Buying a Home Requires Many Difficult Decisions. My promise is to put my 25+ years of experience to work to help you make an educated and sound decision. And, as one of the first agents in the state to obtain the coveted Accredited Buyer Representative designation, you can rest assured that your best interest will be foremost in my efforts, from our first meeting to the successful closing of your new home. 

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 REALTOR®, HERE IS HOW I WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE ENTIRE PURCHASING PROCESS: 

1). You will have ACCESS TO ALL HOMES ON THE MARKET within your needs that are available on the Greater Baton Rouge Multiple Listing System. Our MLS covers 8 parishes in and around the Baton Rouge area. You will also receive information about listings not yet in the MLS, 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 noted as areas of interest for you, I will approach all For Sale By Owners that have homes fitting your needs!
****A Word About For Sale By Owners. The fact 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. Generally, this is a situation when buyers need my help and representation the most. When a property is listed with an agent, we know the seller is being "educated" of the marketing / sales process and the rights of buyers. However, with all due respect to the seller who markets their own home, this situation often brings to the table a seller that does not know the ins and outs of selling coupled with a buyer who may not know the ins and outs of buying. This is often not the best- case scenario under which to buy. Am I saying a transaction under these conditions cannot work? Of course not! Sometimes they work quite well, but unfortunately many times they do not. Not having an expert represent your best interest is much like not having insurance. One may not realize they needed the expert advice until a problem arises, and this is usually after it is too late. Over the years, I have often found "For Sale By Owners" to be quite willing to have a trained professional show their home to a qualified buyer. After all, they know more than most sellers that the job is not as easy as it looks! 

2). You will have EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE at your disposal. From property searches, to viewing homes, to schools, market values, negotiation strategies, proper inspection procedures, through every process, I bring all my experience to the table for you! This is not only 25 years of real estate experience, but also my lifelong knowledge of the area. Every local real estate market has its own trends, opportunities, and quirks. These can vary greatly, even from one neighborhood to the next. Our MLS covers a vast area and the market atmosphere can be very different within this 50+ mile radius! It is my job to guide you through these trends and market indications, helping you to make a wise choice in a home purchase. It is so important to blend "the heart strings" (what I call the emotional part - your part) of buying a home with the "meat and potatoes" (what I call the business part - my 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!

3). You will BE PROVIDED ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION INDICATING THE TRUE MARKET VALUE OF ANY HOME OF INTEREST. Is it priced too high? Is it a bargain that you should jump on? I help homebuyers with decisions like these every day, and I'll make sure that you are provided with as much information as possible about what can affect the value of a particular home! Before any negotiation begins, I will investigate the history of the home's listing to show any reductions and length of time on the market. You will be provided with a complete and up to the minute market study of the neighborhood or area, to guide you into the offer process.  

4). You will RECEIVE MY EXPERTISE AND ADVISE THROUGH THE ENTIRE OFFER AND NEGOTIATION PROCESS. I will make sure you totally understand the entire 7-Page "Louisiana Real Estate Commission endorsed" Purchase Agreement and subsequent documents used in making an offer. The negotiation period that often follows an offer can be quite stressful, but I am "on call" for you through the entire process! My job description is quite long, but this time period takes precedent over everything else, so that I can help you negotiate the best possible terms and conditions. I've often been told that I am "too detailed" about contracts and negotiation. To this I can only respond that my clients have never complained! 

IN SHORT, MY 25 YEARS AS A REALTOR IN THE BATON ROUGE AREA WILL BE PUT TO WORK FOR YOU!

As noted in several places on my site, you should always interview several agents before choosing one to represent you in your home purchase, rather than falling into the age-old real estate trap of just using whatever agent you stumble onto while calling yard signs about homes for sale! Listen carefully to if and how each agent approaches and discusses representation. Talking about home listings, prices, pre-qualifying and the like are all important, but somewhere in your first conversation there should be mention of what the agent truly feels about serving and representing their clients. Of course, I would love to be included among the agents you interview! I know representation of my clients is at the core of how I conduct my business. Years before the law changed on agency in our state, I sought the Accredited Buyer Representative accredidation, so that I could offer buyers the same level of professionalism that I always had for sellers.  

Ask me any questions about buying a home in the Baton Rouge area. Fill out the form below, include towns or areas you want to live in the blank for Additional Info, and I will send you all listings that match your search. Receive listings in Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Brusly, Zachary, Central, Greenwell Springs, Denham Springs, or any other of the 8 parishes surrounding Baton Rouge. It's my job to help you! There's no obligation, and I promise to respond quickly...Susan