Your home is probably the biggest purchase your family will ever make, and it involves many decisions that go beyond simply choosing one you like. There will be inspections, the appraisal, loan application and many other stages of the process to undertake.
As a top Greater Baton Rouge area REALTORŪ, HERE IS HOW I WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE ENTIRE PURCHASING PROCESS, from viewing homes and financing, to making sure the final contract is in your best interest:
- You will have full access to ALL homes, within your needs, that are available on the Greater Baton Rouge Multiple Listing System. This covers 8 parishes in and around the Baton Rouge area. You will also receive information about listings not yet in the MLS or on the market, through my professional Louisiana real estate affiliations and networking with fellow Realtors.
-You will even receive information on For Sale By Owners - Once particular subdivisions and neighborhoods have been determined as areas of interest for your new home, I will approach all For Sale By Owners that have homes fitting your needs!
A Word About For Sale By Owners. The fact that I approach owners trying to sell their homes, in order to offer my buyers all available options, is sometimes a big surprise to my clients. First of all, this is usually a situation when buyers need my help and representation the most. When a property is listed with an agent, at least we know the seller is being "educated" of the marketing / sales process. However,with all due respect to the seller who wishes to market their own home, this situation often brings to the table a seller that does not know the ins and outs of selling and a buyer who may not know the ins and outs of buying. This is definitely not the best case scenario under which to buy, for either party. Can a transaction under these conditions work? Of course! Some of the time. Unfortunately though, not most of the time. Not having an expert represent your best interest is much like not having insurance - You really don't realize how much you needed it until a problem arises, and usually after it is too late. Secondly, I often find this situation works well for the seller also, as the seller is usually very open to a trained professional showing their home to a qualified buyer. After all, they know more than most that the job is not as easy as it looks!
- My expert local knowledge of Baton Rouge and the surrounding area will be at your constant access - from property searches, to viewing homes, to schools, market values, negotiation strategies, proper inspection procedures, local economy, and more! I bring not only 22 years of real estate experience to you, but also my lifelong knowledge of the area.
- Every local real estate market has its own trends and opportunities. This can vary greatly, even from one neighborhood to the next. The Greater Baton Rouge area Multiple Listing service covers a vast 8 parish area - East and West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, Ascension , East and West Feliciana, and Livingston Parishes. The cities and towns within this market territory range from St. Francisville, Zachary, Baker, Central, Greenwell Springs, Pride, Baton Rouge to Port Allen, Brusly, New Roads, to Denham Springs, Prairieville and Gonzales. The market atmosphere can be very different in this area where St. Francisville to Gonzales is nearly 50 miles! It is my job to know what the market is like in each area, and to guide you into opportunities and out of traps. It is part of my representation to ensure, to the best of all market indications, that you are making a wise choice in a home purchase. It is so important to blend "the heart strings" (what I call the emotional part) of buying with the "meat and potatoes" (what I call the intellectual part) of buying. At some point, all homes will be resold and it is best to know the existing and surrounding market conditions favor the property escalating in value over time!
- What is the true market value of the home you are interested in? Is it priced too high? Is it a bargain that you should jump on? I help home buyers make decisions like this every day, and I'll make sure that YOU are provided with as much information as is available about the value of a particular home! Before any negotiation begins, I pull a history of the desired property to see how long it has been on the market, have there been any reductions, and the like. We will also have a complete list of comparable sales in the neighborhood to guide you into the offer process.
- Negotiating with sellers can be stressful. I will help you negotiate, so that the final contract includes the best possible terms and conditions. I've often been told that I am "too detailed" or "over write" my contracts - to this I can only answer that my clients, who's best interest is being served, have never complained!
- You should know absolutely everything about the property you are buying! You and I will view every home that you are interested in, and together we will investigate the neighborhood, restrictions, zoning and other factors that effect the property. I will make you fully aware of any and all inspections available to you, and take you through the request for repairs process.
- Have confidence when signing documents. Contracts are full of complicated terms and clauses that can greatly affect your future life in your new home. I will give you the full benefit of my real estate knowledge and experience.
IN SHORT, MY 22 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE MARKETING THE ENTIRE BATON ROUGE WILL BE AT YOUR DISPOSAL THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME BUYING PROCESS!
As noted in several places on this page, you should interview several agents before choosing one to represent you in your purchase! Listen carefully for major concerns, especially how each agent approaches representation. This should be discussed long before "where you wish to live" or "what your price range is". And of course I hope you include me among the agents you interview! You will, I know, be in very capable hands - representation of my clients is at the core of how I conduct my business. I sought, years before the law changed, my Accredited Buyer Representative certification, as I wanted to be able to offer buyers the same level of professionalism that I always had for sellers.
- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
