Make sure your home is easy to show!
To get your home sold quickly, it’s important that other agents in the area show it to as many potential buyers as possible. The first thing a good agent will do when working with buyers is talk to the buyer and learn what kind of home they are looking for. Then the agent will search all the available homes for those most closely matching what the buyer wants. Next, the agent puts together a list of the best matches to go show to the buyer. When a busy agent is compiling a list of homes to show a buyer, the agent will naturally tend to show those houses that are easiest to gain access to first. Many homes on the market have “lock boxes” on them. The lock box is a device which holds a key to the home, that only qualified local agents can access. Homes that are listed as being “lock box, no appointment needed” will get shown more often than homes listed as “agent has key, call for appointment”. If at all possible, you should let your agent put a lock box on your home for easier showing.
If you can’t do a lock box, you need to be sure that you make it as convenient and easy as possible for other agents to show your home. If they call, do whatever you have to do to accommodate letting them show your home to buyers on their schedule. If you don’t, the agent will probably show the buyer other homes, and if that buyer makes an offer on one of them, you’ve just lost a great opportunity.
It’s best if you can leave when the agent and buyer arrive to see your home. Buyers won’t feel comfortable with you there, and it could sour an otherwise good impression.
Winterizing Your Home
Whether you are buying or selling a home, you should have a professional home inspection performed.
A home inspection will look at the systems that make up the building such as:
If you are buying a home, you need to know exactly what you are getting. A home inspection, performed by a professional home inspector, will reveal any hidden problems with the home so that they may be addressed BEFORE the deal is closed. You should require an inspection at the time you make a formal offer. Make sure the contract has an inspection contingency. Then, hire your own inspector and pay close attention to the inspection report. If you aren't comfortable with what he finds, you should kill the deal.
Likewise, if you are selling a home, you want to know about such potential hidden problems before your house goes on the market. Almost all contracts include the condition that the contract is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory inspection. And most buyers are going to insist that the inspection be a professional home inspection, usually by an inspector they hire. If the buyer's inspector finds a problem, it can cause the buyer to get cold feet and the deal can often fall through. At best, surprise problems uncovered by the buyer's inspector will cause delays in closing, and usually you will have to pay for repairs at the last minute, or take a lower price on your home.
It's better to pay for your own inspection before putting your home on the market. Find out about any hidden problems and correct them in advance. Otherwise, you can count on the buyer's inspector finding them, at the worst possible time. Old Man Winter is settling in for a long chilly season. Before the temperatures dip too far south, follow these simple guidelines to winterize your home and save money on utilities.
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5 Tips you should know about Short Sales
1.Real Estate Agent
Qualify a good agent that knows both the market area and the process.
There is nothing more crucial to finding a good deal than having an agent that is experienced to help you qualify how good the deal is.
Look for advanced training
Mortgage knowledge
Do they have a strong network with other agents?
2. Make sure your affairs are in order sooner than later.
Though the process can take longer than anticipated once a bank makes a decision they give tight time lines as short as 2 weeks! Hurry up and Wait…ring a bell.
3. Contractors- make sure you have lined more than one up or your agent has reputable companies to help you in evaluating the cost of repairs. Often you will need to furnish 2 bids to a lender and why wouldn’t you; it’s to your advantage!
4. Title- this is a no brainer- do your homework, there are titles that look just fine only to find out that that with some digging the deal was better left alone.
5. It’s just business- Yes we all become emotional when we get attached. The key is to look at the home as a business deal. Always look at the numbers and let them do the talking. If you don’t you may buy a home based on its kitchen and though it may have cost $40,000 it won’t resell your investment on your love of it.
Angela
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