BuyersGuide_Apr2018_flipbook

Home Buyer Guide

If you’re reading this Buyer’s Guide, you’re ready to invest in a home – the place in which
the best moments of your life will unfold. We understand this is a big decision emotionally
as well as fi nancially and we want to be there for you every step of the way. Our goal with
this guide is to provide you with the right information so you can begin this process with
confi dence and knowledge you need to be happy with your new home.
No question is a silly one!
The Award Winning Sold By Simmons Team answers
Buyer’s most commonly asked questions:
1. Will you return our calls? “Heck ya! And your emails and texts too;
Promptly!”
2. Are you experienced? “Without a doubt. Our team consistently sells
80+ homes per year, so knowing how to handle the process and the
multitude of challenges that can come up through the course of a
home purchase is something that we are well versed in.
3. What are you good at? “Listening, Negotiating, managing all of the
moving parts of a real estate transaction & fi ercely protecting our
clients best interests.”
4. What aren’t you good at? “Keeping up with technology & Social
Media. We do it, but there is always room for improvement in
this area as the online/social media environment is changing and
evolving at a ‘impossible to keep up with’ pace”
5. What do your clients think of you? “It’s impossible to keep
100% of people 100% happy at all times, but our track record is
pretty darn good. Check out our testimonials on our website
SoldBySimmons.com, or just ask us for client references. We’re
happy to share!

Meet the Team
Doug & Tara Simmons
Team Leads | REALTOR®
Luxury Collection Specialist (Tara)
Tara 720-308-6035
Doug 303-618-5759
Team@SoldBySimmons.com
www.SoldBySimmons.com
Office Address:
9785 S Maroon Circle #150, Englewood, CO 80112
Germaine Stroup
Broker Associate | REALTOR®
720-908-5011
Germaine@SoldBySimmons.com
SoldBySimmons.com/Germaine-Stroup
Dana Lozow
Broker Associate | REALTOR®
720-323-8209
Dana@SoldBySimmons.com
SoldBySimmons.com/Dana-Lozow
Tony Archuleta
Broker Associate | REALTOR®
303-517-8569
Tony@SoldBySimmons.com
SoldBySimmons.com/Tony-Archuleta
Lisa McGavern
Team Manager
720-319-9115
Admin@SoldBySimmons.com
Preferred PARTNERS
People’s Mortgage
Heather Hoadley 303-552-5455
hhoadley@EPEOPLES.com
CityWide Home Loans
Scott Harshman 720-509-8610
sharshman@citywidehomeloans.com
AnnieMac Home Mortgage
Michael Sherer 267-258-1066
MSherer@Annie-Mac.com
Mortgage Advisor and
Homes For Heroes Affiliate
Johnny Macias 720-322-3624
jmacias@loansclose.com
Insurance Broker
Denise Janson 303-345-1787
Denise@denisejansoninsurance.com
Royal Inspections
Jim Borden 303-929-7885
jim@royalinspections.net
Around the Block Home Inspections
Eric Shaffer 720-308-4870
info@atbhomeinspections.com
Pillar to Post
Tom Recke 720-325-6535
TomReckeTeam@pillartopost.com

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Innovative Real Estate
• Berkshire Hathaway has been ranked as one of the most admired
companies in the world by FORTUNE Magazine and Barron’s.
• Berkshire Hathaway brings a name associated with integrity,
reliability and trust in the mind of consumers.
• Innovative Real Estate has been recognized as “One of the Top
Real Estate Companies in the Denver Metro Area” by The Denver
Business Journal for the last seven years
Team ACCOLADES
Our team has proudly been recognized over the years by the local
Board of Realtors (SMDRA) as Diamond Circle Club members for
demonstrating “a sincere dedication to the real estate business,
old-fashioned hard work, and superior customer service to achieve
success regardless of market conditions.”
In recognition of outstanding sales, we have continually been in the Top
5 Teams with Innovative Real Estate every year since 2013. Additionly
we received the 2017 Chairman’s Circle Platinum Award, which is
given to the top 1% of the national Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
brokerage network.
“A home is one of the most important
assets that most people will ever buy.
Homes are also where memories are
made and you want to work with
someone you can trust.”
- Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO,
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
SBS Team Receives Highest Honor,
5 Carats
Sold By Simmons team has
received this prestigious
award annually since 2012!
Testimonials
“[The Team Members] are great communicators and
negotiators who listen to your needs intently, and
execute your priorities fl awlessly. What struck me
most was that they are heroically responsive. When
an excellent home came up in our search engine, my
wife and I were out of town. They sprang into action,
agreed immediately to show the home to my mom-inlaw,
who lives nearby, and provided a thorough video
walk-through of the home. They established excellent
rapport with the seller’s agent; stayed apprised of the
level of competition for the home; and advised us
strategically as we considered our offer. Thanks to their
efforts, my family relocated to the home that meets all
our asks.”
~Marsh, Bought in Highlands Ranch
Local knowledge:
Process expertise:
Responsiveness:
Negotiation skills:
“[The Simmons Team Members] were awesome to work
with throughout the entire home buying process! As fi rsttime
home buyers, we were clueless to the whole process,
but that didn’t matter, as we were instructed step-by-step
what to expect from the initial searches across town to the
fi nal day of closing. They were able to determine what
we wanted in a home, narrow down our search, and fi nally
we found our perfect home. We would defi nitely look for
their help again!”
~Cox, Bought in Littleton
**Read more testimonials online at www.SoldBySimmons.com***

High Definition
PHOTOGRAPHY
Purchase PROCESS

Needs vs. WANTS
Choosing the right home, the perfect
neighborhood, the ideal floor plan
– it can become overwhelming, but
it doesn’t have to be. Getting your
thoughts down on paper may be a
constructive way to help channel your
ideas. Think about the most important
factors you’re considering and list them
in one of two categories: needs and
wants.
Creating a list of “needs” and narrowing
down the “wants” will help you prioritize
the features as you consider and view
potential homes. Keep in mind that you
may have to compromise on the “want”
items to stay within your budget. To the
right is an example of a typical “needs
vs. wants” list. On the next page of this
guide, you’ll find a checklist to help you
organize your thoughts.
NEEDS
• y Good Location with Highway Access
• y Features in Good Condition
• y Appliances Included
• y Light Fixtures in all Rooms
• y Spacious Family Room
• y Large Master
• y Unfinished Basement
• y 1-2 Car Garage
• y Low Maintenance Landscaping
WANTS
• y Pool/Community Pool
• y Hardwood Floors, Tile, Granite
• y Stainless Steel Appliances
• y Upgraded Lighting Fixtures
• y Large Bedrooms
• y 5 Piece Master Bath
• y Finished Basement
• y 3 Car Garage
• y Large Yard
• y Backs to Open Space

Home CHECKLIST
What features do you absolutely need in your new home? The checklist below will help you prioritize
and evaluate your needs and wants. We can use this form to help you find the ideal home.
ITEM NEED WANT
Location
Eat-in Kitchen
Living Room
Family Room
Attached Garage
Pool/ Community Pool
Spa
Gated Community
Lake Community
Recreational Facilities
Style
Age
Living Area Square Footage
# Bedrooms
# Baths

Buyer TIPS
We prefer smooth and worry-free to
overwhelming and chaotic when it
comes to the buying process. The
more prepared you are at the outset,
the more successful the buying
process will be. We’ve prepared the
following tips to assist you as you
begin the journey.
1. GET PRE-APPROVED.
As a pre-approved buyer you have better leverage
when it comes to negotiating with the seller. The preapproval
process is simple and shows sellers that you
are a serious buyer.
2. PREPARE, LIST AND SELL
YOUR CURRENT HOME.
If you already own a home and need the proceeds
to qualify for your new home, you’ll want to get it on
the market ASAP. A home that is already listed will
make your offer more appealing. Better yet, if your
current home is under contract a seller is more likely
to consider your offer. And of course, best case is to
have your home sold already so that securing your
loan is much easier and sellers are more likely to
work with you without taking on the risk of you having
to sell first.
3. RESEARCH THE MARKET.
Having your Sold By Simmons Team Realtor who knows
the market well will give you a serious advantage
when it comes time to make an offer.
4. BE PREPARED TO SUBMIT AN OFFER.
The purchase contract should be simple and without
any unnecessary conditions, especially repairs. A
seller will be more interested in an offer that is not
going to be delayed by things that do not severely
affect the value of the home.
If you have additional questions regarding
“Buyer Tips” and would like more information,
please feel free to contact your REALTOR®.
5. FIND AN AGENT YOU TRUST
(& STICK WITH THEM!)
By now you know how complicated buying a home can
be. Having your experienced Sold By Simmons Team
agent by your side along the way, who is keeping your
best interests in mind, will have a significant impact
on your buying process. There is a lot of information
out there online… Stick with your chosen agent and let
them go to work for you. Your agent doesn’t make a
penny until you close, so all of the hours of research,
showings & negotiations are on good faith that you’ll
stick with them. Remember, as a buyer, you’re not
responsible for paying any commissions!

Getting a MORTGAGE
Once you’ve found the right loan, you can
find the right home. Understanding what steps
are required and what you need to prepare
will make you more confident with the loan
process.
1. ORGANIZE YOUR DOCUMENTS.
In order to obtain a mortgage, your lender will require
certain documentation to make sure you’ll be able to
repay the loan you’re applying for. You should gather:
proof of employment, credit history, tax returns,
pay stubs, divorce and child support statements (if
applicable), and any other information the lending
company might request.
2. QUALIFICATION.
When purchasing a home, there are two options one
can choose from to qualify for a loan. You may have
already pre-qualified for your loan when you started
looking for your home. While pre-qualified is helpful,
your other option, pre-approval, is more beneficial
and gives you more bargaining power when it comes
to negotiating with a seller. Getting pre-approved lets
you focus on homes within your price range instead of
wasting time looking at homes that you won’t be able
to afford. When it comes time to close, the process will
go faster since your loan has already been approved.
3. FIND THE RIGHT LOAN & LOCAL LENDER.
When searching for the right loan program, you should
consider how long you plan to stay in the home
and how long you want to keep the loan. Consider
adjustable and fixed rate mortgages, 30 year and 15
year loans, and don’t forget to calculate the rates,
fees and points. It’s a complicated, tedious process; a
qualified local lender can not only help you make the
right decisions, but can also be the difference between
your offer being accepted or not. Using a local lender
that is easily accessible, that knows the Denver market
well and uses local appraisers will likely result in a
much smoother process. Seller’s like to see approvals
from local lenders as well. Don’t be fooled by “teaser”
rates that you see online – if comparing lenders, if it
sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be sure
you’re comparing “apples to apples.”
4. OBTAIN LOAN APPROVAL.
The process of obtaining loan approval involves several
steps.
• y Review of your loan application (be sure it’s
completely filled out to avoid delays).
• y Verification of your credit history, employment,
history, assets (such as bank accounts and mutual
funds), property value and any additional information
the lender might require. There are also a few things
that you can do to improve the chances of approval:
• y Respond promptly to requests for additional
documentation or information.
• y Keep major purchases to a minimum until the loan
is closed. Increasing your debt after approval can
jeopardize your loan.
• y Make sure you’ll be in town for the closing date. If
you can’t be there for the closing, you can carry out
a power of attorney to authorize someone to sign on
your behalf.
5. CLOSE THE LOAN.
Once the loan is approved, you’ll need to sign the final
documents, which usually takes place in the presence
of a notary public. Take the time to read every word and
verify the interest rate and loan terms. Also, check to
see if your name and address are correct. Finally, don’t
forget to bring a cashier’s check (not a personal check)
for your down payment and closing costs.

Plan your move efficiently and don’t overlook any important details. Here are some reminders that may
seem obvious now, but when the stress of moving approaches, you’ll want to refer to this checklist to
avoid delays and complications.
Moving REMINDERS
*Remember, most moving companies will not transfer chemicals, gas, or cleaning products.
UTILITIES
Cancel the old, hook up the new!
Electric
Gas
Water
Telephone
Sewer District
Trash
Cable/Satellite
Fuel (Oil/Propane)
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Update contact information
Doctor(s)
Dentist
Accountant
Lawyer
Broker
Insurance Agency
GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Update contact information
Department of Motor Vehicles
Social Security Administration
State/Federal Tax Bureaus
City/County Tax Assessor
Veterans Administration
PERSONAL ACCOUNTS
Set up new accounts or update contact information
Pharmacy
Dry Cleaner
Lawn Service
Bank/Finance Companies
Credit Card Companies
Laundry Service
Auto Finance Company
Health Club
PUBLICATIONS
Update your mailing address
Newspapers
Magazines
Newsletters
Professional Journals
Notify the post office that you are moving. An
online Change of Address form is available
on the United States Postal Service website.

We Specialize in the SOUTH DENVER METRO
Our Innovative Approach to REAL ESTATE
INTEGRITY: We place the utmost importance on attentiveness
and communication with our clients and team.
COLLABORATION: We find opportunities to partner with
clients, fellow teams and real estate professionals to
maximize every opportunity.
INNOVATION: We encourage thinking differently. We make
use of the most current technology, ideas and techniques to
make certain every discussion is as beneficial as possible.
KNOWLEDGE: We empower our teams to continually
develop their skills and expertise through training
and seminars so they can serve their clients as best
they can.
RELATIONSHIPS: We constantly reach out to our
communities in an effort to discover new opportunities
and build stronger, more authentic relationships that
benefit our clients.

Our mission is to “Build authentic relationships through our commitment
to family, integrity & service. We never lose sight of the fact that behind
every street address is a valued client, a family and a home”
Thank You for allowing the Sold By Simmons Team
the opportunity to service your real estate needs!
www.SoldBySimmons.com
Office Address:
9785 S Maroon Circle #150,
Englewood, CO 80112
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices does not endorse any of the products or vendors referenced on this material.
Any mention of vendors, products or services is for informational purposes only.
©2018 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire
Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.
Information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.