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National Ice Cream month - don't forget your 4 legged friends

Since my dogs are family to me, this recipe really caught my eye. My dogs love peanut butter (and it sounds good enough for me, too! Don't know about you, but my dogs always think whatever I'm eating is better than what they have. What a great way to give them a treat!

Via Juli Vosmik (Dominion Real Estate Partners, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ):

FROSTY DOG TREATS INGREDIENTS:

1 cup peanut butter

1 32 ounce container of plain or vanilla yogurt

Melt peanut butter in microwave - about 30 seconds. Stir in the yogurt until well blended. Spoon into cupcake papers and freeze. After they have frozen, store in a sealed container or plastic bag in the freezer. I use the miniture cupcake wrappers for my smaller dogs and make a few of the regular sized ones for my neighbors dogs. Or, I'll cut up the larger ones. Perfect for these brutally hot days!

 

HOW MUCH WILL THE SELLER TAKE? DEPENDS.... HOW STRONG IS YOUR OFFER?

Mr and Mrs Buyer - I know you're anxious and want the best deal possible so here are some answers to your top questions in advance.

Via Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate:

  • How much should I offer? No idea until recent sales in the area are considered.
  • Will the seller pay my closing? No idea but you can ask in the offer.
  • Will the seller wait for me to sell my home? No idea, but we can ask for a contingency.
  • Will the seller leave the $7,500 ride on mower? Don't even think it.

Actually, when a buyer asks those questions, they are assuming that you have the answer, or will make an educated guess. Of course, you do not know how low the seller will go or much else other than recent competitive sales. Even a listing agent who has been advised by the seller that he, the seller, will not take a penny less than $XXX,XXX does not know. Fact is, until a seller is presented with a full written offer complete with the necessary:

  • •Amount of the offer
  • •Type of financing
  • •Financing Status
  • •Terms for settlement
  • •Contingencies

EVEN THE SELLER DOESN'T KNOW. STUDY THE PROPERTY FIRST. As a buyer's agent, we cannot possibly know what the seller will "take" for their property. In fact, until we have examined the recent sales in the area, we don't even know if the list price is reasonable. On the other hand, until the listing agent has examined the buyer's written offer, then cannot know if the offer is within an acceptable price/terms/conditions that are acceptable to the seller. DON'T ASSUME A THING. Listing agents who assume that a seller will only take $XXX,XXX for the sale of their home and make a statement that "The seller will not take less than $XXX,XXX" may be costing the seller a very good buyer. Until an agent has read the offer through, they don't know the net to the seller an offer might represent and should not be making decisions for the seller.

MAKING LOW OFFERS IS NOT NEGOTIATING.

Buyer's agents who tout their negotiating skills to prospective home buyers before analyzing the strength of the buyer's offer, may be met with disappointment in the extreme. Experienced listing agents are now persuaded by the agents claim of "superior negotiating skills" and look simply to the price/terms/conditions of an offer. Experienced buyer's agents study the recent sales, condition, how long the property has been on the market, price trends in the area, seller's need to relocate (love that one) and don't forget the master plan. Experienced agents, listing or selling, will be very cautious about making conclusory statements about what a buyer or seller will do.

FACT IS, WE DON'T KNOW. As described below, the homes that SOLD in the City of Alexandria sales differed by List Price, Close Price, the Subsidy given by the seller to the buyer and the Days On The Market. Other variables such as move in date, conveyances, etc. may also make the difference in HOW MUCH THE SELLER WILL TAKE.

City               ListPrice       ClosePrice     Subsidy (Seller's Assist)  Days on the Market 

Alexandria     $369,500       $345,000          $5,500                                 37

Alexandria     $369,000       $360,000                  0                                14

Alexandria     $402,500       $402,500                  0                                 0

Alexandria     $550,000       $558,000          $8,000                              208

It is similar in Berks and Montgomery counties. Days on the market don't necessarily mean the offer can be lower and just because you're asking for seller assist, doesn't mean you need to offer above the asking price (although it makes it more acceptable to the seller - usually). The bottom line is rely on your buyer's agent to help you in making an offer that is at least worthy of a counter offer. You don't want to get a just plain "No" answer if you liked the house enough to make an offer.

Posted by Sharon Sapp | 0 Comments

Improve Your Chances of Owning Real Estate

There is no better time to be shopping around for your real estate than right now, with prices still at relatively low levels and strict lending criteria making it difficult for many prospective buyers to get their foot in the door.

Whether you are a first-time buyer or upgrading or expanding your existing real estate portfolio, getting a loan will, for most people, be crucial. According to the latest statistics, 52,8% of loan applications are currently being turned down by banks. Here are some tips to improve your chances:                                                       

 Work on your credit rating
Banks have a much lower appetite for risk than during the property heyday of 2005 to 2008, and the strict National Credit Act isn't exactly making things easier. All lenders will check your credit rating before they will lend you a cent. To improve yours, make sure your bills are paid on time, and clear as much debt as possible. If you haven't had credit before, open an account somewhere to show that you can manage debt. Other factors that are taken into account include how long you have been at your current address, job and bank.

If you are unsure of your credit score, contact me. We can run a credit check abd go over your finances together to see what kind of loan you can qualify for and then I can put you in contact with a lender specializing in that type of loan. I will be able to look at your credit report and if it needs work, I have a program, through my company, which can help quickly repair your credit.

Save for a bigger deposit
The bigger your deposit, the better your chances of getting a loan. An improved credit rating and bigger deposit will also improve the interest rate on the loan, saving you thousands of dollars over the term of the loan.

Shop around
Don't despair if one bank turns you down or only offers expensive interest rates. In March, 22,1% of loans declined by one bank were approved by another, so investigate all possible options.

Top 10 Tips on How to Get Discounted Movers

No matter how you look at it one has to agree that moving from one place to the other is expensive and sometimes worrisome as well. If you need to move and you are left with no other choice, you have to bring yourself to terms that it is going to cost you. The good news here is that you have a few tips that can help you save money and cut down on the costs.

 

Movers

  1. The first thing that you need to ask yourself is whether you require the services of a mover or can you manage to move things by yourself. The answer is pretty simple and how much you are going to save or how much it is going to cost completely depends on the distance you are moving and the amount of time that you have on hand.
  2. We agree that fuel costs are expensive and rentals that travel one-way do tend to charge a higher rate. By making sure that you have an analysis to cut down on costs; it will help you decide if you want to do it or get a mover to help you move.
  3. There are many companies who offer their services at competitive rates but finding the right one can be a Herculean task.
  4. If you have the option of choosing when to move you can move during off-season especially around June or July.
  5. Movers tend to cut down on their rates in the middle of the month so avoid trying to move during the first or last week of the month.
  6. Speak to your movers to find out whether they have an off-season rate or tariff.
  7. It is not wrong to ask your moving company for a discount.
  8. Most moving companies' charges are based on a book called Tariff 400 and this book gives you details on how much a moving company can charge you depending on the distance and the weight of your possessions.
  9. Be flexible with your moving company. If you are flexible with the picking up time and the delivering time of the company they would surely give you a discount on the pricing.
  10. Another way to cut down on costs is to avoid any last minute rush. Moving companies tend to charge you extra if they assist you in packing things at the last minute. The best thing to do is to have everything packed and ready so that you can save time and a lot of inconvenience. There are times when even things get misplaced during moving. So plan well in advance and do things accordingly.

Avoiding 7 Of The Most Often Real Estate Buying Mistakes

The process of home purchasing necessitates a sizable amount of knowledge. Your decision will be influenced by the numerous legal ramifications you have to be aware of, the financial possibilities and options as well as emotional choices you will make in the process of purchasing a home. In order to minimize the number of mistakes you will need to learn from other people's mistakes so that you will take the wisest decision for your personal needs. With this article we will try to offer you information about the 7 most popular mistakes among home buyers.

Mistakes

 

The remorse of the buyer – quite popular in this ever changing market. This situation occurs when the buyer changes his mind right in the last minute. The main cause behind this unfortunate situation is the lack of upfront preparation. Just hours prior to the home purchase, the buyer suddenly realizes that something is not right. In order to avoid this mistake, luckily, there are many resources available for potential home buyers. By using my services we will determine what you need and want in a new home.  We will search for homes that offers those amenities and view the homes you want.  You will have access to viewing these and 1,000's of more homes through emails from myself as well as my website here.  I will help you to avoid buyer remorse.

Overextension – as we said in the first paragraph, there are a lot of financial factors which should be taken into consideration. Foolishly extending the home buying finances will most likely lead to a lot of financial stress. By not having an extra secure income to furnish the brand new home or the covering costs involved for the maintenance of the house could be disastrous.  Together we will look over your finances and make sure that once you buy your home you are not what some of us call "house poor".

No representation or going solo – for those people that feel that they do not need a professional real estate representation, unfortunate situations will surely occur. The listing agent has a fiduciary duty to the seller to get them the highest possible price for the home and the best possible terms and conditions. A potential home buyer wants someone who negotiates on the behalf of the buyer and look at for the best interests. I offer buyer agency and will gladly sit down and go over with you the benefits of having an exclusive buyer agent to represent your best interests

Mortgage shopping – experts recommend interviewing at least 3-4 different lenders in order to obtain the best terms and the interest rates should not be the single deciding factor. If a specific lender offer the best rates but later "drops the ball" as they say, and the home does not close escrow as per the terms of the contract prior established, this could cost the buyer a fortune. It is also highly probable that the buyer will lose the home to another buyer. Customer service should also be a factor in the equation.  I have worked with many lenders over time and can help point you in the direction of one who will be able to best work with your situation if you don't already have one.

Pre-qualified and pre-approved – many of the buyers think that they have a solid image about the estimate price range that they can afford. They then preview a few homes and later on find out that they do not qualify for the price range that they calculated initially. This will mean that the buyer will reconsider the price range and the agent will show other homes, more affordable that will fit the budget. This unfortunate yet common situation will most likely diminish the excitement of the buyer. In today's market with all the short sales and bank-owned homes, it is obligatory for the buyer to be pre-qualified or pre-approved before writing a contract on a home. This mandatory requirement will only strengthen the buyers negotiating power.

The perfect home does not exist – many buyers look for the perfect house but later on find out that this is a utopia. Any home will have pros and cons and the balance between them will decide the final decision. Spending too much time for the right estate will be not only discouraging but also exhausting and can bring noticeable financial disadvantages.

Ignoring the process of home inspection – a regular home inspection is just $300 or so, a very wise investment when you take into consideration that a home can have a lot of hidden flaws.  Think smart and have an inspection on your future home, it can prove to be a total bust.

 

These are only 7 of the common problems that can occur when you are buying real estate.  Buying a home doesn't have to be scary, utilize my experience and guidance to help your purchase be a smooth transaction.  I would be happy to sit down with you and discuss your real estate purchase.  Please feel free to contact me at your convenience!

Clean it up!

Clean it up! Here are 5 ways to take care of that!

Sellers always need to keep in mind that when they are selling their home, they need to pretend the house is no longer theirs and look at it as if they were going to buy it themselves. First, ask yourself "How would I feel when I walk in here and it's not my home?  Would I need to clean from top to bottom, what about the floors or the windows? What about the bathrooms?" Most people forget how important the answers to those questions really are. There is just so much to do in preparation to move to a new home, that sometimes, you don't see the obvious, and that just may be the ONE thing that will get your house sold.

                                        Femal Skunk cleaning      

It's not until the home sits on the market for long periods that sellers realize something has to change. Sometimes it's the marketing, sometimes it's the price, and sometimes it's the fact that the home that's being shown isn't clean enough. Yes, a clean home shows better and there are five ways to make yours sparkle from roof to baseboards.

Hard to Reach Windows/Skylights. Sometimes if you have windows above eye-level, or skylights or a wall of windows, you forget that others look at these features. After all, weren't they part of the reason you bought your house to start with? If you can't reach them on your own with a ladder, it is an investment you are making in your future. Clean windows and skylights let in natural light and the more light that is in your home, the better it shows. If you are tackling this chore on your own, do not do it on a sunny day. The sun dries whatever you are using to clean the windows much faster than on a cloudy day and it can lead to streaks. You really don't want to have to do this chore more than once, do you?

Bathrooms. Does your toilet have hard water stains? Do you have kids that might "miss" the bowl and get on the toilet seat? Nothing turns off buyers more than a dirty bathroom or kitchen. If you've have an older toilet, give it a good inspection and be sure to check under the lid. Buyers sometimes use your toilet when they're looking at your home and nothing is worse than seeing rust stains and other unsightly marks. Double check your sink(s). Do they have dried toothpaste in the bowl? Buyers won't care if you brushed your teeth this morning, but they will care if you left them a reminder that you did. Same with the tub.  Don't leave rings to show that you bathed. Buyers don't care.

Baseboards and Walls. Many articles talk about putting a fresh coat of paint on your walls, but you may not have to do that. If the paint isn't chipped or too worn, you may be able to get away with a good wipe-down instead. Using a wet, mildly soapy cloth you can scrub the baseboards and walls to make them look like they've had a fresh coat of paint, You also might want to try Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser that I think works really great on walls and baseboards. They help take the grime off nearly everything. You don't have to spray anything on the surface you're going to clean; just wet the eraser and wipe off the marks. Be sure to get the baseboards and get down to kids' level and wipe off the marks where they place their fingers while walking down the hall, around light switches or up the stairs. When buyers see homes that are scoffed and worn like that, they may think it's an indication that the home might not have gotten the care it needed for the bigger things too-such as furnace, disposal, plumbing, electrical wiring, etc. Some buyers believe that if attention to detail is lacking here, it will be lacking throughout the house.

Floor Tile. When you're showing your house, many Realtors will ask the buyers to take off their shoes but some buyers won't. Some Realtors won't ask them to, either. This, however, can lead to very dirty flooring and grout. The tile and the condition of the grout will matter to most buyers should they decide to make an offer. Keep in mind that buyers typically will submit an offer many times lower than the cost to remedy the situation. For a few $$ and some elbow grease to "spiff up" your house, any offer you get will be that much higher.

Closets, Cabinets, Computer areas. "Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Don't have so much junk stuffed inside closets and cabinets that everything comes crashing down on potential buyers when they open them to have a peek. Additionally, it gives the impression that the closets are too small and there is not enough storage room in the home.

A little cleaning and preparation before you market your home will help show buyers that you've cared for the house and that could be just the signal a buyer needs to make an offer.

 

Here's a hint. If you have small children, make it a contest. List all the chores you want them to do each morning; like pick up their toys, put the cap back on the toothpaste, etc. Give them a small token or coupon for each chore they do without you asking them to. Once they collect, say 10 of these, they get a treat. Maybe a McDonalds happy meal, a movie or whatever would incent them. Is it a bribe? You betch! Does it work? You betcha! Not only that, but it makes them feel like a part of something that is happening in their lives that otherwise, might be a bit intimidating.

Moving with Pets

Most people think of their pets as family. You take extra care to make moving as stress-free as possible for your kids, right? Then you need to do the same for your pets. Experts agree that pets thrive on routine. Routine and moving don't seem to go together, but there are ways to make the transition a bit easier on you and your pet. 

Dog image

The first step is to visit your current veterinarian. If you are moving out of the area, be sure to request your pet's medical files, this way your new vet will know of any conditions your pet has been treated for and when they'll be due for their next vaccinations. Be sure that if your pet is on any medications, that you'll have enough of the needed prescriptions to last until you visit your new vet.

Check out where the pet stores and vets are in your new area. The last thing you need is to run out of food or have an emergency as you are moving in and don't know where to go. Ask your Realtor if you are unfamiliar with the area. If you have to stay the night in a hotel, make sure you check ahead for a pet friendly environment, or you may want to board your pet until you are moved in.

Cat

Update your pet's ID tags with your new address or phone number. If you have a cell phone, use that number. That way, you can always be contacted if your pet is found.

Does your pet ever not have his/her collar and ID tag on? Then maybe it would be a good idea to have your pet micro chipped. Imagine how devastated you and your family would be if your pet wandered away from the new house and got lost! The microchip is a small device implanted just under a pet's skin. This can be read by the SPCA and vets and you can be contacted to pick up your lost pet. The Humane Society says, "Microchips provide an extra level of protection in case your pet loses his collar and tags." The cost is relatively inexpensive, especially when you consider that one chip can last up to 25 years.

When you are packing up boxes, your pet knows something is up - no matter how dumb you think they are. They begin to get stressed out and when stressed, they act in ways that are not normal for them. If you don't have a pet area that is out of the way, then create one before packing. Make sure to keep movers and extra boxes out of this area and put their food, toys, litter box (if appropriate) and bed here. Make it a "safe" zone for them by playing with them here, also. This will keep their routine going.

Once you move, set up another "safe" zone for them with the same items in this area that you had in your old house. Try to keep your routine the same - feed at the same time, walk them at the same time, play with them at the same time. Keep everything as much like the old house as possible.

Follow these steps and it will be no time at all that your pet is as settled in as your are - probably even sooner than you!

 

Posted by Sharon Sapp | 0 Comments

I want / need to buy a house

Whether you are a first time home buyer or someone who is looking to move up or down, or if you are being transferred to a new area, getting into the market can be both an exciting and a scary feeling.

So, where do I start?

First, discover if you have enough money to buy a home?

The first step to finding out how much home you can truly afford is to get pre-qualified for a mortgage. This is a quick, painless process that gives you an idea of whether or not a bank or a mortgage company would be willing to lend you money for a mortgage based on the information you provide to them.

Next, take a look at your finances. Ideally, you should have around 20 percent of the purchase price to put down. There are a variety of loan types but for a conventional loan, you'll need 10 to 20 percent down.  With 20 percent to put down, you will get a better interest rate and since your mortgage lasts for a long time, you want to get the lowest rate you can.

You should also have less than a 36 percent debt to income ratio. Be sure to include all of your monthly obligations in that equation, including student loans, child support payments, alimony, car payments, credit cards, etc. Any bill you receive on a regular basis is considered a debt. That bill does NOT have to be a paper bill, but an obligation you have to make payments on a regular basis - monthly, quarterly, yearly, etc. Look at your savings. Make sure that you have enough for the 20% down payment and enough to pay closing costs, which include such things as title insurance, homeowners insurance and transfer fees. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that this amount averages between 2 and 7 percent of the home price. You also need to have money left as a cushion. What if unexpected repairs, either to your house or car, come up? What if you or a family member needs medical attention? Be sure that you have enough money leftover after the purchase to keep your life running smoothly. You don't want to be "house poor".

What kind of house should I buy?

There is no such thing as the perfect house, so you should prepare yourself for some mild feelings of "what if". Make a list of your "wants" and "needs".  (Hint: your "wants" will be longer than your "needs").  You don't want to compromise on your "needs", but if the home you are looking at can accommodate most of your "needs" and the "bones" of the home will allow you to add the remainder of your "needs", you should seriously consider the home. You may have to give up a few "wants" for now. It basically depends on:

•1.      Do you have to move? If you have been transferred and need to move, or for whatever reason, you need to move now, you may be willing to give up more of your "wants" to move quickly.

•2.      Is this your first home?, You may have to buy something a little less than your dream house, but you'll be building equity that will let you move up at a later date. Try not to lose sight of the big picture. This is a home that you own. You'll be paying off your own home rather than helping a landlord to pay off theirs. You'll now get the benefits of tax breaks. And, hopefully, your home will appreciate in value over the coming years.

I'm not handy so how can I handle repairs that would come up?

Before you swear off doing some of your own projects or repairs, know that everyone starts somewhere. Take a class at your local home improvement store, invest is a handyman's guide, or ask a friend that has already tiled their bathroom or fixed a leaky sink to come and give you some pointers. Start with the easy ones and take your time. Watch some of the "Do it yourself" home and garden shows. They have projects that they walk you through.

All homes require maintenance. Be prepared for repairs, maintenance, and updates. Even with a new home, there will be projects. Make sure you keep some savings to handle these and plan accordingly. If the repair job is beyond what you are comfortable doing, hire a professional.

What if I fall out of love with my home? How soon can I move?

Experts recommend that to build equity, you need to have owned your home for at least 3 to 5 years. If you put 20% down, then, hopefully, you probably have at least that much equity. The NAR recommends, "Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don't build up much equity in the first few years of your mortgage, as monthly payments are mostly interest, but if you've owned your home for five or more years, you may have significant, unrealized gains." If the time is less than five years, then you should be prepared to not make any money on the sale of your home, and even, to "lose" some -- in the form of closing costs.  

Posted by Sharon Sapp | 0 Comments

Want your home to sell quickly? Try these 11 suggestions

  1. Hire the best "full service" Realtor you can find. In a market like the one we're in now, there is no time to try and sell with less than full service, or time to try to do it on your own. Do your research on the Internet and by asking friends, co-workers and family members who they've worked with and if they had a good experience with a Realtor. Interview some Realtors. Don't automatically hire your best friend, their cousin, your hairstylist or friend of a friend who moonlights as a real estate agent, unless you are certain that they know what they are doing and can back up their claims. You are selling what is probably your most valuable asset. Make sure you have a "good" feeling about him/her and feel like you can trust them. Don't be embarrassed into letting your home sit unsold because you didn't want to hurt someone's feelings. Make sure you understand your listing agents' marketing plan for your property. How many photos will they post? Which sites will they use to promote your home's listing? Will they be holding open houses? How many?
  2. Don't beat your listing agent up over the sales commission. A really good, experienced REALTOR will tell probably tell you "no" anyway. Marketing and selling real estate is an expensive proposition - particularly if you want it done properly. All the brochures, flyers, virtual tours, ads, etc. cost money. If you negotiate a lower commission, and you might, you are preventing your listing agent from pulling out all the stops to get your home sold as quickly as possible and for the most money. Don't hurt the sale of your home by limiting the amount of money your listing agent has available for marketing. Negotiating a lower commission will lower the amount of money left to market your home. Also, with all the inventory on the market right now, most of the buyer's agents are going to show the homes that pay full commissions first. They may show your house later, if the full commission listings don't satisfy their buyer, but you're taking a big risk.
  3. Listen to your Listing Agent regarding pricing. They know what they are doing (assuming your followed step 1). They look at homes on the multi-list system every day and know what buyers are willing to pay for a home like yours and how quickly they sold. They talk to other Realtors daily. It doesn't matter how much your friend thinks you should list your home for. It doesn't matter how much profit (or how little loss) you would like to walk away with. All that matters is how much someone is willing to pay for your house. A good Realtor will be able to tell you how much you should list your home for to get it sold quickly.
  4. Purchase a Home Warranty for the buyer.  This provides peace of mind and makes a buyer less likely to worry over things that could go wrong once they would purchase your home. You might also think about having a home inspection of the major items - like the roof, the heating and air conditioning system, the plumbing, etc. A buyer may not accept your inspection and still do their own, but you'll know what to expect. 
  5. Make sure your home is truly "move-in" ready. Make any needed repairs. Buyers don't want an allowance for new carpet or a new roof. They want a house that already has new carpet and a new roof so they can move in right away. Even if they were willing to buy your home with problems, they will typically deduct 2 to 5 times more from your asking price than the actual cost of the repair.
  6. Clean your house from top to bottom. If you don't have the time or energy, hire a cleaning service. Make sure your house sparkles and smells clean every day it is on the market. If there is an issue you can't address by cleaning, replace it. If an interior door has a big scratch or hole, replace it.
  7. Consider hiring a professional stager.  Be careful to do your research and hire an experienced professional and not a hobbyist, unless they are a pro with experience and knowledge of your market. Ask to see the stager's portfolio (or view it on-line) and make sure all the photos are of their work. If you are a do-it-yourself type, at the very least, hire a professional home stager to do a comprehensive consultation so you know exactly what needs to be done. Most home stagers will also help you choose paint colors and carpet as well. At the very least, have someone who can be critical and objective go through your home looking for clutter and "tired" rooms to spruce up.
  8. Listen to the home stager regarding the condition of your home and what needs to be done to make it appealing to the greatest number of buyers. If they tell you your favorite floral pattern wallpaper has to go, do it. A home stager's expertise is preparing homes to look their best so it is appealing to the greatest number of buyers and they have done it successfully for numerous home sellers (assuming you followed Step 7). Remember, they are looking at your home through "buyer's eyes".
  9. Make sure the front of your home creates a sense of "welcome home" Curb appeal means a lot. If your front lawn has a lot of weeds or the lawn hasn't been mowed in awhile, buyers are going to have a negative image of your home before they walk through the door. It doesn't matter how lovely the inside was "staged", the outside will have created the negative impression already. If your front door looks shabby, paint or replace it. Put a nice pot of flowers outside the door. If it's winter time, make sure all the snow and ice have been cleared from your walkways. Make the buyer WANT to come inside!
  10. Don't rush the process. Follow all of the above steps before you put your home on the market. Clean it up, fix it up, have it professionally staged. If you rush the process, then you will not be putting your home's best face forward from day one. You will lose buyers by doing these things after your home is on the market. Once a buyer knows a home is on the market and sees that it is not for them, they will rarely revisit it no matter how much you change it.
  11. Make your home easy to show. Allow your home to be shown regardless of how much notice is given. If a buyer suddenly wants to see your home and their agent cannot make an appointment, you may have lost the one buyer for your home. Don't limit access to certain times and days. Allow your listing agent to install a lockbox so your home can be shown on a moment's notice. Keep your house clean and orderly everyday all day during the listing period so that it looks its best for every showing. This may create some inconvenience for you, but it will result in a faster sale.

 

Remember: Someone once told me that when you put your home on the market, you have entered your home in a beauty contest. The best looking homes in the best condition sell first.

Posted by Sharon Sapp | 0 Comments

Open House in Schnecksville North on Sunday

June 2010
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Schnecksville North, Schnecksville  -  We invite everyone to visit our open house at 4213 Iroquois St on June 6 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Property information

Single Story For Sale in Schnecksville North

Front from right
Meticulously maintained

• 1,440 sq. ft., 3 bath, 3 bdrm single story - MLS® $199,900

 -  Green Remarks: High end, energy efficient appliances and bathroom fixtures. LOW tuility costs.

Lovingly maintained twin in highly desirable Parkland SD is now available. Easy to picture yourself in this upgraded 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home in the coveted Schnecksville North dev. Attention to detail is evident throughout from the new flooring, doors and paint, to the upscale appliances and bath fixtures. Oversized attached garage with shed give provide lots of room for your toys. Inside, a large living room welcomes you to sit awhile, but don’t miss the rest of the home. Keep your meal warm in the double oven until after you unwind in the whirlpool tub upstairs or enjoy your meal in the breakfast nook while looking thru the sliding glass doors at the landscaped rear yard and the double patio with skylights and ceiling fan. You can still enjoy music or TV or just quiet conversation while the Bosch dishwasher is running since it’s so quiet. Peace of mind is yours w/ AHS 1 year home warranty that you get with a full price offer. There’s so much to appreciate in this home but no room to list it all, so make your appointment to see for yourself today!

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Single Story For Sale in Green Acres

Outside Front
Why pay rent when you can own this?

• 3 bath, 2 bdrm single story - MLS® $23,500 - Economical Living

 -  This mobile home is in move-in condition just waiting for you. Heating unit just serviced, new vinyl floors just installed and front and some interior doors will soon be replaced. Good sized rooms and deck in front and back make for easy living. Home larger than public records show with extension that was added that also makes the rooms larger. Lovely glass front hutch provides a pretty touch of class to show off your dishes or collectables. Master bedroom has double doors that open into the master bath with nice wood shelving for your whatever your imagination can come up with. Community playground and swimming pool within walking distance. Lot rent includes water, sewer, garbage, clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, playground, mowing all common areas, paving and plowing of roads, all set in a lovely park environment with mature landscaping. Low utility costs make this lovely home also an affordable one. Make your appointment to see this today!

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Don't make these mistakes when selling your home

Price it right the first time. If you're shopping for a home, wouldn't you think something is wrong with the home if it's been on the market for a year? Your Realtor should be honest and show you what is selling. Price it there, not what you would like to get for it to move on.

Be creative. The hardest part for buyers is coming up with the cash for a down payment and/or settlement costs.

 

Via Scott Skinner:

These are the 5 most common mistakes that sellers make when trying to sell a home.

  1. Price your home right. Not what you want or need, but what the market dictates.
  2. No offers in a month. Lower prices at least 3%
  3. Price your home based upon comps of sold properties (within 3 months); Not active listings!
  4. Incentives such as contribution towards closing costs allow buyers to come up with less money making it easier for the borrower to obtain a loan.
  5. Do not overprice your home with the idea you have room to negotiate. Buyers will make offers on lesser priced homes.