Building Yourself a Dream Team

Along the path of your home buying experience, you might need a few helpers along the way.  Here is list of some of the professionals that can help you with various tasks.

Once you get an accepted offer on the property you want, the first thing you will want to do is call a home inspector to visit the property and give you a detailed report about the condition of the property.  They will look at the framing, roof, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, flooring and the rest of the systems of the house.  They can also test the water to make sure it is clean and safe to drink.  Some inspectors also do septic system and pest inspections as well.  Our team has a few inspectors we work with regularly and can make a recommendation, but you are always free to choose whoever you want to work with. 

After your real estate professional has negotiated a price and terms of the deal, you will want to speak with an attorney to get the rest of your home buying deal across the finish line.  Your attorney will guide you through the legal process and layout the terms of the contract that you will need to sign with the seller. They will make sure the contract is fair and works as much to your favor as possible. The attorney will contact a title agency (depending on the state) and coordinate between them, the bank attorney, and the seller's attorney to get the deal to the closing table.  They will also be at the closing to guide you through the many papers you will need to sign and instruct you on legal matters regarding the deal.

Your mortgage lender should be one of the first people you add to your team.  They will be the ones to work with you to assign your budget and the type of loan you should go for based on your goals and financial situation.  They will work with underwriters who process your loan within their firm and will walk you through the financial side of the home purchase.  They will explain escrow, downpayment, your monthly payments, taxes and how they all intermingle.

  A title agent is responsible for searching through public records to make sure that there are no issues with the title to a home. The title agent's responsibilities include:

• Managing the ordering of homeowner's association estoppel letters for payoffs; as well as surveys and clear lien searches.
• Analyzing foreclosure files marked with title defects, and creating/implementing plan for resolution.
• Locating and researching probate records.
• Abstracting title chains for client, and researching title and probate issues.
• Searching for possible liens, or unpaid debt, on the property.
• Looking at the property's transaction history to make sure each transfer was legal.
• Ensuring there are no legal restrictions on the property, like leases or additional owners.
• Selling title insurance to buyers that verifies and protects their research and work.
• Holding deposits in escrow accounts until after the closing.

 A land surveyor is responsible for measuring and mapping the physical features of land, properties, and construction sites. Their primary role includes:

• Determining property boundaries
• Providing accurate information about terrain and features
• Assisting in real estate, construction, and environmental management projects.

  Engineers can explain the structural, technical, key systems, and environmental concerns among others related to the property. With this information, buyers are better prepared to set a realistic price when it comes to its true market value of the property they want to buy.  Engineers may work for the town, work on the planning of a new or repair of a septic system and work on the structural elements of a foundation, just as a few examples of what they do. 

Architects can analyze a property's structural integrity, design potential and compliance with local regulations, providing a comprehensive analysis that sets them apart in a competitive market.  Architects also play a crucial role in designing and planning the contruction of buildings, bridges, roads and other structures in real estate development.

There are many types of contractors out there ranging from roofers, painters, plumbers, electricians, framers and so on.... You will most likely need the services of some of them at some point and time of your home ownership.  If you choose to utilize an FHA 203K loan, for example, you will need to choose sub-contractors or a general contractor depending on the amount of work needed to bring the house up to acceptable FHA standards.  You can always contact our team for recommendations since we work with contractors all the time and have vetted a great deal of them.  You can always choose whoever you want to work with.