Yes, I know. Nobody likes rules.
Consider these as “Nicole’s experience-based guidelines that apply to most buyer’s situations which help manage your expectations to ensure you have a positive purchasing experience.” The first title was simple.
These ‘rules’ are what I have found in my real estate career to be true when purchasing a home in Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and the surrounding areas. Although each market is unique, these ‘rules’ remain consistent.
Here we go:
RULE #1 – You’re going to find the house of your dreams, and someone else will buy it.
This one is the toughest pill to swallow, but it is the truth. You will find the perfect house, and we will likely lose out in multiple offers to a higher bidder. It may happen more than once.
It’s supply and demand.
The number of houses for sale (the supply) has been traditionally low in K/W and Guelph, while the number of buyers (the demand) is at an all-time high, especially with people looking to retire and settle in our region from out of town. This supply & demand phenomenon creates a ‘seller’s market’ in which the seller is in control and can get a higher price for their house.
The seller is looking for top dollar, no conditions, and a closing date that suits their circumstances. The best offer that satisfies all the seller’s needs will win. Some people want a house so bad that they’re prepared to offer an insane amount of money over the asking price (and market value, for that matter).
This is not my game, nor should it be yours.
As a buying agent, I do not have access to private or restricted information. I am not allowed to ask: “how much do we need to offer to beat the highest bidder” Lucky for you, I have plenty of experience in this realm and have a game plan that will help us win.
Here’s The Plan: We search for a house that is a perfect fit for you. We will create an offer that is not only attractive to a seller but fits your budget and needs. We will avoid making emotional and rapid decisions to buy a house because, in my experience, this never works out well for any of us. This game plan will leave you confident with your purchase and avoid that ever-common buyer’s remorse.
RULE #2 – Your financing needs to be ROCK-SOLID.
You’ve heard the old adage that location is everything in real estate? Well, it’s still important, but financing is now equally as important.Having rock-solid, locked-in financing is the most important step in the buyer’s game these days if we are to succeed in finding a house.
Having your pre-approval etched in stone is MISSION CRITICAL. Because when we make our offer, it is more than likely that we will not have a financing condition if we want to be competitive. If our offer is successful, it forms part of a contract that has important legal implications. If your financing falls through during the closing stage, you could lose your deposit and could get sued for damages if we are responsible for delaying the sale of a home.
Not to worry – we’ll have this chat in person to make sure you are well-prepared as we venture towards purchasing your perfect home.
[Side note: I’m happy to send you some suggestions for mortgage agents & brokers in the Guelph area that will provide you with amazing service.]
RULE #3 – Emotions will disrupt your game.
Notice how the top athletes don’t show emotion in the playoffs? That’s because they know that uncoiling during game time is what the other team is hoping for.
The same concept applies to real estate (especially in Rule #1). The sooner you detach emotionally from the buying process (like not planning what colour you’ll paint the master bedroom or where your kids will play with their potential neighbourhood friends), the easier it is to stomach the losses.
Our playoff series will likely go to game 7. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Trust me. Victory will come, and it will be glorious.
RULE #4 – This process is an emotional roller coaster ride.
See Rule #3 above. As hard as it is to detach emotionally, this process will get emotional. Try your best.
RULE #5 – Paperwork sucks, but it’s important.
The purchasing process leans heavily on paperwork. Lucky for you, most of it requires a digital signature!Although it may be tempting to click and sign at your heart’s content, I want to make sure that you fully understand what you’re signing every step of the way.
What you sign during the buying process has legal implications, so we will work through the documents together!
Nicole Pauli is an experienced buying agent in the Guelph, Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo areas who aims to find the perfect home for her clients while expertly navigating the curveballs of today’s real estate market.
Interested in beginning your buyer journey with Nicole? Let’s chat - contact me here!