Moving to Corvallis, Albany or Philomath Oregon? A Summary of the Process
The best that I can say about what I do is that I throw myself into the process–110%. In terms of experience, it started when I was a kid. My family moved 14 times before I went to high school (some big, some small, some far, some close, some temporary and some more long term) so I totally “get-it” in terms of what it means to move. I will always be truthful with you (even if it is an opinion you don’t want to hear) when we are discussing the pros and cons of properties and locations. I think you will find that I recognize this process is not about me, but about you and your needs. I have very strong knowledge of the market here in Corvallis and the surrounding communities (Albany, Philomath, Lebanon etc.) I am not at all familiar with the real estate market in some of the other nearby cities… they may or may not be a good choice for you if you are considering a long-distance relocation. I would be happy to assist you with your agent search for those other communities. I cannot be effective in them and it would be a disservice to you if I attempted it.
I have been in this business for many, many years (since I was 19 actually, so much more than 30). I have either sold real estate or worked in the related mortgage lending industry. The combination of lending and real estate is a powerful tool. I know the ins-and-outs. I understand the closing process, title and the myriad of other details associated with closing a transaction. Additionally, my husband (and I) have been in the home building business for quite some time. His current efforts are concentrated on cabinet making, but never-the-less, I have a solid foundation (no pun intended) in terms of general construction knowledge.
At the risk of sounding as if I am bragging, I have been the top agent in the Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers organization for the last three years and have consistently performed at awards levels for the last 10. I am a bit of a carrot chaser (self-admitted, no 12 step program for that), but it is fun and makes me tick. I really like to get plaques and recognition.
I work by myself (unless I am out of town. In that case, a well-qualified agent in my office covers my work). I do not turn people over to assistants. I am technologically adept and can communicate effectively through email and the web… I carry a smart phone, get my emails in the field on it and generally keep track of my life that way. Of course, I can operate manually as well (phone, fax, write a letter, etc.). When I travel, I carry my laptop and gear with me. That helps me to help my clients by staying on top of their needs and minimizes the need to interact with my coverage person. No one can “cover” as effectively as I can do myself.
I am excited to see what kind of property you are interested in, what you are looking for in terms of size, location, and “feel”.
Once you’ve established your search criteria, I can arrange to send automatic emails of properties that meet your criteria to you… That is not very unique in terms of technology. Additionally, I’ll keep an eye out for those properties that are just coming on the market and haven’t hit the Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service (MLS) yet or for properties that don’t absolutely fit the criteria, but may be interesting enough or close enough to not want to miss. Anything that’s really exciting from a long distance, can be researched and additional photos and information provided.
After you find just the right place, the real work starts. That’s when we negotiate! I am a very strong negotiator. It’s important to know how far to push. The process should not be one where the seller or the seller’s agent becomes alienated or fearful. The other side of the table cannot be effective under those kinds of pressures. I’ve seen good transactions go bad because of careless negotiation tactics. There’s a balance between being “tough” and being a “push over”.
Once the initial negotiation is complete and a contract is formed, proper inspections should be performed. I believe strongly in the benefits of good inspections. You need to know as much as possible about the property you select. We also need to make sure that the right (things that are of concern beyond the “standard”) inspections are completed. Those will vary from property to property. Once the inspections are in-hand, then it’s time to negotiate again. The seller always loves a report where the buyer does not ask for anything, most buyers would love a clean report as well. Unfortunately, that does not often happen. So, back to the table to discuss what will and will not be taken care of by the seller and/or at the seller’s expense. This phase is crucial and requires careful attention to time frames, in order to assure that the buyer does not inadvertently miss a deadline and lose the opportunity to negotiate or escape the transaction.
If you need lender options, I have a list of lenders with whom my customers have enjoyed working. Many of my customers are good shoppers and have found the rates/fees of the lenders on my list to be very competitive. Of course, if you have a lender you want to work with, that’s fine too. You should know it’s very important (back to the negotiations subject) to be preapproved and able to produce a letter to that effect to accompany your offer. This demonstrates to the seller that as a buyer, you are prepared (serious) and able to purchase.
During the whole process, I take care of about a million little things. Most of them you never even see. However, I know that they need to be done, to make the whole process very smooth. That is my long-term goal, to make the house buying aspect of a long distance move as pleasant as possible. There are enough other details associated with school and work and moving that makes not worrying about the details of a home purchase transaction a relief.
Oh, and just a note, things are different here than in other areas, so even if you’ve purchased a home before, the process may be slightly or vastly different than your prior experience. Real estate practices on the east coast are vastly different from the west, and there are even small differences between Oregon and California (well even northern and southern California don’t do everything alike!) We can talk through those differences so that you feel comfortable with the process.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated.