The Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty Buyer Orientation Guide.

1. Seller Orientation Guide
Buyer Orientation Guide
Preparation Search Transaction
www.RandRealty.com
1. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate | RAND REALTY

2. Welcome
The Rand Family
Matthew Rand Joseph W. Rand Marsha Rand
Managing Partner Managing Partner & General Counsel CEO
Welcome to Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty
T
hank you for giving us the opportunity to work with you on This Introduction to the Orientation
the purchase of your home. We look forward to providing Guide provides you with
you the services that have made Better Homes and Gardens information about Better Homes
Rand Realty one of the largest real estate companies in the country and Gardens Rand Realty and your
real estate agent, and gives you a a
and the leading brokerage in the region.
general overview of the purchasing
This Buyer Orientation Guide is our starting point for the delivery process. Next, Stage One covers
of services to you throughout the process. You will be receiving your initial agent consultation,
these guides throughout every stage of the purchasing process, and provides you with information
you need to start looking for your
from your initial consultation to your final closing. We’ve designed
new home. We generally send the
these Orientation Guides to help deliver a great service experience Orientation Guides as you enter
to you, by helping you stay informed, engaged, and proactive each stage of the transaction,
throughout the transaction. but if you would like them all in
advance, just ask your agent.
The Orientation Guides will have three purposes:
We hope you get the chance to
•
First, to fully inform you about what you can expect about each read through the Orientation Guide
stage of the transaction. before your appointment with your
agent. If you do not, don’t worry,
•
Second, to let you know what your agent and Better Homes and
your agent will cover everything in
Gardens Rand Realty are doing to help you find the right home. your meeting.
•
Third, to also let you know what you can do at each stage so Again, we thank you for the
that you are fully prepared for what is happening and what lies opportunity, and look forward to
ahead. working with you.

3. Buyer Orientation Guide | INTRO | Introduction
About Better Homes Gardens Rand Realty
When you buy your home, you don’t have to choose between the resources of a big company and the local
expertise of a small neighborhood broker. Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty gives you the best of
both worlds: a world-class real estate company that is one of the largest in the country and recognized as
industry innovator, and a family-owned local business run by people who grew up here, live here, and are
deeply committed to the communities we serve.
“Big Company” Advantages “Small Company” Advantages
When you buy your home with Better Homes and Gardens Rand When you buy with Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, you
Realty, you harness the power of one of the country’s largest and also get all the benefits of working with a small, family-owned, local
most respected real estate companies, recognized by Real Estate broker deeply committed to the neighborhoods and communities we
Magazine and REALTOR® Magazine as one of the top 75 real estate serve. Each of our offices functions as a neighborhood “boutique”
brokerages in the country. Long recognized for its commitment broker, with its own manager directing operations and a group of
to operational excellence, technological innovation, and market local agents who live in, work in, and know our communities.
savvy, Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty provides you with a • Local Expertise: We know the nuances of our local markets
comprehensive array of cutting-edge tools to help you find a home: better than anyone else: we know the schools, housing
• Our proprietary Client-Oriented Real Estate (CORE) systems styles, history, local regulations, and everything else that
that ensure operational excellence. can help smooth your transaction and find you the right
home. That’s why we are the leading company in virtually
• The innovative technology on RandRealty.com, providing every regional town and village where we operate.
you with everything you need to search online on your
computer or mobile device. • Buying Local: Just as you probably like to patronize locally-
owned restaurants, shops, and other businesses, buying
• Communication tools, including immediate email alerts with Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty gives you the
when homes hit the market or drop their price. opportunity to support a local, family-owned company. You
• Full transactional integration with our partners at Hudson can be secure that our partners, employees, and agents
United, to take care of your mortgage, title, and insurance are just as committed to local businesses as you are, rather
needs. than patronizing a company owned by people out-of-state,
who don’t reinvest in our area.
• On-demand lien searches through our title partner Hudson
United Abstract, to ensure you do not get into contract on a • Commitment to Communities: The Rand owners have
property that will not close. long been supporters of local charities, foundations, and
community organizations, taking leadership positions
• The best “Market Intelligence” in the industry, giving you a
in organizations such as Hospice, People to People, the
competitive advantage over other buyers by keeping you
regional Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and the
informed about what’s happening in the real estate market.
regional American Red Cross. And the hundreds of Better
Homes and Gardens Rand Realty agents and employees
Finally, you get the sheer comfort of knowing that you are working support and contribute to myriad local causes throughout
with the very best real estate professionals in the industry, dedicated the region.
to ensuring a quality purchasing experience.
When you get the power of a big company and the intimacy of a small company, you get the best of both worlds:
the influence of a large, nationally recognized organization combined with the intimacy and local expertise of
your neighborhood broker.

4. Buyer Orientation Guide | INTRO | CORE
Introducing Client-Oriented
Real Estate (CORE)
Everyone promises good service. But what systems and tools do they have to ensure delivery on that
promise? A great service experience requires more than just empty promises. You need a plan.
A
At Better Homes and Gardens Rand consistent, and high-quality client 3. Information
Realty, we have a plan for ensuring experience. At every stage of the buying process, we
that you have an outstanding home provide you with advice and guidance
buying experience. For more than five about everything you need to know about
years, we have made a commitment to How We Developed searching for a home, obtaining financing,
creating systems, tools, and procedures negotiating offers, addressing inspection
to ensure that our agents deliver a the CORE System issues, understanding sales contracts,
consistently high service level to all of all the way to explaining your closing.
our clients. Our proprietary client care We developed CORE by studying the cus- Because information is power, we also
solution is called “Client-Oriented Real tomer service philosophies of great com- provide you with the most comprehensive
panies like Nordstroms, Four Seasons
Estate” (CORE), which is a structured, analysis of real estate market information
hotels, Starbucks, and Disney, to find
comprehensive, and rigorous system available in the industry – what we call our
common elements that we could incor-
designed to ensure that you have a great “Market Intelligence” reports.
porate into the real estate industry.
service experience buying your home, • Buyer Orientation Guides for every
built around three primary goals: We also integrated the lessons gleaned part of the buying process
from books like Ken Blanchard’s Raving • Buying Real Estate – Form Packets
Fans: A Revolutionary Approach to Cus- provide an explanation and bound
1. Execution tomer Service, William Capodagli’s The copy of the legally-required forms
The foundation of the CORE system is Disney Way, Robert Spector’s The Nor- for your initial consultation.
the “Buyer Project Plan,” which identifies dstrom Way to Customer Service Excel-
• Quarterly Market Reports that give
and lists all the steps taken to find you lence, Danny Meyer’s Setting the Table,
you insight into the region, your
the right home. The Project Plan follows and Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Mani-
county, and your local market.
industry best practices we’ve identified festo.
after consulting with hundreds of real Plus, you’ll also be able to get up-to-date
estate professionals. The plan helps information available on RandRealty.com,
guarantee a great client experience by 2. Communication including our Market Intelligence Blog,
ensuring that agents complete all the Great relationships require good Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
steps correctly with disciplined attention communication. You’ll see the CORE video content, and regular updates on
to detail, and by reducing the possibility system difference at your initial changing market conditions.
that any steps are missed. In the same consultation, which will not only provide
way that pilots follow a “pre-flight plan” you with an overview of our company
to make sure they don’t miss any steps services and marketing plan, but also Conclusion
that might endanger their passengers, and identify your particular needs, concerns, At Better Homes and Gardens Rand
surgeons follow a “safe surgery checklist” and goals. Our agents use our “Buyer Realty, we don’t just want to be the
to reduce postoperative complications, Consultation Guide” when they have biggest real estate company. We want
our project plans are designed to their initial meeting with buyer clients, to be the best real estate company. And
effectively narrow down your price range which provides them with all the relevant we believe that the way to becoming
and preferences, follow industry best information they need to ensure that they the leading company in the industry is
practices during your home search, and achieve a comprehensive understanding to provide clients with the best possible
to help you complete the transaction. of what you want and need in your buying service experience. That’s why we have
Your agent will show you the initial Buyer experience. Similarly, we’ll keep the created the innovative CORE program,
project plan during your consultation, but communication going throughout the and hope that you see the vast difference
you will also receive the benefit of internal process, with email alerts from randrealty. in how we anticipate and satisfy all your
project plans that we use throughout our com anytime a property hits the market or home buying needs.
company to ensure attention to detail, goes through a price change.
reduce errors, and provide an efficient,

5. Buyer Orientation Guide | INTRO | Your Agent
I Am The World’s Best Real Estate Agent
and I Can Solve All of Your Problems
I Move Homes So
You Can Move Too.

6. Buyer Orientation Guide | INTRO | Getting Engaged
Introducing Hudson United
Throughout your home buying experience, you’re going to be working not just with your agent but
professionals who will service your lending, title, and insurance needs. You are always free to choose any
service provider you wish, but we encourage you to meet with your representatives from Hudson United,
part of the Rand family of home service companies.
R
eal estate transactions are
complicated, with a lot of moving
parts: real estate brokerage,
mortgage lending, engineering inspection,
legal representation, title insurance, and
home insurance. Unfortunately, those parts
don’t always work so well together. And
when they don’t, what we often think of as
the “American Dream” becomes more like a
nightmare.
Indeed, as the owners of Better Homes
and Gardens Rand Realty, it has long been
frustrating to see clients who otherwise had
a wonderful service experience working
with their Rand agent ultimately came out
of the process miserable and unhappy – not passionate commitment to Client-
because of anything their agent did, but abstract companies in the region, closing Oriented Real Estate (CORE) that we
because the rest of their transaction was so almost 1,000 transactions every year have at Rand Realty, because we’ve
mishandled. The clients might have been without a meaningful claim from its inception brought those same CORE principles
thrilled by the work their agent did, but over 10 years ago. to all our affiliated companies.
walked away from the deal with a sour taste • One Stop Shopping. You will have
because of transactional delays associated Hudson United Insurance Group. Our a more efficient and fluid transac-
with mortgage processing or title work. insurance company can provide you not only tion from the “one-stop shopping”
with the homeowner’s insurance that you’ll experience that comes from all the
That’s one of the reasons we are delighted to need at your closing, but with any policies professionals involved in your deal
be affiliated with the Hudson United family you need, including auto coverage. working together.
of home service companies, which provide • Increased Accountability. You’ll
mortgage lending, title insurance, and home We encourage you to work with the benefit from the increased account-
insurance to many of our real estate clients. professionals at Hudson United. As the ability that your transactional profes-
Perhaps we are “control freaks,” but we are owners of the company, we’ve applied the sionals will have not just to you, but
passionate about providing our clients with same commitment to excellence to these to your real estate agent, whom they
need to keep happy if they wish to
an outstanding service experience, and companies that we used when building a
continue to maintain that referral
we have found that we cannot ensure that great real estate company. And just like relationship.
experience without taking greater control with Rand Realty, you get a local, family run
over those moving parts of the transaction. company, dedicated to the people and the
communities in our area. As the founders and operators of Better
Hudson United Mortgage. Our full-service Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, we stand
mortgage brokerage has access to any Most importantly, by putting all the moving behind the outstanding service professionals
financial product you might need, and our parts of the transaction (literally) under one at Hudson United, the same way we endorse
mortgage officers are available to help guide roof, we’re able to provide you with a better the Rand Realty agents who form the
you through the financing process right from real estate experience – the integrated and backbone of our network of home service
the initial pre-qualification. seamless one-stop shopping experience that companies. And we hope you will have the
had long eluded our real estate clients: opportunity to enjoy the one-stop shopping
Hudson Abstract Services. Our title • CORE Service. When you work with experience available from their combined
insurance operation is one of the leading Hudson United, you get the same talents.

7. Seller Orientation Guide | INTRO | Getting Engaged
Getting Engaged
The most successful home buyers are people who get proactively engaged in the purchasing process.
Your agent is going to be hard at work finding you the right home, but there are some things he or she
simply cannot do. So throughout this process, we’re going to urge you to stay involved in your transaction,
which is the best way of ensuring that you have a great service experience. The first chance to be
proactive in your purchase is your initial agent consultation.
A
s you work with Better Homes and
Gardens Rand Realty, you’ll find The Three Stages of the Home Buying Process
that we follow a rigorous set of
project plans to ensure attention to detail. Stage What Happens in this Stage?
The plans are the hallmark of our “Client-
Oriented Real Estate” philosophy: a set of In Stage One, we’ll help you get
checklists that set out every significant started the right wayyou’re your
task involving the purchase of your home home buying experience. You’ll have
from your initial consultation to your your initial consultation with your
closing. We have project plans and to-the- real estate agent, which will familiar-
last-detail instructions for everything from ize you with the sales process, intro-
identifying your preferences, qualifying for Stage One:
duce you to our service approach,
a mortgage, using randrealty.com, working Preparation
and determine your needs, goals,
with other professionals, and negotiating
and concerns in buying your new
offers. Indeed, the fact that you’re reading
this Orientation Guide is proof that your
home. And you’ll also set up the rest
agent is following our Buyer Project Plan. of your home buying team, and learn
It’s that kind of attention to detail and about all the resources available to
commitment to service that differentiates you on RandRealty.com.
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty
from other brokers in the area. In Stage Two, your agent will help
you maneuver through the market
But it’s not just about us, it’s about as you start your search for your
you. There are simply some things that Stage Two: new home. You’ll learn strategies
your agent cannot do for you, and that
Search for finding the right home, get an
you need to do for yourself. The most
successful homebuyers are proactive and
overview of the showing process,
engaged in their purchase throughout the and some advice about making the
process. Indeed, the main purpose of right offers.
the Orientation Guide is to help you get
engaged by advising and informing you In Stage Three, your agent will guide
about what you need to do throughout the you through the contract-to-closing
process. At each stage of the process, process: presenting and negotiat-
we’ll not only update you about what your ing offers, setting up inspections,
agent is doing, but also what you can do to Stage Three: understanding real estate contracts,
ensure that you have a great home-buying
Transaction and securing financing and insur-
experience. From the Introduction through
ance coverage. You’ll also get some
every stage of the transaction, we’ll give
you ideas about what you can do to help advice about what to expect from
make things go more smoothly. your closing, and how to ensure a
smooth moving process.

8. Buyer Orientation Guide | INTRO | CORE Plan
CORE Buyer Checklist
Pre-Transaction Project Plan Transactional Project Plan
Get a copy of the Buyer Orientation Guide to read at Get recommendations from your agent for your
your convenience. transaction professionals.
Have your initial consultation with your buyer agent. Contact your attorney about reviewing the contract
of sale.
Review and complete your legal disclosures and
agreements. Attend the home inspection.
Review with your agent “What Are You Looking for in Review the home inspection report with your agent
a New Home” and attorney.
Get a prequalification letter from Hudson United Review issues in the contract with your attorney.
Mortgage.
Sign contracts of sale with your attorney.
Start saving your bank statements and pay stubs for
your mortgage application. Complete your mortgage application with your Hud-
son United Mortgage rep.
Register with randrealty.com
Submit all your mortgage documentation.
Set up saved searches on randrealty.com.
Respond to all mortgage documentation requests
Add “@randrealty.com” to your “safe senders” list. promptly.
Set up a folder on your email account for your rand- Order or have your attorney order a title report from
realty.com email. Hudson Abstract.
Save the randrealty.com web app to your smart- Discuss any title issues with your attorney.
phone.
Contact your Hudson United Insurance rep to quote
Set up a showing schedule with your agent. your home insurance.
Communicate regularly with your agent. Get estimate of closing costs from your attorney.
Review your randrealty.com email updates regularly. Get closing date from your attorney.
Use the “Showing Project Plan” when looking at Contact movers for estimates of the cost of your
homes. move.
Get printouts of all show sheets. Hire a mover and schedule the move.
Set up file folders for your show sheets (low-tech) Schedule and attend the walkthrough with your
agent.
Set up a spreadsheet to track your showings (high
tech) Discuss any walkthrough issues with your attorney.
Review all offers submitted by your agent. Attend the closing, bringing proof of identification
and your checkbook.
Order preliminary lien searches from Hudson Ab-
stract for any offers you make. Finalize all transaction documents at the closing.

9. Stage One:
Preparation
In Stage One, you’ll have your initial consultation with your real estate
agent, who will familiarize you with the sales process, introduce you
to our service approach, and determine your needs, goals, and concerns
in buying your new home. In the Guide, you’ll learn about how to prepare
for that meeting, how to assemble the rest of your home buying team,
and how to get started using RandRealty.com.
www.RandRealty.com

10. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.1
The Advantages of Working with
a Buyer’s Agent
The most successful home buyers are people who get proactively engaged in the purchasing process.
Your agent is going to be hard at work finding you the right home, but there are some things he or she
simply cannot do. So throughout this process, we’re going to urge you to stay involved in your transaction,
which is the best way of ensuring that you have a great service experience. The first chance to be
proactive in your purchase is your initial agent consultation.
B
uying a home is easier than buying a car. The transaction
is more complicated, because the stakes are so much
higher, but the process is actually easier. For example,
let’s say that you’re buying a four-door sedan. To find the
right car, you have to go to a bunch of different dealerships,
because dealers will only sell you the cars they have in their own
inventory. So depending on your price range, you might have
to go to a dozen different showrooms: Chrysler, Dodge, Chevy,
Honda, Ford, Acura, Infiniti, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volvo, and all
the rest. And you might even have to go to multiple dealerships
that sell the same brand, since one Honda dealership can’t sell
you a car held by another dealer. The process can be exhausting.
On top of that, you are always at a disadvantage when navigating
the car buying process, because you’re totally on your own.
That car salesman in the showroom might be the nicest guy in
the world, but we all know he works for the dealer. He doesn’t
work for you. His job is to get his boss the best price for the car
-- which by definition means getting you the WORST price! And
that salesman has huge informational advantages over you. He
knows what other similar cars have sold for recently. You don’t.
He knows the ins and outs of that car, and how it compares to full-time agent, she has market and product knowledge: she
other cars. You don’t. Even if you do all your research, you’ll knows what comparable homes have sold, what homes have NOT
never equal his product and market knowledge. It’s not an even sold, and what’s currently available on the market. That puts you
playing field. on an even playing field with the seller.
Now compare that to buying a home. Because of the way the You see the difference? When you buy a car, you’re on your own,
real estate industry is structured, with an agent on both sides and you’re always going to be at a disadvantage working with a
of the transaction, home buyers have a much better experience salesperson who has superior market and product knowledge,
navigating the process of buying a home. Unlike car dealers, and who negotiates the sale of cars every day for a living. But
real estate brokers share all their inventory through a multiple when you buy a home, you get the advantage of hiring an agent to
listing service, allowing any member buyer agent to show and sell help you sift through the inventory, advise you about what’s going
their properties. So you don’t need to visit dozens of different on in the market and with that particular property, and then help
real estate brokers or agents in order to see the whole inventory you negotiate your deal.
– you just need one good agent. Regardless of who listed that
property, any agent who is a member of the local MLS can show And on top of all that, your buyer agent usually comes free!
you that property. In most cases, buyer agents are paid by the seller out of the
proceeds of the sale. If you represent yourself, you don’t get that
More importantly, when you buy a home, you have the savings in your pocket – instead, the seller or listing agent get
opportunity to hire an agent to represent your interests. It’s not to keep it. So if that’s the case, why do some buyers so afraid
like being at the car dealership where everyone works for the to hire a buyer agent? For example, real estate agents get calls
seller. Your agent works for YOU. She has fiduciary obligations like these all the time: “Thank you for calling Better Homes and
to look out for your interests. Moreover, if she’s a professional, Gardens Rand Realty. How can I help you?”

11. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.1
The Advantages of Working with a Buyer’s Agent
“I saw your sign on a house on Ridge Road in New City. Is it still see this with potential clients who are in the early stages of “just
available?” looking,” and who are afraid of agents inundating them with
phone calls and emails once they express any kind of interest in
“Let me check. Yes, it’s still available. It’s got four bedrooms buying a home. It’s like when you go into a department store and
and three –“ try to avoid the sales clerk because you’re really “just looking”
and don’t want the clerk hovering over you for the whole time.
“Great! Could you take me to look at it?”
We can certainly understand why some buyers feel that way,
“Well, I’d be happy to do that. Why don’t we make an because the real estate industry has a pretty well-deserved
appointment for you to come into my office so we can sit down reputation for aggressive sales techniques that can sometimes
for a few minutes and find out what your situation is? Then we make buyers feel uncomfortably pressured. But let’s also
can go take a look at that home and maybe some other similar recognize a few important things:
listings that might meet your needs.”
But if you find that your agent is making you uncomfortable,
“That’s okay. I just want to see that house. But I don’t want to just say something! Your agent works for YOU, so she should
come to your office. Can we meet there?” accommodate to your needs and comfort level. If the agent is a
professional, she should get the message, and you won’t have to
We see this all the time in the real estate industry – buyers who worry about working with a “pushy” agent.
would rather meet “at the house,” who spend months visiting
open houses on their own, who waste hours staring at pictures “Ultimately, we understand”.
on their laptops rather than making appointments to go see
houses in person. They’ll meet an agent at the house, realize it’s Ultimately, we understand and appreciate that people are
not right for them, then say goodbye to that agent. A week later, afraid of dealing with a “salesperson.” That’s why Better
they’re calling another agent on another house, meeting at the Homes and Gardens Rand Realty has pioneered the “client-
property, realize it’s not right for them, and so on. Such a waste oriented” approach to real estate brokerage that emphasizes
of time! our agents’ roles as service professionals rather than
“salespeople,” and encourages agents to take
Why are so many people afraid to hire a a proactive approach to identifying and
buyer’s agent? Sometimes, potential satisfying our clients’ needs – including
buyers in the early stages of looking for the need NOT to be sold to. We don’t
a home are actually too considerate for want our real estate agents to act as
their own good. They’re afraid to call “salespeople” any more than you do.
upon an agent’s services and make So we hope that you’ll realize that
the agent waste a lot of time helping having an agent is good thing, not
them if they’re not really sure something to shy away from. A
they’re ready to buy. And while we fear of sales pressure is a really
do appreciate the thoughtfulness, bad reason to deny yourself the
we should make clear that this is services of a good real estate
a TERRIBLE reason not to hire an agent, particularly when it is so easy
agent. That’s the job! That’s what real to dispel that pressure and focus
estate agents do! They help people the agent on providing you with the
just starting out in the buying process services you need.
and guide them through that process. Do
a lot of clients eventually choose not to buy Rather, you should think about all the
something? Of course! But that doesn’t mean advantages you get with a good buyer’s agent:
that the time spent was “wasted.” Agents don’t think
that way. You shouldn’t either. First, your buyer’s agent acts as a fiduciary
representative, legally bound to look out for your
The biggest reason, though, is that buyers are afraid of best interests. If you’ve never bought a home before,
“salepspeople.” They’re terrified of the “hard sell.” They or you last bought a home prior to the mid-1990s, you
fear getting a “pushy” agent who is going to pressure them might not even realize that buyer agents have that
into buying a home before they’re ready. We particularly fiduciary responsibility to their clients, because buyer

12. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.1
The Advantages of Working with a Buyer’s Agent
agency did not exist in New York until about 20 years ago. But And that’s only a short list of some of the biggest advantages you
it’s now one of the most important advantages you have in have in hiring a good buyer’s agent. Basically, good agents add
buying a home with an agent. Indeed, the fiduciary relationship value to your home buying process.
with your agent is similar to the attorney-client relationship
that you’re probably familiar with: among other responsibilities, Third, a buyer agent provides a range of services that will
your agent has the duties to be loyal only to you, keep your help you have a better transactional experience. From your
confidences, and make all disclosures to you of any material first consultation to your final closing, your agent is responsible
facts. When you get a buyer’s agent, you’re not getting a for a wide array of services that you will need to ensure a
“salesperson” – you’re getting someone who is on your side, smooth home buying experience. Throughout the process,
representing your interests. your buyer agent will stay in constant communication with you,
through phone or email, to make sure you’re up-to-date with
Second, working with a buyer agent gives you several what’s happening in the market, your home search, and your
competitive advantages that you cannot get working on transaction.
your own. Some of those advantages, including advantages that
you can only get working with a Better Homes and Gardens Rand Finally, you generally do not pay for your buyer agent’s
Realty agent, are: services, because the seller usually pays all the broker fees
out of the proceeds of the sale. It’s really one of the best
• ccess to sold property data. Even in the information age,
A deals in the industry: you get all the services of a buyer agent
it’s difficult for lay people to get full and complete access to to represent your own interests, help you find the right home to
sold information, which is crucial for helping you determine buy, and facilitate the entire purchasing process, and you don’t
the market value of unsold listings and in preparing your even have to pay for it. In certain cases, sellers do not offer to
offers. pay buyer agent fees, but your agent will make that clear to you
when you look at the home, so you will be able to condition your
• reliminary lien searches. Because of our affiliate
P offer on the seller paying the agent out of the sale proceeds.
relationship with Hudson United Abstract, your agent can Generally, though, you get all the benefits of buyer agency
order a preliminary lien search on any property you place without any of the direct costs.
an offer on, which can help you in
formulating your pricing strategy or
identifying “red flags” on the title that
might delay your transaction. Working with Multiple Agents
If working with one agent is good, is working with multiple agents better? Answer: No!
• he intermediary negotiating role.
T Sometimes, buyers like to work with multiple agents because they think that they’ll get
Any professional negotiator will tell more work done that way. But all that does is undermine the relationship you could
you how important it can be to have develop with one agent, and waste a lot of your time. All agents in the local MLS have
someone act as an intermediary in access to the same inventory of listings, so working with multiple agents means that
any negotiation, to deflect persuasive you’ll probably end up seeing the same properties over and over again. Moreover, you’ll
pressures and allow you to limit find that one of the most important aspects of the agent-client relationship is the insight
bargaining authority from “outside the that an agent gets from working with you over time, which requires a long-term, deep,
room.” and exclusive relationship between you and your agent. Don’t play the field. Make a
commitment to the right agent.
• eighorhood Expertise. A good real
N
estate agent knows the neighborhoods,
and can provide you with information that goes beyond the Conclusion
four corners of the listing detail sheet, information that might
be crucial for determining the true market price. Ultimately, this is one of the best deals you’ll ever have. Your
buyer agent will work tirelessly on your behalf, always in your
• Transactional Facilitation. A real estate agent’s job doesn’t
best interest, and in the end it will be the seller who pays your
end when you reach a meeting of the minds with a seller – agent for those services. Think of it this way – real estate agents
rather, the agent then becomes a facilitator, coordinating all have a full-time job in helping buyers through the transactional
the other professionals in the transaction to make sure you process. If they’re not around to do that job for you, then you
have a smooth transition through to your closing. have to do it for yourself. And you probably have your own job.

13. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.1
The Advantages of Working with a Buyer’s Agent
Agent Services Through All Three Stages
of Your Home Buying Experience
Explain the entire transactional process, so you’re fully informed about what you can expect during
your purchase.
Stage One: Preparation
Help you navigate the buying process, to avoid delays and pitfalls throughout your transaction.
Help you discover your needs, wants, and desires in purchasing a home, helping you narrow down
your home buying preferences and introducing considerations that you may have overlooked.
Connect you to a qualified mortgage professional to help you fully understand the financing process,
get prequalified for a loan, and ultimately provide you with your home financing.
Help you assemble the rest of your home buying team, including your engineering inspector, attor-
ney, title representative, and insurance representative.
Provide ongoing information about the housing market in your target areas to help you stay on top
of pricing trends.
Set you up with saved searches so that you get email alerts whenever a relevant property hits the
market, has a price change, or gets updated.
Stage Two: Search
Help you review available inventory and find the home that suits your needs, wants, and desires.
Create buyer tours and comparative market analyses on properties you see, to help you in preparing
the terms of your offers.
Schedule your appointments, and help you navigate through the inventory of homes available.
Professionally present your offers and negotiate the purchase of your home to ensure you get the
best terms possible.
Obtain a preliminary lien search report from Hudson United Abstract to determine whether your po-
tential purchase is burdened with liens that might delay your closing.
Stage Three: Transaction
Order and attend a property inspection and review all findings with you to help determine whether
the property condition should affect your offer.
Assist your attorney in preparing the terms of a contract of sale.
Coordinate all the members of your home-buying team – finance, legal, title, insurance – to ensure
a seamless transaction.
Attend the walkthrough prior to the closing to make sure that the property condition is acceptable
to you.
Attend the closing to be available as a resource for any last-minute issues that crop up.

14. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.2
What Are You Looking For?
Your first consultation with your buyer agent is an important step in setting the right course for the rest
of your home buying experience. It’s a great opportunity to share with the agent your hopes, wants, and
desires about the process, and to ensure that your agent knows exactly how to best service your needs. In
order to have the best possible first consultation, we encourage you to prepare for the meeting by thinking
about what you want from your home buying process.
W
e want to give you some • What are your biggest concerns about
information about what you buying a home?
can do before your initial
consultation with your buyer’s agent. This • Are you familiar with the current state
will ensure a more productive meeting, of the regional housing market?
consistent with our overall advice to be
actively engaged throughout your buying • How comfortable are you using
process. technology to search for a home, like on
randrealty.com?
At your initial consultation, your agent will
ask you questions about your familiarity All our clients are different. Some have
with the buying process, your preferences purchased homes recently, and know
in the type of home you want, your exactly what to expect. Others are first-
geographic needs, and your purchasing time home buyers apprehensive about
power. We will also be asking about any what they should expect from the process.
particular concerns or needs you have Whatever your situation, you want to make
about buying a home. sure your agent knows what you need
from us to help you fully understand the
You will have a more productive meeting • Have you already started looking on
process.
if you think about those questions in your own? What have you found that
advance. You have no obligation to interests you? What Do You Want From
prepare ahead, but you’ll find that you’ll Your Agent?
get more out of the meeting if you think Remember that buying a home can take You should think about what you’re
about these issues before you’re sitting a long time. Most of our clients spend looking for from your Better Homes and
down with your agent. Moreover, this months in just the home search process, Gardens Rand Realty agent to ensure that
exercise will also help you get into the and once you find the home that you want your agent knows how to best service your
right frame of mind about your home to purchase, you’ll likely spend three needs.
search process, and help get you into the to four months more completing all the
practice of being more proactive about the transactional work that is required to • What are you looking for in an agent?
entire process. execute a contract, secure financing, and
finishing all the other tasks required to get • What’s the most important quality you
Here are some of the questions you your purchase closed. look for in service professionals?
should consider before sitting down with
your agent for the first time. How Well Do You Know the Home • How do you want to communicate with
Buying Process? your agent: phone, email, text, or only
Why Are You Moving? You should be prepared to discuss in-person?
People move for all sorts of reasons, and with your agent your comfort level
it’s helpful for your agent to know about and familiarity with the buying and • How often do you want to hear from
your particular motivations so that he or financing process. This will help your your agent: daily, regularly, or only when
she can help prepare to get your process agent in gauging the amount and type new properties come onto the market?
moving at the pace you desire. of information you should be getting
throughout the process. • How often do you want to go look at
• What’s the reason for your move?
properties, and are you already looking
• Have you done this before, or are you
on your own?
• What’s the time frame of when you want
otherwise familiar with the process of
to be in your new home? buying a home?

15. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.2
What Are You Looking For?
Our goal at Better Homes and Gardens
Rand Realty is to ensure that you have The Buyer Disclosure Packet
an outstanding home buying experience. Buying a home is a serious financial and legal transaction, so at Better Homes and Gar-
The first step for making that happen is to dens Rand Realty we are deeply committed to ensuring that you fully understand your
know exactly how you want to be serviced, legal obligations and protections. That’s why we have created what we call the “Buyer
so make sure you explain to your agent Disclosure Packet,” which is a professionally designed package containing all the docu-
what it is you want from him or her. ments relating to your home purchase. Your agent will present your Disclosure Packet
on your first meeting, and will go over all the forms with you. The Packet might seem
How Familiar Are You With the overwhelming at first, but remember that these documents are designed for your pro-
Financing Process? tection, and are required by federal law, state regulation, or the Realtor Code of Ethics.
You should feel comfortable discussing If you’ve met other agents who didn’t ask you to fill out these forms, you should wonder
your financial situation with your real estate why they’re shirking their legal obligations to advise you of your rights!
agent, since all our agents are licensed
professionals who are qualified to help
determine your purchasing power. You
should absolutely have a good sense of United Mortgage representatives to discuss home you want, it’s important to keep an
your purchasing power before you spend financing with you. open mind. What a lot of home buyers find
time looking at houses that might be above is that they end up purchasing a home that
or below your proper price range. What Are You Looking For in is very different from the types of homes
Your New Home? they initially started looking for when they
• What price range do you think you
Finally, and most importantly, you should began the process. They start out looking
qualify for, based on your income and take some time to think through what in a particular town for a specific home
your savings? you’ll looking for in your new home. Now, style, but once they being looking at what’s
you might have a general idea of the kind available they fall in love with a totally
• How much are you comfortable
of home you like, but you’ll be amazed at differently-styled home that is completely
spending for your monthly mortgage the myriad choices that you’ll have once outside their original market area. That’s
payment, insurance, and property you start looking at the properties that are a very normal part of the process, so don’t
taxes? available. be alarmed as your tastes evolve.
• How comfortable are you with your
The list of questions below are designed to Conclusion
understanding of the financing process, prompt you to think about all the various Your initial consultation with your Better
which has become more complicated in considerations that might go into your home Homes and Gardens Rand Realty agent is
the past few years? purchase. Some of these questions will just the first step of your home purchasing
address issues that are unimportant to you, process, but it’s an important step. It’s
• Have you been pre-qualified for a
but some might spark you to realize that your first opportunity to really think
mortgage amount by a local mortgage you have particularly needs and desires through what you want from your agent,
consultant, or do you need to talk that you’re going to want to satisfy in your what you’re concerned about with the
with a Hudson United Mortgage new home. So think about each of these process, and what kind of home you’re
representative? questions, and if they prompt some ideas looking for. So please take some to think
then be sure to share them with your agent. about these issues before you meet with
If you would be more comfortable discussing your agent, to ensure that you have the
finances with a mortgage consultant, have Ultimately, though, even as you go through best possible first meeting and get things
your agent contact one of our Hudson the exercise of thinking about the kind of started on the right foot.

16. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.2
What Are You Looking For?
What Are You Looking for in a New Home:
Questions You Should Consider Before Meeting with Your Agent
Location
What area would you like Are school districts
to move to, and why? important to you, and is
Where will you be working, and what type of proximity to local schools
commute are you comfortable with? important to you?
Are there other areas
would you consider?
Is proximity to particular religious
institutions important to you?
Size and Style
What size of a home Do you have any kitchen
appliances, eat-in-kitchen, etc.)
are you looking for, in a What type of home (ranch, raised- preferences (certain style of
general square footage ranch, colonial, contemporary, etc.)
range? are you looking for?
Do you have any particular
Are any of these things “must
preferences for amenities (i.e., pool,
haves,” or are they just
master bedroom on the first floor,
preferences? If they’re just
fireplaces, etc.)?
preferences, which of them is
Will you be working inside
most important?
Do you have any the home, and do you need a
particular and unusual designated home office?
Do you have any particular preference
needs in a home that
for lot size?
the agent should know Do you have a particular preference
How many bedrooms and about, such as large for block location (i.e., corner lot, cul-
baths do you need? pets or residents with de-sac, etc.)?
disabilities that need
accommodation?

17. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.2
What Are You Looking For?
What Are You Looking for in a New Home:
Questions You Should Consider Before Meeting with Your Agent
Personal Tastes
Do you want a lively
neighborhood, or do you What features of your
like privacy? PERSONAL TASTES Do you prefer a home previous homes did you
that is a “hub of activity,” or do you prefer a like the most? What did
quiet retreat away from the world? you like the least?
Do you like a big open floorplan,
or do you prefer a more traditional Who will be living in the home, and is there a
layout with defined room spaces? possibility in the future that the number of people
living there might change?
Is there something you disliked
Have you visited homes that you about your previous home, and
liked for its unique features, and would you like to avoid that in your
what were they? new home?
What are the most important “must-have”
features for your new home? What’s your
highest priority?

18. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.2
What Are You Looking For?
Are You Looking Outside Our Market Area?
Although Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty services a wide geographic area,
we often work with buyer clients who are also looking outside our market area. If
you are also considering moving to places like Long Island, Connecticut, or even a
market area that Rand covers but is not directly serviced by your agent, you should
absolutely tell your agent that you need help outside of the market area that he or
she covers. This will allow your agent to refer you to another Rand agent that does
serve the market area, or to one of our “referral partners” who can ensure that you
have a great buying experience.
What’s are the benefits to you of being referred?
• First, you’ll find that you’ll have a better experience if your agents
covering the different market areas are working together, rather
than “competing” to get you to buy in their area. They’ll be able
to share information during your process as they learn about what
you like and don’t like in homes that they show you.
• Second, you’ll be assured that you’re only working with agents that
meet the high standards we have for our referral agents.
• And third, you’ll find that your referred agent will work hard to
ensure you have a good buying experience, because he or she will
know that future referrals depend on your providing us with posi-
tive feedback about their performance.
So if you are thinking about looking outside our market area, or outside the are
serviced by your agent, you should let your agent know so we can make sure all of
your home buying needs are met.

19. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.3
Assembling Your Team
Buying a home requires more than just the services of a great real estate agent. You are going to need
a team of real estate specialists to help you with your financing, legal, and insurance needs. A great
team can make a big difference in your real estate transactional experience, so it’s important to start
assembling that team as soon as possible.
B
uying a home is a big project. It’s
not something you can do yourself,
and it’s not something that even
the best real estate agent in the world
can do by herself. Like any big project,
you need more than just one person. You
need a team.
Your real estate agent is like the
quarterback of your team, the most
important player, the one who has the
ball in her hands for most of the game.
Indeed, her primary role through much of
the process will be directly helping you
find that home: taking you on showings,
evaluating the market, preparing and an inspection to ensure that the home in the process, discuss your insurance
presenting offers, and reaching a meeting is fundamentally sound. Your home options, and then be able to secure
of the minds with a seller. inspector will review the condition of coverage quickly.
the home, and prepare a report that
But once you’ve reached an accepted offer you’ll be able to review with your agent Throughout your home buying process, it’s
with a seller, your agent’s role becomes before you sign contracts to purchase your agent’s job to facilitate the work of
much more facilitative. She doesn’t have the home. all these professionals. She’ll coordinate
much direct work to do once you’ve found with the loan officer, schedule and attend
the home you’re going to purchase, but • eal Estate Attorney. Your attorney
R the inspection, provide your attorney with
now has the primary role of coordinating will counsel you about your rights and all the deal terms, order preliminary lien
and directing the rest of the players on responsibilities under your contract of searches from your title representative,
your team. Like the quarterback, her role sale, and negotiate the final terms of and provide whatever information your
is to set the formation, call the plays, and the deal with the seller’s agent. insurance representative needs to make
make sure everyone else is doing their job sure you have coverage at your closing.
correctly. • itle Representative. Your title rep
T Like the quarterback, a good real estate
will order your title insurance, which agent knows how to get the most out of
The Players you’ll need to protect against adverse the other players on the team.
Here are some of the players that you’ll claims of ownership. And if you’re
need on your home buying team: working with Hudson United, you can
order preliminary lien searches during Hudson United
• oan Officer. Your loan officer is
L your home search process to gather
responsible for ensuring that you get important information about homes Hotline
financing for your home purchase. You you’re placing offers on.
should start working with your loan 1(845) 825-8061
officer right at the beginning of your • ome Insurance Representative.
H If you ever need your Hudson United
process, getting prequalified so that You will need full home insurance mortgage, title, or insurance repre-
you know how much home you can coverage before your closing. As sentatives, you can call our hotline
afford. always, we urge you to be prepared number and talk to a customer service
in advance, and one way to do that representative who can connect you
• ome Inspector. Once you have an
H is make contact with your Hudson to the people you need.
accepted offer on a home, you’ll need United Insurance representative early

20. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.3
Assembling Your Team
Choosing Your Team Second, hire only local professionals the process while they find the attorney,
Now that you know the players, the next with expertise in your market area. Too make first contact, have a consultation,
question is about choosing up sides. many buyers make the mistake of hiring and then start the process of reviewing the
If you want to have the best possible out-of-market professionals who are not sales contract. Similarly, too many buyers
transactional experience, we have some familiar with the local market when buying a find themselves scrambling to get home
recommendations about how you should home. They’ll try to get financing from some insurance coverage the day before their
pick the professionals that you’re going to online mortgage company because they closing, because they failed to plan ahead.
have on your home buying team: get seduced by some “bait and switch” rate
that will mysteriously be unavailable once That’s why you should start assembling
First, trust your agent’s guidance in they are getting ready to close. Or they’ll your team now. Ask your agent for
choosing your real estate professionals. try to save a few bucks by getting relatives referrals for the professionals you will need
Your agent is going to have to coordinate who happen to be attorneys to handle their throughout the process. Establish those
all the moving parts of your real estate contract and closing, even though they relationships. It doesn’t take a lot of your
transaction, so you will most likely have a don’t normally do real estate law. Don’t time, or their time, to have a five-minute
better experience if you agent is working make these mistakes. Trust your agent to conversation to put them on notice that you
with professionals that she has worked refer you to professionals who know the might need their services sometime in the
with in the past. Your team will perform local area and have a strong reputation future. And then they’ll be available to you
better if the players have more experience in the local industry. Hiring out of market throughout the process whenever you have
working together. Moreover, trusting lenders, attorneys, or engineers might look questions that you need answered. You’re
your agent’s recommendations is also like a good deal, but it almost always causes going to need them eventually, so why not
a great way to ensure the quality of the delays or difficulties for your home buying hire them now?
professionals you’re going to work with. process.
Those professionals know how important it Conclusion
is to maintain their service reputation in the Third, don’t wait until the last minute. We Finally, we also encourage you to meet
industry, to ensure that they continue to include this section on “Assembling Your with the professionals from Hudson
get referrals from real estate agents. After Team” in the Preparation Stage of the United, who can provide you with an
all, you’re likely to do only one real estate Orientation Guide for a reason – because integrated and seamless “one stop
transaction in the next few years, but your it’s important for you to start planning shopping” experience for your mortgage,
agent will do many transactions this year ahead in choosing the professionals who title, and insurance needs. The better
and have many more opportunities to refer are going to help you through your real the working relationships among your
service professionals. Those attorneys, estate transaction. For example, most team members, the easier it will be to
engineers, and mortgage officers want to buyers make the mistake of waiting until ensure that you have a great transactional
stay on that referral list. they have an accepted offer to hire an experience with Better Homes and
attorney, which invariably causes delays in Gardens Rand Realty.

21. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.4
Getting Pre-Qualified
Getting a mortgage will be the most difficult part of your home buying process, but you can have a better
experience if you get prepared and start working with your loan officer right from the beginning.
T
he hardest part about buying a • lear to Close. Once you have
C
home is getting a mortgage. For satisfied all the conditions, your Price Range Shortcuts
the most part, you will actually bank will issue a commitment letter Here are some simple rules of thumb
enjoy the home buying process: after all, and you will be “clear to close” your to help you figure out your general
looking at homes is like “shopping,” and transaction. price range:
most people enjoy shopping. Looking at
homes online, going on showings with How can you be more engaged, so 1. The 3.5x Income Rule
your agent, getting to know the different that you are better prepared? Most Take your income and multiply it by
areas and neighborhoods – those are all importantly, you should meet with a loan 3.5 – that’s how much home you can
the fun parts about buying a home. officer right away. At Hudson United afford, assuming that you can also
Mortgage, our affiliate lending company, make a reasonable down payment and
But the mortgage process is messy, we encourage our clients to meet with have decent credit. (This used to be
complicated, and often intimidating. a loan officer right at the beginning of the “3x” rule, but when interest rates
That’s why we want you to be prepared. their home search, because even a short are in the 3-5% range, it’s 3.5x).
Our general advice to be engaged and consultation can answer your questions
proactive is particularly important for about the current rate environment, 2. One-Quarter of Income Rule
getting a mortgage. If you’re actively assuage some of your concerns about the On the other side, to figure out how
involved throughout the mortgage process, and also help you get a better much of a monthly payment you
process, and if you start planning ahead sense of your buying power. Too many can afford, take one-quarter of your
now, you’ll have a much more pleasurable buyers start looking for a home without a monthly income. Assuming decent
experience. clear idea of how much they can afford, credit, that’s how much you can
and they waste a lot of time looking at reasonably spend on your mortgage
Because the mortgage process is so homes that are above, or below, their payment.
central to your home buying experience, actual price range.
you should have a general sense of how
that process will develop: At your initial consultation with your loan
officer, you should be prepared to discuss should be aware that a pre-qualification
• nitial Consultation. You’ll meet
I in some detail your financial situation. letter is not a firm commitment from the
briefly with your loan officer and get a Remember that loan officers, at least bank – you won’t get anything like that
pre-qualification letter to advise you of the ones with Hudson United, are under until you complete and submit a formal
your general price range. strict licensing requirements to protect loan application, which you cannot do until
the privacy of your information and keep you actually find a home to buy. Rather,
• pplication. Once you find a home
A your confidences, so you should feel the pre-qualification letter is really just a
to purchase, you’ll complete a formal free to discuss your personal situation general indication of your buying power.
mortgage application to your lender. without holding anything back. Your loan
officer will review your financial profile, But the pre-qualification letter is still
• rocessing. Your loan processor, who
P give you a general sense of your price important for two major reasons:
works with your mortgage officer, will range, describe the current interest rate
review your file and probably contact environment, and explain the various First, it will allow you to go through the
you about supplementing it with some mortgage products that might be available process of discussing your financial
supporting documentation. to you. situation with your loan officer, which will
ensure that you have a good sense of your
• nderwriting. Your processor will
U Most importantly, by having that initial true price range before you go out and
submit the file to an underwriter, who consultation with your loan officer, you’ll start looking at properties.
could deny or approve the application, be able to get a pre-qualification letter:
but will more likely issue a “conditional a statement on the bank’s letterhead Second, and perhaps more importantly, a
commitment” required more indicating that you have been “qualified” pre-qualification letter from a reputable
documentation or clarification. for a particular price range. Now, you lender like Hudson United is almost a

22. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.4
Getting a Prequalification Letter
If you do not yet have a prequalification letter, just call (845) 825-8100 to speak to a Hudson United
Mortgage loan officer. We can arrange to get your prequalified over the phone and have a letter emailed
or faxed to you immediately.
“stamp of approval” for sellers and listing have identified a property to buy and have “team,” and someone you can then
agents. In a competitive environment for submitted a full application to a lender. contact whenever you have financial
buyers, a pre-qualification letter indicates Rather, the pre-qualification letter is questions or issues.
that you are credible and serious, and that designed to give you just a general idea of
you have the general financial wherewithal your price range, so that you have a better Conclusion
to back up your purchase offers. Indeed, sense of what you can afford when you This is really only a general introduction to
many sellers demand a pre-qualification start looking for a home. the mortgage process. If you want a more
letter before they will even consider your comprehensive overview of mortgage
offers! Accordingly, we strongly urge that you products, qualification guidelines, and
have a short sit-down with your loan interest rates, check out the Hudson
All that said, we should note that a officer early in your buying process. By United Transaction Orientation Guide,
pre-qualification letter is not a binding forging that connection with your loan which is available from your Hudson
commitment from the bank. You won’t officer, you’ll secure one of the most United mortgage loan officer or your
get any kind of formal approval until you important members of your home buying agent.

23. Buyer Orientation Guide | PREPARATION | Chapter 1.5
Getting Started with RandRealty.com
The first step in your home search process is setting yourself up on randrealty.com, the premier real
estate website in our region. In this section, you’ll find out about all the features on the site and learn how
to register so that you can get email alerts for your saved searches and properties.
T
he Rand organization has always • owerful search tools. You can do
P means that most of the visitors to our site
been one of the leading technology quick searches right from the home aren’t even in the market to buy a home.
companies in real estate, page, or do an advanced search to
recognized throughout the industry as pinpoint the types of homes you are Property Detail Page
a cutting-edge pioneer committed to looking for, including multiple area Once you’re done your searches on
providing our agents and clients with the searches with simple check boxes (not randrealty.com, you’ll notice the elegant,
best tools possible. The centerpiece of those “hold down the CTRL-key while intuitive design of the property detail
our dedication to technological innovation you….”-type systems). pages, which provide all the information
is randrealty.com, our award-winning available from the multiple listing system,
website providing the best real estate • pen house listings. Open house
O and even more information for the many
search and property display features listings are updated every week if you listings with our company. In addition, we
available in the industry. want to narrow your search just to have integrated a number resources into
homes available for public viewing that the site to give you features like mapping,
The randrealty.com site has long been weekend. demographic information, market data,
at the leading edge of the regional and school information.
real estate industry. We were the first • ommunity Insight. If you want to
C
company to provide full multiple listing research the local area, you can find Here are some of the highlight features of
inventory, the first to add multiple comprehensive demographic reports the property detail pages
pictures, the first to provide mapping and and school information for all our
address information, the first to adopt communities and school districts. And • p to 50 high-resolution photos.
U
blogging and social media integration. you should also check out Community We display all the photos provided
We are constantly innovating the site, Heartbeat, our lifestyle blog for our by the MLS in the highest resolution
adding new features and capabilities local communities, featuring local possible, with up to 50 photos
designed to provided our clients with the attractions, village and town profiles, available for our own listings.
best experience possible. and picture tours.
• ull property descriptions. Unlike
F
Today, randrealty.com gives you access • ifestyle resources. To learn more
L some sites, we do not have a maximum
to every property for sale through all the about home design, decoration, and character count for our property
multiple listing systems in the region, improvement, take a look at the videos descriptions, so you won’t miss out on
with powerful, intuitive and easy search and articles from Better Homes and a particularly lengthy home profile.
features. We also provide access to Gardens Real Estate, which cover
innumerable resources that you might everything from do-it-yourself projects • roperty addresses and mapping.
P
need during your home search, including to design trends to home makeovers. Every listing has the property address
market data, school reports, and even and all Google map features, so you
design and decorating videos and articles • arket Intelligence Blog. Our
M can see where the home is, toggle to a
from Better Homes and Gardens. company blog features analysis and satellite view of the property on Google
commentary on the national and Earth, and get driving directions. The
Site Features regional real estate markets, and satellite views are particularly helpful
Here are some of the feature highlights of advice for our clients. for getting a sense of the property line
randrealty.com: and dimensions.
Ultimately, our goal is to make randrealty.
• ll the listings. Randrealty.com is
A com your bookmarked site for anything • he Toolbox. Every local area has its
T
one of the few places you can go to you need to know about local real estate, own “toolbox,” which is a collection
get listings of the entire regional area, not only during your home search but of school reports, demographic
so you don’t have to look in different after you close. Indeed, the site gets information, and a community tour
places if your search takes you across almost two million yearly visitors, about from the Community Heartbeat blog,
a county or state border. 100 times the number of people who buy so you can do in-depth research of that
a home in our region every year, which individual property.