Purchasing a home can be a stressful time for buyers. With so many things to keep in mind – such as financing options, how to keep track of all the homes they view, whether their existing home will sell, and negotiating an affordable price – buyers can easily become overwhelmed.

To help your buyers understand the home buying process, offer them a way to manage all the information they will collect during their home search. A great way to do this is by creating a home buyer’s kit. Here are some things your kit should include:

Home buying process overview – Provide a clear, easy-to-understand overview of each step in the home buying process including a basic timeframe, financing options, how to search for and visit homes, how to choose the best home, how to negotiate the best terms, how to present the offer, and how to open escrow. Include a list of financial lenders, attorneys, contractors, escrow officers and any other vendors that you recommend.

Services overview – Explain to buyers how you manage the real estate transaction from start to finish, what types of communication they can expect from you, your contact information, and an overview of your working agreement.

Criteria clarification checklist – Help buyers put together a list of what they need in a home vs. what they would like to have. What features and amenities are non-negotiable? Which would be nice to have, but they could do without? For instance, do they have a neighborhood or school district they prefer? How many bedrooms and bathrooms? What type of home are they looking for? And so forth. If your clients are a couple, ask both parties to fill out their needs and wants – often, they will have different priorities.

Property searches – Show buyers how to search your website and the public MLS to find listings. Inevitably, they will also search for homes in print media, mailings, and driving around neighborhoods looking for “For Sale” signs as well. Clearly explain what they should do if they find one they like – such as emailing or faxing you for more information on the property. If you don’t explain what your clients should do if they find a property they like, chances are, they will call the number listed on the sign, ad or website and talk with someone else.

Home evaluation worksheet – Include a worksheet buyers can fill out to rate different home criteria such as the property exterior, interior rooms, location, community features, and other amenities on a scale of one to five. The worksheet should also have a section where buyers can write down notes about what they like and didn’t like about the property.

Listing information – Each time you show homes, print the details of each of the listings they will be viewing so they can keep track of their home search. You may also want to include a map of the day’s itinerary so they know where you are headed and where you’ve been.

By creating a basic home buying kit for your clients, you can clear up some of the confusion and overwhelm they will face during their home search, while encouraging open communication throughout the buying process.

Related Posts

• 6 Steps for Converting Potential Home Buyers Into Clients
• How to Improve Client Satisfaction
• 5 Tips To Communicate More Effectively By Email
• Are You a Marketer or a Salesman?
• 5 Steps to Building a Referral Business