Whether you are relocating from across the country, or across town, the process of finding your new home can be overwhelming. Let me assist you in finding the perfect home for you.

You can begin your search right now by completing the Find Your Ideal Home form or you can browse the market yourself on the Property Search page. Of course, if you prefer, just give me a call at (802) 447-3210 so I can help you focus your search. I know the Bennington, VT area.

Every home search begins with an analysis of your basic "must have" list of amenities. How many bedrooms? How many bathrooms? Garage? Location? But it's important to go deeper than that. I want to know how you will use your home. Do you like to cook? If so, we need to pay special attention to the kitchen. Do you entertain frequently? Then a home with a nice flow for large gatherings is important. Do you have special furniture (such as a grand piano) that needs to be accommodate? Is a main floor master bedroom critical? I'll take the time to get to know you and your needs so you can be confident that any home I show you will fit your individual lifestyle.

One of the first steps in purchasing a new home is to determine your budget. This is best accomplished by talking to a mortgage professional, either at your bank or a local mortgage company. Let's not waste your time showing you homes that don't fit your budget, or conversely, homes that are less than you can comfortably afford. If you need a referral to a local bank or mortgage broker, please contact me and I'll be happy to provide a list of professionals to choose from.

Your Bank or Mortgage Broker will provide you with a pre-qualification letter which is an important part of any purchase offer that you make on a property. Please ensure that I have a copy of this letter for my file.

After you have selected a lender and initiated the loan approval process, let's start looking at houses!

Representation

Early in the process, we will discuss representation with you. RE/MAX Maple Leaf Realty is an Agency that represents Sellers as Clients and Buyers as Customers.

The main difference between a Client and a Customer is how confidentiality is handled. It is our duty to provide a commitment of confidentiality to our Seller Clients only. All other aspects of our service is the same for both Customers (Buyers) and Clients (Sellers).

Most Buyers decide to work with us as Customers once they understand the full range of services that we provide. You are free to change your mind at any time and hire a Buyer Broker if you feel the need. Please be aware that representation and compensation are two separate issues. If you choose to work with multiple Agents, you must disclose this to all Agents you are working with. You will also need to disclose which properties you have already seen, and with whom.

If you choose to hire a Buyer Broker, you need to make him or her aware of any work that has already been done by our Agency so that we can discuss compensation with them. Also be sure that you understand the commitment you will be making with the Buyer Broker. Be sure you are comfortable with the time period you are committing to in your Buyer Agency Agreement.

At our first meeting I will review and ask you to sign an Agency Disclosure Statement acknowledging that you understand the difference between a Client and a Customer. Please review this document and let me know if you have any questions.

What Services Do I Offer My Buyer Customers?

I work extremely hard to keep you informed of all new listings. With 21st century technology, I can arrange for you to be notified as soon as a new property that meets your needs is listed on the MLS. Notification can be via phone, e-mail or fax, whichever you prefer.

To be a knowledgeable Buyer, you need to have access to the latest information available in your preferred market area, and to be kept updated on the market activity. I commit to being your best resource for up-to-the-minute real estate information in the Bennington, VT area.

While I can and will educate you on the state of the general market and provide insight into the area that you are interested in moving to, I cannot assist you in determining your offer price. This is a decision that you must make on your own, depending on your own individual situation and needs. I will be very careful to instruct you not reveal to me what your "top dollar" for the property is. Basically if you interact with me the same way you would interact directly with the Seller, then you'll be safe from revealing too much. With the Seller's permission, I can share the terms the Seller prefers on items such as deposit amounts, contingencies and possible closing dates.

The Buyer Customers I work with usually have no trouble assessing the market once they have been out to view homes.

Do We Ever Buyer Broker?

Yes. There are certain circumstances where Buyer Brokering is appropriate for our Agency.

If you are interested in a specific property that is not listed or is "For Sale By Owner" and are only interested in that one property, I am able to work with you as a Client in that situation.

A Special Note to First Time Home Buyers

The process of buying a home can be exhilarating, but overwhelming. It may seem to you that there are mountains of paperwork to review, unfamiliar legal documents to sign and that's before we even discuss your mortgage! I can help you sort through the process and break it down into very manageable chunks that will make sense to you. I will also be there every step of the way to answer questions about the process, and help you wherever I can.

Most first-time homebuyers have no idea what to do first. If this sounds like you, call me today and we can start you on the path to home ownership. I truly enjoy working with first-time Buyers; the satisfaction of helping someone purchase a home and start to build equity in that home is priceless. I look forward to working with you.

More information for buyers

We are committed to helping our Buyer Customers realize their dream of home ownership. We back up this commitment with the following policies:

1. You will always speak with a professional Realtor® when you call my office.

2. You will always be able to reach me, via e-mail, cell phone and voice mail, even at home during the evening or on weekends.

3. Our firm has a full time staff and Office Manager. We work closely together to ensure that questions regarding schools, community services, local taxes or any other specific area of concern are satisfactorily answered.

4. If you are considering relocating to Southern Vermont, I am happy to give you a tour of the nearby towns and neighborhoods. I will help you familiarize yourself with the area so you can make an informed decision about your possible relocation.

Don't choose a home on paper; choose your home by going out with me and seeing the surroundings. It is more important to me that you learn about the area than for me to sell you a house right away. If I can convey to you how special our area is and help you focus your search on a town or neighborhood - the house buying will surely follow!

It all starts with an initial conversation so I can begin learning about your goals for your next home. Call me today at (802) 447-3210 so we can start you on the path to a new home.