We always want your viewings of homes to be as productive and pleasant as possible.  Here are some tips:

1. Be Qualified - There is a huge difference between qualified and pre-qualified.  Pre-Qualified means that you have income and are breathing.  That's about all that's required to be pre-qualified.  Qualified means that a lender has pulled your credit record and that you have no credit concerns and have sufficient income to handle a mortgage.  Please speak to a lender and get a qualification before viewing homes.  Need Help?  Just let us know.  We will be glad to assist.  ****Always remember you are in the driver's seat and you can go to any lender you choose. 

2. Make an Appointment: Many of our homes are occupied.  Seller's want you to see the home in the best light.  Some sellers have special accommodations to make like moving a dog, and our agents have to make time to travel to the property.  PLEASE - MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

3. Be On Time- Our agents schedule tightly for appointments and seller's have gone out of their way to accomodate your visit.  Please be on time so that we can avoid wasting your time or the seller's.

4. Be Loyal. YES Realty strives to make every effort to assist you and find the home you love.  If you wish to or are working with agents at other companies, please be transparent and tell us.  We will understand. 

We are paid on commission only.  Please know that we are paid depending on whom we represent.  There are no salaried agents at YES Realty.  If you want us to show you the homes and buy from another company, we are not paid. Period.  

We can and will be happy to assist you with any home on the market.   

5. Shoes.  Be kind and leave your shoes at the door - sellers appreciate it.

6.  Please call if you can't make your appointment.  Like your dentist or doctor, we schedule back to back on many days to assist as many clients as possible.  Unlike your dentist or doctor, we are not paid for missed appointments and we may be making huge travel efforts to be left hanging.  Please let your agent know ASAP - remember, they may not come to the office before the showing to retrieve a message you left on voice mail.  Thanks for your understanding with this.   

7.  Dress appropriately  -If you want to view land & homes and let us know and we will also dress for the environment. Some acreage may be accessed by 4-wheel drive only or boots may be needed.   Please let us know so we can have the vehicles on hand to get you there.

8.  Eat before you arrive.  Again, depending on location and scheduling, meals can be difficult.

9. Cold weather - dress warmly as empty homes may have little or no heat and you will chill.

10.  Directions - Be clear on where you are to meet the agent.

11. Talk before the showings - You would be shocked at how many customers have no idea what the spouse, significant other or children want in a home or property.  It is easier if you have what we call the 5 Leaders in mind.  In other words, what 5 things will you not live without.  Basement? 2 story? etc. and this will help the Realtor© know what boundries to work within. 

12. Bring all important parties to the showings. If you have others who are involved in the decision or financing, like mom/pop, granny/grandpa, BRING THEM ALONG.

13.  Get Rid of the Myths - Be prepared to like the first home you see.  It happens.  Also be prepared that if you delay, it may well sell before you come back to it.  Our market can be super fast and you may miss the only home you loved because "I didn't want to buy the first thing I saw".   

14.  Understand Multiple Offers - If you place an offer on a home today, it is our duty to present it as fast as possible.  However if two or more offers hit the table at the same time, you now are in competition with the other buyers.  Negotiations with multiple offers happen fast, so be ready with your next move.  There is rarely a large span of time for you to formulate your response.  This is why being qualified can be so very important.  If you make lowball offers or counter offers , you may well lose.  Only you can judge how much you want that particular home and your Realtor© can only do as you direct.  Your YES Realty Realtor© may have several strategies for you during these negotiations including escalation clauses.  Just Remember, as good as we may be, we cannot read your mind.  If you don't understand, ask and we will be glad to talk with you as long as you like.  

15.  Verbal Offers -   If you want to make offers verbally, we are obligated to present them, but understand that they really mean nothing and you most likely will not get a response.  We don't know what you want included  with the property, when you might close and so many other details and sad to say, a man's word today just isn't what it used to be.   We make offers at YES Realty© in writing, so there are no misunderstandings.

16. Insulting the Seller - Real Estate is a People Business and we will counsel you on offers that may insult the seller.  Often buyers insist on making low offers that are unreasonable.  As Realtors©, we must take the offer to the seller.  If this is a home you really want, please consider how the seller may react.  "I just wanted to see where they were", "I want to know the bottom dollar", "I don't think it's worth it", etc. are all comments we hear.  The seller if insulted may not negotiate with you and you may ultimately pay more because now they are not nearly as flexible to your offers. Crying Wolf can backfire.  Please think carefully before making low offers.   

17. Keys.  We do not give buyers keys so Uncle Bob's sister's girl can see the house over the weekend.  Never.  Please don't ask. 

18.  Honk & We Will Hear You -  YES Realty is located at 104 W. Main, Lebanon, Va.  beside Stinson's Heating and the old Lebanon Theater.  We are a second story office.  If you can't negotiate the stairs, pull up front and honk.  We will be glad to come out to you. 

19. Infants, small children, pets with you on showings?  Please let us know ahead of time.  Almost always children urgently have to potty in an empty house.  Not all homes have current water hookups or toilet tissue.  We will be glad to schedule frequent breaks in our schedule with advance notice.

Thanks, now let's go find that wonderful home. 

©YES Realty, Lebanon, Va.