Working with a brokerage · Buy
The buyer journey, from first conversation to closing day
Buying a home has a lot of moving parts, and a good agent keeps them moving in the right order. Here's the road map in four phases, plus a free Buyer Workbook to keep you organized.
Get the free Buyer Workbook ↓ · Building new? See what changes with a builder.
The four phases
Most purchases follow the same basic road. Knowing what comes next takes a lot of the stress out of it.
Phase 1
Getting started
Talk through your goals, budget and timing, get pre-approved by a lender (financing basics) and set up your agency agreement. Then the fun part: touring homes and making an offer when the right one shows up.
Phase 2
Due diligence
Once your offer is accepted, your earnest money is deposited, title work starts and your lender orders the appraisal. You schedule inspections, review the reports and any homeowners association (HOA) documents, negotiate repairs and pick your homeowners insurance.
Phase 3
Closing
Final walk-through, utilities set up, movers booked. You sign your loan and closing documents, bring your funds by cashier's check or wire, and the title company records the deed. Then: keys!
Phase 4
After closing
Change the locks, settle in and watch for your first property tax and HOA bills. Your agent is still your resource for repairs, insurance and anything else that comes up.
What's inside the Buyer Workbook
- The four phases, step by step, on one page
- A wish list: your must-haves, nice-to-haves and top five non-negotiables
- A market snapshot your agent fills in for the areas you're considering
- An upfront-cost worksheet, so you know your numbers before you offer
- An offer-strategy planner: financing, appraisal, inspections and extras
- Plain answers about lenders, inspections and title companies, plus a moving checklist and FAQ
It's a 16-page PDF from The Gellman Team at eXp Realty, where Nick is a Broker Associate. Get it free below.
Building new? Here's what changes
The same four phases apply, with a few builder stops along the way:
- Bring your agent from the start. Many builders ask that your agent register you before your first visit. The first model home visit checklist helps you prep.
- Price it all in. The base price is where the math starts, not where it ends. Run What will my new home really cost? before you sign.
- Read the builder's contract. Most builders use their own purchase agreements, so deposits, timelines and inspections can work differently than in a resale.
- Inspect at stages. New doesn't mean perfect. Consider your own inspector before the drywall goes up and again before closing, and ask your builder what site access they allow.
Keep going
Build
What will my new home really cost?
Base price, homesite, options and extras: your real price before you sign.
Sell
The seller journey
Have a home to sell first? Price, prep and presentation, plus a free Seller Workbook.
Get the free Buyer Workbook
Fill this in and the workbook opens right away, ready to save or print. Nick will follow up personally, too. Rather talk it through first? Talk to Nick.