Buyer's Guide : simplebooklet.com

HELLOI AM SARA SKOLASKIS a r a S k o l a s k i i s a d e d i c a t e d r e a l e s t a t e a g e n t a t e X p R e a l t yw i t h 3 + y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e . S h e s p e c i a l i z e s i n h e l p i n gb u y e r s , s e l l e r s , i n v e s t o r s , a n d c o m m e r c i a l c l i e n t s f i n d t h e i rp e r f e c t f i t . S a r a i s p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t p r o v i d i n g e x c e p t i o n a ls e r v i c e a n d b u i l d i n g l a s t i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h h e r c l i e n t s .S h e i s c o m m i t t e d t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g h e r c l i e n t s ' n e e d s a n dg u i d i n g t h e m t h r o u g h e v e r y s t e p o f t h e p r o c e s s . S a r a w a sa w a r d e d R o o k i e o f t h e Y e a r f o r 2 0 2 4 a n d i s a c t i v e l y i n v o l v e di n t h e P e o r i a A r e a A s s o c i a t i o n o f R E A L T O R S ® ( P A A R ) .sara.skolaski@exprealty.com www.saraskolaski.exprealty.com

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HOME BUYER'S ROADMAPN o t e : T h i s i s o n l y a h i g h l e v e l o v e r v i e w o f a b u y - s i d e p r o c e s s . F o r m o r ed e t a i l e d s t e p s , p l e a s e r e f e r t o y o u r r e a l e s t a t e a g e n t .321F I N D A G E N TF I N A N C I A L SG e t y o u r f i n a n c e s i no r d e r , g e t p r e - a p p r o v e df o r a m o r t g a g e . I f y o ud o n ’ t h a v e a l e n d e r , I ’ mh a p p y t o r e f e r s o m e t oy o u . S E A R C HI N S P E C T I O NO F F E RM a t c h w i t h a n a g e n tt h a t y o u f e e lc o m f o r t a b l e w i t hB e g i n y o u r H O M Es e a r c h ! L o o k o n l i n eo r o n y o u r f a v o r i t ea p p s .D i s c u s s w i t h y o u ra g e n t t h e o f f e r t h a ty o u ’ d l i k e t o m a k e ,a n d y o u ’ l l c r e a t e ac o n t r a c t t h a tr e f l e c t s y o u r o f f e r .O n c e y o u r o f f e r i sa c c e p t e d , y o u r a g e n tw i l l b e g i n s c h e d u l i n gy o u r i n s p e c t i o n s . S H O W I N G SO n c e y o u h a v ef o u n d a h o m e o rh o m e s o f i n t e r e s t ,r e a c h o u t t o y o u ra g e n t t o s c h e d u l ea s h o w i n g .S C H E D U L E M O V ES c h e d u l e y o u rm o v e d a t e a n da r r a n g e f o rm o v e r sC L O S I N GG e t y o u r k e y s a n dc e l e b r a t e y o u rn e w h o m e !45678sara.skolaski@exprealty.com309-253-2037- e Xp REALTY -SARA SKOLASKI

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OF FERCO NTI N GEN CYAn offer is a preliminary agreement topurchase a home, and is set between abuyer and a seller. A contingency related to a property iswhen the preliminary offer isaccepted, pending certain conditionsset out by the seller. CL OSI N G C OSTThe closing cost is the amount that ispaid, in addition to the sale price. Thiscan include: taxes, insurance andlender expenses.EA RNE S T M ONE YEarnest money is the balance of fundsthat are set aside into a trust or anescrow account to show the buyer isserious about the purchase. HO ME I NSP ECT IONA home inspection is an official reviewof the real estate asset's currentcondition. They will help to determineif there is any work needed to be doneto the property to bring it to normalworking order. TI TLE SEA RCHAP PRA I SALDI SCL O SUR ESCL OSI N GPR E-A P PRO VALA title search will confirm that theproperty that is being sold in factbelongs to the seller. An appraisal is the value that isassigned to the real estate asset basedon an assessment of the asset,neighborhood, market condition, andmore. The disclosures related to a property willinclude everything that the sellers knowabout the property, including any areasthat need repairs. The closing part of the real estate sale iswhen the money and keys areexchanged. A pre-approval is the first step toobtaining a mortgage to purchase yourhome. The banker will perform ananalysis on your income, debt, andcredit-worthiness. You will need one inorder to be ready to put an offer on ahouse.REAL ESTATE TERMS

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01FINDING AGREAT AGENTF i n d i n g a r e a l e s t a t e a g e n t t h a t y o u t r u s t a n d f e e lc o m f o r t a b l e w i t h i s a s h a r d a s f i n d i n g t h e r i g h t h o u s e t o c a l la h o m e . A p u r c h a s e o f t h i s m a g n i t u d e i s a h u g e l i f e d e c i s i o na n d y o u w a n t t o m a k e s u r e t h a t y o u r r e a l e s t a t e a g e n t i s a si n v e s t e d i n t h i s s a l e a s y o u a r e . S a r a i s p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t p r o v i d i n g e x c e p t i o n a l s e r v i c e a n db u i l d i n g l a s t i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h h e r c l i e n t s . S h e i sc o m m i t t e d t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g h e r c l i e n t s ' n e e d s a n d g u i d i n gt h e m t h r o u g h e v e r y s t e p o f t h e p r o c e s s . IND U S TRY KNO W L EDGESMA R T NEGOTI A T INGPRO F E SSIONAL E XPERIEN C ECUS T O MER SER V I CEI have access to a wide variety of resources that are not readily available to thepublic. They can help you determine the best price and time to sell. With my years of experience and expertise, I can help you negotiate the best price foryour home. It is my personal responsibility to undergo annual trainings and compliancemeetings to ensure that I am up to date on any changes in legal or administrativepaperwork. I am dedicated to helping you answer any questions that arise from this process, as wellas advocate for you every step of the way. I promise to deliver top notch service!

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FINANCIALI t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t y o u s t a yw i t h i n a b u d g e t o f 3 - 5 t i m e sy o u r a n n u a l i n c o m e w h e np u r c h a s i n g a n e w h o m e . W h e n d e t e r m i n i n g y o u rm o r t g a g e , d o n ' t f o r g e t o t h e rf a c t o r s l i k e : d o w n p a y m e n t ,l e g a l f e e s , t a x e s , h o m ei n s p e c t i o n c o s t s , a p p r a i s e rc o s t s , a n d r e n o v a t i o n c o s t s . DETERMINE YOUR BUDGETA 2 0 % d o w n p a y m e n t i s t h e m o s tc o m m o n , h o w e v e r , i t i s n o t y o u ro n l y o p t i o n !H a v e a d i s c u s s i o n w i t h y o u r l e n d e rt o d e t e r m i n e w h a t w o r k s b e s t f o ry o u r s c e n a r i o . HOW MUCH SHOULD YOURDOWNPAYMENT BE? 02

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O b t a i n i n g a p r e - a p p r o v a l o n y o u r m o r t g a g e w i l l h e l p y o u i n m a n yw a y s . F i r s t i t w i l l h e l p y o u d e t e r m i n e y o u r b u d g e t , a n d h e l p y o us t a y w i t h i n y o u r m e a n s . S e c o n d i t s h o w s t h e s e l l e r t h a t y o u a r es e r i o u s a b o u t p u r c h a s i n g a h o m e , a n d t h a t y o u h a v e t h e f u n d sn e c e s s a r y t o c o m p l e t e t h e p u r c h a s e . A l t h o u g h y o u a r e p r e - a p p r o v e d f o r a l o a n , d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t y o uw i l l b e g u a r a n t e e d t h i s a m o u n t i n y o u r f i n a l m o r t g a g e . Y o u w i l ls t i l l h a v e t o b e a p p r o v e d f o r a m o r t g a g e a f t e r y o u h a v e s u b m i t t e da n o f f e r . I t i s i m p o r t a n t n o t t o m a k e a n y s i g n i f i c a n t p u r c h a s e s o r a l t e r y o u rc r e d i t s c o r e i n a n y w a y d u r i n g t h i s t i m e . PRE-APPROVALFINANCIALCREDIT SCORE CHECK02Y o u r l e n d e r w i l l p e r f o r m a c r e d i tc h e c k p r i o r t o a p p r o v i n g am o r t g a g e a n d d e t e r m i n i n g y o u ri n t e r e s t r a t e . T h e m o s t i d e a lr a n g e w i l l b e 6 2 0 o r a b o v e . T h e b e t t e r y o u r s c o r e , t h e l o w e rt h e i n t e r e s t r a t e y o u w i l l b ec h a r g e d o n y o u r m o r t g a g e .

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TOUR HOMESB e s u r e t o m a k e a l i s to f y o u r m u s t h a v e s ,w a n t s , a n d d o n ' t c a r e s . A s y o u t o u r t h e h o m e s ,m a k e s u r e y o u c h e c ko f f a l l y o u r m u s th a v e s . O n c e y o u f i n d a h o u s e y o ul o v e , y o u c a n m a k e a no f f i c i a l o f f e r t o t h e s e l l e r . T a k e p h o t o s a s y o u g o t h r o u g h t h e o p e n h o u s e s s o y o ur e m e m b e r t h e l a y o u t a n d t h e f e e l o f e a c h h o u s e y o u v i s i t . P a y a t t e n t i o n t o f e a t u r e s o f t h e p r o p e r t y t h a t a r e f i x e d s u c h a st h e n e i g h b o r h o o d , t h e l o t s i z e , a n d t h e o r i e n t a t i o n o f t h eh o m e . D o n ' t p a y t o o m u c h a t t e n t i o n t o t h e c o l o r s o f t h e w a l l so r t h e f u r n i t u r e . B e s u r e t o c h e c k o u t t h e s m a l l d e t a i l s l i k e t h e l i g h t s w i t c h e s ,w a t e r f e a t u r e s , a n d a p p l i a n c e s t o m a k e s u r e e v e r y t h i n g w o r k s .HOME SEARCHING TIPS03

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04MAKE ANOFFERB e p r e p a r e d t o r e c e i v e a c o u n t e r - o f f e r , a n d d o n ' t b ea f r a i d t o b a r g a i n f o r y o u r p u r c h a s e . B e s u r e t o k n o w w h a t y o u a r e b u y i n g a n d e n s u r e t h a ty o u f e e l t h e p r i c e i s f a i r a t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y .O n c e y o u f i n d a h o u s e y o ul o v e , y o u c a n m a k e a no f f i c i a l o f f e r t o t h e s e l l e r . D o n ' t b e a f r a i d t o m a k e a no f f e r b e l o w t h e l i s t e d p r i c e .S e l l e r s o f t e n p r i c e h i g h e rt h a n t h e y w o u l d b e w i l l i n gt o s e l l f o r . Y o u r R E A L T O Rw i l l b e a b l e t o a n s w e r a n yq u e s t i o n s y o u r m i g h t h a v ea b o u t t h e m a r k e t a t a n yg i v e n t i m e .NEGOTIATE ANOFFER

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F e e l f r e e t o a s k y o u r i n s p e c t o rt o t a k e p i c t u r e s a n d b ed e s c r i p t i v e i n t h e i r r e p o r t . Y o u c a n a l s o a s k f o r a m e e t i n gw i t h t h e i n s p e c t o r t o b e t t e ru n d e r s t a n d t h e i r f i n d i n g s . O n c e t h e i n s p e c t i o n i sc o m p l e t e , y o u c a n d i s c u s s a n dn e g o t i a t e w i t h t h e s e l l e r a n yf i n a l p o i n t s .INSPECTION05M a k e s u r e t h a t y o u a l l o w f o r a ni n s p e c t i o n t o b e c o m p l e t e d p r i o r t o t h ec l o s i n g o f t h e s a l e . I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o k n o w a s m u c h a b o u ty o u r h o m e a s p o s s i b l e . I f a n y t h i n g s e r i o u s c o m e s o u t o f t h ei n s p e c t i o n , y o u h a v e a n o p t i o n t o b a c ko u t o f t h e a g r e e m e n t , o r g i v e s y o um o r e n e g o t i a t i n g p o w e r .

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O t h e r c h e c k s y o u s h o u l d r u np r i o r t o f i n a l i z i n g t h ep u r c h a s e o f y o u r n e w h o m e : 1 . A p p r a i s a l 2 . P r o p e r t y t i t l e s e a r c h Y o u r b a n k e r w i l l a l s o w a n t af o r m a l a p p r a i s a l o f t h e h o m ep r i o r t o i s s u i n g y o u r l o a n . B e s u r e t o p u r c h a s e h o m ei n s u r a n c e f o r y o u r n e wp r o p e r t y ! T h e l e n d e r w i l l r e v i e w a n y a n d a l l f i n a n c i a l r e l a t e d f o r m sa n d i n f o r m a t i o n p r i o r t o g r a n t i n g t h e l o a n . T h e y w i l l r e v i e w d e t a i l s l i k e : Y o u r i n c o m e C r e d i t c h e c k E m p l o y m e n t s t a t u s APPRAISAL& LOAN APPROVAL06

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CLOSINGC l o s i n g i s t h e f i n a l s t e p f o r y o u t o b e c o m e t h e l e g a l o w n e ro f y o u r h o m e . Y o u w i l l t a k e a f i n a l w a l k - t h r o u g h a f e w d a y sb e f o r e c l o s i n g t o a s s u r e t h a t n e g o t i a t e d w o r k h a s b e e nc o m p l e t e d a n d e v e r y t h i n g i s i n w o r k i n g o r d e r . T h e c l o s i n g p r o c e s s i t s e l f r e q u i r e s a l o t o f p a p e r w o r k a n dp a t i e n c e . B e p r e p a r e d w i t h y o u r g o v e r n m e n t i s s u e d p h o t oI D , c a s h i e r ' s c h e c k a n d a n y o t h e r d o c u m e n t s r e q u i r e d b yt h e t i t l e c o m p a n y o r l o a n o f f i c e r . D o n ' t f o r g e t t o r e - k e y a l l t h e l o c k s a n d c h a n g e t h e g a r a g ed o o r o p e n e r c o d e w h e n t h e p r o p e r t y i s o f f i c i a l l y y o u r s . C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s o n y o u r n e w h o m e !08

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W o r k i n g w i t h S a r a m a d e o u r r e a l e s t a t et r a n s a c t i o n s a b r e e z e ! S h e a n s w e r e d e v e r yq u e s t i o n a n d k e p t u s i n f o r m e d o n e v e r y s t e p o ft h e p r o c e s s ! S o k i n d a n d k n o w l e d g e a b l e ! G i v eh e r a c a l l f o r a l l y o u r r e a l e s t a t e n e e d s ! ! !STEPHANIE STAUFFERS a r a s t e p p e d i n a s o u r r e a l t o r a f t e r a t e r r i b l e e x p e r i e n c e . W e w e r e c a u t i o u sa n d h a d c o n c e r n s a f t e r o u r l a s t e x p e r i e n c e , b u t S a r a i m m e d i a t e l y c a l m e de v e r y c o n c e r n . S h e l i s t e n e d t o o u r c o n c e r n s , a n s w e r e d q u e s t i o n s , a n d w e n tt o b a t f o r u s w h e n o t h e r s w o u l d n ' t . S h e w a s e a s y t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h a n da l w a y s a d d r e s s e d o u r q u e s t i o n s . S h e w e n t a b o v e a n d b e y o n d t o m a k e s u r ew e w e r e c o m f o r t a b l e e v e r y s t e p o f t h e w a y . S a r a i s t h e k i n d o f r e a l t o r t h a tw i l l w a t c h e v e r y d e t a i l a n d f i g h t f o r y o u a n d y o u r f a m i l y . O u r f a m i l y w i l lf o r e v e r b e g r a t e f u l f o r h e r ! W e h i g h l y r e c o m m e n d c a l l i n g S a r a f o r a l l y o u rr e a l e s t a t e n e e d s !MELISSA MARKLEI f y o u ’ r e j u s t l o o k i n g f o r s o m e o n e t o s h o w y o u a r o u n d a h o u s e , b u c k l e u p -b e c a u s e w i t h S a r a y o u g e t S O m u c h m o r e . S h e w i l l l i s t e n t o y o u r n e e d s a n dw o r k d i l i g e n t l y d a y a n d n i g h t t o f i n d y o u y o u r p e r f e c t h o m e , w i t h o u t b e i n gp u s h y o r i m p a t i e n t ; e v e n i f i t t a k e s m o n t h s ! I a m b e y o n d g r a t e f u l t o h a v e f o u n ds u c h a n a m a z i n g r e a l t o r a n d e v e n m o r e s o t o h a v e m a d e a l i f e l o n g f r i e n d . A f t e rc l o s i n g t h e r e w e r e s o m e h i c c u p s w i t h t h e s e l l e r , b u t h a v e n o f e a r , S a r a b e c a m eM a m a B e a r a n d g o t t o t h e b o t t o m o f i t a l l , q u i c k l y ! I w i l l f o r e v e r b e g r a t e f u lt h a t s h e m a d e b u y i n g m y f i r s t h o m e a b r e e z e ! A l l t h i s t o s a y , s h e i s g e n u i n e l yt h e s w e e t e s t h u m a n , b u t f i e r c e w h e n i t c o m e s t o a d v o c a t i n g f o r h e r c l i e n t ! ! Y o ua b s o l u t e l y w i l l N O T b e d i s a p p o i n t e d . C A L L H E R T O B U Y / S E L L Y O U R H O M ET O D A Y ! !BRITTANY WRIGHTCUSTOMER TESTIMONIALSsara.skolaski@exprealty.com309-253-2037- e Xp REALTY -SARA SKOLASKI

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HO ME TOUR ING CHE C KLI STADDRESS OF PROPERTY:______________________________________________________CURB APPEALDISLIKE LOVENEUTRALINTERIORDISLIKE LOVENEUTRALEXTERIORDISLIKE LOVENEUTRALPRICEDISLIKE LOVENEUTRALLOCATIONDISLIKE LOVENEUTRALNEIGHBORHOODDISLIKE LOVENEUTRALADDITIONAL COMMENTS:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________DATE VISITED: __________________________PRICE:________________________________BEDROOMS: __________ BATHROOMS: __________ SQUARE FOOT: _______________LOT SIZE: ______________________________YEAR BUILT:__________________________SCHOOL DISTRICT:____________________________________________________________

Buyer's Guide

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