By CINDY HOLLABAUGH, President
Buying and selling a home is a dance. Your date to the dance is your Realtor®. Your Realtor® is going to want to meet you and get to know you and your housing needs. Your Realtor® will then take you to the dance.
The first of many dance partners will be your lender. If you are a buyer, it is always a good idea to talk to a lender prior to looking for a home so that you know what you can afford.
After you are approved for a mortgage and have found a home, you will start dancing with several different partners. These can include a title company, an inspector, an appraiser, surveyors, repair people like roofers, plumbers, and electricians, house cleaners, home improvement stores, and locksmiths. All of these partners will need different information from you that will end up helping you purchase your home.
Through all of this, your Realtor® will be there to guide you and answer your questions. The last dance is closing day at the title company when you will get the keys to your home and start the next chapter in your life.
If you are selling a home, you date to the dance is also your Realtor®. Your Realtor® will advise you on the things you need to do to get your home ready to sell. Your lender is also a dance partner. You will need to be aware of the payoff of your home so there won’t be any surprises at closing.
Once you have an offer on your home, you will also dance with inspectors, repair people, surveyors, appraisers, and title companies. Your Realtor® will always be there to help manage appointments and answer questions.
Your last dance also will be at the title company where your turn over your keys and start the next chapter in your life.
Los Alamos Association of Realtors® has 43 member Realtors® who are knowledgeable professionals about real estate in Los Alamos County and the surrounding area. If you are in the market to buy or sell, call one today!
Los Alamos Association of Realtors® also has the support of 16 local affiliates: Absolute Disaster Control, Assured Home Services, Caspersen Builders, Community Bank, D & P Lock Service, Eddie’s Plumbing and Heating, First Mortgage Company, Gateway Mortgage, JE Home Inspections, Los Alamos National Bank, P & L Housekeeping Service, Professional Inspection Services, Stewart Title, The Finishing Touch, Title Guaranty and Zia Credit Union.
If you need information about Realtors® in Los Alamos, the affiliates, Los Alamos, and buying or selling your home, visit our webpage, www.laaor.org, follow us on Facebook, www.facebook/LAAORealtors, or follow us on Twitter, @LAAORealtors.
