Sarah Brocksmith

Most sellers will want to be moved out and have the contract closed an average of 34 days after acceptance. The best way to make sure your buying experience goes smooth is to take time now to prepare.

1. Get pre-approved (not just pre-qualified.) This will cut out the wait time you might experience otherwise. Remember when you find a home you want, a pre-approved offer could be the deciding factor whether your offer is accepted or not.

2. Once you have been pre-approved you will know exactly what price range you are going to shop in. At this point you can start looking online for homes in your price range to get an idea of what type of homes are available in your price range.

3. Shop for the right Realtor. The Realtor your neighbor or friend used may not be the right Realtor for you. Do some shopping around before deciding, and keep these questions in mind.
• Is the agent accessible by phone, email, or both?
• How long does it generally take your agent to respond to each?
• Is he/she available on weekends?
• What are his/her hours of availability/operation?

4. Shop for your home, but keep this in mind. You may find a home and have your agent put in an offer, yet the seller may not be willing to wait until June… but then again if they know you are pre-approved they just might accept. One thing is for sure, you’ll never know if you don’t at least try. - Mon Feb 2 2009, 09:29