Buyer's Guide | Milwaukee Real Estate

Real estate is so much more than buying and selling. It’s a huge lifestyle and wealth building experience.

Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step home buyer’s guide created by your agent will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.

You will feel confident and well-informed at every milestone. Below is the typical order of events to see through to closing.

This is an example of a typical timeframe to closing. Your actual deadlines may be different, so please refer to your agent and offer to purchase.

Day 1
Offer Acceptance

Within 5 Business Days
Earnest Money

10-15 Days
Inspection Time Frame

15-25 Days After Acceptance
Appraisal Deadline

21-30 Days After Acceptance
Loan Approval Deadline

3 Days Before Closing
Final Walk Through

Day Before Closing
Sign and Transfer Funds

30-90 Days After Acceptance
Closing & Transfer of Title

Expertise beyond the basics

Investing
Rental properties: diversifying at its finest. Ask me about investment properties. I’ve embraced another facet of the real estate market in investing and it’s given me a deeper understanding of the financial strategies available to investors.

Renovation
After acting as general contractor for my own projects, I have a full appreciation for the renovation process. I bring that knowledge to every home I enter. You might find a home that needs some work. I’ll give you a preliminary idea of the budget that work entails, plus the team will give recommendations for contractors, materials & finishes.

Design
We go through handfuls of homes every day and we’ve seen it all. Part intuition and part experience, we have an eye for design. You may not be able to visualize how to use a space, so that’s where we come in.

Client

Advisor
When you’re my client, I advise, educate, and inform you. I’m on your side - we can discuss opportunities openly. I can negotiate on your behalf and suggest a strategy for getting the home you love. You’ll often hear me say, “If it were me...”

Knowledge
My knowledge of the market and home price & value is fully available to you. When you walk through a home as a client, I can offer price opinion and discuss pros & cons of the neighborhood.

Buyer Agency
To become a client, you must sign a buyer agency contract. To cut through all the mumbo-jumbo, it states that you will work with Houseworks Collective and you want us to negotiate on your behalf for any home you purchase.

vs. Customer

The state of Wisconsin has an interesting rule: if you’re not contractually our client, we technically work for the home seller. This means we can’t negotiate on your behalf; we can only carry out the transaction as you ask us to.

Before You Search

Lender
Houseworks Collective works with preferred lenders. Some of these folks are great with first-time homebuyers, others are better for investors or deals involving multiple properties.

We’ll recommend lenders to you, but you are welcome to work with any lender you want. When you first meet with your lender, they will begin collecting information to pre-approve you for a mortgage. From there, you’ll have a budget for us to work with.

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The Well Presented Offer

A Letter of Financial Commitment
Your lender will pre-approve a loan amount, making your offer more appealing to sellers.

A Contract with Excellent Terms
I will guide you through the process of putting together an offer with strong terms.

Earnest Money
Show that you’ll hold up your end of the bargain by providing a refundable down payment.

Presentation and Persistence
I represent you and will do my best to explain your position and get a counteroffer if necessary.

1

Buyer Kick-Off

2

Search

3

Showings & Offers

4

Accepted Offer

5

Inspection

6

Appraisal

7

Closing

Buyer Kick-Off

Let's Meet

We’ll meet to discuss the buying process and your wants and needs to start your home search. We’ll also discuss client vs. customer and buyer agency. If it seems like a good fit we will sign the buyer agency so we can work on your behalf and start your home search.

The Home Buying Process | Milwaukee Real Estate Agents

Search

Let's Look at Homes

We’ll set up your search parameters and get you set up on a Compass search. You’ll be alerted to new properties and we’ll start to go on showings.

Life Changing Events Create a Reason to Move | Milwaukee Real Estate

Showings & Offers

Let's Get Out There

Let your agent know when you see a property you like and they will set up a showing. They’ll walk you through the property and see how you like it. From there we’ll guide you through the process of putting together an offer with strong terms. Your agent will represent you and get a counter offer if necessary.

Accepted Offer

We did it!

Once you receive an accepted offer you’ll work with your agent to submit earnest money and go over dates and deadlines to get you to closing.

Inspection

A Thorough Look

You as the buyer will order an inspection. Your agent will guide you through the report and negotiate on your behalf if necessary.

Appraisal

Assess the Value

Your lender will order an appraisal. Your agent will guide you through negotiation and an amendment if necessary.

Closing

Congratulations!

There will be a final walk-through and you’ll sign all of the paperwork with the title company and lender. Then you get the keys and move in!

Let's Get You Home

Search for

Real estate is so much more than buying and selling. It’s a huge lifestyle and wealth building experience.

Expertise beyond the basics

Client

vs. Customer

Before You Search