Protecting the client

The past several weeks I have taken a young couple out to look for houses.  I talked to them about what you should look for in a home.  In metro Detroit the six major items you should be looking at are

1. Roof
2. Foundation/basement
3. Furnace
4. Windows
5. Updated Kitchen
6. Updated baths  

These are the major items that are going to cost you money to replace or update.  So when you buy a home it pays to look at these items.  It does not matter if it is a lake house for sale on Pontiac Lake or a home for sale in Northvile Michigan.  If you can get the majority of these six items in newer, or updated condition you are doing good.

I try to teach them that it is about making a sound decision when buying a home.  Look at the items that may detract from the home price in the long run.  Having cell towers or a big business building behind you is going to cost them when they go to sell their home. 

Yes, there are hundreds of people that own homes near cell towers, and near big industrial complexes but those items do cause the value of the home to be lower.  I just want my buyers to be aware of the factors that will make it harder for them to sell a home.  You see it is not about just selling a home for me.  I want my buyers to make smart decisions on their own.  After all this is the biggest financial decision you will make this year.  Yes, sometimes it takes me a little longer to find them a home, but I want my buyers to be happy with their choice and know that they can sell the home later on.

Our goal is to find homes that will appreciate, try not to buy homes that will put the customer upside down from day one.  But ultimately it is up to my client.  If they love that house behind Home Depot then buy it.  I have had clients buy homes on busy roads.  They still love their homes after 5 years.  I have had clients pay over market price for homes because they loved the house and the market was red hot.  Those client still do not regret their decision.

My goal is to protect my client, inform them about the best way to go about it, but ultimately it is their home.  Their choice, their wants, and their dreams.  So they pick the best home for them in the market.  After all it's not about selling a home, it's about helping you find the home that fits you and your family.  My young clients that were moving to Royal Oak found one this week and they are so happy.

Here are four home buyer tips for you:

How to win the bid on Oakland County lakefront homes

How to buy a home with no money down

3 best ways to resolve inspection issues - West Bloomfield real estate

Metro Detroit first time home buyer tips

Remember we offer a great home buyer bonus for you.