Buying Tips
How I Can Help You Buy a Home
Whether it’s your first home or if you’re an experienced buyer, purchasing a home is a complex process.
By working with me, you’ll find a home in the neighborhood where you want to live,
one that fits your budget and meets your goals for features, quality and value.
Once you’ve found the home that’s right for you, I will guide you through the process of making an offer;
negotiating the terms of the sale; getting your potential purchase inspected, repaired and appraised; and closing the sale.
When you work with me, you will:
- Be more likely to find the home that meets all your criteria
- Lessen the amount of time it will take to find your home
- Understand all the terms, processes and documents used when buying your home
- Have up-to-date market information that will allow you to make informed decisions
- Have a skilled negotiator working on your behalf, one who is committed to looking after your best interests
- Enjoy peace of mind, knowing that all the details of your purchase are being taken care of by an experienced and knowledgeable professional
Understanding Buyer Agreements
Hi there! I'm Nancy Lerner, and I've been helping clients buy and sell homes for over 14 years with Coldwell Banker. When we first meet, I'll walk you through something called agency law, which simply means how I represent you during the home-buying process.
Here's the key part: before we go see any homes, Rhode Island and federal law require that we sign a quick agreement. This agreement says that you're choosing to work with me exclusively as your buyer's agent. It also means you agree not to contact sellers or their listing agents directly — I'll handle all of that for you!
If you're planning to tour more than one property, we'll sign what is called an Exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement. This just formalizes our working relationship and ensures I can fully support you throughout your search.
Now, about commission: I always ask the seller to cover my fee, and most of the time, they do. But if for some reason they don't, this agreement makes sure we're clear that you would be responsible for it.
I'm here to make this process smooth, transparent, and enjoyable for you — and I'll be with you every step of the way!
Why We Charge a $199 Agreement Fee As your trusted real estate professional, my goal is to provide you with exceptional service, expert guidance, and a smooth transaction from start to finish. The $199 agreement fee is a one-time administrative charge that helps cover the essential services and resources I provide to both buyers and sellers at the start of our partnership. Here's what this fee supports:
- Personalized Market Research: In-depth analysis tailored to your property or buying goals, including pricing strategies, neighborhood trends, and competitive listings.
- Professional Marketing Materials: For sellers, this includes high-quality photography, listing preparation, and promotional materials to showcase your home effectively.
- Contract Preparation & Compliance: Ensuring all agreements are legally sound and compliant with local and state regulations requires time and expertise.
- Dedicated Support & Communication: From scheduling showings to coordinating with lenders, inspectors, and attorneys, I manage the details so you can focus on your goals.
- Priority Access to Resources: You'll receive access to my network of trusted professionals—mortgage brokers, contractors, stagers, and more.
Selling Tips
How I Can Help You Sell a Home
Helping find a buyer for your home is only one facet of a real estate professional’s job. There are many more aspects including explaining the basic real estate practices and principles and all the related paperwork, Performing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to help determine your home’s value, helping to prepare your home for sale, listing your home, marketing your home, keeping you informed throughout the process. When the sale begins, it’s important to work with someone who will assist you with the paperwork, negotiate on your behalf, make sure deadlines are met, and work with the escrow company.
By working with me, you will:
- Be more likely to realize the highest return on the sale of your home
- Reduce the number of days your home is on the market
- Become familiar with all the terms, processes and paperwork involved in selling your home
- Have confidence that your home will enjoy exposure to more buyers and agents with qualified buyers
- Receive regularly updated market information that will enable you to make informed decisions
- Have a skilled negotiator working on your behalf
- Have peace of mind knowing that all the details of your sale are being handled properly by a licensed and trained professional
