Sellers

When you put up your house for sale, you will come across different people – both pleasing and difficult to deal with. You will be meeting potential buyers, unqualified buyers, agents and unknown vendors. There is an unwritten protocol to how sellers, buyers and their respective agents interact. If you are having a hard time dealing with people, let your agent know so they could help you solve the problem.

• The aggressive agentWhen you hire an agent, they become the primary contact person with regards to the sale of the house. But there are some cases when the buyer’s agent tries to contact you directly. Do not negotiate with them directly especially if you do not have much knowledge in terms of real estate. They might take advantage of this or they probably do not want your agent to be part of the deal. This is not the right way to do business. Inform your agent if this happens.
• The unscrupulous vendorWhen you put your house on the market, there is chance you’ll get tons of junk mail.  Some companies find ways to use information on MLS and bombard you with junk mail. If this happens to you, let your agent know so he or she can get in touch with appropriate organizations.
• The naïve buyerWhen you start to market your home, expect some buyers to simply drop by without an appointment. You might be tempted to show them around but even if they are nice and easy to talk to, you might not be able to handle the situation well. you might get carried away with the easy conversation and discolse information that might compromise your house. If this happens, talk to them politely and refer them to your agent. Give them your agent’s number and tell them that your agent will gladly arrange a tour for them.

During the holiday season we think about a lot of things – family, food, decors, parties, shopping. Selling your house is probably not on the top of your list at this time. But the holidays actually be a good oppotunity to show your home to potential buyers. A home adorned with Christmas decors and lights add to its appeal.
 

Here are some important things to keep in mind as you prepare your home:

• The first things that buyers will see is the exterior of your house. This is why curb appeal is vital. If it’s snowing in your area, clear the walkway, path and stairs.
• Put holiday lights outside. They exude holiday cheer and show pride in ownership. But don’t overdo it because they can only be enjoyed at night. Unless potential buyers visit your home at night, they won’t be able to see it.
• Trim trees outside your home. You wouldn’t want to risk having someone get hurt or the house damaged because a branch fell because of strong winds.
• Put a pretty holiday welcome mat outside the frnt door.
• Clear the outdoor area. Put away bicycles, scooters, toys etc.
• Hang a cheerful wreath on the front door.
• Play holiday music softly to add to the effect.
• Set a cozy and warm feel. Adjust the thermostat to a comfortable level.
• Light the fireplace. But never levae it unattended.
• The holiday decor won’t be complete without a tree. Pick the tree carefully. Make sure it’s the right size for your house or living room. If you pick a tree too big, the living room will look small or crammed if you put it wth other furniture.
• Don’t overdo the decors. Potential buyers might be overwhelmed if you put too many that the house might look cluttered. Remember, your goal is to sell the house, not the decors.
• If you’re expecting buyers for viewing in the evening, make sure your agent knows which decors and lights to turn on. And if you don’t plan to be back home soon after the viewing, make sure the agent turns everything off to avoid untoward incidents.
• Bake holiday treats often. It will leave an enticing smell.
• Don’t forget your security. Remind your agent to turn back on your home security after your house had been shown.

Remember that the holiday decors should just accent your home and not overpower it. What’s important is that you’ll create a sense of love, joy and warmth.

Self-move means that you take care of packing and coordinating with people who can help you move your things to your new place. Since you have to take care of all these on your own, it can be overwhelming. Below is a list of things you’ll need to think about when you’re considering self-moving along with tips you might find very helpful.

• Moving truck – find one that’s as big as your need.Be prepared to drive the truck that you rent. Study the truck and its controls. Just because you can drive a car doesn’t mean you can drive a truck just as easy. They are bigger and heavier so they should be driven slowly and carefully. Braking distances are longer and they have large blind spots. Some trucks do not have power steering and power brakes and automatic transmission may not be available.
• Towing a vehicle – When you rent a truck, let the company know that you will tow a vehicle. Give them details like the make and model of the vehicle so the comoany can provide you with a truck that’s most appropriate for it.
• Dollies and Pads – they can protect your appliances and furnitures from friction and bumps. Straps are also necessary to keep your load in place. Refrain from using bungee cables. You might need to use hand trucks to move big and heavy things.
• Fuel – It’s a wise idea to refuel the truck before bringing it back. If you don’t, the rental company will charge you for the gas you used and usually it is more costly.
• Packing supplies – boxes, tape, bags. These things add up and will cost much when you buy everything at once. You might find it easier to gradually accumulate them. Rental facilities and package stores have them available.
• Reservations and Deposits – When you have finalized the date of your move, reserve the rental truck so you can be sure it’s available when you need it. Usually rental companies require a deposit.
• Rental Insurance Protection – Most insurance companies do not cover your things while you’re moving. Verify this information with your current insurance agent. Ask the self-move dealer or the rental company what protection they could offer you. When you pick up the paperwork for the truck, review to see if the rental protection is included there.

When you pick up the truck, the dealer should be able to show you everything you need to know about it. Ask questions if anything is unclear. Keep all the receipts and paperwork relating to your move like rental, gas, food and lodging expense. You might need them, especially if your move is required by your employer. 

There are many good ways to invest in real estate. Hopefully you got some of your insight from us. 

There are a lot of mistakes sellers can get into when they put up their house for sale. There was a seller in Virginia who had a half bath that was originally placed at the front of his house. He thought that it would be better if it was moved to the back of the main level. All the other similar models had the powder room in the same place for the past 20 years. It cost him thousands of dollars to move it, thinking it will get his house off the market sooner, but it didn’t. It became an expensive mistake.

Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide to Selling a Home,” points out seven costly mistakes that sellers often make with regards to selling their home. In my business, I’ve seen each one of these mistakes played out and it just makes me shake my head as to why, sellers forge ahead with unwise strategies, instead of listening to the voice of an experienced professional, he says.

Sid Davis, real estate broker and author of the book “A Survival Guide to Selling a Home,” points out seven costly mistkaes that sellers make with regards to selling their home. In my business, I’ve seen each one of these mistakes played out and it just makes me shake my head as to why, sellers forge ahead with unwise strategies, instead of listening to the voice of an experienced professional, he said.

• Mistake 1: Putting your home on the market before it’s ready. This usually happens because the seller is in a hurry to sell the house or the seller did not prepare early. And so, repainting is done while the house is shown. Or possible buyers view the house with a carpet that obviously needs to be replaced already. Presentation is vital. Prepare the home before putting it up for sale.
• Mistake 2: Over-improving the house for the neighborhood. Don’t make additions, bump-outs and upgrades that will make the house stand out from among its competition in a way that it becomes an anomaly rather than a good addition to the community.
• Mistake 3: Pricing the home based on what the seller wants to earn net. This is a bad pricing motivation. The sale price is dependent on the market climate and not on what the seller wants. Sellers can control the asking price but not the sales price.
• Mistake 4: Choosing an agent based on non-business factors. If you want to sell your house fast and with good terms, choose an agent because of their good track record, not because they’re your relative or friend.
• Mistake 5: Getting emotionallhy involved in the sale of the house. This is one of the biggest challenges that sellers face. When you decide to sell your home, you’ll need to think of your home as a commodity – prepare it as a commodity, market it as a commodity, and price it as a commodity. Many potential buyers will go to your house and scrutinize it. Don’t feel bad, they are only judging it based on their preferences.
• Mistake 6: Covering up or not disclosing problems. Most states have a property disclosure/disclaimer form. You can be sued for a leaky basement or wiring problems discovered 30 days after settlement.
• Mistake 7: Not getting your ducks lined up before you sell. This means getting your financing ready, making sure there’s no pre-payment penalties on your mortgage, monitoring your local market. If according to local market, you sell first before buying or vice vers, do the same.

Don’t fear making these mistakes. There are actually things you can do to avoid them. Learn from professionals who made resources like this for you to learn from.

If you want to sell your home in the soonest time at a good price, you need to make your house look attractive and interesting to buyers. Here are twenty sure-fire tips to do this:

Preparation

• The first thing you need to take care of is the outside since this is the first thing that potential buyers see. The lawn must be trimmed and free from clutter. Walks and s]teps should be clean from ice, snow and debris. The fron door needs to be clean and make the entry look inviting.
• Faded paint and worn out wood makes your house look old and cheap. Spending on a new wallpaper will be worth your money. Take time and effort to redecorate your house and you’ll sell your house at a good price.
• Bright and sunny rooms add to the charm. So open the curtains and let the sun shine in. It’s cost free but can do a lot of wonders.
• Do all the necessary repairs – Loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers and other minor.
• Make your attic basement, and other utility space look bigger by removing storage bins. Painting the walls with a light color can brighten the mood and make them look more spacious.
• Ensure safety. Take away any clutter that can cause injury, especially in the stairs.
• Make closets, cabinets, shelves and cupboards look spacious by arranging things neatly.
• Bathrooms should look clean and bright. And the faucets should be working.
• Make the bedrooms look neat, beautiful and relaxing. Use attractive bedspreads and newly washed curtains.
• Make sure all the lights in the house are working. Turn on all the lights for an evening tour. It will give potential buyers a feel of glowing warmth.

Showing

• Avoid having too many people in the house during house tours or inspection. This will make the buyer feel like an intruder.
• Music helps. But make sure it’s soft and mellow. The agent should be able to converse easily with the buyers.
• If you have pets, make sure they are not in the way.
• Be polite and accomodating but don’t force conversation. Maybe the buyer needs space to think or just take everything in.
• Never apologize for the appearance of your home. Leave it to your agent to answer inquiries or objections.
• Just stay in the sidelines. Your agent is trained and experienced in doing this. They will know how to emphasize the positive features of your house. And allow your agent to discuss price, terms, possession and other petinent factors. They are qualified to bring negotiations to a favorable conclusion.
• Don’t dispose of furniture and furnishings before a buyer has bought the house.
• Show your home to prospective buyers only by appointment through your agent. They could handle the tour better as professionals and can sell your house more quickly.