Making an Offer

Before the offer to purchase is created, it is very important that you have been at least pre-qualified or better yet pre-approved by a lender.

This is one of the best negotiating tools a buyer can have. It shows the seller that you are financially able to purchase the home. After you have found the right home, it is time to prepare the offer.

When you are buying a home, there are many problems that the seller is obligated to disclose. For example, in most states, it is illegal to withhold information about major physical defects on the property, but these disclosures don’t always paint the entire picture of the home. Here are six questions you may want to ask that can offer additional insight about the prospective home before you make a final decision.

This question may help you evaluate the “real value” of the property. Is there something about the house the seller does not like? If so, you may be able to adjust the purchase offer accordingly.

This question can, in some instances, help the buyer negotiate a better deal-maybe even get the seller to carry part of the loan. However, it is important to remember that the purchase price is influenced by several factors, like the current market value and any improvements the seller may have made to the home. The original purchase price might not have anything to do with the current value of the house.

By asking the seller what he or she likes most and least about the property, you might get some interesting information. In a few cases, what a seller likes the most about a home might actually be something the buyer is looking to avoid. For example, if the seller describes his house as being in a “happening community,” the buyer might consider this a negative factor because the area may be too noisy or busy for his or her taste.

It is also a good idea to ask the seller if he or she has had any problems with the home while living there. Has the seller had problems with a leakage from the upstairs bedroom in the past? If so, even if the leak has been corrected, the floor and walls around the bathroom might have been damaged. You should also check that these items were repaired properly.

Use this answer to find out about any noisy neighbors, barking dogs, heavy airplane traffic or even planned changes to the community, such as a planned street widening. This may give you insight on why the seller is really moving.

Because the value of a community is usually greatly influenced by the public schools in the area, finding out the buyer’s perception can give you some insight about the quality of the area’s schools.

Knowing all you can about a prospective home, not only helps you decide if it’s the home of your dreams, but what offer to make as well. Your real estate professional can help you get your key questions answered and give you advice on how to evaluate your findings.

Carnell Webb

I am a Tulsa, Oklahoma native, but I’ve lived in Dallas for well over 20 years.

I have been in the business since 2013 and am a former Verizon Senior Business Sales Executive, educated in Computer Information Systems.

I’m a full-time real estate agent headquartered in the Aubrey, Texas, area of North Texas, providing service in Denton and surrounding counties – specializing in Residential sales. 

Stacey Booth

Stacey was born and raised near South Padre Island, Texas. She has been married to Bobby Booth for 30 years and has two daughters, Allyson and Amanda. Allyson recently married Konner Miller in February and Amanda will be headed to the University of Arkansas, Fall 2022.

She was an Office Manager for Woolam Gin for 10 years and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. She taught 2nd grade for 7 years before moving to Mena, Arkansas to open Black Bear Cabin Rentals in 2012. The best part of building a business from the ground up like Black Bear Cabins, was seeing it go from a concept to a thriving business. Her favorite part of the job was making connections with all of her customers.

The reason Stacey got into real estate is because she has always loved helping people and what better way to help people than to find the perfect place to call home. After selling Black Bear Cabins in 2020, she considered doing it then, but still had one of her daughters at home. Since her youngest daughter will be starting college in the fall, she knew this was the perfect time to start her new career. She has always loved the one-on-one personal contacts she has made with people, whether it was with her customers, students, or parents.

Her goal is to work hard for her clients whether it is through the purchase a new home or the sale of a current home. Her number one priority is to provide an experience where the customer feels valued and well taken care of.

Kristen Lewis

I was born and raised in Dallas and have lived in Cedar Hill for 15 years. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 15 years, and we have 3 beautiful children ages 7, 9 & 11.  

 

I have been in the multi-family industry for 16 years where I’ve had several roles. I started as a construction admin, and then moved to an Assistant Business Manager/ Business Manager Onsite. I am currently a Cost Accountant for all new construction in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. 

 

I am excited to switch gears toward my own business in Real Estate, where I will focus in the Cedar Hill, Midlothian, Waxahachie and surrounding areas. 

 

I just started my journey into Real Estate in November 2021, and I am excited to begin!

Shawna Martinez

Real estate is in my DNA! Second generation Realtor born and raised in North Texas. We know that no two clients are the same, so why work with someone who treats you that way? 

We offer concierge next level customer service. Do you need movers? We can help with that! Do you need your yard maintained? We can take care of that too! Maybe you need accommodations for your fur babies… or real babies…. we understand your needs are unique. 

We pride ourselves in building a relationship over a transaction, so whatever your needs are, we can help! Whether you are buying for your primary residence, second home, or investment property our team of experts will provide you with the most phenomenal customer service! Don’t get trapped in the ‘one size fits all’ Ferris Wheel of real estate. It truly matters who you choose to work with!