Drew Doran Buyers Guide (Conservative)

Cal BRE 01887354

BU YER ’S G UID E

ABOUT ABOUT DREW DORAN Drew Doran was born and raised in the Redwood city, CA in the Bay Area and is the 4th generation to call this beautiful place home. He has managed to become well known in the Bay Area real estate market as one of the best luxury agents in all of Silicon Valley.

Drew’s ability to negotiate is a character trait that is essential to the success of any agent.

He also excels in providing his clients with the most information possible to help them make an educated decision. “I’ve always excelled at helping people, and I feel like I’ve found a great career in real estate in my hometown and the place that I love.”

Drew is also accessible. He believes that communication is a key element in all business activities and ventures. As a young entrepreneur, I hated not being able to get a hold of people. “I always said to myself, I would never be that way and am always making myself as reachable as humanly possible.” Drew is an advocate for quality customer service and communication. He knows how busy things can be at times, but thinks it is important to always touch base and keep all parties informed at all times. It’s just another great quality Drew Doran has.

Other than selling homes Drew loves spending time with his loved ones, family, and friends. He believes in creating long-lasting relationships and also believes in making himself as accessible as possible. Drew loves working out, cooking, hiking, gardening, fishing, riding dirtbikes, snowboarding, traveling, going to the beach, and hanging by the fire on a warm summer night. Drew’s love for these activities is a great example of the many activities to enjoy in and around the Bay Area from San Francisco all the way to San Jose.

Drew Doran

Cell: 650.766.2080 Office: 650.285.5450 drew@drewdoran.com

B U Y I N G W ELCO ME T O PALO ALTO GO CARDINALS! Palo Alto is home to Stanford University, located in the heart of Silicon Valley. It is one of the world’s leading teaching and research universities.

Palo Alto also has some of the wealthiest and most educated residents in the country. Go Figure. Go Cardinals!

W I T H

D R E W

WHY CHOOSE DREW CHOOSE ME FIRST! When you’re looking for a partner to help you find a home, you’ve come to the right place. The experience, dedication and strong communication you’ll receive with me will help ensure you find the best home possible that suits all your needs.

1. THE LOCAL ADVANTAGE Take advantage of a broad spectrum of technologies and tools that help us find your next home.

2. INTERNET TOOLS Since the lion’s share of home buyers starts their search on the internet, searching for homes on search engines is essential. You’ll gain access to view all potential properties across all real estate websites. This will allow you see all available homes to help you find the home the best suits you.

3. WORKING THE MARKET It’s important to “work the network.” We can work together to find possibilities through networking with other agents to see all possible listings that may be available.

4. PERSONAL TOUCH Technology plays a huge role in helping us find a home, but it takes an experience agent with great communication skills, face-to-face interaction, and a substantial ability to negotiate in order to not only find the right home for you, but also at the right price.

RELAX! WE LOOK AFTER THE DETAILS Of course, we will take care of the thousands of details involved with your property search so you can move forward with your life. We want you to feel confident in knowing everything will go smoothly from start to finish.

- Drew Doran (Realtor)

BUYERS INFORMATION THE RIGHT WAY STEPS TO BUYING A HOME....

Let me help you every step of the way. When purchasing a home, you are faced with a multitude of decisions! The primary one is whether you are actually prepared to purchase a home. Locating the perfect home is not always an easy task, and obtaining a mortgage loan can be a complex and tiring process. Although, once you have determined that you are ready to move forward with the required effort towards your home-purchasing goal, the rewards are unquestionable.

While at your side each step of the way, I will make the process of purchasing a home easier, more enjoyable, less time-consuming, and less expensive than if you undertook this challenge on your own. I will help you prepare so that sellers perceive you as a preferred buyer, help you locate and assess properties for sale that match your specifications, and help you through the myriad of details attending the actual purchase.

ARE YOU READY TO BUY? STEP ONE Your first step to buying a home is to first ask yourself why you want to buy a home. Next, list what kind of home you’d like and where you would like to be. Be specific. Separate the “must haves” from the “want to haves.”

Think of yourself as zeroing in on a target, going from the general needs to the specific ones. Consider area (city, suburban neighborhood, country); community (north, south, east, or west side); neighborhood (older and settled or sparkling new; a particular school zone; recreational facilities; and other community services such as transportation, day care, library, stores, entertainment). Ask yourself how many minutes you are willing to commute to work.

Think about home styles. How much space do you need? Does your situation require a one-level home, or are stairs acceptable? Consider size and kind of property. Do you want a newer home, or maybe an older one to fix up?

Someday you or your heirs will want to sell. Consider how long you expect to live in this particular home.

W ELOCME T O M EN LO PAR K THE HOME OF FACEBOOK Known as the social network, Facebook took the world by storm in 2006, and by 2007 was the world’s largest social media corporation and today is one of the largest companies in the world. Menlo Park is where Facebook’s headquarters is.

L I F E S T Y L E

FINDING THAT HOME THAT FITS PRE-QUALIFICATION Once you’ve been pre-qualified and know what price range you want to stay in, I can help you determine which properties fit your lifestyle choice by using the (MLS) Multiple Listing Service system to locate them.

I have the best possible resources and communication systems available today to help you locate the homes on the market that match your specifications. You can even search my listings here at my website.

LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION. You’ve heard the term “location, location, location” and though in many situations people tend to sacrifice space, new construction, and even sometimes safety just to be in the heart of all the action, it is so important to understand what you may be giving up to live where you think you want to live. It is important to compromise on some things and plan for the future. Ultimately, your home is usually your biggest investment and decisions made on your home purchase should not be taken lightly. Furthermore, it is also good to understand that your situation may change. I’m sure, you’ve heard the term “once a bachelor, always a bachelor”? Well, in real life that’s not necessarily true. Today you can be a single professional and tomorrow you might fall in love. You could be a happy newlywed couple and a few months later, your wife is expecting.

Planning for these life-altering changes is something to consider when looking at buying your next home. Don’t get too caught up in the allure of city-life and the quiet convenience of the suburbs. Plan before you buy! I will walk through the process of purchasing a home with you. But for now, below are some ideas of the communities in Calgary that fit your lifestyle choice!

When deciding on your next home, there are many things to consider. Is the home in close proximity to your regular preferences and activities? Is it a safe neighbourhood with lots of recreational sites and schools? How close are the close and are entertainment amenities in walking distance? All these are common questions that many home buyers fail to ask, yet are so vitally important to the overall lifestyle you may want.

H O M E

T H A T

F I T S

W ELC O ME T O P ALO ALT O PALO ALTO Palo Alto is home to Stanford University, located in the heart of Silicon Valley. It is one of the world’s leading teaching and research universities. Palo Alto also has some of the wealthiest and most educated residents in the country. Go Figure. Go Cardinals!

B U Y I N G W E L C O ME T O R ED WO O D C ITY BEAUTY & LUXURY DEFINED Redwood City, California is simply beautiful and has a population of approx. 85,000.

It is home to some popular tech companies such as Oracle, Electronic Arts, Shutterfly, Evernote and more.

E X P E R I E N C E

BUYING A HOME WITH DREW Drew is a 4th generation Redwood City native. He was formerly a top-ranked motocross racer, competing in the national ameture circuit. After having some success, he retired from racing and taught golf to young children up and down the peninsula in an after school enrichment program. With this sports background, Drew brings to the table discipline, teamwork, drive and dedication.

This work ethic has trickled down into his deep passion for real estate. Drew loves helping his clients sell their homes, but finds greater satisfaction in helping his clients find a home that is right for them.

“It’s great to see how happy many of my clients are when they move into their new home. Knowing that I helped them get there and went through the process with them gives me great satisfaction. I love helping people in any way I can.”

BY YOUR SIDE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY Drew believes in being accessible to all his clients, while guiding them through the process every step of the way. He wants to make the process as easy and seamless as possible for all his clients and ensure that they reach their real estate goals. His top priority is to make sure that your home buying experience is pleasant, efficient, and ultimately, successful.

“It’s very important to offer customer service with quality. Many agents lack this simple character trait that is so essential to the overall care, success and experience.”

W ELC O ME T O M O U N TAI N V I EW GOOGLE AND SILICON VALLEY The home of Google, the world’s largest Internet technology company, Mountain View residents are some of the brightest minds around. Mainly a tech hub, Mountain View offers great housing options for potential buyers.

YOUR PACIFIC UNION

T H R O U G H E X P E R I E N C E & C R E AT I V E M A

BROKER

ARKETING

MOVING CHECKLIST IMPORTANT INFORMATION It is important that you use this checklist in order to be well-prepared when buying a home. The last thing you would want to happen is to move into a home without the necessities in life such as electricity, gas, water, or work/ school related services such as Internet/phone, etc. Be sure everything is in order to keep things running smoothly during the buying process. If you need assistance, we are always here to lend a helping hand. It`s what we do!

BUSINESS ACCOUNTS • Banking Institutions • Cell Phone Provider • Department Stores • Financial Companies • Credit Card Companies

UTILITY PROVIDERS • Electricity Providers • Telephone Providers • Water & Sewage • Cable & Internet Providers • Gas Providers

CLUBS & MISCELLANEOUS • Country Club • Health & Fitness Club • Recreation Club • Book Club • Other Club

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS • IRS • Post Office • Schools • Provincial Licensing • Library • Veterans Administration

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • Broker • Accountant • Doctor • Dentist • Lawyer SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES • Magazine Subscription • Newspaper Subscription

INSURANCE COMPANIES • Accidental Insurance • Auto Insurance • Health Insurance • Benefits Provider • Home Insurance • Life Insurance

BUYERS TIMELINE BUILD A BUDGET This helps to determine what you can afford

START ENJOY YOUR HOME! The process may be stressful at times, but the final result is always exciting!

INVESTIGATE MORTGAGE OPTIONS Get pre-approved first!

CHOOSE A REALTOR® Your agent will play a vital role during the process.

CLOSING DAY The day you legally get pocession of your home.

Here’s the keys!

CONSIDER YOUR LIFESTYLE CHOICE Consider where & how you want to live

MOVING PREPARATIONS Utilities moved, landlord notified & moving company chosen (if necessary)

START SEARCHING Go house hunting, create a wishlist and checksheet.

FINALIZE THE DEAL Mortgage is approved & contingencies removed

MAKE THE OFFER Your agent will present the offer to the seller.

HOME INSPECTION Get an inspection from a qualified home inspector to avoid costly surprises.

WEB SYNDICATION I use the Internet and all online tools to help find your next home. With more than 90% of buyers checking the web, getting online is the most effective and efficient way search for homes that fit your criteria.

99% of people search for a home using three main search engines, Google, Bing and Yahoo. I make sure to connect with as many sellers and agents as possible on these platforms.

More than half of all homebuyers search online first when looking to purchase a home. It is vitally important that your home receives the exposure it needs in order to sell. I make my web syndications allow us to find a home that best suits you!

O N L I N E

B U Y ER S TA K E T H ESE SEAR CH I N G INTERNET - 51% REALTOR® - 34% CALL ON YARD SIGN - 4% FRIEND/RELATIVE/NEIGHBOR - 4% OPEN HOUSE - 4% NEW BUILDER - 2% LOCAL NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE - 1%

W E LCO ME T O SAN CAR LOS CITY OF GOOD LIVING This city that feels like a small town offers great hillside views and “good living” as it is commonly referred to by many. High-ranking schools, affluent residents and a beautiful scenery make San Carlos one of the best places to live in the Bay Area.

T H E

O F F E R

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO TO PREPARE: You found the perfect home and now it’s time to write an offer. Drew will call the listing agent: • Verify availability.

• Determine if there are any other anticipated offers being written on the home.

• Ask general questions about timing or special circumstances of the seller that need factored into the offer.

This information is used to determine the appropriate price.

This is a critical part of the process and the reason why it is always a good idea to use an agent like Drew Doran, an agent you can trust.

DON’T INSULT THE SELLERS It is always good to understand that the seller is not going to give away their home for an unrealistic price and unfavorable terms. By recognizing this as a mutually acceptable transaction, the sellers should not be insulted by your offer.

On lender-owned and lender-approved properties, there is generally less negotiating room and more competition. The contract is usually awarded to the highest bidder with the best terms of purchase. Terms can vary and sometimes having the highest bid with not so favorable terms may not always end up with you having that particular home. It is always key to have reasonable offers that include reasonable terms such as moving and closing dates, add-ons, and willingness to work with the sellers.

HOME INSPECTIONS THE INSPECTION PROCESS Hiring an experienced home inspector will help you discover it’s true condition and help you discover what may lie behind close doors that you can not see.

I work with a group of trusted inspectors that can assist you in making sure your potential purchase is a safe one. Some of the things home inspectors investigate are:

• Structural (Cracks in walls, concrete floor or foundation) • • • • • • •

Electrical (Over-wiring, over-lamping, or lights Flickering) Interior (Poorly maintained/falling apart, mold issues) Exterior (Grade sloping, eavesthrough, siding/stucco) Roof (Damaged or worn shingles, water penetration) Heating (Poor ventilation/circulation or older furnace) Plumbing (Drippy faucets, runny toilets, leaky pipes) Insulation (Heat loss, poorly blown attic insulation)

WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR The inspection is vitally important if you want to learn about your new home and determine the condition the home is in. Being an informed buyer means you should always be aware of the potential pitfalls of the buying process and understanding what to expect throughout the process. Home inspections can give you informed details of the home that help you make an informed decision.

Having a professional home inspector is the way to gain peace of mind.

A proper inspection will cover all areas of the house both structurally and mechanically and give you an objective view of the property. A qualified home inspector will also provide you with a written report indicating areas of concern and the estimated cost of repairs.

W ELC O ME T O BELMO N T BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN Belmont is located in the San Francisco Bay area and was originally apart of Roncho de las Palgus. It has a population of more than 26, 000 people. The economy today is thriving with top employers, such as Oricle, Volkswagen, Nikon, and Safeway.

Located right in San Mateo County, Belmont is sure to please.

TESTIMONIALS Drew did a terrific job helping my wife and I navigate the difficult task of buying in the Bay Area. Drew knew what our priorities were - schools primarily - and was able to show us homes in and around our target area.

Drew was particularly good at getting us to expand our search to new communities that helped us get what we wanted out of Menlo Park or Palo Alto (good school, short commute, nice neighborhood) at a more reasonable price, meaning we got more home for our budget.

He was also very knowledgeable about the bidding process, and was able to give us realistic advice and expectations without pressuring us to increase bids. We couldn’t be happier with where we live, and we owe a lot of being here to Drew.

- ASHLEY Drew helped us find our fist home with a VA loan and we are very satisfied with the results. He clarified the whole process from the very beginning and kept us informed of any good opportunities. He is very responsive and is always on top of it. I highly recommend his services.

- JESS Drew was invaluable to us during the purchase of our home and he is extremely knowledgeable of the local areas, market, and listing/sale processes. Drew is always available to us and honest and up front. I would highly recommend Drew for anyone buy or selling a home or property. Thanks Drew!

- ANONYMOUS Drew Doran is one of a kind! He is at the top of the charts in skill, reliability, and professionalism! I knew I was in good hands from start to finish, and I will only choose Drew if there is a need for future real estate assistance! Thank you for renewing my faith in people and the real estate business through your integrity, performance, and consistent care! In deep appreciation.

- COLLEEN

Cal BRE 01887354

C: 650.766.2080 I O: 650.285.5450 361 Lytton Ave #200 Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA drew@drewdoran.com