The Buying Process
This guide walks you through every step of the home buying process — from initial consultation to moving in and making upgrades. Its goal is to keep you informed and confident, help you make smart, data-driven decisions, and show you how a professional buyer’s agent works for you.
Follow the steps in order — each one is numbered to reflect the typical sequence of buying a home. Revisit any step as questions come up along the way, and reach out anytime.
We start by discussing your goals, timeline, budget, and preferred neighborhoods. We’ll identify must-haves and deal-breakers, review lifestyle factors (schools, commute, amenities), and set expectations for the home search. This conversation helps create a personalized strategy just for you.
This ensures we focus only on homes that truly meet your needs.
You meet with a lender to get pre-approved. This shows how much you can borrow and proves to sellers that you are serious. Rod & Stone can guide you to trusted lenders!
Pre-approval helps you avoid falling in love with homes outside of your budget and strengthens your offer, making sellers more likely to take you seriously.
We review the Michigan Agency Disclosure form and, if you choose, sign a Buyer Agency Agreement, which makes me your legal agent.
This protects your interests. You have an agent whose job is to negotiate for you, not the seller. It ensures transparency and trust in the process.
Create a custom home search based on your preferences, sending alerts when new homes are listed.
You won’t miss out on opportunities. The search is targeted so your time is spent efficiently on homes that truly match your needs.
We tour homes together. When you like one, I provide a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to check if the price is fair.
Touring helps you visualize living in the home, and the market analysis ensures you’re making a smart financial decision, avoiding overpaying.
I help write an offer with price, terms, contingencies, and legal protections using Michigan-approved forms.
A clear, strong offer increases your chance of getting the home while protecting you legally and financially. Mistakes in the offer can cost money or even the home.
If the seller counters your offer, I guide you through your options — whether to accept, reject, or make another counteroffer. We’ll evaluate price adjustments, contingency changes, and closing timelines or other terms. I help you weigh each option so your response protects your interests and strengthens your position.
We negotiate with integrity, aiming for an outcome where all parties feel respected and satisfied. This ensures the deal moves smoothly and you feel confident every step of the way.
Earnest money is a good faith deposit showing the seller you’re serious about buying the home. It’s held safely in an escrow account — a neutral, secure place managed by a third party until closing. This deposit is applied toward the purchase price of your home.
Earnest money and escrow work together to protect both sides — giving the seller confidence while keeping your deposit safe and reducing the amount you owe at closing.
You hire a home inspector to check the property for issues. Repairs or price adjustments can be requested if problems are found.
Identifying issues early avoids unexpected costs or unsafe conditions. It gives you confidence in the home you’re buying.
Your lender orders a home appraisal. A licensed appraiser visits the property and evaluates its current market value based on factors like:
The appraiser then creates a report that tells the lender the estimated value of the home.
The lender uses the appraisal to confirm the home is worth the price you’re paying. At or above your offer, the loan moves forward smoothly. Below your offer, you may renegotiate the price, increase your down payment to cover the difference, or walk away if contingencies allow.
Before closing, a title company or attorney reviews the property’s title to make sure it’s clear of liens, claims, or legal issues. You’ll also purchase title insurance, which protects you and the lender if any undiscovered issues arise in the future.
Ensures you’re buying a home free and clear of ownership disputes or debts, protects your investment if a past owner or creditor has a claim, and gives you peace of mind that your ownership is secure.
Before closing, you’ll do a final walk-through of the home — usually 24–48 hours before the settlement. This is your opportunity to:
Confirms that the seller fulfilled their obligations before you take ownership, helps you avoid surprises on closing day, and ensures a smooth transition into your new home.
Closing is the final step in buying your home. During this meeting, you’ll:
Your lender and title company coordinate the transfer of funds, and ownership officially passes to you.
Ensures the home is legally transferred into your name, confirms all financial and legal obligations are met, and marks the moment you become the official homeowner.
After closing, it’s time to move into your new home — transferring utilities, setting up essentials, unpacking, changing your address, and planning renovations or improvements with your builder’s guidance. Common updates include:
As a licensed builder, Rod & Stone can advise you on which renovations add value, how to budget effectively, and even coordinate the work so it’s done right the first time.
Ensures your home is comfortable, functional, and reflects your style — and protects your investment by making sure the work is done professionally and safely.
Questions at any step?
Reach out with questions anytime — let’s make your home buying experience smooth and stress-free.
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