In today’s competitive real estate market, you will have a significant advantage with our specialized buyer’s process managed by our team of professionals: Jenny Morant, the expert buyer’s agent who excels in skillful negotiations; Bradley Collier, the showing specialist gifted in finding off-market properties; and Bonnie Callahan, the client services manager who will provide details and support for a smooth closing.
01
Getting to Know You
Other realtors may skip this step. But, to us, this is a critical part of the process! Before our expert buyer’s agent, Jenny, and showing specialist, Bradley, meet with you, they will send you the Oak Street Buyer’s questionnaire to complete. Then, in person or over the phone, Jenny and Bradley will schedule a free consultation. We do this so we can get to know you and better understand your goals. This way, we can guide you through the process and work hard to exceed your expectations.
02
Pre-Approval
Homes at good prices go fast, so we need to be prepared when you’re ready to start looking. This step is essential if you aren’t making a cash offer. The next best thing to cash is using a local lender with a solid reputation in the Greater Nashville - Middle TN market. Our preferred lender, Pete Zaft, is the #1 producing loan officer for Movement Mortgage, a nationwide direct lender. Pete will explain the costs, your cash-to-close, and interest rate options. His team is amazing, and they have never missed a closing date for us. When you get pre-approved by Pete in our market, you give Jenny greater negotiating power. Jenny’s clients have won over dozens of cash offers using Pete’s pre-approval letters because of his strong reputation in our area and creative loan approvals. Nevertheless, we still encourage you to shop around, and we’ll be happy to work with a different licensed lender if that’s your choice!
03
Finding the Right Home
As your showing specialist, Bradley will take the lead in this step. His sole responsibility is to find you a house on or off the market. We enhance his efforts with our state-of-the-art MLS search engine that gives you updates on any property that goes live in one of your favorite neighborhoods. You can create a free account to save your favorite properties, request showings, and more! Bradley will also communicate with you about properties he’s found. He will be happy to show you any homes that pique your interest. If you are out of the area, Bradley can also arrange a “virtual” tour of any home that appeals to you. This saves you valuable time in narrowing down your choices.
04
Making a Winning Offer
You found the house! As your expert buyer’s agent, Jenny will now connect with you to write an offer. Before she does that, she will gather additional information from the listing agent so she can advise you on creating the strongest offer while also being mindful of your financial goals. She will discuss the purchase price, as well as outline a closing date, special stipulations, and other contingencies as needed. If the seller sends back a counter, she will review and explain how that counter will affect you. This can go back and forth until either party accepts or rejects a counter. Over the years, Jenny has earned respect and developed valuable relationships with other agents. With her strong communication skills, knowledge of the market, and key relationships, Jenny’s the best at negotiating a winning offer for our clients!
05
Under Contract
Once an offer is accepted, you are officially under contract. Jenny will introduce Bonnie as your client services manager. Bonnie’s job is to guide you through the contract-to-close process. She will provide detailed next steps, ensure you meet important deadlines, schedule inspections, coordinate contractor appointments, and gather important information such as utilities, HOA rules, etc. Bonnie’s emails and text messages keep you well-informed, so you have everything you need for your closing and move. Other realtors don’t want the extra expense, so they try to manage this process or hire a part-time assistant who juggles several agents at once. We care about you and want you to be happy throughout the contract-to-close process. Bonnie works full-time for us to provide exceptional personal service during this step and after closing if needed. We are here for you before and after the sale!
06
Home Inspection
Your next step is to have the house inspected by a licensed home inspector. They will perform a comprehensive assessment of the home’s structure and systems. They will report any findings and make a note of any possible concerns. Other realtors don’t provide solutions to address these deficiencies, and their buyers lose out. Our preferred home inspection company provides a report the same day so Jenny can take immediate action to address the deficiencies. Our trusted professional licensed contractors will review the report and provide possible solutions with quotes for the repair costs. With this information, she will consult with you on how you’d like to proceed. Jenny will negotiate on your behalf for an amicable and fair resolution if you choose to move forward with the contract. In summary, our buyers are more confident with their purchase and don’t lose out!
07
Appraisal
If you are financing your purchase, most lenders require you to pay for a home appraisal. The appraisal is conducted by a third party to provide an unbiased assessment of the home’s “market value.” If the home appraises for less than the purchase price, you may have the option to renegotiate the price or terminate the contract. Nothing is worse than to be at this stage and have the deal fall apart because of a bad appraisal. Our preferred lender only uses licensed appraisers who are local and know our market, so it is never a bad appraisal. This is another reason why buyers who follow our recommendations have greater success!!
08
Final Walk
Before closing, Bradley, your showing specialist, will meet with you or your representative to conduct a final walk-through of your home to ensure all repairs are complete and the house is in the same or better condition as when the original offer was made. Bradley will have the list of repairs and any pertinent information needed for a successful final walk-through. If any issues are identified, Jenny will address them quickly so there is no delay in closing.
09
Closing & Beyond
Yay, the big day is here! With Oak Street Group, you can confidently close with your preferred title company whether you’re here in Nashville or out of town. We have worked with many local title companies and recommend Bell & Alexander because of the specialized service they provide our clients. Our team of professionals works closely with you to ensure you’re ready and able to close on time. We provide additional information so your move will be as smooth and painless as possible. We maintain a complete file on your property if you have any questions after the sale. We are always here for you, before and after the sale!!