Our Goal is to help YOU be able to do business with us easier!

When purchasing a home, you are faced with a multitude of decisions! We understand those decisions and will assist you every step of the way.... whether you're a first time home buyer or a sophisticated real estate investor, we assure you that you will find dealing with our services pleasurable & professional. One step at a time

While at your side each step of the way, We will make the process of purchasing a home easier, more enjoyable, less time-consuming, and less expensive than if you undertook this challenge on your own. We will help you prepare so that sellers perceive you as a preferred buyer, help you locate and assess properties for sale that match your specifications, and help you through the myriad of details attending the actual purchase.

We are always familiar with the current homes on the market, and we know neighborhood values well, so we can help you determine which properties are fairly-priced and in good condition before you start your search.

We don't expect any commitment from you, simply put us to the test and you be the judge..... We will work hard for you and apply our many years of experience mixed with our high technical abilities, then earn not only your business, but your trust!  Don't put all your eggs in one basket? Compare REALTORS, Don't put all your eggs in one basket!Take us for a test drive and find out exactly what our services can provide for you; we guarantee your satisfaction. We don't have a challenge with you trying out our services and comparing them to anothers, we're actually grateful towards those that understand and know the differences. 

Here at the Shuswap we are very fortunate to have such a great representation of outstanding Real Estate Agents, we all work very well together and through the MLS®  system, our goal is to provide you, the client, with outstanding performance & service; however there are differences in our styles and abilities and we are certain that if you take the time to compare, you will appreciate those subtle differences.

Start by seeing how a REALTOR®  presents themselves; Do they have a good website that is easy to navigate, yet full of all the information a client would want?  How are their properties represented on the MLS®  System?; Do they offer enhanced information for the internet savy buyer today? Have a look and You be the judge!  We dare to be compared because we have spent exhaustive hours of research and development into our marketing systems; We are marketing experts and we have been all our lives! Once you've chosen a few REALTORS®, ask them for some assistance in locating you a property..... see how they respond?  Don't be shy in testing the waters, this is the biggest step in the process that you will make.

Once you've selected a REALTOR®  or two, Relax and remember that you're in the drivers seat. Your REALTOR®  choice should help you feel at ease about your decision to search for a property!  Keep in mind that we specialize in being a Buyer's Agent and although we love to market properties, we are currently one of the top 5 Buyer's Agents in the entire Shuswap Region per MLS Stats YTD 2009..... You're in very capable hands working with our award winning team!

We will explain the pro's and con's of the properties that meet your
criteria and sort out the "Apples to Oranges" comparisons for you.

Think of yourself as zeroing in on a target, going from the general to the specific. Consider area (city, suburban neighborhoods); community (Salmon Arm, Blind Bay, Sorrento, Sicamous, North Shore, Chase, etc); neighborhood (older and settled or sparkling new; school zones; recreational facilities; and other community services such as transportation, day care, library, stores, entertainment & waterfront). Ask yourself how many minutes you are willing to commute to work?  Let us have it all.... we'll sort it out for you!  Your information is held in the strictest confidentiality.

Think about home styles. How much space do you need? Does your situation require a one-level home, or are stairs acceptable? Consider size and kind of property. Do you want a newer home, or maybe an older one to fix up? Someday you or your heirs will want to sell. Consider how long you expect to live in this particular home.
A Basic Criteria Check List would be:

• Budget  (Price Range $) * See Below for Additional Closing Costs
• Style of Home (Bungalow, Two Storey, etc)
• Property Size (In-Town Lot, Acreage, Farm, etc)
• Garage Requirements (1, 2 or 3; carport, garage, RV Parking, etc)
• View or Features such as Waterfront or Lake Access (Lakeview, Lakefront, Semi-Lakefront, etc)
• Region and Area (We are licensed from Revelstoke to Kamloops and South to Kelowna)

From this brief list of criteria we will quickly provide you with a broad understanding of the general market; primarily to evaluate that we can meet your simple goals in searching for a property. Once we understand that the general market can provide you with what you're looking for, we can narrow down our search and you can move to your next step with confidence and a general understanding of our current market.

At this time we will endeavour to provide you with an extensive amount of information on each of the properties you are viewing.  How long has it been on the market, size of home, size of rooms, lot plans, tax assessments, past sales stats, neighbourhood comparisons, etc.  As well we will provide you with an extensive amount of information on the areas and communities of your chosen properties.  There is no rush; we encourage taking your time and digesting the information and often we will book second looks the next day or on your next visit.

Property Disclosure

We will review with you all inspection reports and other documents pertaining to the condition of the property, and answer all questions regarding physical defects of the property which are known to us. We will review the Written Seller Disclosures. We will thoroughly review with you any seller's written disclosure statement to enable you to accept or specify the remedy for each fault disclosed. Remedies for any disclosed faults should be addressed in the offer to purchase.

Appraisal Contingency. We will explain to you the option of an appraisal contingency. Home Warranty. We will explain to you the option of a home warranty plan to reduce your risk of repair when purchasing a property.  Estimate of Funds Required;  We will provide you with a preliminary estimate of closing costs and down payment requirement anticipated in the transaction.

We have the best possible resources and communication systems available today to help you locate the homes on the market that match your specifications. You can even search our listings here on our website.

The Final Choices

Once we decide which home(s) are best for you we will begin the process of evaluating the Fair Market Value of the property(ies) you've chosen.  Our best source to market value is past and most recent comparative sales; don't make the mistake of comparing to "asking" prices; Fair Market Value is determined by what someone is willing to pay for a property, not the asking price of your neighbours property.  We will assist you fully with an assessment by comparing past solds, tax assessed values, cost of construction plus property value approaches and of course your personal budget.  Once we all agree on the value of the home we will enter the negotiations of presenting an offer on the property.

The Offer to Purchase

We are experts in the field of negotiations with a vast technical background in contract law; making our approach to your purchase second to none. We are highly proficient at bringing buyers and sellers together and without this most important step in the process, there is no success!  When possible, We will endeavor to present your purchase offer directly to the seller in the presence of the listing associate and negotiate the purchase for you with every care and intention that we would for ourselves.

Feedback

We are in a constantly revolving industry that involves high end sales & marketing techniques, we appreciate your comments or input that may assist us in achieving our Goal of making it easier for YOU to do business with us! Send your comments to Rob@RobMcKibbon.com anytime or visit our FEEDBACK page HERE.  Feedback can be submitted totally anonymously with our feedback forms.
Thanks again!

* Additional Closing Cost You Should Consider
Scroll over and select our chosen links for more information

• Property Transfer Tax
  1% on the first $200,000 and 2% on the amount exceeding in BC
• G.S.T. - Does GST apply to your purchase
  If you are buying a new home or a property from a company, GST could apply
  There is a proposed revision to the GST called HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) that may effect the taxes paid on real estate transactions or services.  You should be aware of this new proposed tax and if/how it may effect your purchase?
• Property Tax Adjustments
  Property taxes are paid mid-year for the entire year, you will be responsible for your portion of the property
  taxes for the current year; this may result in a credit or debit to your closing costs depending on the time of year that you purchase?  Nonetheless, you are responsible for your portion of the years taxes.
• Bank Fees
  Your mortgage company may have additional charges for appraisals, surveys or application fees. Be sure to check with them on their requirements for your mortgage application.
• Insurance
  You will be required to have insurance on your mortgage and may desire to carry additional insurance, such as life, fire, theft, default for personal reasons. These costs should be included as they are paid at or near completion.
• Legal Fees 
  Your lawyer or notary will be happy to provide you with a budget for their services in completing your deal which includes registering your ownership at land titles.  They will also include for "Title Insurance" fees if there is not a Real Property Report available.  Explain Title Insurance
• Home Inspections
  You should obtain a professional home inspection before you decide to buy and these costs will be added to your costs to purchase.  Other inspection services can include water testing, septic testing & environmental.
• Utilities & Services
  Some utility services will require a deposit for new accounts and you should verify with the local service providers to ensure you have the sufficient cash requirements.  See our "Links & Info" tab for more info.
• Teresan Gas: 1-888-224-2710
•      BC Hydro: 1-800-224-9376
•      Telus: 1-888-811-2323 or 310-2255
•      Sun Country Cable: 250-832-9711
• Appliances
  Some properties do not come with appliances, you should consider this in your purchase.
• Moving Expenses
  Include for any costs of moving services or rentals to facilitate your move.
• Real Estate Commissions
  Although typical real estate transactions the commissions are paid by the sellers, there are exceptions to this and you may be bound to pay a real estate commission by way of a Buyers Agency contract.  These types of contracts are becoming more popular and you should be aware of how the commisssions are being paid in your transaction.
• New Construction
  The purchase of a newly constructed home differs from buying an existing home in many ways. Buyers of a newly-built home have several exercises to go through like a punch list and warranties on systems that a buyer should be aware of.  There may be deficiency or seasonal holdback accounts that need to be considered and should be reviewed with your REALTOR®.  We're experts at new home sales.
• Vacation Homes
  If you are buying a vacation home and plan to leave it unattended, your insurance company may require that you have the home regularily inspected?  There are local services that provide for this in addition to regular maintenance issues such as lawn care.  You may desire to add the costs of an in-home security system?

Don't Delay..... Put Us To The Test Today!
YOU'll be glad YOU Did!
Rob@RobMcKibbon.com

Whether you're buying, selling or just browsing, we'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line and let us know your thoughts and opinions on our services, either personally, professionally or the like.  We are constantly acquiring information about our future clients for the purposes of better serving them and there is no better way to  serve you than to hear from you!  Use our FEEDBACK page or email us anytime. Thanks!