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Increasing your home’s appeal
Remember the 60-second rule: That's all the time you have to create a winning first impression. Here are some simple to significant ways to maximize your home's appeal. Exterior * Keep the grass cut and remove all yard clutter.* Weed and apply fresh mulch to...
Understanding the buyer
As the seller, you can control three factors that will affect the sale of your home: The home's conditionAsking priceMarketing strategy However, it's important to note that there are numerous other factors that influence a buyer, and you need to understand these...
Practicing good seller’s etiquette
Let's face it: When your house goes on the market, you're not only opening the door to prospective buyers, but also sometimes to unknown vendors and na?ve or unqualified buyers. As with any business transaction, there is an expected protocol to how sellers, buyers and...
How to price to sell and still make a profit
The asking price you set for your home significantly affects whether you will profit in the sale, how much you will profit and how long your home will sit on the market. Your real estate agent's knowledge of the overall market and what's selling - or not selling -...
10 Questions to Ask Your Realtor about Selling a House
Are you a full-time professional real estate agent? How long have you worked full time in real estate? How long have you been representing buyers? What professional designations do you have?Knowing whether or not your agent practices full time can help you determine...
Eight steps to selling your home
Define your needs. Write down all the reasons for selling your home. Ask yourself, "Why do I want to sell and what do I expect to accomplish with the sale?" For example, a growing family may prompt your need for a larger home, or a job opportunity in another city may...
Eight important questions to ask your agent
Qualifications are important. However, finding a solid, professional agent means getting beyond the resume, and into what makes an agent effective. Use the following questions as your starting point in hiring your licensed, professional real estate agent: Why did you...
How can a real estate agent help me?
Seven main roles of your real estate agent A Buyer's Real Estate Agent: Educates you about your market.Analyzes your wants and needs.Guides you to homes that fit your criteria.Coordinates the work of other needed professionals.Negotiates on your behalf.Checks and...
Opting for new home construction
Whether to buy an existing home or have one built is yet another decision to make during the home-buying process. If you decide to go with new construction, a real estate agent can be a powerful advocate in your corner as you negotiate upgrades, a move-in date and...
Location, location, location
Where you buy not only affects the home's current and future value, but it also affects your lifestyle. Your agent will be able to conduct a more targeted home search if you outline your preferences in neighborhoods and nearby amenities. Here's a checklist of items...
Creating your home wish list
Before the home search begins, your real estate agent will want to know as much as possible about the features and amenities you desire. To help your agent better serve you, analyze what you want and what you need in a home's features and amenities. Features: Age: Do...
Deciding how much house you can afford
Your lender decides what you can borrow but you decide what you can afford. Lenders are careful, but they make qualification decisions based on averages and formulas. They won't understand the nuances of your lifestyle and spending patterns quite as well as you do....
Eight steps to buying your home
1. Decide to buy. Although there are many good reasons for you to buy a home, wealth building ranks among the top of the list. We call home ownership the best “accidental investment” most people ever make. But, we believe when it is done right, home ownership becomes...