Buying Tips
How I Can Help You Buy a Home
Buying or selling a home involves making important financial and lifestyle decisions. Whether you are a first-time buyer or have owned your home for years, the process of buying and selling can be complicated. I am here to help! I will be with you every step of the way, guiding you through the entire process. I will help you navigate through comparable properties, weigh location advantages/disadvantages, and answer any questions you may have about the buying process.
My goal is give you the best and most accurate information to help you make the best possible informed decisions. I am also able to refer you to reliable mortgage brokers, real estate attorneys, home inspectors, movers, and more. Once you’ve found the home that’s right for you, I will guide you through the process of making an offer; negotiating the terms of the sale; getting your potential purchase inspected, repaired and appraised; and closing the sale.
HELPFUL TIPS:- Check your credit. A low credit score may hurt your chances for getting the best interest rate, or getting financing at all, so get a copy of your reports and know your credit scores. You can set up a free account at creditkarma.com to initially check and continuously monitor your scores for free. If you find mistakes on your report, contact the agencies directly to correct them right away as this can take two or three months to resolve. If the report is accurate but shows past problems, be prepared to explain them to a loan officer.
- Set your budget. Getting pre-approved by a lender is a critical first step, especially during times when real estate is in high demand. Your lender will look at your income, debt, and credit to recommend the best loan options for you and help you determine how much house can you afford. Not sure where to start? I have terrific local lenders I am happy to refer, just ask me!
- Make a list. How many bedrooms do you need? Is garage space important to you? Would a fireplace be nice? Make a list of the features you would like your new home to have, then categorize them as either “must haves” or “wants.” Taking the time to do this will help you prioritize your needs and will help me find the best property for you.
- Call me! Now for the fun part! I will set up a search based on your criteria and we will start the process of looking in person. I am always happy to do video showings if distance is a challenge or schedules are difficult to align. Real estate is my passion. I would love to help you find your perfect home!
Selling Tips
How I Can Help You Sell a Home
You don't need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does. We'll start by analyzing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to help determine your home’s value and discuss pricing strategies that best align with your goal, and I will give you recommendations to help you prepare your home for sale so it shows at its best.
Once we receive an offer, I will navigate the contract verbiage and negotiate on your behalf. Once we are in escrow, I will coordinate with the title company, agent, and buyer's lender to be sure things are on track and will close on time. I'll also deal with scheduling of inspections and will negotiate on your behalf for removing these contingencies so we can get to close. Communication is one of my strengths, and I will be keeping you informed throughout the entire process!
HELPFUL TIPS:
- Price it Right. Research shows that overpricing your home and then dropping the price several times while it sits untouched on the market usually leads to selling it at a much lower price than what you originally should have asked for it. I stay up to date on market trends and do the research for you. Together we will arrive at the best price to effectively list your house.
- Maximize Curb Appeal. First impressions are critical. Take the time to pull weeds, rake leaves and trim overgrown shrubs, especially if they block windows or the path to your front door. Make sure driveways and sidewalks are free of ice and snow in the winter. During warmer months, planting flowers or adding new sod can make a difference. A fresh coat of paint on the front door or a new mailbox are easy ways to add curb appeal.
- Make Repairs. It's worth the effort to fix things like leaky faucets, torn screens, and sticky drawers. Buyers tend to overestimate the cost and effort minor repairs might require. Taking care of the little details protects the perception of your home’s value.
- Lighten and Brighten. Maximize the light in your home by cleaning the windows, opening the drapes, dusting the lampshades, and make sure all light bulbs are working. If freshening up paint, use light, neutral colors. I'm happy to make recommendations if you need help choosing a color!
- Rearrange and Stage. Make sure your furniture placement allows for easy traffic flow and shows the purpose of each room. If you have too much furniture, consider renting a portable storage container to hold things until you are ready to move into your new place. Sometimes professional staging is the answer. We can discuss and determine the best plan for your home together.
- Organize and Declutter. Buyers want to envision themselves in the home, so remove personal touches such as photos and portraits. Pack up clutter and knickknacks to allow buyers to see more of the home and less of your stuff. Organize your closets and remove half of your clothes to give the impression of spacious amounts of storage.
- Clean. Clean every inch of your house, including windows and floors! If your carpet is old and stained, think about replacing it or having it professionally cleaned. Use air-fresheners that neutralize odors. Clean homes sell!
- Keep it ready to show. As difficult as it may be, it is very important to keep your home in show-worthy condition at all times. Each room should be clutter free, have a clear, functional purpose, and be clean. Opportunities for showings can present at any moment, and sometimes with only a small time frame to accommodate the showing. Until you have a signed contract in hand, always be ready to show.
