The Ten Steps you will go through for Buying a New Home In The Poconos of PA; Step Three

1) Get pre-approved.

2) Decide where you want your new home to be.

3) Find a helpful, ethical Realtor

4) CMA on pricing, Determine the fair market value

     offer you want to make

5) Put your offer (contract) together

6) Acceptance of your offer.

7) Select an inspector

8) Choose a title company

9) Activate your Homeowners insurance

10) The closing process

STEP THREE: Find a Helpful, Ethical Realtor.

Moving on to Step Three in The Ten Steps of buying a home in The Poconos is another important step indeed.

Several key items to look for in a Realtor are:

TRUSTWORTHY: They are working their best on your behalf, not just to get a paycheck.  You get the feeling from them that you can trust their judgment to do their best for you. Do you get the feeling from your Realtor that they want you to own this home as much as you want to own this home?  OR  Are they pushing you toward something that is not what you really want?  Are they negotiating with your best interests in mind or just to "keep the deal together?"  Is your confidential information remaining confidential?

HELPFUL: A helpful Realtor is one who goes above and beyond with their service to you.  They will be prepared at your appointments and have information available to hand out to you when you go see the homes you have chosen like a map of the Community and the Sellers Property Disclosure for your review.  A helpful Realtor is one you find will do those little things on their own for you like pick up your Resale Certificate and deliver it to you; swing by the house you are buying in the Poconos and check on it from time to time (if it is a vacant home) just to make sure things are OK.  Someone who would go and meet the Contractor/Inspector/Appraiser for an extra trip to the house if they need it. Little things here and there that constitute above and beyond service.

RELIABLE: A reliable Realtor will be on time for your appointments as you will be on time for the appointments also.  They will return your phone calls within a timely manner. (Many Realtors, such as myself, will not answer their cell phone when they are with a Client, out of respect for that client, unless absolutely necessary and most clients understand that and respect that.) You will feel that you can depend on them and that they have a strong sense of character. If your Realtor is consistently late and takes days to return your call then they are not reliable or respectful of your time, you need to move on.

ETHICAL: A Real Estate Agent who is a Realtor has pledged to abide by the "Code of Ethics" of NAR (National Association of Realtors) therefore your first step should be to affirm that your Real Estate Agent is a Realtor.  Ethics and standards of performance are important aspects of a good Realtor. If your Real Estate Agent only shows you their listings, or shows you homes that do not meet your needs all day and then the last home they show you is one of their listings, they are not ethical* and you need to move on. Ethical and Honest go hand in hand in my opinion.

EXPERIENCED:  There is a lot to be said for Experience.  An experienced Realtor has been involved in numerous transactions (they know the ropes, have seen and been through many different types of transactions), is familiar with the area they work within (have lived in the area for many years), and knows their Market (keeps a close eye on the statistics of the area they work in). They are aware of and familiar with all the steps to buying your new home in the Poconos.

Once you have chosen your Realtor you will need to secure that they are working for you as a Buyers' Agent.

To do that you and your Realtor will need to review and sign the Buyer Agency Agreement.  This ensures that your Realtor is a Buyers Agent working on your behalf otherwise, they work for the Seller.

*Item stated is my personal opinion of what may constitute an unethical Realtor and is not to be misconstrued.  Now that I have been a Realtor, if I were to shop for a home once I retire from being a Realtor, these are the items I would be looking for in a Realtor.

When searching for Ethical, Reliable, Experienced, Trustworthy, and Helpful Realtors in the Poconos

     CALL BOBBIE AND DAWN.  We've been doing it right for 40+ years.

10 Steps to buying a home in the Poconos; Step One

10 Steps to buying a home in the Poconos; Step Two

Step 4 of 10 steps to buying a home in the Poconos