FEATURING: Lydia Russo, Broker, Owner, Russo Real Estate, Teaneck, New Jersey

Are you looking for a new home for 2016? Have you found that just-right home in the just-right neighborhood?

Here is the best advice we can offer you to have your offer accepted and to keep the deal moving to closing:

1. Make a good first, second, third, etc. impression. When previewing a property for the first time or revisiting for the umpteenth time, you should always be polite to the owner(s). They also love this house and may have called this “home” for many years or even as few as one year, but they still love it and have made many beautiful family memories there. Don’t insult them by talking about things that need repairs or what you want to change and rip out, even if they are not home when you are there.

2. Spring sales are on their way. The interest rates have already increased and may continue to rise. It is important to connect with a local New Jersey mortgage broker or bank to get a pre-approval to submit with your offer. You also need to begin gathering many documents that the mortgage broker or bank will need to formalize your loan. These documents include tax returns and pay stubs for everyone who is named on the loan. The loan cannot be processed without these and other documents. The longer it takes you to gather these documents and provide them to the mortgage broker or bank, the longer it will take you to get to closing.

3. When you work with your Realtor® to write up and submit your offer, don’t start your offer at a price that is too low. Make a decent offer so that the seller realizes that you are a serious and sincere buyer. As a special touch you might write an introductory letter to the seller, telling them about your family and your intentions. You should also thank them for letting you preview their home. Once the offer is presented, the seller may respond with a counter-offer. It is wise to negotiate immediately to let the seller know that you are still interested.

4. If you are selling your home or an investment property to purchase this new home, make sure that you are moving along with this deal as well, providing all of the needed documents and meeting all of the deadlines. An offer to purchase with the contingency to sell something is often the last offer that a seller will consider.

5. We recommend that all buyers do a home inspection. If you do your home inspection prior to presenting an offer you will be a step ahead. This will also let the seller know that you are a very serious buyer and they should work with you. When you do your home inspection, whether before making an offer or after your offer is accepted, if the seller is present, you should not discuss any terms, prices or details. Your Realtor® and attorney will assist you.

6. Once your offer is accepted you should continue to stay away from addressing the seller about anything. Let them work on planning their move. This is a very difficult time for the seller and their family, especially if they have lived in the home for many years and have raised their family there. If you need to make any other visits (architect, contractor, electrician, etc.) try to keep these at a minimum and always work with your Realtor® to schedule these. Even if the home is vacant, these repeated visits can become exasperating to everyone involved.

Russo Real Estate is a family-owned business that has been servicing the northern Bergen County area of New Jersey for over 40 years. Lydia Russo and her son Robert offer a personal service not often found in large, corporate-owned agencies. Our agents have the knowledge, experience and dedication needed to make the process of either buying or selling a home an easy one. From start to finish our agents will provide assistance with any of your questions. Please visit us online at www.RussoRealEstate.com or call us directly at (201) 837-8800.

By Lydia Russo