Answers by Emily Matthews

You can't just "rip up a contract." There has to be a paper trail indicating it is canceled, so either ask for a cancellation & mutual release, or have him amend the listing contract to end right away. If there are issues, escalate to the broker.

If it was a Buyer Agency Agreement, then yes. If it was a Pre-agency or Showing agreement that's not an actual contract, all that means is they can open doors to let you see homes. In WI we have different options. I tell people to sign what I call the "door-opener" form, and then we talk about Buyer Agency later. Yes, it's siging 2 forms, but they have a chance to meet me and see some houses before signing BA.

Square footage is officially determined by the assessor of the taxing municipality. This is the legal sq footage. It can be broken down into above grade and below grade in the records, but isn't always. Appraisers have measuring wheels which they run round the exterior of the house to obtain their measurements. Attached garages are not considered part of the GLA (gross living area).

Each state should have a list of appraisers. Find one that knows your market.

A market analysis will provide comps that are similar in style, sq footage, and age. E.g. you can't use a ranch built in 2015 as a comp for a remodeled 1960 ranch because the age difference is huge.

Get pre-approved. And don't just go by the amount the lender tells you; work out what a comfortable monthly payment would be, and ask the lender to calculate from that. That way you know what your price point is.