Buying a Home

How Buyer Representation Benefits You

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When you choose a Joel Ward Homes REALTOR to represent you in the purchase of your new home, we become your agent and you become our client. This means that it is our duty, both ethically and legally, to represent your best interests in any real estate transaction. We take this responsibility very seriously, and pledge to promote and protect your interests at each step in the process. And, even though you are our client, our fee is typically paid by the seller and is "built into" the price of the home along with the fee due the seller’s real estate broker!

Let us help you find your new home

You are invited to search the entire inventory of homes listed in the Champaign County Association of REALTORS Multiple Listing Service directly from this website. Simply click on "Featured Homes" and then on "Search All MLS Listings." But it's even better to arrange a time to meet with us and let us assist you in your search. How does our help benefit you? We really know the market, and are probably already familiar with some of the homes which are of interest to you. Also, through the MLS, we are able to arrange for you to visit whatever homes you would like to see. And, as you visit homes we are able to help you identify the home's good and bad points relative to your needs and wants.

Let us help you negotiate the best price

When you have decided on the best home for you, let us help you develop a negotiating strategy designed to enable you to purchase your home at the best price, and avoid paying too much. This process will include:

  • Researching the marketing history of your new home, including any recent prior sales.
  • Researching the current assessed valuation of your new home.
  • Providing you with information about recent sales of homes similar to the one you have chosen and helping you analyze that data to form an opinion of the value of the home you have selected.

Let us help you select your home inspector, lender and attorney

You may have already selected a home inspector, lender or attorney whom you know and with whom you are comfortable. If not, we will be pleased to refer you to home inspectors, lenders and attorneys whom we know. These processionals have proven to provide superior services with competitive fees. As real estate purchase transactions become even more complicated, it is critically important to have a good team of professionals on your side.