Segool Home Buying Guide

Your Home Buying Guide Your Guide to Purchasing Property

Diana & Brian Segool Brian and Diana Segool are a highly motivated and productive husband and wife real estate team with over 17 years of experience. Since 2004, they have been among the

Why Work with a Buyer?s Agent?

top tier of agents, receiving many awards locally and nationally for both sales and customer service.

The decision to purchase a home is likely one of the largest

Brian and Diana recognize that buying and selling a home can be a very emotional

financial and lifestyle decisions you will make. By aligning

and stressful process. They pride themselves on giving their clients superior

yourself with a trusted advisor, you will be well positioned to

personal service and are committed to educating, counseling, providing constant

find the right property, negotiate fair terms and overcome

communication, and soliciting feedback. With these core values, it?s no surprise that

any obstacles that occur along the way.

close to 100% of their business comes from repeat clients and referrals.

Leveraging our vast local expertise, industry connections, As such, they are the proud recipients of The Quality Service Certified® Platinum Award which reflects the highest level of service achievement in the industry.

One of the major points of differentiation between The Segool Team and other

and resourceful tools, Gibson Sotheby?s International Realty will not only assist in helping you find the right home, but guide you through the entire purchase process.

agents is that their business model consists of close to a 50-50 split of Buyer clients and Seller clients. Being on both sides of the transaction on a daily basis allows them to offer their clients invaluable information, experience and insight. Most importantly, they can provide a great edge against the competition.

Real Estate Advisors SegoolTeam@GibsonSIR.com D: 617.755.7055 B: 617.686.2305 1010 Massachusetts Avenue Arlington, MA 02476

We have the keys to where you want to be.

What to Expect from Your Buyer?s Agent

Services Provided

Seller?s Agent

Buyer?s Agent

Facilitates Property Showings

YES

YES

Explains Home Buying Process

YES

YES

Facilitates Closing

YES

YES

Discloses Known Material Defects

YES

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

Maintains Personal Confidentiality

NO

YES

Researches Seller and Property

NO

YES

Prepares a Comparative Market Analysis

A buyer's agent represents you, the buyer, during the home buying process. The agent has a fiduciary responsibility to represent only the home buyer's best interest in all aspects of the home buying process.

Keeps Your Financial Situation Confidential

Negotiates the Best Price on Your Behalf

The buyer?s agent is generally paid a commission at the time of the closing through an offer of compensation made to members of the Multiple Listing Service. Alternatively, the buyer can pay his/ her agent directly. The

Negotiates the Best Terms on Your Behalf

amount of compensation offered often is factored into the purchase price and is publicly displayed on most real estate-related websites.

Discloses Adverse Factors Relating to Homes Viewed

Relays Information that Would Enhance Your Buying Position

ST EPS TO B U YI N G A H OM E From initial meetings to the final closing, below is an overview of what to expect throughout the home buying process.

0 1 | GET PRE-APPROVED

0 5 | SIGN THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT

The first step of the home buying process is getting

After the offer and terms are accepted, the seller?s attorney will

pre-approved for a loan. During this process, your

draft a Purchase and Sale Agreement. It states the final sale price

mortgage lender will review your income and credit

and all terms of the purchase. This binding contract needs to be

history to determine what size loan you are eligible

reviewed by your attorney prior to you signing it. P&S deposit due

to receive.

(typically 5%).

0 2 | SELECT AN AGENT AND BEGIN SEARCH

0 6 | FORMALLY APPLY FOR A LOAN AND LOCK IN YOUR RATE

Once you have determined your budget, you and

Your mortgage lender will work with you to review all final

your agent will meet to review your wish list,

loan documents.

desired timing and begin your search. Together you will review inventory and visit properties.

07 | APPRAISAL The property will be reviewed by a licensed professional to assess 0 3 | OFFER STRATEGY MEETING

its value.

Prior to preparing an offer, your agent will show you comparable properties and collaborate with you to clearly review different offer strategies. You have the right to a home inspection, a mortgage contingency and a lead paint inspection. Discuss

0 8 | HOME INSURANCE You will need to review various options and select your homeowners insurance policy.

ways to make your offer more appealing and the implications including having a pre-inspection or

0 9 | FINAL WALK-THROUGH

waiving your rights to other contingencies.

Just prior to the closing, you will go through a final walk-through of the property. This will ensure that the property is in the same condition as when you visited previously.

0 4 | SUBMIT AN OFFER Once you find a property that you love, you will choose an offer strategy and discuss with your

10 | CONGRATULATIONS!

agent how to position your offer to get it accepted.

Once you sign the final paperwork, exchange the payment, and the

Based on the seller's response, your agent will

transaction is recorded at the Registry of Deeds, you are officially

guide you through next steps. Offer deposit due

a homeowner. Congratulations, you will now receive the keys to

(typically $1,000).

your new home.

People to Have on Your Team BUYER?S AGEN T

IN SURAN CE AGEN T

Take your time to select a buyer?s agent with

The insurance agent comes in after you have

whom you feel comfortable discussing your goals

signed the purchase and sale agreement. Most

and priorities in home buying. A good agent is

lenders will not close the sale until the buyer has

knowledgeable in market prices, neighborhood

purchased insurance on the home.

qualities, and the offer process. In addition to helping you

shop

for

homes, using their

experienced eye to point out features and flaws in the home that you might otherwise miss, they

HOM E IN SPECTOR

will negotiate on your behalf and will be your

However similar they may seem, a home

advocate from the beginning of the process right

inspector is different than an appraiser. The

through closing.

home inspector can enter the home buying process either before or after the offer is submitted. The inspector takes a deep dive into

REAL ESTATE ATTORN EY Ask friends, co-workers or your real estate agent for referrals to a good real estate attorney. Don?t be shy about interviewing them, and finding one you

are

compatible

with,

who

regularly

represents home buyers and sellers. attorney

should

be

reasonably

Your

the home's condition and points out any areas of concern. Armed with this information, the buyer can ask the seller to complete some of these repairs themselves, lower the total purchase price, or terminate the sale altogether.

affordable,

accessible and not too busy for you.

CON TRACTORS LEN DER

You may need various contractors throughout

Your lender is the one who assists you with

the process to assess issues that came up at the

borrowing the funds to purchase your home,

home inspection, or provide estimates for work

typically in the form of a mortgage. Your lender

you would like to do once you purchase the

should have a variety of consistently competitive

home. Your real estate agent can usually help you

lending

be

with references for good contractors, including

accessible as you may need them on weekends

plumbers, electricians, painters, contractors,

or at night especially during the offer process.

movers and cleaners.

programs.

They

should

also

The Right Tools For Your Search DEPOSIT LIN K

OFF M ARKET & COM IN G SOON

A simple, secure, and efficient way to send

Our powerful local network has access to

earnest money deposits electronically. Payments

exclusive off market

clear in less than 24 hours. You can safely send

properties before they launch on the MLS.

inventory as well as

your deposits from anywhere. Track the status of transfers in real-time with your phone.

SOTHEBY' S IN TERN ATION AL REALTY WEBSITE AN D APP Our enhanced website now in 14 languages engages millions of buyers via high-resolution

REALSCOUT A

collaborative

home

search

tool

that

allows our clients and their buyer?s agent to share listings, compare properties and spotlight market alerts throughout the home buying process.

photography, 3D virtual reality

tours, and

ultra-high-definition videos. Listings from around the

globe

can

be

accessed

seamlessly on any device and mobile users can directly text their buyer's agent from any listing page.

Local Expertise, Global Connections. # 1 Massachusetts Based Firm Locally owned and operated, Gibson Sotheby?s International Realty is Massachusetts?s largest independent real estate company and the premier provider in luxury real estate across Eastern Massachusetts. With over 450 expert real estate

25 Offices Across Eastern Massachusetts

advisors throughout our 25 offices coupled with our powerful

450

network of more than 1,000 Sotheby?s International Realty

Local Agents

offices worldwide, we truly have the power to assist wherever your real estate needs may take you.

3,600+ Clients Served in 2021

Proudly serving Boston, Greater Boston, MetroWest ,

1,000

North Shore, South Shore, and Cape Cod.

Global Affiliate Offices

Client Testimonials

S I GN I FI CA N T SA L ES N EW T O N

B E D FO R D

"We interviewed several agents before selecting Diana & Brian as our Buyers

22 Nantucket Road Represented Buyer | $2,0 40,0 0 0

15 Copeland Drive Represented Buyer | $1,890,0 0 0

Agent. We were impressed with them from the very beginning and it was

L E X I N GT O N

B EL M ON T

would absolutely recommend her to others/ seek her out in the future.

234 East Street Represented Buyer | $1,888,000

80 Douglas Road Represented Buyer | $1,850,005

Attentive, thorough, patient, responsive, communicative, and much more, she

A R L I N GT O N

WAYL A N D

62 Scituate Street Represented Buyer | $1,300,000

130 Draper Road Represented Buyer | $1,285,000

"Diana and Brian helped us purchase our first Arlington home, and we contacted them again when looking for our second home. They did a great job as buyer's agents, and then consulted with us over the years when we were making decisions about improving our property. When the time came to sell our second property they were absolutely amazing. First of all, they were spot on with pricing, recommending a competitive price that resulted in us getting the best over-asking-price offer we could have hoped for. Secondly, they were extremely responsive, proactive, and helpful in assisting with preparing the house for sale and then getting to the closing. I could not recommend them more highly."

apparent that they were experienced, knowledgeable and professional. We really felt that they listened to our needs and asked all the right questions to make sure that they had a full understanding of what we were looking for and our time frame and goals. They were able to offer us great information to help up determine the communities that we wanted to focus on. We knew that they had everything covered and that we were in great hands throughout the competitive offer process and from offer acceptance all the way through the closing. They were amazing and we couldn't be happier with the level of service and hand holding that they were able to provide us from start to finish."

"Diana was absolutely wonderful for our first home buying experience, and we

defined our experience as a positive and exciting one. She's been a great help the entire time, including after moving in when seeking out recommendations for contracts. I can't say enough good things about working with her on buying a home, and hope she's still in the business years from now when we are in the market again!"

"This is my 3rd time working with Brian and Diana. I have the utmost respect and trust in them and wouldn't think of working with any other agents. They are very knowledgeable and I always know that I am in the great hands. I have referred them to several friends over the years and they all have had great experiences working with them as well."

2022 Sotheby?s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby?s International Realty is a registered trademark and used with permission. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby?s International Realty, Inc. and some independently owned offices are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby?s International Realty. Equal Housing Opportunity.