BUYER’S GUIDE
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Buying Real Estate is a big decision and it is very important to put your trust in people who have the experience, tenacity, and the same objective as you have; to help you find the perfect home for you and your family. I have extensive real estate experience in the Calgary market and cover all bases when working hard for you. I am committed to providing for you the best Real Estate experience possible. My commitment to enhanced customer service, through constant communication, detailed updates, network of related professionals and personalities, has made me stand out from the rest. I have everything covered for you so this process can be as enjoyable and stress free as possible. Do you have a lawyer? What do you do on possession day? Do you know what a home inspection is for? These are common questions that many people fail to even consider. I work with many different people on a daily basis and above all I trust them to treat you like family while being as efficient as possible. In this book, you will find testimonies from past clients so you may read first hand what it was like working with me. From exceptional communication, to exceptional marketing, to exceptional service; I strive to be exceptional.
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ABOUT DEBBIE KOMITSCH An experienced entrepreneur with an extensive background in lifestyle and marketing of Luxury , Residential and Acreage Real Estate Debbie remains committed to redefining personal professional service. A past Owner and Associate with Keller Williams Premiere Realty now proudly working with RE/MAX First located in the province of Alberta she is sought after worldwide and Globally by the elite to showcase their Properties. A proven negotiator and an unwavering commitment to all her clientele sets her apart and reinforces the competitive edge that Debbie practices in her Real Estate career. The Komitsch Property Group has been featured in many of the luxury publications. You can see some of the homes Debbie has advertised in such publications as: Dream Homes, DOMAIN Magazine, Home Guide, Calgary Polo Magazine, Homes and Land, Homes & Living, Horses All and The Gaitpost. Immersed in the Equestrian World herself Debbie has proven to be the go to Agent in the Equestrian Lifestyle. Knowing and understanding the needs of her clients sets her apart from the competition. Representing the finest in Real Estate she executes many transactions through her large personal exclusive network and the RE/MAX Global and International network. With a CLHMS designation and the Million Dollar Guild Award in 2013 it only makes sense that Debbie is sought after worldwide to represent the finest in luxury homes.
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YOUR CHOICES WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN AGENT 1. EDUCATION. The most important factor in choosing a real estate professional is their education in the real estate industry. They are committed to education and spend time and money on continuous training that ensures they have a solid understanding of the market and their clients’ needs. 2. EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE. You want a full-time agent who is familiar with your area and with the type of property you want to buy. Does your agent employ a diverse range of search strategies? How tech-savvy is your agent? How many similar properties have they helped people buy in the past? 3. AVAILABILITY AND COMMITMENT. Your agent should be capable of prompt and decisive action during the course of helping you find your home. Does your agent make it a point to keep in touch with you constantly? Can your agent easily be contacted in case of emergencies or even for the simplest questions? Is your agent available on the weekends or in the evenings when most buyers are out looking? 4. RAPPORT. Does your agent take the time to listen to your goals and clarify your needs? Can your agent understand your unique situation and be genuinely concerned about the outcome of the process? Your agent will be your guide and partner in this crucial decision, so it is important to find one with whom you can get along.
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OUR TRUE ADVANTAGE
1. MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
It is very important to evaluate yourself and your situation to help ensure that buying a home is the right decision for you. I believe in full disclosure and the importance of planning. Some questions you should ask yourself: What reasons are prompting you to move and what is your preferred timeline? Have you been through the pre-approval process? If so, what amount have you been approved for?
When I find the right home for you, are you prepared to make an offer?
2. YOUR LIFESTYLE CHOICE
Deciding on what type of home you want to live in is just as important as deciding on where you want to live. For some, location is everything. For others, home details are everything. It is important that you decide what is most important for you and what type of lifestyle you truly desire.
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7 STEPS TO BUYING A HOME HOME A STEPS TO HOME PURCHASE 77 STEPS TOAASMOOTH SMOOTH HOME PURCHASE STEP 1:1: FIND FIND A A REALTOR® REALTOR® STEP Look no further because you Look no further because you just just found found one! one! By Bychoosing choosingme me as your REALTOR® you just found someone that is experienced, as your REALTOR® you just found someone that is experienced, punctual, efficient efficientand andabove aboveallall honest. I give email punctual, honest. I give youyou mymy email and and direct phone number so you don’t have to use a paging direct phone number so you don’t have to use a paging system. system. can24/7 call me any thoughts, or You can You call me with24/7 any with thoughts, questionsquestions or concerns. concerns. about call my 1-hour call back guarantee. Ask about Ask my 1-hour back guarantee. “Remember: REALTOR® REALTOR® fees fees are “Remember: are paid paid through throughthe thetransaction. transaction. There are no cost to use my services & expertise!” There are no cost to use my services & expertise!” STEP 2: 2: GET GET YOUR YOUR CREDIT CREDIT CHECKED CHECKED STEP Have you you checked checked your your credit Have credit lately? lately? Before Before you you apply apply for foraa home loan, it’s a smart idea to obtain a copy of your credit. home loan, it’s a smart idea to obtain a copy of your credit. There There be or errors or that things that to be addressed. It’s can be can errors things need toneed be addressed. It’s easier to easier to address these problems before you find a house, than address these problems before you find a house, than after you after found you have foundand a house and are tryingyour to close have a house are trying to close loan.your loan. STEP 3: 3: GET GET APPROVED APPROVED BEFORE BEFORE YOU YOU GO STEP GO HOUSE HOUSE HUNTING: HUNTING: Getting an approval is easy and very beneficial to Getting an approval is easy and very beneficial to you. you.Most Most banks can hold your rate for 120 days. You may not be banks can hold your rate for 120 days. You may not belooking looking to buy buy right right away away so to so by by doing doing this this you you are arelocking lockingyour yourrate rateinin case rates rates go go up. up. If If rates case rates go go down down you you get get the thenew newrate rateso soit’s it’s a win-win situation! During the approval process the bank a win-win situation! During the approval process the bankwill will verify your your employment employment history verify history and and assets assets to to ensure ensureyou’re you’reaa strong lending candidate. and welcome. strong lending candidate. and welcome.
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7 STEPS CONTINUED... STEP 4: LEARN ABOUT LOCATION Narrowing down your search location can be one of the hardest parts in finding a home. Often people find a home in a location that they never thought was a possibility. That’s why it’s important to discuss your housing needs with us. Then we can help guide you to an area. We have taken the liberty of enclosing an MLS® Map to help you narrow down your search. STEP 5: PROTECT YOURSELF: I will provide you with a copy of the documents necessary to buy your new property. Read them ahead of time so that you’ll understand the questions that you will be asked, the things you need to know, and the decisions you will need to make. STEP 6: HAVE REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS. Understanding and remembering the following statements will help diffuse the negotiation, inspection and closing stages. When you go to purchase your home just remember the market value of the home is what the buyer and seller are willing to agree to. When I have come to an agreement on your property, getting an inspection is a must. It may cost a few hundred dollars but this could potentially save you thousands. During your inspection, the inspector will go over your property and discuss any deficiencies of the property with you. I will then go over the report and come up with a suitable solution if there’s a problem. STEP 7: HAVE FUN! This is a fun and exciting time in your life. I will make this process as easy and as fun as possible.
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MOVING CHECKLIST IMPORTANT INFORMATION It is important that you use this checklist in order to be wellprepared 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, I am always here to lend a helping hand. It`s what I do! UTILITY PROVIDERS • Electricity Providers • Telephone Providers • Cable & Internet Providers • Gas Providers GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS • CRA • Post Office • Schools • Provincial Licensing • Library INSURANCE COMPANIES • Accidental Insurance • Auto Insurance • Health Insurance • Benefits Provider • Home Insurance • Life Insurance 10
OUR TRUE ADVANTAGE
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • Broker • Accountant • Doctor • Dentist • Lawyer BUSINESS ACCOUNTS • Banking Institutions • Cell Phone Providers • Department Stores • Financial Companies • Credit Card Companies CLUBS & MISCELLANEOUS • Country Club • Health & Fitness Club • Recreation Club • Book Club • Other Club
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EXPECTATIONS, NEEDS & WANTS By determining buyers’ expectations, needs and wants, and comparing them to what the market is showing, I will help find the ideal home for you. However, it is important to understand how an agent will be able to identify these factors.
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YOUR CALGARY
C R E AT I N G P O S S I B I LT I E S T H R O U G H I D E A S &
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AGENT
DREAMS
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7 STEPS TO BUYING MORTGAGES A ONLINE HOME INFO & TYPES OF MORTGAGES 7DIFFERENT STEPS TO A SMOOTH HOME PURCHASE Getting a mortgage is one thing. Getting a mortgage that best suits your situation is another. Some mortgages have STEP 1: FIND A REALTOR® less strings attached but you havejust more strict stipulations, while Look no further because found one! By choosing me others may be harder to get, but have more flexibility. It as your REALTOR® you just found someone that is experienced, is important to have all the information about mortgages punctual, efficient and above all honest. I give you my email and available to number you before youdon’t decide toto move in the direct phone so you have use aforward paging system. purchase of a your home. Different types of mortgages can You can call me 24/7 with any thoughts, questions or concerns. helpabout you find the mortgage best suits you. Ask my 1-hour call backthat guarantee. “Remember: REALTOR® fees are paid through the transaction. INCOME & ASSETS There cost to use my services & expertise!” Most are loannoprograms require the lender to verify all of your income sources. Typically you will need to provide pay STEP GET T-4 YOUR stubs,2:your andCREDIT copiesCHECKED of your tax returns. Lenders will Have you checked your credit you much apply of foraa also want to go through yourlately? assetsBefore and how home loan, it’s a smart idea to obtain a copy of your credit. There down payment you will have when determining your loan can be errors or things that need to be addressed. It’s easier to approval. address these problems before you find a house, than after you have found a house and are trying to close your loan. CREDIT HISTORY All lenders a borrower’s history to determine STEP 3: GETreview APPROVED BEFOREcredit YOU GO HOUSE HUNTING: the type of credit used, the amount owed, and the borrowGetting an approval is easy and very beneficial to you. Most er’s repayment history.. banks can hold your rate for 120 days. You may not be looking to buy right away so by doing this you are locking your rate in case rates go up. If rates go down you get the new rate so it’s a win-win situation! During the approval process the bank will verify your employment history and assets to ensure you’re a strong lending candidate. and welcome.
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It is my responsibility to represent your interests as the buyer. This includes searching for a home, negotiating the best price, and handling all the details of your next purchased property. As exceptional agents that never settle, I provide personalized access to more available property information. 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 to search for homes. My web presence and online network will help me find a home that best suits you! Below shows that 99% of people search for a home using three main search engines. I make sure to give you the widest possible access on these platforms.
81% 12% 6%
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INSPECTIONS & OFFER WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR To cover every nook and cranny of the house and discover its true conditions you must hire a home inspector with the experience and expertise. Don’t worry we have you covered, we have inspectors for hire. Here’s what our inspectors investigate in and around your new home: > 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 worntoshingles, water penetration) The inspection is a process learn about your new home > Heating (Poor ventilation/circulation or older and determine the situation the home is in. Thefurnace) type of > Plumbing (Drippy faucets, questions the inspector will ask runny are: toilets, leaky pipes) > Insulation (Heat loss, poorly blown attic insulation) It is prudent to be an informed purchaser as you make one of the largest buying decisions ever. Home inspections assist in giving you peace of mind that there are no surprises in store.
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OUR TRUE ADVANTAGE
THE OFFER PROCESS
NEGOTIATING THE RIGHT WAY I take the ethical responsibility of fairly negotiating contractual terms very seriously. It is our job to find a win-win agreement that is beneficial to all parties involved. You may even have to deal with multiple offers, so make sure that yours is strong if you really want the home. As your agent, I will guarantee a thorough and objective assessment of the home’s true value to help you make the right choice. THE INITIAL AGREEMENT AND DEPOSIT An effective agreement is a legal arrangement between a potential purchaser and the property’s seller. Laws vary but in order to be a legally binding agreement, the agreement may require consideration. This consideration (initial and additional deposit) is to be held in trust pending the fulfillment of conditions or contingencies in the effective agreement. KEEP WRITTEN RECORDS OF EVERYTHING For the sake of clarity, it will be extremely useful to transcribe all verbal agreements including counter-offers and addendums, and convert them to written agreements to be signed by both parties. I will assist you in drafting all the paperwork for your purchase and make sure that you have copies of everything. STICK TO THE SCHEDULE Now that you have made an offer, you and the seller will be given a timeline to mark every stage in the process of closing the real estate contract. Meeting the requirements on time ensures a smoother flow of negotiations and also ensures that each party involved is not in breach of their agreements. During the
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7 STEPS TO BUYING THE CONCLUSION A HOME
It is my responsibility to represent your interests as the buyer. This includes searching for a home, negotiating the best price, and handling all the details of your next purchased property. 7 STEPS TO A SMOOTH HOME PURCHASE As your agent, I will never settle, provide personalized access to more available property information. STEP 1: FIND A REALTOR®
Look no further because you just found one! By choosing me AS YOUR AGENT, Iyou PROMISE TO: someone that is experienced, as your REALTOR® just found punctual, above all honest. I give you my email and 1. Provide efficient you withand information regarding all properties listed direct phone number so you don’t have to use a paging system. with the Real Estate Board online at your convenience. This You can bank call me 24/7 with questions or concerns. includes sales and “Forany Salethoughts, by Owner” sales. Furthermore, Ask about my 1-hour call back guarantee. I provide complete, daily searches of homes appropriate to your needs and budget, complete access to me at alltransaction. times and “Remember: REALTOR® fees are paid through the instant notification all my newservices properties matching your search There are no cost toon use & expertise!” criteria. I am also always available to show you homes at your STEP 2: GET YOUR CREDIT CHECKED request. Have you checked your credit lately? Before you apply for a home loan, it’s idea to obtain a copy of your credit. There 2. Provide youa smart with Mortgage Brokers, Building inspectors can be errors or things that need to be addressed. It’s easier to and Appraisers, Movers and Surveyors. address these problems before you find a house, than after you have found a house and are trying to close your loan. 3. Advise prospective sellers and their brokerages that I am representing you and negotiating your STEP 3: GET APPROVED BEFORE on YOU GObehalf. HOUSE HUNTING: Getting an approval is easy and very beneficial to you. Most banks can hold your ratequality for 120 and days.professional You may not be looking 4. Always demonstrate conduct to to buy right away so by doing this you are locking your rate in provide the best possible real estate experience. case rates go up. If rates go down you get the new rate so it’s a win-win situation! During the approval process the bank will 5. Keep everything between us. I will never disclose personal verify your employment history and assets to ensure you’re a client at any time in compliance with our privacy stronginformation lending candidate. and welcome. policy.
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REAL ESTATE AS AN INVESTMENT & A HOME Everyone needs a home, however, one cannot overlook the importance of real estate as both an investment and a home. You simply don’t want to just live, but also build capital with something tangible, valuable and essential to life.
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TESTIMONIALS Companies don’t hire people without first checking their references. You shouldn’t work with someone without checking their references either. This is what some of my clients have said about me recently here. Further references are available on request.
“DEBBIE DID NOT DISAPPOINT.” “After having our facility for sale with a different Realtor with no success, we decided to hire Debbie. We knew because of the nature of our property it wasn’t going to be easy to sell. We needed someone experienced in the field and very dedicated and Debbie did not disappoint. Debbie left no stone unturned and marketed the property on several levels. She was actively involved with every aspect of the sale and conducted herself professionally at all times. She was very easy to reach,returned every phone call and e-mail and was very pleasant to work with. Her efforts resulted in the successful sale of our property. I recommend her to any one who has a property to sell and needs a Realtor who is dedicated and can get the job done!“ - Gabrielle
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OUR TRUE ADVANTAGE
“DEBBIE LOOKED AFTER OUR BEST INTERESTS.”
“Debbie assisted me and my wife with the purchase of our 1st acreage home. She was extremely knowledgeable about the area and made many recommendations to help with our move from City to Country. We felt that Debbie was truly looking after our best interests. This deal took some time to complete and she was with us at every step and was always reachable. She was informative towards our questions and assisted in negotiating what we still believe a positive financial transaction. Should the need arise again for Real Estate Services I would have no hesitation in contacting and hiring Debbie again. Due to the above efforts I would highly recommend Debbie to anyone looking to sell or purchase a home.” - Ken
“DEBBIE TAKES CUSTOMER SERVICE TO A NEW LEVEL.” “We were fortunate to have Debbie recommended to us when we moved to Calgary. Debbie takes personal customer service to a new level throughout the stressful process of buying a home. She listened to what we wanted and when we found it; she was a master negotiator ensuring we received the best deal possible. She stayed connected after we agreed to a deal so that every step of the process went smoothly. There are many choices for Realtors (we have bought and sold over 10 homes), but our strong recommendation is Debbie as she truly cares and will work for you to make sure you are 100% satisfied!” 21
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THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY 23
403.830.1713
115 - 8820 Blackfoot Trail SE, Calgary, Alberta www.debbiekomitsch.com