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Resources
PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SHOWING
First impressions count. Just a small investment of time and
money will give your home an edge over other homes when it comes
to the time to show prospective buyers. Below are some areas to
pay careful attention to when preparing to show your home to
buyers. [more].
PRICING
How is the price set?
It's critical to price your home right in relationship to the
current real estate market and to the conditions prevailing in
your local marketplace.
[more].
Mortgage Rates
Community Links
First impressions count. Just a small investment of time and
money will give your home an edge over other homes when it comes
to the time to show prospective buyers. Below are some areas to
pay careful attention to when preparing to show your home to
buyers.
Curb Appeal
Cut lawn
Trim shrubs and lawns
Repair gutters and eaves
Weed and edge gardens
Touch up exterior paint
Clear paths and driveways of leaves and debris
Pick up any litter
The Buying Atmosphere
BE ABSENT during showings
Open drapes/blinds during daytime
Play quiet background music
Keep pets outdoors
Spacious Look
Clear stairs and halls
Store excess furniture
Tidy closets and cupboards
Clear work tops, counters and stove.
General Maintenance
Ensure doorbell is working
Polish door hardware
Oil squeaky doors
Tighten doorknobs
Clean and repair windows
Touch up chipped paint
Repair cracked plaster
Repair leaking taps and toilets
Replace burned out lights
Repair caulking around tubs & sinks
Squeaky Clean
Shampoo carpets
Clean bathrooms
Clean refrigerator and stove
Clean furnace
Clean washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc.
It's critical to price your home right in relationship to the
current real estate market and to the conditions prevailing in
your local marketplace. Since the real estate market is
continually changing, and market fluctuations have an effect on
property values, it's imperative to select your list price based
on the most recent comparable sales in your neighborhood. A
Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) provides the background data
on which to base your list price decision. Study the comparable
sales material presented to you by the different agents you
interviewed initially. If the CMAs are over two or three months
old, have your agent update the report for you. If all agents
agreed on a price range for your home, go with the consensus.
Experts recommend that more than one agent come and do the
analysis. Watch for an agent whose opinion of value is
considerably higher than the others.
Purchase Offer - What are contingencies in a purchase?
There are two standard contingencies: a financing contingency,
which makes the purchase conditional on the buyers' ability to
obtain a loan commitment from a lender, and an inspection
contingency, which allows the buyers to have professionals
inspect the property to their satisfaction. A deposit could be
forfeited by the buyers under certain circumstances, such as the
buyers backing out for a reason not provided for in the
contract. The purchase contract must include the sellers'
responsibilities such as passing clear title, maintaining the
property in its present condition until closing, and making any
agreed upon repairs to the property.
Disclosure -What is a seller obligated to disclose?
It varies from state to state. Under the most restrictive state,
the seller and the sellers' broker, if there is one, are
required to disclose all facts materially affecting the value or
desirability of the property which are known or accessible only
to him and which are not known to, or within reach of the
diligent attention and observation of the buyer. In the case of
residential properties, the seller must provide the buyer with a
Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement, which specifies the
existence and condition of all known physical attributes of the
property. Sellers are responsible for disclosing only
information within their personal knowledge.
When to Sell - When is the best time to sell?
In addition to supply and demand, and other economic factors,
the time of year you choose to sell can make a difference both
in the amount of time it takes you to sell your home and in the
ultimate selling price. Generally, the real estate market picks
up as early as February, with the strongest selling season
usually lasting through May and June. With the onset of summer,
the market slows. July is often the slowest month for real
estate sales due to a strong spring market putting possible
upward pressure on interest rates. Also, many prospective home
buyers and their agents take vacations during mid-summer.
Following the summer slowdown, real estate sales activity tends
to pick up for a second, although less vigorous, season which
usually lasts into November when the market slows again as
buyers and sellers turn their attention to the holidays.
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