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Damage previously hidden by furniture.
Trails worn in the carpeting, and pristine spots previously covered by furniture.
The appliances are leaving, too.
Switching over phone service and utilities. Tricky if it's a weekend. Trickier still if you have to be there on a work day when the utility people come. Trickier still if you have to sign up in person and you're moving from across the country.
Doors too narrow to fit your furniture through.
Stairs and landings too narrow or winding to fit furniture through.
The electrical outlets are too few and aren't grounded.
No phone jack in the bedroom or home office.
Sellers moving out at the same time you're moving in. Or after.
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A low debt-to-income ratio.
Lots of income.
Little debt.
Debt paid off. This is much better than having never had debt. There's something strange, apparently, about someone who's never bought on credit or taken out a loan. Paying off your credit balance before you get the bill is no good, either.
Check your credit rating before the bank does. If there are areas that need explaining, don't wait for the bank to ask about them.
Most of all, you must demonstrate that do you actually need to borrow money.
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Not inspecting a property. The law requires inspections for many types of properties. Common sense mandates it in all cases.
Hiring a contractor to do the inspection. Such a person may have a vested interest in finding problems, which they could "fix" for a price.
Not hiring a full-time inspector.
Hiring an inspector without errors-and-omissions insurance. If an inspector overlooks something that later costs you money to fix, errors-and-omission insurance can help make amends.
Not being present during the inspection.
Looking for the lowest-priced inspection.
Accepting wiring that isn't faulty, but is outdated. Outdated wiring can make adding appliances very expensive. It can make minor repairs confusing and potentially dangerous to a novice.
Obsessing about the obvious, but less important things. A leaky faucet is relatively easy to fix. Slow-draining toilets and tubs could be a sign of problems bigger than clogs.
Rejecting a house over a fixable problem, rather than asking the sellers to pay for the repair or lower the price.
Missing termite damage.
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Provide honest answers to your questions
Keep you informed about your situation
Figure out your needs
Watch out for your interests
Work in your interests throughout the buying process
Negotiate on your behalf with sellers and others in the process
Help you throughout the process and inform you about each step
Suggest alternatives
Recommend inspectors, mortgage companies, etc.
Help you understand your closing options
Follow through after the sale
Be accessible and return calls promptly
Work around your schedule
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Is the agent a licensed broker?
Is he or she a full-time agent?
What regions and property types does the agent specialize in? Make sure the agent knows the area well.
Does the agent handle property in your price range?
How long has he or she been an agent?
Does the agent work primarily with buyers or sellers? Experienced agents work half the time with sellers and the other half with buyers. Newer agents work mostly with buyers. Agents who work primarily with sellers may be the wrong fit for what you need as a buyer.
How many other buyers and sellers is the agent working with now? A good agent often works with five-12 clients at a time. An agent with more than 12 clients may be too busy to focus on your homebuying needs.
What kind of office support does the agent have?
Ask for a list of the agent's transactions over the last year. Call buyers who have purchased a home in your price range or neighborhood.
Does the agent hold any professional designations?
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