Buying Your Home

• Congratulations! You have decided to buy your new home.
  Firstly, you need to have a price range in mind, (in other words how much you are willing to spend or can afford)

• You then allow your real estate agent do the initial scouting for you.

• Once you have found a property you are interested in, you then make an offer.
  As your Real Estate Agent, we will then to pass on that offer to the Vendor. Once negotiations are complete with both yourself and the vendor on the price.

•  You then have a course of action to take:
   
  - You can leave a holding deposit with the real estate agent while agreements are being prepared and giving you chance to identify the finance to cover the cost.
  
  - Usually a 15% deposit is required on signing of the Agreement for Sale and the balance on completion at a date to be agreed.
  
  - When the transaction is closed, you get the keys and - yes! Now you are a new home owner.
  
  - Charges: You usually don’t have to pay a Realtor for his services in the purchasing of a property in Jamaica.

Selling Your Home

• Presentation is everything! Home buyers are attracted to clean, spacious and attractive houses. Your goal is to dazzle buyers.

• Pricing your home effectively; do not over price your home. Over-pricing when you sell a home reduces buyer interest

• Get a real estate lawyer. Even though it's an additional expense, it may be wise to hire a lawyer who will protect your interests throughout the entire transaction.

Marketing your home

Exposure, exposure, exposure! That's how sellers sell their home fast. Let us, the Real Estate Agent do your work for you. No sale, No pay!

• When a prospective buyer is found, show enthusiasm, but don't get caught-up talking too much about how "your daughter spent the best years of her life in this very room."

•  Negotiating an offer on your home:
  When a home buyer makes an offer (this is often presented to you by the Real Estate Agent, you should consult with your attorney once you have accepted an offer.

• Closing the deal:
  The day of the closing, the home's buyer will do a "walk through" of the property to make sure all agreed repairs are completed and that the home is in the same condition as when the buyer made their offer. If problems arise at this point, the closing can still take place with funds held in escrow to remedy the problem.

• Closing Costs:
  As Vendor, you will be requested to meet certain Governmental Taxes and Charges. Please consult your Attorney on this matter.

• Commission:
  The usual fee charged by Realtors for their services in the selling of your property is Five Percent (5%) of the sales price and this is usually payable on completion of the transaction.