So, your family’s growing?

Whether in size or in numbers, exciting times are on the horizon. We’re happy for you! But, we also know that just because you’re excited doesn’t mean you’re enjoying the ride on the no-stress-express.

Moving isn’t easy, especially with a handful of kiddos running around (or a bun in the oven). We believe that a little prep and organization goes a long way. So, we’re here to help! We have a ton of resources to make it as easy as possible. For now, we are going to simplify it for you. We’ve made some assumptions of where you might be in the selling stage and we’ve also made a few recommendations on what to do next.

 

I NEED TO SELL MY CURRENT HOME FIRST

It may be no surprise that this is pretty common. But we know it’s not always as easy as it sounds. We’re here for you, read our blog How to Sell Your Home and Not End Up Homeless and take advantage of our resources to find out what your home is worth.

 

So, you’re movin’ up in a sellers’ market.

You probably have a few concerns, the biggest being to not end up homeless, that’s pretty normal.

The good news: There are strategies you can use to avoid homelessness.

Here are the bullet points:

  • Roll the Dice – Strong negotiating position, but risk of becoming homeless
  • Home of Choice Contingency – Weak negotiating position, but no risk of becoming homeless
  • Rent Back – Strong negotiating position with less risk of becoming homeless

Read the full blog | How to Sell Your Home and Not End Up Homeless 

 

Current Home Worth
You may have a general idea of what your home is worth, but at this stage, you’ll want to know what you will net after paying off your current loan and closing costs. Your lender will need this number to help you get pre-approved for a new loan.
To determine your net proceeds, all we need is your address and approximate loan amount. We’ll email you an estimated net sheet. Don’t worry, it doesn’t obligate you to work with us and we won’t hound you for your business. That’s not our style. If you’d like to get your free estimate, just fill out the form.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

 

I AM READY TO FIND A NEW HOME

Maybe you’re renting, or have different plans for your current home than selling. We can work with that. First things first, be sure to get pre-approved for a loan, you’ll need it to make an offer worth considering. Once you get the OK from your lender, it’s time to start the hunt.

 

Here’s a timeline we put together for clients when we meet for the first time. It helps give an idea of what to expect in buying a new home. It’s fun and it’s exciting, but there are also some important checkpoints along the way.

We’ll go into more detail when we meet, but if you can’t wait and have a question now, feel free to contact us.

 

FINDING YOUR HOME

 

CLOSING ESCROW

 

Next: Get pre-approved for a loan.

Pre-qualification v. Pre-approval
Pre-qualification and pre-approval are often used interchangeably, but they actually have very different meanings. Pre-qualification typically involves a question and answer session resulting in a lender providing a ballpark purchase price you may qualify for. A pre-approval means the lender has verified all your financials and submitted your info to underwriting and issues a pre-approval contingent on finding a suitable home.

 

Pre-approval is what you’re looking for. It can be quick, easy, and take a day or two. It can also be a bit more complicated and take weeks. This all depends on circumstance. Best practice is to get started early so you’ll have plenty of time to find the best loan options. And don’t worry, getting pre-approved does not obligate you to that specific lender.

Dos

  • Check with some of the big banks to see what they can offer you.
  • Speak with a mortgage broker to compare lending programs that the banks don’t offer.

Don’ts

  • Don’t fill out an online form at Lending Tree or the like. You’ll find yourself hounded by hundreds of sales calls.
  • Don’t have your credit pulled by a bunch of institutions (a few won’t hurt you).

Need a place to start? We’re not lenders, but we’ve got a great one for you here.

With pre-approval in place, it’s time to get the ball rolling. Next Step: Finding your new home. If you don’t have specific neighborhoods identified yet, we suggest you start with our Neighborhood Tours.

What are neighborhood tours? We’re so glad you asked! We have over 100 Conejo Valley neighborhoods profiled with pictures, videos, schools, homes for sale, what’s to love about the neighborhood, and what’s not to love.

With that being said, we know that a specific neighborhood may not be your number one priority. Below we’ve conveniently linked a search by price range, as well as a blog covering the school districts within Conejo Valley. After all, your family is growing, schools matter.

 

 

 

BUYING AND SELLING WITH MICHAEL

Here’s a little intro on what it’s like to work with me.

 

Getting Ready to Buy

We want you to focus on the fun and exciting parts of the process and keep the stressors at bay (or, at least to a minimum). Here’s what to expect when you buy with Michael.

 

Communication

Communication is the backbone to any relationship. Professional included. When times get stressful and questions need to be answered, an un-returned phone call or text are like watching water boil. You’ll always be kept in the loop so you’re never left wondering what’s next.

Negotiation

It’s no secret that negotiation is the key to any successful transaction. With an investment like home buying you want to know that somebody’s got your back. I worked hard to earn my Certified Negotiation Expert designation because I understand the value that brings to the table.


Active Networking

Competition is high when it comes to putting in an offer on a home. Alliance with other agents is often an advantage in these situations. It’s not uncommon for active agents to share information on upcoming listings before they go public. Let’s not underestimate the power of good relationships in this industry.

Guidance

Unfiltered and honest. I’m not afraid to share my opinion and talk you out of a house. Bad location, hidden expenses, overpriced – I’ll let you know.


Local Knowledge

Knowing the area matters. I’ve created 100+ neighborhood profiles throughout the Conejo Valley.

Composure

I keep my cool during the transaction and help you do the same. We’ll leave the drama for others and keep our eyes on the prize.


Who you choose to represent you is a big decision and I respect that. My role is to provide an Amazon experience providing a smooth and predictable result while reducing your stress and adding some fun to the steps to selling a house.

Better Online Marketing
How your home shows online not only affects the number of live showings you’ll have, it also affects the amount of money you will net. HDR photography, 3D Visual Tours, and Drone photography – we’ll bring in the pros to make your home look its best.

Better Pricing
 One of the most important steps to selling a house is pricing it correctly. We’ll decide on an asking price together. Several different pricing strategies can be applied depending on what’s most important to you, your risk tolerance, and what you’re ultimately looking to achieve.

Better Negotiation
Negotiating skills don’t just come from years of experience. I worked hard to earn my Certified Negotiation Expert designation because I understand the value that brings to the table.

Better Communication
I follow up with our showings to make sure we’re on target. Communication is my thing; I answer my phone and return calls/texts quickly as my reviews will attest. I’ll proactively keep you in the loop so you’re never left wondering what’s going on.

Better Experience
I keep my cool during the transaction and help you do the same. We’ll leave the drama for others and keep our eye on the prize.

 

REMEMBER WHEN WE SAID A TON MORE RESOURCES?

We have a ton (that’s right) more blogs and other info to help guide you through the process. If you’d like to learn more about buying and selling, then head over to our buying and selling pages where you’ll find tips, faqs, guides and more.

We’re also your offline resource. Contact us at 818-384-9929 or Michael@ConejoValleyGuy.com.