buyers guide
Your Guide to Selling a Home in Tacoma & Pierce County
Buying a home has many moving pieces, but you won’t be navigating them alone. Hi, I’m Victoria, and I’m here to help you navigate the process from the early stages of your home search all the way through closing with clarity and confidence.
Every job I’ve ever had throughout my life has been relationship-based, and real estate is no different. Buying a home can feel overwhelming, but my goal is to simplify the process, help you feel empowered, and make the experience one you can genuinely enjoy.
I am detail-oriented and proud of the relationships I’ve built in this industry. With years of hands-on experience in real estate, I’ve helped buyers navigate everything from first-time home purchases to complex negotiations in competitive markets. I want to be your cheerleader and your advocate as we get to the finish line of your transaction and beyond.
Learn more about the Home Buying Process
step one
Let’s Get to know each other
We'll start with a conversation to get to know each other and talk about your goals. We'll discuss:
Your timeline
What's most important in a home
Your schedule and availability for tours
Your preferred communication style
What are my hours?
Whether you've spoken with a lender yet
step two
Hiring Your Agent
Before we start your search, we'll sign the Buyer Broker Services Agreement. This hires me as your representative.
It outlines:
Where we are looking
For how long we are working together
My compensation
What we will do if the seller isn’t offering any form of compensation, or less than what is on our agreement
step three
Getting Pre-Approved
Before touring homes, it’s important to understand your budget and financing options. If you’re not pre-approved yet, I’ll connect you with a trusted lender to help you get started.
Your lender will help you:
Review financial documents
Determine loan options
Estimate your monthly payment
Estimate closing costs
This step helps us shop confidently and ensures we’re ready to act quickly when the right home comes along.
What You Need to Know About Choosing a Lender & the Pre-Approval Process
To empower you in making the most competitive offer, it's essential to obtain pre-approval from a lender before embarking on your property search. This crucial step will offer you a clear understanding of your financial capabilities, allowing for well-informed planning, including estimating your monthly payments. If you haven't established a relationship with a lender yet, don't hesitate to reach out – I’d be delighted to connect you with a qualified mortgage professional.
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It's worth noting that not all lenders are created equal. They offer various loan products and vary on their fee structures. Therefore, it's important to understand and compare the services they provide. This approach will empower you to make an informed choice and select a lender that best aligns with your unique financial situation.
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Don't assume that just because a loan officer works with a bank you've used for years that they are the best option. In fact, smaller, local lenders are often renowned for their exceptional customer service and dedication to keeping their promises. They can also offer a more personalized and tailored experience compared to larger institutions. Make sure to weigh all of your options and not solely rely on convenience when selecting a lender that meets your specific needs.
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Banks may offer lower closing costs but potentially higher interest rates, while mortgage brokers may offer lower interest rates but have higher closing costs. Thus, doing some thorough comparison-shopping is key to determining what aligns best with your individual financial situation and unique goals.
Start the Home Search
You’ll receive a personalized home search and receive alerts when new homes that match your criteria come on the market. When you see something you like, we’ll schedule a tour.
step FOUR
Touring Homes
As we visit homes, we’ll evaluate things like:
Layout and functionality
Overall condition
Are there any major red flags?
We also look at major systems including:
Roof
Electrical panel
HVAC
Hot water heater
We’ll also review information available from the listing including:
Seller disclosures
Property supplements
Sewer vs septic systems
Permitted vs unpermitted improvements
HOA documents (if applicable)
step five
Writing Offers & Contingencies
When you find the right home, we’ll prepare a strong offer.
We’ll discuss strategy and key terms like:
Purchase price
Earnest money
Inspection timelines
Closing timeline
Escalation clauses (in competitive situations)
Our goal is to position your offer thoughtfully and competitively.
What’s A Continegency?
In real estate, a contingency is basically a condition in the contract that needs to be met for the sale to move forward. It means the transaction is dependent on certain things happening first — like the home passing inspection, financing being approved, or the property appraising at value. Contingencies are really in place to protect you as we go through the transaction.
step six
Negotiation
After submitting the offer, the seller may:
Accept the offer
Counter the offer
Reject the offer
Sometimes there are multiple offers, and we may have the opportunity to adjust our strategy.
Sometimes the First Offer Isn’t the One, and That’s Okay
It’s very common for buyers to write more than one offer before securing a home. Each experience helps us learn more about the market and refine our strategy.
If an offer isn’t accepted, we’ll review what happened and adjust our approach if needed — whether that’s timing, price, or terms.
Every step helps us better position the next offer and brings us closer to the right home.
The goal isn’t just to win a house — it’s to find the right home for you and get there with confidence.
Congrats, you’re under contract
step seven
Under Contract
Once the seller accepts your offer, we are mutual! These are the steps that happen within the first week -
Earnest money is deposited
Inspections are scheduled
Title and Escrow are opened
Your lender begins processing your final loan application
Understanding Title and Escrow Services
Title insurance serves as a crucial safeguard, benefiting both homeowners and lenders by offering protection against legitimate or false claims made by previous property owners or lien holders. While many issues, referred to as "defects," are typically resolved before closing, title insurance offers an additional layer of security for unforeseen challenges that may arise post-closing. Alongside this, escrow services play a pivotal role in ensuring the secure transfer of funds and accurate ownership transfer during the closing process.
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Title insurance serves as a crucial safeguard, benefiting both homeowners and lenders by offering protection against legitimate or false claims made by previous property owners or lien holders. While many issues, referred to as "defects," are typically resolved before closing, title insurance offers an additional layer of security for unforeseen challenges that may arise post-closing. Alongside this, escrow services play a pivotal role in ensuring the secure transfer of funds and accurate ownership transfer during the closing process.
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Escrow serves as a vital neutral third party that handles contract documents and funds from buyers, sellers, and lenders, ensuring the seamless closing of a real estate transaction.
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As we draw near to the closing date and finalize your paperwork, your dedicated escrow officer will be in touch to arrange a signing appointment and furnish you with clear instructions regarding the delivery of any remaining funds required for escrow. Please note that these funds should be delivered 24 hours in advance of the scheduled closing.
step eight
Inspection Period
Inspections help us understand:
The condition of the home
Potential repairs
Future maintenance needs
Common inspections may include:
General home inspection
Sewer scope
Septic inspection (when applicable)
After the inspection, you may choose to:
Ask for additional inspections if specialists or additional information is needed
Move forward with the purchase
Request repairs or credits
Renegotiate certain terms
This step ensures you feel comfortable and informed before continuing.
step nine
Appraisal
Your lender will order an appraisal to confirm the home’s value.
Possible outcomes include:
The home appraises at value and we move forward
The home appraises higher than expected
The appraisal comes in lower than expected and we review options
The appraisal may require certain repairs based on the condition of the home
bonus step
Resource for life
It's important to know that our journey together doesn't conclude when you receive the keys to your new home. As a dedicated real estate professional, I recognize that home ownership is a continuous endeavor. That's why I place great importance on remaining well-informed about all aspects of home ownership. Within my network I maintain a handpicked roster of talented professionals who are readily accessible to support you. Whether you need help switching out a fan, or more extensive such as refining your floors, you can rely on me to connect you with the best resources.
ready to take the next step