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Archive for the ‘Sellers’ Category
Interesting and Creative Ways to Sell Your Home
Now more than ever before, people are looking for things that grab their attention and stand out from all the rest. This is why while some selling tactics are still very useful it is important to think outside of the box and do something just a little different. It may seem odd or even risky to some people, but you would be surprised at just how well it might work. Here are some new interesting and creative ways to sell your home in today’s market.
Number of Views :46Tips for Marketing Your Home’s Walkability
Many people these days want to save money and time any way they can, especially with gas prices on the rise and people having to save as much as they can because of the rough economic times. This is why many home buyers are now looking for homes that are within walking distance of stores, banks, restaurants, parks, schools, and maybe even their job. Whether or not your house as high or low “Walkability” to a buyer can help determine how fast it might sell and how much it will sell for. Here are some tips to help market your home’s Walkability to buyers.
Ask your real estate agent for advice
As your agent, it is their job to know what buyers are looking for and what they want and need. They will be able to provide you with ideas on how best to market your home and it’s “Walkability” to possible buyers. They are a great first resource.
Take a walk from your home to shops, restaurants, parks and more
There are many websites out there these days that can tell someone how far away something is, but many of the websites do not tell you if the path for walking there with smooth or if there were bumps or construction along the way. If you actually take the walk, you can make a note of these things as you walk and tell possible buyers about it.
Take pictures of the walk
This will show possible buyers how easy the walk was, how the neighborhood looked, how many street signs and crosswalks were available and much more. In this case a picture can really give you as a seller the edge by actually providing a buyer with what they want to see.
Note the noise level and other surroundings and post this when marketing your home
If people are going to be walking to many more places than before, they not only want the walk to be easy but enjoyable as well. If you pay attention and write down the noise level in certain areas, pollution, the scenery and much more, this can help these walks seem more appealing to buyers.
Be specific but do not overdo it
It is important to be specific in your “Walkability” details, but do not over do it by making the buyer read a novel. They will get bored quickly especially when searching online and will move on to something that gives the same information with fewer words.
Many people are trying to stay fit and also care about the environment by using cars less. Also, many people just want shops and restaurants to be as convenient as possible. The more details you have about your home’s “Walkability”, the better it will do on the market now and the future.
Number of Views :92Tips for Hiring the Right Moving Company
When you have finally found the right house for you, the moving process begins. There is much to do and consider but one thing that most everyone worries about is finding the right moving company to help you. After all, you want all your personal belongings and possession to arrive with you safely at your new home and not have to worry about them. Here are some tips for hiring the right moving company, so you can rest easier and enjoy your move more.
Ask your real estate agent for advice
Real estate agents obviously see many people move from place to place every day. They are an excellent resource for helping you find the right moving company for you. They may have some ideas for you or can put you in touch with a company themselves.
Make sure movers have a license, insurance and experience
It is important to make sure the moving company you hire not only are well recommended but that they have licenses to move your items, insurance in case anything may happen and plenty of experience in moving personal items. This way if you have problems with the movers you will know who to contact and you can find out how things will be handled.
Do your homework
Research the moving company thoroughly to make sure it is a legitimate business with a high standing and well respected. After all, you do not want to fall victim to a scam and lose your money and possibly your personal items as well. You can check it out online and with your real estate agent.
Speak with the moving company before hiring
It is a good idea to speak with the company before hiring them. Ask about how their moving process works, what insurance options they may offer, what happens if items go missing, and more. If you are not comfortable with the movers or they seem really desperate do not hire them.
Consider Costs
Think about how much the mover will charge you to move all your stuff from your old home to your new one. Find out if there are additional fees for moving to certain locations or what it is included in the cost. Make sure to get everything in writing and read it carefully before hiring any company.
Hiring the right moving company can help make your move to your new home more enjoyable and less stressful for everyone. It can help you feel safe and secure that your personal items are in good hands. This way you can focus more on packing and the other parts of the moving process and get settled in safely.
Number of Views :132How to Make a Buyer Hate Your Home
Buyers tend to have an idea of what they want in a new home. They also usually have an even stronger idea of what they definitely don’t want.
1. Strong odors. On a hot and humid summer day, any lingering smell can be overwhelming. Make sure the garbage has been recently taken out, the fridge is clean, the laundry is done, and any other unpleasant odors have been taken care of. Remember that an odor doesn’t have to be unpleasant to be overwhelming; don’t spray room freshener or apply perfume or cologne right before showing your house.
2. Damp basement. A damp smell in the basement will make buyer think that the home has a problem with flooding, and that’s a problem no buyer wants to tackle. Even if the problem is caused by something else, the buyer isn’t going to know that. Use products meant to remove extra moisture from the air, and figure out what is causing the problem. Then get it fixed.
3. Busy wallpaper. When your showing your home, clutter is bad. It distracts the buyer when they should be looking at the home itself, not your belongings. Busy wallpaper creates the same problem. It’s distracting. Replace it with something calmer.
4. Bugs. It’s that time of year. The weather warms up, and bugs try to come flocking into your home. It’s bad enough when you’re not trying to sell your home, but when a potential buyer sees ants scurrying around the kitchen, they probably won’t want to buy your home. Ditto if the fleas your dog brought in are biting them on the ankles the whole time they’re viewing the home. Call in a professional to get the problem taken care of before you show your home.
5. No curb appeal. You should make sure buyers are impressed with your home from the moment they pull up to the curb. Plant some flowers, paint your home, and do whatever it takes to make the first impression count.
6. Too hot or too cold. Summer is coming, and in Central NY, that means it’s going to get hot and humid. If your home is uncomfortably hot, buyers aren’t going to be thinking about how nice your kitchen is. They’re going to be concentrating on how horrible they feel. Turn up the AC, get some quiet fans going and, if it’s really hot, have some lemonade or ice water waiting for buyers when they arrive.
7. Not leaving the home. When buyers are viewing your home, you shouldn’t be there. It’s going to make them uncomfortable. Go out to the park, grab some dinner, or visit friends. It will make the buyers more willing to really check out the home, making them more willing to buy.
Number of Views :208How to Stop a Foreclosure
When you bought your home, it wasn’t with the intention of not paying for it.
Due to circumstances often beyond their control, a lot of home owners have been facing foreclosures in the past year. Job loss, divorce, a death in the family, unexpected increase in other financial responsibilities, and more can lead to a sudden change in financial circumstances. When you can no longer afford your mortgage payment, what can you do to stop a foreclosure?
The first step is to contact your lender, immediately. Don’t wait until you miss a payment. You may be able to work out a forbearance agreement with the lender, allowing you time to make up missed payments through an affordable repayment plan separate from your current mortgage payments. You may also be able to spread out missed payments, added to your monthly mortgage, to make up the missing amount over the course of a year or so.
Another option is to talk to your lender about changing the terms of your loan, especially if you have an adjustable mortgage. He may be able to freeze, or even reduce, your current rate to make payments more manageable. Another potential option, if you have a lender that is very willing to work with you, is to reduce payments by increasing the years you will be repaying your mortgage. There is a better chance of this option being accepted if you have a strong repayment history over the course of several years. If you are just starting a 30 year loan, your lender may be less likely to consider extending the time you have to repay. However, if you have a 15 year loan, or only 15 years left on your loan, your lender may be willing to tack on a few more years, decreasing the monthly payment amount.
If none of these are an option, you do have a few other possible ways to stop a foreclosure. The first way is to simply sell your home before you fall behind. Find a real estate agent, and move into a home that is more affordable, or even rent for a while until you are back on your feet again. If your home is heading towards a default, consider a short sale. Lenders will often agree to the possibility of a short sale, because it prevents them from having to go through the hassle and expense of a foreclosure.
The last option is to sign a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. You sign your home over to the bank in exchange for getting out of the mortgage without a major ding to your credit score.
If you cannot prevent a foreclosure, you’re certainly not alone. There were just over 2.8 million foreclosures last year. The most important thing to remember is to keep making as many regular payments as you can, to prevent unnecessary damage to your credit score. For most people, the foreclosure itself won’t cause nearly as much damage to their credit score as the months of multiple missed payments will. Repair your credit score, and move on. You can always buy a new home once your finances (and credit) have improved.
Number of Views :141Home Inspection Tips for Sellers
Buyers know the importance of having a home inspected before they buy it. As a seller, you should know what to expect during the home inspection, and have your home ready.
A home inspector looks in several main areas. This includes:
- Structure
- Roof
- Attic and Basement
- Plumbing
- Grounds and Exterior
- Electric
- Heating/AC
- Interior
On the day of the inspection, make sure the inspector is able to access every area of the home. This often includes clearing out storage items from attics, basements and garages until after the inspection. Be sure to replace any blown bulbs in the home, to allow for easier viewing. If there are areas that do not have built-in lighting, such as attics or parts of the basement, have an extension cord work light or other portable light source handy. Most home inspectors should have their own light source available, but it is better to be prepared, just in case.
Pets should be restrained during the time of the home inspection, especially if they aren’t friendly towards strangers or if your pet is not allowed outside. If there is a radon test being performed, follow the guidelines for the test. Keep windows closed, ventilation fans off, and ACs covered for the 12 hours leading up to the test. For more specific guidelines, visit the EPA’s Radon Testing site.
Don’t try to cover up problems with the home, and don’t try to persuade the inspector, or seller, about the condition the home is in. Misrepresentation of the home’s condition could cause a lot of problems down the road; it’s better to be upfront and honest. The inspection is the wrong time to try to negotiate with the seller; worry about that step later when you have the assistance of your Syracuse real estate agent.
Although it may take a while, you should eventually get to view a copy of the inspection report. Most often, the seller’s agent will send a copy to your real estate agent.
Number of Views :206What do Closing Costs Include?
Closing costs often seem like the big question mark of buying a home. It’s a phrase that is used often, by banks, real estate agents and everyone else involved in the sale of a home, but many buyers don’t know exactly what they are, or what they include.
Closing costs are all of the fees, payments and other costs that need to be paid before a home is actually yours. They can add up quickly, so make sure you ask your lender for an estimate well before closing day. Some banks offer no-closing-cost loans, where the extra costs are added to your mortgage, usually with an extra fee or higher interest rate attached.
Closing costs may include:
- Home appraisal
- Attorney’s fees
- Title insurance
- First year insurance premiums (Private mortgage, Home Owner’s, and flood/earthquake, if applicable)
- Recording and transfer charges
- Survey
- Pest Inspection report
- Escrow account fee
- Origination Fee
When lenders receive your mortgage application, they have three days to send you a full list of possible fees and other disclosures (both federal and state). Before closing, they have to send you an itemized good faith estimate of your actual closing costs. Although this number can be slightly different from the final total cost, new requirements limit how many changes a lender can make, and how much those changes can add up to.
When you meet with your lender, ask about the closing cost fees you can expect to pay, and for an explanation of what each closing fee is and what it is used for. You might also want to ask how to fee amount is calculated. For example, the origination fee (used to cover the cost of evaluating, preparing and filing the loan paperwork) is usually a percentage of the total mortgage.
Closing costs can be confusing. Fortunately, both your Syracuse real estate agent and your lender can answer any questions you may have and can help make the final steps of buying your new home a breeze.
Number of Views :138Why Would a Home Seller Drop Their Price?
When a home owner is preparing to sell their home, they usually aren’t worried about what will happen if their home is still on the market a year from now, or what they will do when the only offers they get are for much less than their asking price.
If you’re ready to sell your home, you’re probably optimistic that you will be able to find a buyer that will love and care for the home the same way you have, and who will be willing to pay what you think the home is worth. Not many enter into home selling expecting it to turn into a long or complicated process, or expecting to have to significantly lower their asking price to get their home to sell.
Unfortunately, sellers have had to adjust their prices with an increasing frequency. The most common reason for this is that the home was overpriced for the current market. In a strong real estate market, for example, a particular home might be worth $225,000. With the current real estate market, the home is worth less, maybe only $215,000. If the seller is trying to get the original market price, the home may not sell. If the home does not compare to similarly priced homes, buyers will probably purchase the nicer property.
Another reason to lower the price is that the seller is on a deadline. If the home isn’t selling fast enough, a seller might need to consider reducing your asking price. Maybe they’ve already purchased another home, and they need to sell their current property before they can move. Maybe they can’t afford the mortgage payments, or there are repairs they can’t afford to tackle on their own.
If a seller has had several offers for their home, but they have all fallen through, they might consider lowering the price. If buyers think that they are getting a bargain, they might be more inclined to follow through and purchase the home. If there has been very little interest in the home, that might be another reason to rethink the listing price.
When you contact a Syracuse real estate agent, he’ll work with you to help you set a fair price for your property based on the current market conditions. The chances of your home sitting on the market, if it is priced competitively, are minimal. Most homes do sell for close to the original asking price. If your home is not selling, it might be time to ask your agent if price might be a factor.
Number of Views :118Short Sale Tips for Success
Right now because the housing market is not doing the greatest, short sales are being encouraged by the Obama administration because this will help homeowners that are in trouble. This may also be good for a buyer though because they may be able to afford a home in a location that they may have not been able to afford before. However, short sales can be tricky because of approval from the lender and many short sales may fall through. Here are some tips on making sure your short sale is a success.
Ask your real estate agent for advice
As your real estate agent they are experienced in handling all kinds of sales including short sales. It is important that you listen to them and take any advice they may be able to offer. Also, it may be a good idea if the real estate agent goes with you when you talk with your lender.
Add up the costs of selling your property
This may mean the costs of using a real estate agent, the costs to the lender, and the costs for closing on the sale. It is important to know this amount because it is important to figure out if selling your home would really be worth it or not, especially in this economy.
Determine amount owed against the property
This will mean adding up all the loans and payments you have had to make for the house. Then you should add up the amount owed and the costs of selling and see how much this is. For short sales, this is usually a negative number.
Contact your lender
Let your lender know that you are thinking about a short sale and see if you are able to be approved. Also, it is important to ask your lender about the procedures they use for the short sale process. Some lenders will work things out with you and other lenders like to use the agent to see about any concessions they may need to be made.
Sell the home
This is where you go through the closing process, giving fees to your lender and or the real estate agent. Hopefully, this process will get rid of some of your debt problems and you can look forward to a brighter future.
Many people these days are facing foreclosure because they owe more than their homes may be worth. Foreclosures however, go on your record and dramatically reduce your credit score. This makes it hard to get a job, a new place to live and apply for financial assistance in the future. This is why now more than ever more short sales are being encouraged. This way many homeowners can get out of debt and move on to better and brighter things in the future.
Number of Views :106Showing with Style
When a home buyer picks out the perfect home, it isn’t usually because it meets their checklist of criteria. It’s because the home appeals to them on an emotional level. They look at the home, and see something more than three bedrooms, two baths and a deck. They see a home they want to live in. Your job as a seller is to make your home that home.
That means you have to go past clean and uncluttered. You even have to go a bit past basic staging. Start by creating a welcoming entrance. Set out a plate of cookies or a bowl of candy for buyers to enjoy. If you are still home, don’t ask buyers to remove their shoes, do invite them to take their time, and then leave. They won’t feel comfortable opening closet doors or talking about the home with you standing there watching them.
Make sure the home is comfortable. If it’s cold enough to need a sweater, turn up the heat a few degrees. If it’s warm, turn on the AC. If the temperature is especially hot or cold, make sure your home is extra comfortable– buyers will be encouraged to stay a little longer, looking around while they enjoy the break from the weather. Another part of making the home more enjoyable is to make sure your home smells nice, but is not so overly scented that people with allergies or a sensitive sense of smell are uncomfortable. Stick with natural scents. A lightly scented candle or two, the lingering scent of baked cookies or bread, or opening the windows during the summer to let in fresh air.
Showcase the best parts of the home. Set up a grill and patio set on the deck or in the back yard, put up a comfortable front porch swing, with cushions, or decorate the master bathroom to make it an oasis, with displayed candles and soft music playing.
Use windows to your advantage. Open them to let in both light and fresh air. Use curtains made from a lighter, see-through fabric, instead of heavy drapes. However, if you have windows that overlook a less-than-scenic part of the yard or neighborhood, leave the blinds partially closed to avoid drawing attention to that area. In rooms with less natural light, use extra floor lamps to brighten the room. Make sure all of the lights are turned on throughout the home, including appliance and closet lights, to make everything easy to see. You should also leave all doors open, at least a little, to invite buyers to look around.
Leave helpful notecards. For example. if the basement stairs are steep, tape up a note asking guests to watch their steps. If you have a stove or other appliance with special features, leave a brief note explaining what those features are.
Taking these extra steps aren’t necessary, but they can help your home to stand out from the crowd of other homes a buyer will probably be seeing. By providing buyers with an image of your home at it’s very best, they’ll be more likely to picture themselves living in, and loving, the home themselves.
Number of Views :102