Step 1. Determine how much you can borrow
Buyers should investigate with a bank or mortgage broker to determine their borrowing capacity. This way you can head out to the market in a position to place an offer on your dream home.
Step 2 – Research the Market
It’s so easy these days to research the market; there is so much information available online. There is a myriad of factors that determine a property’s suitability and value such as proximity to schools, shopping centres, public transport and parks. Also, lifestyle locations are being increasingly important, so proximity to Cafés and restaurants are all desirable aspects of suburban living and favourable attributes to potential property buyers.
Step 3 – Needs and wants
It is critical to determine your needs v’s your wants. While we all want a private home theatre, outdoor pavilion and indoor basketball court, what we really need is four bedrooms, two-car garage and somewhere for the kids to play.
Step 4 – Inspecting the property
Take your time and refer back to the images and floor plan. Take notes if you need to. When you are house hunting and looking at several properties each week sometimes, it’s hard to remember which bathroom was in which house. If you require any additional inspections for any of the properties that we list please just email, call or text me, and I will arrange a viewing when convenient. We are happy to accommodate you whenever we can.
Step 5 – The offer
Before submitting an offer, you need to have a think about what conditions the offer will be subject to and also the time frames needed for these conditions to be met.
Typical conditions to include in your offer would be:
Subject to finance (usually 14-21 days)
Subject to pest inspection (usually 7-14 days)
Subject to building inspection (usually 7-14 days)
Subject to the sale of your current home – by negotiation
Subject to… anything you like really! We can work with you if there is something that fits your current situation if suitable it can be included
Buyers should take into consideration that sellers will examine all the terms and conditions, not only the offered price, before deciding to accept the offer. They may also choose to make a counter offer or reject an offer. Conditions (or lack of conditions) can make certain offers more attractive to the vendors.
All offers need to be in writing in the form of an “expression of interest”. This recommendation is for the benefit of you the buyer as it shows the seller that the buyer is serious and also alleviates discrepancies that can occur with verbal negotiations. I can supply an expression of interest form on request or if you have attended one of our open homes it will available at the open.
What happens when there is a multiple offer situation – When deciding to buy a house or other property and submitting an offer, sometimes I receive more than one offer at the same time. Multiple offers occur generally in a ‘seller’s market’ where competition for residential property is greatest and there are more buyers than there are properties for sale. I have obligation to the buyer to let them know if their offer is part of a multiple offer situation and will encourage the buyer to put their best possible offer forward (taking into consideration that the offered purchase price is only one of the terms of the offer).
Step 6 – The deposit
A buyer is encouraged to pay a deposit within 24 hours of signing the offer; generally, the deposit is 5-10% of the purchase price. Paying a larger deposit shows the seller the buyer is making a serious offer and showing their goodwill. Deposits are paid directly into the Vendors Solicitors trust account; they are most commonly paid by electronic funds transfer but can also be paid by cheque and direct deposit.
Step 7 – The legal side
Once an offer has been accepted, you the Buyer will need to sign a contract with the offer amount and also the conditions. This contract will then be presented to the owner for signing. Once all parties’ sign the contract will be dated, and that’s when the condition dates or number of days commence from. I, the agent will prepare the contracts and coordinate the signing by both parties. You need to engage a Solicitor or Conveyancer to act on your behalf. They will organise all transfers of titles and ensure that the buyer is protected in a legal sense and that all goes smoothly.
The buyer will also need to let their bank know they have found a property that they wish to purchase. The bank will require a copy of the contract to start the formal loan process. The bank may also need to conduct a valuation of the property. If access is needed for the valuation, please give the bank my details.
Step 8 – Conditional period.
It’s important that the buyer uses this time to arrange any inspections necessary i.e.,. Bank Valuations, Pest and Building Inspections etc.
AFTER PROPERTY GOES UNCONDITIONAL
Step 9 – Unconditional Contract Period
Settlement usually occurs about four weeks after the contract date. Once the contract becomes unconditional, the contract is binding, and it’s time to starting organising moving and packing. Or engaging a property manager to manage the property if your purchase is for an investment. We can help you co-ordinate access for this purpose if need be.
During this period its is important for a buyer to keep in touch with their solicitor through this time with regards to any issues that may arise approaching the settlement date. Buyers are encouraged to arrange a pre-settlement inspection with me, the agent to ensure that everything is per the contract conditions, noting any included chattels or excluded fittings. Pre-settlement inspections should be conducted once the property has been vacated by the seller or its occupants.
Step 10 Settlement Day
Commonly, the solicitor or settlement agent will attend the actual settlement on the buyer’s behalf, and both the seller’s and buyer’s solicitors will notify the agent once settlement has occurred. Only after an agent has received notification from both parties, can keys be released to the new property owner.
Thank you for letting us join you on this exciting journey – Happy buying!
Check-list
- Find out how much you can borrow and set a budget
- Do your research on desired locations etc
- Find a Solicitor or Conveyancer that will do your legals
- Once you have found the property, make an offer and complete Expression of Interest form
- Confirm acceptance of offer – agent will draw up contract for signing
- Sign contracts
- Liaise with chosen Solicitor/Conveyancer regarding conditions of purchase
- Notify Bank of purchase
- Arrange Building and Pest or other inspections required.
- Confirm outcome of inspections and finance prior to unconditional dates
Post Unconditional Contract
- Make arrangements for settlement and moving.
- Conduct pre-settlement inspect
Pick up keys and start the move.