Buying

BUYING SERVICES

Buying a home is an exciting time, whether you’re entering the market for the first time or searching for a dream property where you can retire. The Hinds Team are experts on Seattle’s many neighborhoods, and can help you keep the search focused and productive

Before you begin

The first step in any home search is deciding what you need out of your new property. Consider some of the questions below as you decide what kind of home you’re looking for.

Where do I want to live?
How many bedrooms do I need?
What features would be nice to have (a fireplace, modern kitchen,
big yard, etc.) that I could possibly live without?
What kind of commute will I have to work or my child’s school?

As you ask yourself these questions, make a list of needs and wants for your new home. Any home you consider should have everything on your “need” list, while items from the “want” list are a nice plus.

Define your budget

Next, outline your budget for your new home. The Hinds Team can recommend trusted local lenders for you to consult. Make sure you get pre-approved for a loan, as this will make you a more qualified buyer down the line when you’re ready to make an offer.

Visit a mortgage broker
Get pre-approved for a loan
Only look for houses that are within your budget

House hunting

Now comes the fun part! It’s time to begin your search in earnest. Here are some of the ways you can begin looking for a home:

The Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS)
Online, through Google, Zillow, Trulia, Windermere.com and more
Word-of-mouth from friends and neighbors
Open houses
Private tours
Listings selected for you by the Hinds Team

Remember, there’s no right or wrong number of listings to visit before making an offer on a home. You don’t have to rush this part, but make sure you have a plan of action ready to go for when you find a home you love.

Make an offer

In our competitive market, it’s possible that you’ll have to put in offers on a few homes before you’re successful. With that in mind, here are some elements of the offer process to consider.

Initial offer amount (Are you offering above the asking price?)
Earnest money
Pre-approval for a home loan
Escalator clause
Buyer letter

The Hinds Team will work with you to decide the best approach, based on your finances, competition, neighborhood and unique positioning of the listing you’re bidding on.

Purchase and sale

When a seller accepts your offer, the Hinds Team will do their due diligence to ensure the terms of the sale are favorable for you.

Date of Possession Negotiation
Contingencies Negotiation
Earnest Money Negotiation
Fixtures/Personal Property Negotiation

Inspection and negotiation

Your interests will be represented and protected as the Hinds Team works out any contingencies with the seller’s broker.

Broker Presence at Inspection
Vendor Bids and Project Valuation
Negotiation with Selling Broker
Scheduling Repairs and Walkthrough

Closing

You won’t have to worry too much about the details, as the Hinds Team will shift into project management mode to make sure all the paperwork is completed on time.

After documents are signed and the sale is recorded with the county, the house is yours!

I have been working with the Hinds Team for over the past 25 years and I highly recommend them to all. They do an outstanding job of listening to exactly what you are looking for and spending countless hours researching neighborhoods, homes and communities that will meet your criteria. They have an amazing instinct for how houses should be priced based upon amenities and location and then isn’t afraid to negotiate with an informed position. They also have done a fabulous job representing homes we wished to sale. Their abilities to help us get organized and put our best foot forward with a showing has yielded superior results. If you are looking for agents that are trust worthy, hardworking and really knows the market, they are the ones.

As usual the Hinds Team were at the top of their game. I’ve been buying and selling real estate since 1970 and the Hinds Team are in a class of their own. As superlative realtors they are true professionals. They are highly skilled and know how to deal with every aspect of buying and selling real estate. I totally trust their judgment and they puts their heart and soul into every transaction. Bonus… They are a pure delight to work with. It’s always a pleasure to work with the Hinds Team. Their support doesn’t end with the closing. They continues after the sale to provide guidance, referrals for workman and services and advice. This is real estate heaven.

The Hinds Team are really more than just realtors. They have always beenguides for our family. They did more than help us find a house. They helped us find a home and walked us through every part of the puzzle, including always advocating for our needs and looking out for our best interest even if it meant less benefit for themselves. They are so trusted to us that our entire extended family trusts their advice and has insisted on using their services as well. We used other another realtor previously and never felt as cared for. That's why we found the Hinds Team. If you want realtors who know the market thoroughly and always put your needs in the forefront, you want Kathryn and Taylor on your side. You won't look for another realtor again.

It's Time to Take the Plunge

Dive deep into real estate with the Hinds Team

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