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Buyer's Checklist

     Scroll down for details.
  1. Fill Out the Aloha Realty Group Showing Survey
  2. Hire a Lender
  3. Have a Plan for Your Pets
  4. Send Your Agent a Copy of Your Pre-Qualification Letter
  5. Review the Purchase Contract
  6. Discuss and Understand Dual Agency and its Impact on Your Representation
  7. Review Typical Closing Costs for Buyers
  8. Begin to Liquidate Your Cash Funds
  9. Keep Your Credit Score in Check
  10. Increase Your Online Privacy
  11. Review a Typical Escrow Timeline
  12. Shop for Home Insurance Quotes
  13. Shop for a Home Inspector
  14. Strategize Your Timing and Moving

Step 1.

Fill Out ​the Aloha Realty Group Showing Survey
Take Me to Survey

Step 2.

Hire a Lender
Jacque Villoria
NMLS# 1133941
B&B Mortgage
45-1144 Kam Hwy, Ste 404
Kaneohe, HI  96744
Mobile (808) 799-9652
Office  (808) 236-4289
jacque.viloria@bbhhawaii.com
Alan Fentriss
​NMLS #316244

American Savings Bank 
300 North Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI  96817
Mobile (808) 927-3401
​
Office  (808) 593-4869
​afentriss@asbhawaii.com
Tristan Castro
NMLS#333880

Compass Home Loans LLC
98-167 Kaonohi Street
Aiea, HI  96701
Office (808) 429-7270
tristan.castro@compasshawaii.com
Tory Tuttle   (VA Lending only)
NMLS #870114

Veteran’s United 
1000 Kam Hwy, Ste 208
Pearl City, HI  96782
Mobile (808) 859-1313
Office (808) 465-3600
tory.tuttle@vu.com
Robin Hood
​NMLS# 809654

Movement Mortgage
4211 Waialae Ave, Ste 303
Honolulu, HI  96816
Office (808) 780-0625
robin.hood@movement.com
Hawaii State Federal
Credit Union

NMLS#405316

560 Halekauwila St.
Honolulu, HI  96813
Office: (808) 447-7810

Step 3.

Have a Plan for Your Pets
Moving with Pets.

It’s best to plan ahead.  If you are moving from another state you will need to prepare to have your pet’s shot record up to date and arrange for transportation with the airlines.  Each airline has a set of rules and guidelines.  

Pets are also to be considered if you are moving to a condo.  Many condos allow pets these days but there are restrictions on the number, size and in some situations breed.  We can help guide you and your loved ones to the a Pet Friendly condo.  

Animal quarantine information can be found here:  http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/aqs-info/​
Honolulu Pet Friendly Buildings

Step 4.

Lending and the Pre-Qualification Letter​
This one page document is the ticket to determining what you can afford, and what the costs associated with the loan will be.  Your lender will create a pre-approval letter that will be submitted with your offer.  The letter tells the Seller that you are ready, willing and able to afford the property and you are qualified.  Consider shopping around so you can get the best terms, rates and fees.  You will need to gather the following for the lenders who will run a credit report and they will need the following to process the pre-approval letter:

    - 2 years of US tax returns and W-2 statements
    - Recent Pay stubs
    - Recent Statements of assets. (Checking, Savings, IRA, Stocks, etc.)
​

The information that you provide the bank  is private and need only be shared with your licensed mortgage officer.  When the letter is generated we can start to narrow down the properties that match your budget, without seeing your sensitive financial information.

Step 5.

Review the Purchase Contract​
Purchase Contract Sample (pdf)
The Purchase Contract is a long, complex document.  It is the vehicle by which most residential real estate transactions are conducted and many of the clauses and contingencies will determine the final timeline and purchase price.  Before you sign the PC, be sure that you understand the language. Check out our A-Z glossary for simple definitions of the arcane language and terms.  

Step 6.

​Discuss and Understand Dual Agency ​and its Impact on Your Representation
Dual Agency Agreement Sample (pdf)
We aim to represent your best interests as a Buyer’s agency.  There are some occasions when a Buyer might wish to buy one of our company’s listings.  In this case it is hard to act on both the Buyer’s and Seller’s behalf. If the listing is with our company, we may ask you use another agent within our company who has an arm’s length interest but we can’t in this case give the Buyer any information that might harm the already established relationship we have contractually with a Seller.  This is called Dual Agency, or "double ending the deal".
​

In this case, a Buyer would be treated as a “customer”.  In some special cases, we might refer you to another agency so that you are fully protected.  It is possible to represent both sides, with proper paper work signed that discloses this relationship, and with established boundaries so that you navigate to the  closing and keys. We can assist with the transaction, processing paperwork back and forth, coordinating with lenders, vendors and inspections. It is important that everything be upfront, and disclosed in a Dual Agency.

Step 7.

Review Typical Closing Costs for Buyers
Photo of a list of common closing costs for a Buyer, provided on behalf of Aloha Realty Group LLC

Step 8.

Begin to Liquidate Your Cash Funds
Cash funds are simply that.  Stocks that have been liquidated, CD’s that have matured, wired funds from family members, cashier’s checks that need time to clear.  It can take time for banks to complete wire transfers, or liquidated funds to be available.  Some buyers plan to sell collectibles or cars and this too can be time consuming.  Sellers will ask to verify cash funds as will lenders. Please plan accordingly.

Step 9.

Keep Your Credit Score in Check
Refrain from spending on a large item such as a car.  Don’t run up your credit cards or miss a credit
card/vendor payment.  This could affect your credit score and your loan pricing.
​

We can help you re-build your credit if needed.  Just let us know and we can guide you.

Step 10.

Increase Your Online Privacy
Change your social media privacy levels and refrain from posting on Facebook, etc., during the negotiation process.  It could work against you.  This is a small town.

Step 11.

Review of a Typical Escrow Timeline
Graphic for 'A timeline of typical Escrow' featured on ArgHawaii.com of Aloha Realty Group LLC, Buyer's Checklist

Step 12.

Shop for Home Insurance Quotes
If you have an insurance agent, please ask them to give you some rates based upon a typical home size and condition that is within your budget.  Shop around, and compare the quotes closely noting deductibles and values of your goods.  If you have special artwork or designer furniture you may want to discuss this with an agent to be sure you are covering the home adequately.  Most lenders require a hurricane policy. 
See www.cca.hawaii.gov for more information.
Liberty Mutual
98-211 Pali Momi St. Ste. #520

Aiea, HI  96701

1(888) 398-8924

GEICO
711 Kapiolani Blvd.  Ste. 300

Honolulu, HI  96813

1(808) 593-1010


Allstate
1259 Beretania St. Ste1

Honolulu, HI  

1 (808) 593-8844

Zepyhr Insurance Company
1001 Bishop St., Ste 2750

Honolulu, HI  96913

1 (808) 440-5400

See Our List of Service Providers

Step 13.

Shop for a Home Inspector
Try to be there, in person for the report.  The Home inspection will take place soon after your contract is accepted; the costs are based on size and square footage.  Prices range from $300 for condos to $1000 for large homes.  Our recommended Inspectors:
Grey Owl Property Inspections
1333 Parks Place
Honolulu, HI  96819
Ask for Steve Fierros
info@greyowlinspections.com
(808) 489-0789
Home Detectives LLC
Ask for Gary Hawley
gary@homedetectivesllc.com
(808) 282-7893
See Our List of Service Providers

Step 14.

Strategize Your Timing and Moving
Moving in and out of your home can be tricky.  Especially if the Seller is doing the same.  As you move to the end of the transaction and closing, it is important to create a moving day strategy that is realistic and fits the often tight timing considerations.  It can be hard to keep the deadlines if a lender is involved but it helps to have a plan.  Please share it with us as we are here to help you.

Give notice to your Landlord.  Usually 30 days is required or if a long term lease is involved you will need to a with them to see if you can cancel it without penalty.  If so, then it might be prudent to wait to buy until you are closer to the leases end. Ask about flexibility with your landlord just in case you need more time.

Moving companies usually charge by the hour and shipping is charged by weight.  In Hawai’i summer is a very busy time with many military families moving in and out so it pays to shop around for a mover who is flexible and available.

Some folks opt to stay in their old place for a bit so the overlap time can relieve the stress of coordinating a move so quickly.  By structuring the Purchase agreement around your personal story we can try to alleviate the pressure of Moving Day.

You may want to be downsizing too.  Take this time to consider the “joy” of each of your items and donate, dump or pack items ahead to save you the stress prior to the move.
MOVERS

Honolulu Movers
1888 Kalakaua Ave, C-312
Honolulu, HI  96815
Phone (808) 206-9817
honolulumovers@gmail.com
www.honolulumovers.company
Kona Trans, Kona Office
74-5039 A Queen Kaahumanu Hwy.
Kailua-Kona, HI  96740
Phone (808) 329-4111
www.konatrans.com
Kona Trans, Hilo Office
612 Kalanianaole Avenue
Hilo, HI  96720
​Phone (808) 935-4981
www.konatrans.com
Royal Hawaiian Moving
3017 Ualena Street
Honolulu, HI  96819
Phone (808) 833-1611
Matson, Inc.
1411 Sand Island Road
Honolulu, HI  96819
Phone (800) 462- 8766
www.matson.com
Young Brothers
1331 N. Nimitz Hwy.
Honolulu, HI  96813
Phone (808) 543-9311
www.htbyb.com​
DOWNSIZING

Goodwill
Various Locations
Phone (808) 836-0313
info@higoodwill.org
Salvation Army
Various Locations
Phone (808) 522-8400
Hawaii Locations
DE-CLUTTERING

Estate Liquidators
1126 12th Ave. Ste 105
Honolulu, HI  96816
Phone (808) 258-5431
Carol Moore
McClain’s Auction
PO Box 37274
Honolulu, HI  96837
Phone (808) 782-9922
mcclainsultimateattic@yahoo.com
See Our List of Service Providers

See Our A-Z Real Estate Glossary
Aloha Realty Group
​RB-22714
(808) 999-0237
alohainfo@arghawaii.com
Logo for Aloha Realty Group (arghawaii.com), owned by Kathy Ingoglia and Marisa Norfleet
Site by Hawaii Information Service
Contact Us
  • Home
  • Team
  • Buyers
  • Sellers
  • Properties
    • Property Search
    • Past Sales
    • Neighborhoods
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Real Estate Glossary
    • Service Providers
    • Pet Friendly Buildings
  • Rent