AHMAD ZAFAR
REALTOR
ABOUT ME
Welcome to Virginia. As a resident of the Northern Virginia (NOVA) area for 30 years I am extremely familiar with the neighborhoods, market, school systems, etc… My passion for the Northern Virginia area, as well as Real Estate drives me to go the extra mile and exceed expectations for all of my clients. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing I have helped my clients fulfill their Real Estate goals. Having spent 30 years in the area really allows me to see things from the point of view of a local and personally connect with my clients. Ask me anything regarding Real Estate and I will have an answer for you. I am available all hours of the day so please reach out to me and let me know how I may assist you.
DECIDING TO
BUY PROPERTY
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BUY?
Are you tired of paying rent? Are you ready to start paying off your own mortgage and start building equity instead of paying your landlord’s mortgage? Are you looking to upgrade to a bigger home? Are you looking to downsize from your current home? Are you looking for a rental property to build passive income? Do you need more space? Do you want more privacy? Do you want to relocate closer to work? Do you want your children in a different school system? Having a clear sense of why you are buying will help you make a better choice as to which property to actually purchase.
REASONS TO BUY INSTEAD OF RENT
Monthly payments will be paid toward your mortgage and build you equity instead of you paying rent to pay off your landlords’ mortgage. Owning Real Estate is one of the least risky ways to build equity and/or get a greater return on your investment. You can later choose to rent out your property and build passive income or possibly sell your property for more than your purchase price and make a profit. You can customize your property to your liking and not have to deal with nearly as many restrictions as when you are renting.
REASONS FOR SELLING
What is your motivation for selling your home? Are you looking to upgrade to a bigger home? Downsizing to a smaller home? Relocating for work? Did you inherit property that you want to get rid of? Do you feel as though you can sell your home for a higher price than originally purchased so you can make a profit? All of these can be common reasons for selling your home, you should have a clear reason for why you are selling so it can make it easier for us to come up with the best plan of action for selling your home.
PREPARING TO SELL
There are many factors that can help you sell your home faster and at a higher price, these factors can include:
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Simple repairs and upgrades such as paint touch-ups, clean carpets, no visible holes in walls, etc…
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Clean landscaping in the front and back yards.
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Keeping the home uncluttered, remember people like open space so the least amount of clutter you have, the bigger your home will appear.
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Dog/cat litter put away.
DISCLOSURES
AND INSPECTIONS
I am very familiar with the legal procedures involved regarding disclosures so I will help you develop one that will benefit you and the buyer and also keep us safe. I will also use my expertise judgement to recommend any improvements you should make before we put your house up on the market.
SHOWING YOUR HOME TO BUYERS
Once we have taken these steps your home is ready to hit the market and be shown to potential buyers. During showings it is best for sellers to not be home, so I will take care of this part for you. Potential buyers do not usually feel as comfortable when sellers are present during showings, so I will recommend you leave the property during the showings.
ACCEPTING AN OFFER
Once we receive offers (a lot of times multiple offers) we will thoroughly review them and determine which is the best for you to accept.
OFFER AGREEMENT AND DEPOSIT
An effective agreement is a legal arrangement between the seller and potential buyer. In order to be a legal, binding agreement, the agreement may require consideration. The consideration (deposit) is usually held in an escrow account by the closing agent from the title company.
CONTINGENCIES
Once we accept an offer and the deposit is made, the home is not sold just yet. There are some key contingencies usually listed in the contract by the buyer which must be met before it is a binding contract. These usually include:
HOME
INSPECTION
THE BUYER WILL EITHER NEED TO BE SATISFIED WITH THE INSPECTION RESULTS OR TRY TO NEGOTIATE SOME AFTER THE INSPECTION.
FINANCING
ALTHOUGH THE PRE-APPROVAL LETTER FROM THE LENDER IS GOOD ENOUGH TO SHOW US THEY WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE THE HOUSE, THE BUYER MUST GET THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE LOAN BY THE LENDER (TYPICALLY AFTER THE APPRAISAL IS DONE).
HOA RULES & REGULATIONS ACCEPTANCE BY THE BUYER.
CLOSING
WALK-THROUGH INSPECTION
Typically, the day of or one day before the settlement date, the buyer will have a final walk through of the property to ensure everything is in the same condition as when they made the offer.
CANCELLATION OF UTILITIES
I will provide helpful numbers to call utilities companies and cancel their service.
SETTLEMENT
The settlement day is finally here! This is typically held at the office of the Title Company (although sometimes done right at the home). The last of the paperwork that needs to be signed is signed here, you are given copies of all the paperwork signed. If you are receiving funds you can usually choose to have them wired or in the form of a certified check. Once all paperwork is signed you will turn over the keys and any other important information that is needed. Congratulations you have sold your home!
