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Your real estate resource
All the right tools. All the right people. All working together.
Your real estate resource
All the right tools. All the right people. All working together.
Your real estate resource
All the right tools. All the right people. All working together.
FAQ's
The more you know, the more you can kick butt.
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What areas do you service?Right now, we cover home buyers in California. But keep an eye out as we expand to cities across the US.
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How is it so much cheaper for me to buy a home this way?To be honest, we're not sure how traditional agents get away with charging so much nowadays. Most people are already searching for the homes they like online, and going on tours themselves. They just need some support and guidance to make offers and work their way through escrow. And that's where we come in. We empower you to take the lead when buying a home. We provide you with all the tools, guidance, and support needed to navigate your home purchase confidently, with flexible pricing options depending on how much assistance you need along the way. Check out all the options available to you below.
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I heard about new real estate laws. How will this impact my ability to buy a home?There's good news and bad news. The bad news is that these new laws make things a lot more expensive for buyers. Sellers used to pay for all agent commissions, but now, buyers are responsible to pay their agent commissions, and they have to negotiate the terms up front. The good news is that you can avoid all the needless haggling and uncertainty. With All House, we provide you with everything you need to navigate the process without the expense of a traditional agent. All for one low flat fee that you only pay when your deal closes.
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Anything I should consider before I start searching for a home?Before you start, think about your budget, financing options, and the key features you want in a home. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is also a smart move—it’ll make your offer stronger when you find the right place. Just ask your All House Specialist, and they can make some recommendations for a good loan officer.
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How can I search for homes online?Truth is, there are already a ton of online platforms to help you search for a home. Try sites like Zillow and Redfin. They'll provide a ton of home details, and when tours are available. But if you need any help with that, just contact your All House Specialist and they can point you in the right direction.
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Can I really set up tours and view homes by myself?Yes, you can! Just reach out directly to listing agents or homeowners to schedule tours. As a general rule, Open Houses for agents occur on Monday and Wednesdays, and open houses for the public occur on Saturday and Sunday. But you can really show up to any of these open houses. If you need extra help scheduling anything, just upgrade your plan and we can handle it all for you.
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How do I make an offer on a home I like?Once you’ve found the home you want, just tell your All House Specialist. They’ll get some details and prepare the California Association of Realtors (CAR) Purchase Agreement that you can then present to the seller's agent. If you need help deciding what to offer, or are a little hesitant to present the offer yourself, upgrade your plan and we'll do all the negotiating and offer presenting for you.
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What factors should I consider when preparing my offer?Consider the home’s condition, the current market, and any contingencies you may need. Your All House Specialist can provide guidance on these aspects, but ultimately, you’ll craft an offer that aligns with your goals.
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Got any good negotiating tips?Negotiation is key! Stay clear on your priorities and be ready to compromise where it makes sense. It’s generally a good idea to decide if you want to make an offer that’s below, at, or above the asking price. Making an offer below asking price means you may be able to snag a great deal, but you open yourself up to competing bids and potential counter offers from the seller. Don’t go too low, because the seller can always choose not to respond. Making an offer at asking price is a good way to show you are serious and competitive. Seeing if the seller comes back with a counter offer will be telling on if they are fishing for higher offers, or really priced their home at what they thought they could get. Making an offer above asking price is a good way to make a strong statement and ward off competing offers. But you never know, sellers could either accept without a counter, or counter and offer even more. You can always upgrade your plan and we can help lead the negotiations. Either way works for us.
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What if I need any other paperwork or forms along the way?Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Whether it’s counteroffers, amendments, or any other forms, just let us know, and we’ll prepare them for you promptly.
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What happens if my offer is accepted?Congratulations! After your offer is accepted, you’ll move into the escrow phase. We’ll assist in coordinating all the necessary steps, including inspections, financing, and document signings, to keep the process moving smoothly.
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What is escrow, and how do I set it up?Escrow is a neutral third party that holds funds and documents until the deal closes. Just tell your All House Specialist what Escrow Officer you’d like to use, and they’ll coordinate the communication and ensure everything is in order. If you don’t have an Escrow Coordinator, we can also provide some recommendations.
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What sort of team do I need to assemble to work through escrow?You’ll work with your Escrow Officer, Loan Officer, Inspectors, and an Insurance Agent. We’ll help facilitate communication and scheduling with everyone involved, ensuring that the process is seamless and coordinated. If you need help finding a vendor, we’re also happy to point you in the right direction.
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What are the main milestones I can expect during escrow before the deal closes?Key milestones include completing inspections, finalizing your mortgage, clearing any contingencies, and signing all required documents. We’ll make sure you stay on track and are well-prepared for each step.
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Sounds like a lot of work, can you help me coordinate everything?Absolutely! While you’re in control, we’re here to support you. We’ll help coordinate communication, document preparation, and scheduling to ensure everything stays on track.
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What are inspection contingencies, and what should I look out for?Your inspectors will provide reports about the condition of the home. You’ll review the inspection reports and decide how to proceed, but we can guide you on what to look out for. Inspection contingencies let you back out or renegotiate if the home has major issues, or the seller is not budging on making price adjustments based on the reports.
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What if the house needs a lot of repairs?If the inspection reveals significant repairs, you can negotiate with the seller for repairs or a price adjustment. You’ll manage these discussions, but we can assist with drafting any necessary amendments. If you need a little extra assistance, upgrade your plan and we can negotiate any price reductions directly with the seller.
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What are financing contingencies, and what should I look out for?Financing contingencies protect you if your mortgage falls through. They’ll let you back out of the deal if needed. You’ll handle the financing directly with your lender, but we’ll provide tips to help ensure everything goes smoothly.
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How do I get a mortgage without an agent?You can contact lenders directly to get pre-approved for a mortgage. We’ll guide you on the documents needed and what to expect, so you’re fully prepared to secure financing.
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What sort of things will I need to provide to get financing?Lenders will typically require income statements, credit history, and details about your assets and debts. We’ll help you understand what’s needed, so that you can submit everything directly to your lender.
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What other milestones usually happen during escrow, before the deal closes?Besides inspections and financing, you’ll need to handle title insurance, home insurance, and possibly a final walkthrough. We’ll guide you through each of these steps to ensure nothing is overlooked.
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Do I really need home insurance?Yes, home insurance is typically required by lenders and is essential for protecting your investment. Just give us the contact for your insurance provider and we can coordinate everything you need. We can even help you find a reliable insurance provider and ensure you’re covered.
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What if I'm going to miss any deadlines during escrow?If a deadline is approaching and you’re concerned about meeting it, communicate with your All House Specialist immediately. We’ll work with you to address any issues and seek extensions if necessary.
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Who handles all the final paperwork?Your Escrow Officer will manage most of the final paperwork, but we’ll be there to ensure everything is accurate and submitted on time. You can rely on us to coordinate all the details.
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What happens at closing?At closing, you’ll sign the final documents, pay any remaining closing costs, and finalize the transfer of funds. We’ll coordinate the closing process, making sure everything goes off without a hitch.
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What happens if the deal falls out of escrow?If the deal doesn’t close, we’ll help you understand your options and next steps. We’re here to support you through any challenges that arise.
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When do I actually pay you?You only pay All House a flat fee of $999 or $4999, depending on the plan you choose. Keep in mind you only need to pay if your home purchase successfully closes. There are no upfront fees, and if the deal doesn’t close, you won’t owe us anything.
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