WHAT IS THE BUYING PROCESS?

From Dream Home to YOUR Home with Lois Miller Group

Each one of us has been in your shoes as homebuyers. Let’s sit down and talk about your dream house and how we’re going to get you there. Below is an overview of what you can expect when working with our team.

1)    Dare to Dream!

This is one of our favorite parts of the home-buying process! This is where you and our agent talk and dream about your needs and wants in a new home and your buying budget. Are you looking for an extra space for your home office or for the kids’ distance learning?  A bigger backyard for your best furry friend or the hot tub you’ve always wanted? Maybe a main level with an open-concept floor plan?  We LOVE spending time getting to know you, your family and what you’re looking for in a new home!

2)    Lenders and Getting Pre-Qualified

Many buyers apply for a loan and obtain approval before they find the home they want to buy so they can know what they can afford and what their house payment will be. Lending can be a confusing step, but you won’t have to do it on your own! We are here to help you understand what to do, and how to do it. We have trusted lending partners we can get you in touch with to get the financing ball rolling! It's a free, no obligation phone call, and then you'll know where you're at!

3)    Start the Search

Once we understand what you’re looking for, we will set you up with a personalized MLS (Multiple Listing Service) search which is tailored to you exactly so you’ll only get listings that fit your parameters, and you can receive notifications of these listings the moment they hit the market!  This search will include foreclosures and estates. And it's accurate, too.  No more finding out the house is already sold!

4)    Showings

When you find a house (or 10!) that you’d like to see, let your agent know and we’ll set up a showing for you and the agent to walk through it together. We’re also happy and available to do virtual showings with you if you’d prefer that for COVID-safety reasons or even moving from out of town!  End up loving that home? Let’s go to the next step!

5)    Submitting an Offer

This is crunch time!  You and your agent will be communicating a lot during this step to write and submit an offer to the seller. Our team lead, Lois Miller, always says, “An expert negotiator wins the house!” And this couldn’t be truer for each one of our agents on the team! Negotiating is a fine art that comes from a passion for the chase and years of experience in real estate, specifically the local central Ohio market. Columbus is an extremely competitive market. We are here to advocate and fight for YOU! This can be a nerve-wracking stage to wait and hear if your offer was accepted or countered. But don’t worry! Your agent will be talking with you the whole time, keeping you updated on what’s going, and there to answer any and all questions you have!

6)    In-Contract, Inspection, and Appraisal

Some of the best news is hearing that the seller has accepted your offer and both parties have signed your offer, thus officially putting you in contract! During this phase, you’ll schedule an inspection to be done, and your lender will have an appraisal done of the house. Your agent will work with you to make sure these next steps are completed and that you’re confident in walking onto that final step.

7)    Closing Time!

Your agent will be with you at your closing, along with an agent from the Title company to go over all the documents. Closing takes about an hour where you’ll sign the papers (a lot of them!) and get the keys to your new home.