Buying Tips
Here's How I Can Help You Buy a Home
When you work with me, you will:- Be more likely to find the home that meets all your criteria
- Lessen the amount of time it will take to find your home
- Understand all the terms, processes and documents used when buying your home
- Have up-to-date market information that will allow you to make informed decisions
- Have a skilled negotiator working on your behalf, one who is committed to looking after your best interests
- Enjoy peace of mind, knowing that all the details of your purchase are being taken care of by an experienced and knowledgeable professional
- Know your numbers. Review your income and how much you spend on rent and how much is left for cars, insurance, credit cards, student loans, groceries, haircuts, clothing and spending money for entertainment and savings
- Once you’ve decided you can afford it based on your figures, call a few real estate agents, no more than three, in the area you wish to live and interview them on their service with first time buyers. Don’t commit to an appointment and let them know you will get back to them if you chose to move forward. Review the interviews and determine who will best serve your needs and provide quality service meeting them. Here are some important questions to ask the agents:
- How long have you been in the real estate business?
- Where do you do most of your business, areas?
- What percentage of your business is working with buyers and why?
- Are there special loan programs for first time home buyers or special programs to assist with down payment/closing costs paid by the lender or agency?
- Do you have loan officers you work with that has been successful in assisting first time buyers or who have special loan programs?
- What time of day and days are you available to show homes?
- Do you have designations for additional education? If so, which ones?
- Can you give me a few names of past clients who will act as a reference for your service?
- Do you use technology with your business? (cell phone with text and email, email, websites, electronic signature systems and more)
- Why should I use you to assist me in buying a home?
- Once you've decided on the agent, set a initial appointment to review the forms, what you want in a home, price and location and why it’s important to you to meet specific needs.
- Before that initial appointment with the agent, request the agent to provide a few loan officers with their contact information so you may talk with them and see who best meets your needs, ask them similar questions and more about the loan programs they offer. Until you decide which loan officer you wish to work with don’t give them your birth date or social security number, you don’t want every loan officer running your credit until you decide who you want doing your loan. Once you’ve decided, ask them to provide a prequalification and run your credit. This will help you and the agent when looking at properties. A prequalified buyer is gold and helps your ability to get a contract accepted by a seller if other offers are presented on the same home. It will also let you know if your expectations are realistic for the home you want.
Selling Tips
Here's how I Can Help You Sell a Home
By working with me, you will:- Be more likely to realize the highest return on the sale of your home if that is important to you.
- Reduce the number of days your home is on the market.
- Become familiar with all the terms, processes and paperwork involved in selling your home.
- Have confidence that your home will enjoy exposure to more buyers and agents with qualified buyers.
- Receive regularly updated market information that will enable you to make informed decisions.
- Have a skilled negotiator working on your behalf.
- Have peace of mind knowing that all the details of your sale are being handled properly by a licensed and trained professional.
Paint is the least expensive thing you can do to make your home look new again
HOUSE HINTS
We live in a home to live in it and live in a home to sell it in two different ways
- Unclutter – clear all countertops & fridge • Turn all the lights on • Open the curtains or shades on windows • Empty closets and make them guest ready • Put away ashtrays • Put away animal dishes and bowls
- Pleasant aromas or fragrance (boil cinnamon or potpourri, bake cookies, use plug-ins!)
- Turn on low background music (light instrumental or jazz) • Make sure home is cool in summer and warm in the winter • Set out goodies when you know a agent is coming by, on Open House days and on Office Tour Days.
- Be sure lawn is cut and shrubs manicured • Repair any roof damage • Pool should be skimmed and vacuumed • Paint where needed
- As buyers approach your property the first time, impressions are formed quickly. •Paint house - this can do more for sales appeal than any other factor. •Yard - Remove all toys, garbage, garden tools and other items from view. •Mow lawn and keep edged. •Close garage doors. •Put colorful flowers in front of house.
- Put new paint on the front door. •Buy a new door mat. •Buyers take a close look at the basement of a home. They will look for bad wiring, leaky pipes and signs of decay. •Clean out basement and dispose of everything you are not going to move. •Ensure that there is plenty of lighting. •Sweep or vacuum floor. •Stack items neatly against walls.
- Put a vase of fresh flowers on the table. •Replace curtains or clean existing ones. •Remove appliances from counters. •Create a pleasant fragrance in the kitchen (i.e. vanilla, cinnamon).
- Install a new shower curtain and replace worn throw rugs. •Polish all fixtures. •Open windows. •Hang bright, fresh towels. •Remove stains from toilets and bathtubs. •Use air freshener. •Display colorful soaps.
- Clean out the fireplace and place logs in it. •Polish all woodwork. •Put big furniture in storage so rooms are not cluttered or crowded.
