nesting

Whether you’re buying, selling or renovating a home, one thing is for certain: you won’t be doing it alone. Learn how these pros can help and where to find them.

The Real Estate Agent. It’s fair to say that real estate agents play the most important role when it comes to helping you buy or sell a home. But not all agents share the same expertise, so hire accordingly. A buyer’s real estate agent should help you find your ideal home, write up an offer to purchase, negotiate on your behalf to help you get the best possible deal, prodivde you with important information about the home’s community and coordinate your home inspection. On the other hand, a seller’s real estate agent should help you price, advertise and market your property, give you all required property disclosure forms to complete, and review and negotiate the best possible price and terms.

The Lawyer. A lawyer will protect your legal interests by reading the fine print. They will explain the terms of your mortgage and title and review all contracts (such as the offer to and agreement of purchase) before you sign them.

The Mortgage Broker. Unless you have some serious cash in the back, it’s likely that you’ll need to find a good lender to help you out with your home purchase. Mortgage brokers can assist you with this process. As brokers don’t work for any specific lending institution, their job is to find the lender with the best terms and rate for you.

The Home Inspector. If you’re buying, selling or renovating a home, consider having a home inspection. A qualified home inspector will write a report on the property’s condition and inform buyers if something isn’t functioning properly, needs to be changed or is unsafe. If you’re a seller, a home inspector’s report may point out repairs that could be done to make your home more appealing to buyers. Renovators can benefit by learning which repairs they should prioritize.

The Mover. Hiring professional movers can free you from the hassle of packing and unloading. Since you’ll be shelling out hundreds of bucks, it pays to get at least three quotes before you book a moving company. Make sure that your moving estimate includes the cost, number of boxes, number of movers and number of hours. It should also cover terms of payment and the dates and times that moving services are to be provided. For long-distance moves, the estimate should also factor in weight and mileage. Establishing all of this ahead of time will help keep everyone in line on moving day.

The Insurance Broker. An insurance broker can help you assess your insurance needs and find the right policy. For homeowners, two major concerns are property insurance and mortgage life insurance. Property insurance covers the replacement cost of your home, while mortgage life insurance protects your family if you “check out” before your mortgage is paid off.