Your Buyer’s Guide for Atlanta Homeownership
Are you worried about securing an Atlanta home that meets and even exceeds your expectations?
Let's talk about Georgia inventory: There are currently more buyers looking for houses than there are houses for sale. And Atlanta is an increasingly popular place to live. That means our overall GA real estate inventory levels are at an all-time low and buyers are often forced to compete with other offers to secure a home that meets and exceeds expectations.
Maybe you've heard of friends who have missed out on their #1 choice of home because the seller chose another offer? Or that houses are selling for much higher than the listing price? While there are many challenges to navigate in the current GA landscape, Levent Living Real Estate is here to help guide you on your real estate journey.
Our goal at Levent Living is to provide you with the right information at the right time on your homeownership journey! And helping my buyer's offer stand out is one of my superpowers - so I wanted to share my industry-leading expertise and the successful strategies I apply to my own buyers in this checklist!
Check out the strategic offer checklist below to prepare and learn the secrets of house hunting in this market.
Our Strategic Offer Checklist
Educate yourself on the market and understand the criteria of what you’re looking for in a home before house hunting - be informed (aka ask me anything!)
Secure your pre-approval before you start touring homes - a seller will NOT consider your offer without it
Be prepared to Move FAST - When a house hits the market, contact your agent immediately, try to get in as soon as possible, and be ready to make a quick decision
Start with submitting your highest and best offer from the start - consider using an escalation clause (to be discussed in more detail during our consultation)
Determine what we can do to accommodate sellers and help smooth the process when we can - when do they want to close, what is most important to them, and how can we help? Do they need a few days after closing to move comfortably?
Put down a significant earnest money deposit to demonstrate your commitment and financial security (Don’t worry, this is refundable!)
Keep contingencies to a MINIMUM - only include what you absolutely need to. For every added contingency, the less appealing your offer will look
Talk with a lender to determine if you would qualify for waiving the appraisal contingency (or be willing to pay the difference if it appraises low)
Do not stress about inclusions and personal property - Focus on what is important. If the wine fridge isn't included, don't try to include it
Ensure strong financing terms and use a reputable lender (which we can help with!) This can make a huge difference
Keep any contingency timeframes on the shorter end if possible
Write a letter to the seller - tell them what you love about the house, compliment their style. Tell them exactly how you imagine yourself living there
Work with your agent (me!) to create strong appraisal language and offers (Ie. potentially guarantee an extra $5,000 return if the appraisal comes in low)
Have your agent (me!) reserve an inspection appointment in advance so when you do win the offer, you already have a date and time reserved and shorter due diligence when needed which makes the offer more appealing
Work with an agent who communicates well has a quick response time and is easy to get along with (like me!). Listing Agents will not want to work with a pushy agent
Know all of your expenses with your lender so you are completely prepared financially (to follow any of the financial strategies listed here)
This list is designed to inform you of best practices and suggested options for writing a strategic offer! It’s not required to leverage all of these suggestions as it will ultimately depend on the house, what is important to the sellers, and what the smartest decision is for you as a buyer. With Levent Living, we can walk through and discuss this list in more detail together and decide which strategies will be best for you!
As your dedicated Realtor, I’m committed to making your home buying experience as meaningful, fun and stress-free as possible. Having a plan in place before you start house hunting is the best way to set yourself up for success.
To start living your best life and prepare for your house hunting journey today, click below to contact us!
