Guiding you to your ideal home
To ensure a successful purchase, it's vital to have a clear grasp of your "wants," "needs," and "don’t cares" concerning your future home. The following pages have been thoughtfully crafted to assist you in distinguishing between these categories, offering you a clear roadmap for your home search.
It's worth noting that your home requirements may naturally evolve as we tour properties in person and gain a deeper understanding of what best suits your needs. This is a normal and exciting part of the home buying journey, one that should be welcomed.
To begin, let's first dive into understanding the different property types available to you and the
corresponding responsibilities associated with each. While every situation is unique, the following
page features a compiled list of common responsibilities based on the type of property that may pique your interest.
With these insights in mind, let's embark on this brainstorming journey together and work towards
finding your ideal home!
HOMEOWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
For your home style
Home
|
Townhome
|
Condo
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| LOT/LAND OWNERSHIP: | You own the lot your house resides on. | You own the lot your townhome resides on and often have shared easements for driveway access. | The condo community collectively owns the lot the building resides on. |
| MAINTENANCE: | You are responsible for all maintenance and repairs. | You are responsible for all maintenance and repairs, while some common areas like driveways may be shared maintenance. | While you are financially responsible for repairs of the building, you may not be responsible for managing the work. Your responsibility of maintenance of your unit typically is from the walls in. |
| HOMEOWNERS DUES: | No dues owed unless you live in a community that has a Home Owner's Association (HOA). | No dues owed unless you live in a community that has a Home Owner's Association (HOA). | Each month you will pay the condo association dues to cover the cost of management, insurance, maintenance and often utilities. |
| UTILITIES: | Typically individually metered and billed based on usage. | In most cases, individually metered and billed based on usage. | Typically water, sewer, and garbage fees are included with your HOA dues while electricity, cable, and internet are metered separately based on your usage. |
| NEIGHBORS: | No shared walls, neighbors surround your lot. | Usually you will have one to two shared walls between townhomes. | Depending on the unit location you may have neighbors above, below, and on each side of your unit. |
| RULES & REGULATIONS: | Self regulation. | Your community may have a joint maintenance agreement with specific rules for the community such as paint color, yard upkeep, etc. | An HOA (run by a governing board) will determine rules that owners must abide by including quiet hours, items allowed on your deck, or what you are permitted to do in a remodel. |
| LANDSCAPING: | Embrace your green thumb or hire a landscaper to help, this is your oasis to manage. | Typically each townhome owner is responsible for the yard associated with their unit. Sometimes there is a joint maintenance agreement for common area landscaping. | Landscaping is usually overseen and managed by the condo management company (or the board) and the cost associated is included in your monthly dues. |
Buyer Questionnaire
A vital aspect of the home buying journey involves identifying the features that matter most to you. As we dive into the intricacies, we're excited to learn more about your preferences and what makes a home perfect for you. To facilitate this, please complete this Buyer Brainstorm questionnaire (one for each buyer), then come together to compare and contrast. Don’t forget the share your results with us!
INSERT FORM HERE
THERESE BIANCHI
Therese Bianchi is a dedicated and passionate Real Estate Broker who strives to achieve exceptional client results. As a native of the Greater Puget Sound region, she has an intimate understanding of the local Real Estate market and is always eager to share her insights with her clients. Her love and enthusiasm for the region are apparent in her work, and she takes great pride in helping her clients find the perfect home in one of the area's many charming communities.
Therese is known for her high energy, tenacity, and determination which she brings to every aspect of her work. Her clients appreciate her dedication and commitment to serving them with true advocacy and a compassionate, impactful approach. With her background as a personal trainer, she is always up for an adventure or a challenge, and she brings that same level of enthusiasm to every real estate transaction.
Contact Therese Bianchi today if you're looking for a real estate broker who will go above and beyond to help you achieve your personal real estate goals. With her insightful perspective, impeccable service, and warm, authentic attributes, she will surely provide you with a truly impressive real estate experience.