Free Real Estate Tips

To serve you better, I have prepared several documents that are designed to assist you in making an informed real estate decision. Please select the publication that you want.

1) Get Top Dollar For Your Home

2) How to Inspect a Home Before You Buy It

3) How to Save Money on Your Home Loan

4) Make a Good First Impression

5) Make Sure the Price is Right

6) What IS Top Dollar for Your Home

Get Top Dollar for Your Home

Should You List with an Agent or Go it on Your Own?
It is hardly fair for me to ask that question since the decision is totally yours to make. However, I can give you an overview of the services I can provide for you and that may help you make your decision. As an experienced real estate professional in your area, I will help you set a fair price for your home so that you DO receive top dollar and sell your home in a reasonable time. I will promote your home to other agents in the area and I will list your home on the major Internet home sites so that buyers and real estate agents from all over the world will have access to your home’s information. In addition, I will list your home on my own Web site that is promoted locally in multiple print media and on the Internet. I will design, place and pay for advertising in print media known to attract qualified buyers. I will pre-qualify prospective buyers to weed out those who may not be able to afford or to obtain financing to purchase your home. I will negotiate on your behalf with qualified buyers so that all parties are satisfied with the transaction. I will handle the many “details” of the sale including ordering inspections, initiating escrow, facilitating paper work, complying with legal restrictions and much more. I would like to provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) which I recommend as the first step for anyone who is seriously considering selling their home. A CMA will give you the information you need to price your home to sell and ensure that you receive the top dollar. Please call or E-mail me to initiate your Free Comparative Market Analysis. I look forward to hearing from you.

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How to Inspect a Home Before You Buy It

Shopping for a new home often raises anxiety levels for prospective buyers striving to find the right home in the right location for the right price. As an experienced real estate professional, I make sure that all legal requirements and paper work are completed in a timely manner. But before that, I educate prospective buyers on what to look for when viewing a house for sale so that buyers are confident in their decision to buy or not to buy.
The top three problems, most commonly found by home inspectors, are poor drainage, faulty wiring and leaky roof. I help my clients spot these problems if they exist and suggest methods to determine the extent of the problem and the probable cost of repair. My Free worksheet—How to Inspect a Home Before Your Buy it—has helped hundreds of buyers look at a potential home with the eye of reason in a highly emotional time. If you would like a copy of How to Inspect a Home Before You Buy it, please call me or E-mail your request to the phone number or E-mail address below.

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How to Save Money on Your Home Loan

Of course you want the best possible interest rate for your home loan but there are other costs to consider. Not all lenders charge the same amount for loan services. If you obtain your loan through a broker, you can expect to pay an origination fee, which is actually the broker’s commission. If you go with a direct lender, you won’t be charged a loan origination fee. The savings you realize by going through a direct lender will vary depending on the points (1 point=1% of the loan amount) charged to originate the loan. The loan origination fee or loan brokers’ commission is a costly item but fees in other areas can add up. The smart way to shop for a loan is to obtain a “Good Faith” estimate to obtain a line by line estimate of what the charges will be at closing as well as the rate for the term of the loan. Areas to compare include Loan Origination Fee, Appraisal Fee, Credit Report, Tax Service Fee, Underwriting Fee, Closing Fee, Document Prep, Processing Fee and Flood Certification. The range of cost for these services can be as low as $800.00 or as high as $2,800.00 or more so it is well worth the effort to shop around. When you are in the market for a home loan or if you simply want to refinance your existing home, I urge you to give me a call. I am happy to explain any items you don’t understand and suggest a few good places to shop for loans in this area.

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Make a Good First Impression
Regardless of the reason for wanting to sell your home, you wouldn’t be human if you did not want to get the best possible price for it. Experience has taught me that homes in good, clean condition sell faster and for more money than homes that need repairs and a good cleaning. Let me share with you some of the items that prospective buyers notice and take into consideration when shopping for a new home.
First Impressions are so important to prospective buyers that I can hardly overstate the need for good curb appeal for your home. Landscaping that needs weeding or pruning may remind prospective buyers what a tedious job gardening can be. At the very least, prospects are deducting the costs of probable landscaping from any offer they may make on your home. Does your home need paint? Sometimes just paining the trim will make a world of difference. Is the driveway crumbling? Are there cracks in walkways? These are warning signs for prospective buyers. Is the yard full of clutter? Prospects interpret clutter inside or outside of the house as cramped conditions—not enough storage. You know what to do. Let’s move inside. It may sound contradictory but you have another chance to make a good First Impression the moment prospective buyers walk through your front door. Does your house smell clean and fresh or have pet odors permeated the carpeting and drapes? The following is a list of major considerations that prospective buyers look for in a home:
Cleanliness—Make your kitchen and bathrooms gleam. Shampoo carpet and wipe handprints off the walls. There’s nothing like a good coat of fresh paint to make a house sparkle.
Clutter—Prospective buyers will look in your closets, cupboards and inside your oven. If every spare space is crammed, buyers will think there is not enough storage space in your house. Take a look at the furniture in your rooms. If you have so much furniture there is little room for movingabout, consider storing some items until after you sell.
Repairs—Buyers will flush toilets, turn on faucets, check areas around bathtubs and showers for signs of disrepair or leaks. Want More Details on Preparations for Selling Your Home? Often times the best place to start is with a professional Comparative Marketing Analysis (CMA) that will give you a picture of high, medium and low pricing realities. This valuable information may help you decide whether or not to invest in necessary home repairs before listing or advertising your home. I provide this service at no charge for homeowners who are thinking about selling their home. There’s no obligation. Just call me or send me an E-mail message if you would like a CMA for your home.

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Make sure the Price is Right
Price your home too high and it won’t sell. Price your home too low and you won’t get the true value from your investment. Do your homework before you set a price for your home. I’ll be happy to provide you with comparable sales for the area with no obligation on your part. Simply contact me and I’ll provide you with the recent home sales in your area. Be advised that comparable sales information doesn’t tell the whole story. Sometimes a property much like yours has extensive upgrades and might command a higher than usual price. Another home may lack many of the features your home has and may have sold for less than you can expect. As I specialize in homes in this area, I know the details on every home that sold or is listed and I’ll be happy to share that information with you at no obligation.

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What IS Top Dollar for Your Home?
Some sellers don’t worry too much about putting a high price tag on their home. They figure prospective buyers are going to offer less money anyway so why not start high and come down later? There may be some truth to this philosophy but there are dangers as well. Homes that are priced a few thousand dollars over market may receive offers that initiate the bargaining process but a home can be priced so high that buyers steer clear altogether.
A home that is on the market too long is often a red flag for prospective buyers. And believe me, they ask! While it is true you can always reduce your price at a later date, buyers may wonder what is the matter with your home that it didn’t sell. When you are planning to sell your home, here are some of the factors to consider.
1. Supply and demand in the local housing market.
2. General and local economic conditions.
3. Home prices in Your area
4. Your location
5. Your home’s extras
How you price your home may make a big difference in how quickly it sells and on your bottom line. I recommend that you obtain a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) so that you know what homes like yours have sold for in the past several months.
I can help you make an informed decision on the best price for your home because I keep up to date with factors that concern real estate values in your area. I will provide you with a CMA so you will have the latest sales figures and I will report on any local or general economic or supply and demand factors that are currently affecting home prices. Because I am experienced in what buyers want, I can help evaluate your home’s extra selling features so that you start off on the right track. There is no obligation on your part for a Comparative Market Analysis. Just call me or send me an E-mail message that you want a CMA for your home. You’ll be glad you did.

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