mortgage process.
9.	Use all resources available in looking for homes: Friends, relatives, a good Real Estate Agent, advertisements.
10.	Don't just buy a home for your present needs. Make sure to take into account future considerations.
11.	Get familiar with the inspection process--especially the personal inspection aspect, so that you can weed out unacceptable houses quickly.
12.	Maintain your perspective--and your cool! You may find an acceptable house on the first day--or the tenth. The important thing is to get the home that is best for you!

1.	Prepare yourself to sell your house. Do your best to see the house, no longer as your home, but as a product to be marketed. This takes some work, especially if you have been in the home for a number of years and have many memories there, but it is necessary if you want to maximize your potential.
2.	Stand back and look at your house as objectively as possible. Would you buy this home? Ask friends and neighbors to do the same, asking them to be totally honest. Overlooking flaws could cost you money! Get them fixed before you put the house on the market.
3.	Do what is necessary to make your house stand out from the competition. Make certain that your house is fresher, cleaner, and better maintained.
4.	Remove most of the "imprint" that you have made on the house. Having a few family pictures around is fine, but if your house is a "shrine" to your family--walls full of personal pictures--you should take some steps to depersonalize it. Buyers must be able to envision themselves in the house, which is nearly impossible if everywhere they turn they stare at you!
5.	Give all family members assigned jobs in advance that will go into action when a short-notice showing is scheduled. Everyone must know their duties and carry them out, so that you don't end up banging into one another trying to get everything done quickly.
6.	Open every window covering. All drapes, curtains and blinds should be positioned to let in maximum light. Buyers like a house to be "light and bright," so accommodate them! Turn on as many lights as possible.
7.	Make sure the house smells good. Baking cookies, often recommended, may be overdoing it, but pet odors, smoke, or greasy cooking odors definitely will not work! Air out the house just before the scheduled showing, but close the windows (unless it is a perfect day) before they arrive.
8.	Six very important words: no clutter, no clutter, no clutter!
9.	Make sure that everything is spotless. Pay particular attention to the bathrooms and the kitchen. In the bathrooms, towels should be fresh and clean, sinks and baths scrubbed, and the floor freshly cleaned. In the kitchen, make sure all dishes are put away and countertops and sinks cleaned.
10.	Check the thermostat to make sure that the house is at a comfortable temperature.
11.	Remove pets from the house, or at least, keep them outside. Pets under foot will quickly put a damper on an otherwise positive showing.
12.	Make sure fact sheets are available and easily accessible. (The dining room table is an ideal place for them)