Helping Renters Become Homeowners

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Home Buying Tips from KW

In our experience, a house is not a dream home because of its size or color. It's about how you feel when you walk through the front door - the way you can instantly see your life unfolding there. This is about more than just real estate, It's about your life and dreams.

Home Visit

We'll arrange to visit the homes you've selected, together and in-person, to determine the best fit for you.

  • How can I make the most of my time when visiting homes?
    • Get an accurate idea of your price range, an estimate of your monthly payments and a pre-approval letter, so sellers will take you seriously when you make an offer.
    • Work with your KW agent to hone your “wants” and “needs” list. Think about what’s most important to you: the location or the house itself.
    • Preview homes through the KW app to eliminate those you won’t need to visit in person.
    • Plan an itinerary with your Keller Williams agent.
  • What should I expect when visiting homes?
    • You and your KW agent typically visit homes together
    • Homeowners usually are not home, so you’re free to spend as little or as much time as you want.
    • Buyers often have a gut reaction to a home. First impressions count, but you can also consult your agent to learn more about home values and possibly to reevaluate your priorities in the context of what’s available in your price range.
  • How many homes should I visit?

    Sometimes buyers find their future home the first time out and others look at 50 homes before they see one that checks all their boxes. It’s a good idea to see at least a few alternatives so you have some points of comparison, but sometimes you just know a place is where you want to live.

  • What should I look for when visiting homes?
    • Look beyond the staging and decorative items to see the features and fixtures that convey with the house.
    • Check the condition of the home.
    • Keep track with photos and notes.
    • Consider possible home improvements you might want to make so you can research costs later.
    • Don’t forget to check out the outside of the property and the neighborhood. Your Keller Williams agent has access to neighborhood insights and data to help inform your decision.
    • Locate your commuter route, schools, shops, restaurants, parks and other amenities.
    • If the property is a condo or located in a homeowners association, find out the fees and rules to see if you can live with them.
    • Your Keller Williams real estate agent will be your trusted partner for your home search.

Making An Offer

Once you’ve narrowed down your list and have a clear favorite, collaborate with us to make an offer on a home.

What should I include with my offer?

Your Keller Williams agent will have the most recent standard purchase offer forms that comply with state and local laws.


  • The price
  • Terms – such as a request for closing cost help or that the offer is subject to your obtaining financing and a home inspection
  • Target date for closing
  • Earnest money deposit – your KW agent can advise you about how big your deposit should be based on local customs and current conditions
  • Request for final walk-through
  • Time limit for the offer


What are the most common factors?

  • Financing. Unless you’re paying cash, it’s typical to write your offer with a contingency clause that lets you off the hook if you can’t finalize your mortgage within a certain number of days. Even though you have a pre-approval for a loan, it’s smart to protect yourself.
  • Home inspection. Your offer can be made dependent on a satisfactory home inspection report within a certain number of days. This protects you if the inspection uncovers expensive necessary repairs.

What happens if there are multiple offers?

In a competitive housing market, you may find yourself competing against other buyers. In that case, your Keller Williams agent is your best ally in strategizing for your offer to be accepted. With access to real-time market data, your KW agent will know how to best position your offer. If there’s more than one offer, the sellers can:

  • Accept the best offer
  • Counter all the offers to get a better price and terms
  • Counter one offer that’s close to what they want

You and your KW agent can work together to find out what’s important to the sellers, such as a specific moving date, and to discuss possibly waiving contingencies, adjusting your price or writing a “love letter” about the house.


Execute Contract

The crucial period between an offer and a final contract is an important time to stay in close contact with your Keller Williams agent so you’re equipped with all the information you need to make smart decisions.

What should I expect to see in the contract?

Ask your KW agent to explain the key points in your multi-page contract, such as:

  • Accuracy of information, including the correct spelling of your name and the property address
  • The effective date of the contract – important because your contingencies have time limits.
  • A list of contingencies, such as that the sale depends on financing, an appraisal, a satisfactory home inspection and perhaps the sale of your current home.
  • Property disclosure information from the seller, depending on your state laws.
  • A complete list of what conveys with the property
  • A list of required inspections, such as a home inspection and a pest inspection
  • Information about when you can move in.
  • In some cases, such as if your offer is contingent on the sale of your home, the seller may add a “kick-out” clause, which means that the seller could accept another offer if one is made before your home is sold.

When do you negotiate and when do

you let go?

At Keller Williams Liberty, we will guide you through the decision making process. When you're looking to purchase a particular property, depending upon the situation you may have to ask yourself what you’re willing to accept to make it happen. You may want to let go when :

  • You're in a bidding war, this can drive the price too high
  • The appraised value of the home is below your offer
  • A home inspection finds defects that would be expensive to repair
  • The sellers are unwilling to make reasonable repairs
  • You learn about homeowners association rules that won’t work for you


What are common contract pitfalls I should avoid?

We know the real estate industry and what to keep watch for. At Keller Williams Liberty your agent will help you identify :

  • Unrealistic deadlines: you’ll need time to arrange a home inspection and receive the report, as well as arrange financing
  • Missing deadlines means you lose your chance to end the contract and keep your deposit
  • Items that don’t convey with the property: if you’re not sure, ask your agent to confirm
  • Communications from your lender

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, the most common reasons for contracts to fail or to be delayed are home inspection problems, financing problems or an appraisal issue. Contact a Keller Williams Liberty agent to help you navigate the complexities of a real estate contract.


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