Reasons to Sell Before You Buy

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

Have you thought about your reasons why you are selling before you make any decisions on buying? Owners who plan to make further investments usually juggles with dilemma on either to sell first or buy first. You will meet a lot of agents recommending you to purchase before you sell but that is not often in your best interest. It is in the sales agent’s best interest when you purchase, you also need to sell. Agents will be assured double sales, despite of how much money you put in this investment. 

If you come to a decision to sell first and then purchase, your property does not sell or it may possibly attract very low offers that you do not want to accept, the agent obviously will get zero. You might want to think of that. 

Certainly, the debate on which comes first. The chicken or the egg, still remains – now you assess is it a buyer’s or a seller’s market. At the end of the day it is always intelligent to sell before you purchase. 

I will give you reasons to sell first. 

It gives you the capacity to bargain. By being able to sell first, you have the luxury of owning time. It does not make you grab the first offer that comes down because you already have a place to stay. Your own home. 

A much higher sales price. Owner or seller who are not pressured to make a sale often attracts higher offer because potential buyers understand that the owner is not worried at all. Nothing yells “discount your offer” like a listing that reads: “owner inspired purchased a new one.” 

Dependent on simultaneous closing. By creating the sale of your property contingent on closing concurrently with your new investment, “If I cannot obtain the property I want to invest in, I am under no responsibility to put it on the market.” You can simply say: “This sale is dependent on closing alongside with the purchase of seller’s replacement home.” If you have a clever buyer’s agent would not let a buyer instantly sign documents with a contingency clause like that; nonetheless, I usually get away with inserting that clause because some agents understand its proposition. 

Contingency Period. Give the buyer’s agent is clever enough to smack a concurrent closing clause from the contract. The next smart thing to ask for is a time period during which you are open to find for a replacement home. A contingency period will give you the privilege to cancel the contract during that time period if you choose to, which can range, on average, between seven to twenty one days. 

Leasing after Closing. Some sellers who want to take time to find the perfect home, will usually opt to lease after closing. If the buyer does not require instant occupancy, the seller might rent back their own home for the amount of the buyer’s new mortgage payment. Or the seller might move out, store their things in a storage area and rent a furnished place on a short-term basis.

Lice In Your Home and Getting Rid of It

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

The mere fact of me thinking about lice or fleas makes me itchy already.

Practically the most terrible in having pets in your home is the reality that they carry and can bring in fleas and so can humans. Lice or fleas can easily jump on you when you are in back yard and have a free ride in your home without you knowing and they can multiply so wild. In a week time, you could discover a full blown lice invasion has taken over.

Thinking of Selling Your House Where Pet resides?

Doing so has its own distinctive set of difficulty without having to deal with lice. You may not even notice when your cats or your dogs seems to be scraping a lot more than usual. However, you will know when lice bite you still it is too late.

Have you check if there are lice in the house?

Do you know the first place on where to look for lice? Try to part the hair of your pet, lice will run the other way and hide. It might be difficult to look for fleas without using a special flea comb.

Combs for Fleas

Combs for fleas are very easy to use but you need to ready yourself to dispose any live lice that immediately get trapped in the teeth of the comb. This is what you need to do:

Begin with your pet’s head and then behind the ears. Also check near the pet’s tail and under the arms and legs. Rapidly run the comb backwards through the fur. Then before the lice have a change to get away, quickly dip the comb in a bowl with a solution of liquid dish soap with a small amount of water. All fleas that were stuck in the teeth of the comb will instantly die in the water with soap.

Do it again and again for as long as your pet will bear the dragging of a wet comb through his or her fur.

The Fleas on You

Try on a pair of white knee highs and tip tope around in your stocking feet. I cannot explain why lice are attracted to bright or white clothing. In addition, they are much effortless to see against a plain background.

How You Control Fleas In Your Pets

Rubbing through your pets fur and combing it, is only a short term measure to protect them and your home from fleas. The best option still is to terminate the lice that are present in your pets and terminate those that are about to hop later on and those still about to grow since we already know how easily they can multiply.

Home Showing Tips – Part II

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Cities, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

1) Lower Down with Scents

a) There are people who have allergies to particular scents and deodorizers so refrain from spraying the air or just plug in air fresheners.

b) Do not put on candles or spray perfumes in the bedroom for obviously the same reason.

c) If the weather permits, open the windows. It is always nice to feel the warm breeze outside but if it only creates too much noise and you would rather close them.

d) If you love baking cookies or simmer spices such as cinnamon in the oven put out munchies so buyers will not be disappointed. Sometimes buyers get disappointed hoping you would offer cookies but don’t.

2) Play on the Visual

a) Lavish the buyers’ eyes and display photographs showcasing colorful flower gardens, a snow-covered lawn twinkling from street lights.

b) Open all window coverings to let the light penetrate through the house.

c) When you have blinds, keep it partially closed not unless it will hid some undesirable outdoor scene like a nearby structure that obstruct views.

3) Make it Bright

a) Open every light in the house that includes appliance lights and closet lights.

b) Light up dark rooms with only few windows by putting on some spot lights on the floor behind furniture.

c) Make sure that you turn all television off.

4) Love to Touch

a) Make the door slightly open.

b) Carpets in your house? Try vacuuming in one direction.

c) Drape with sensuous fabrics such as silk or velvet and put on over arm chairs.

5) Food Galore

A great way to lure your buyers and become aware even more of the details in your home is to present them food. You do not need to make it too fancy but a simple small bite sandwiches, water and sweets to welcome them. Try doing these:

a) Place serving utensils, if necessary.

b) Set out cups, plates and table napkins which can also be paper products.

c) Nearby, make sure that a waste can is always visible.

6) Ask the Buyer for Feedbacks 

a) On the side table where you prepared your snacks, make sure that you leave a pen and a pile of preprinted questionnaire cards or a guest book for them to sign.

b) When prospect buyers are fed they will feel somehow obligated to respond to your request and answer your questionnaire freely.

c) All the showing feedback whether good or not so good that you received in each prospects will be invaluable.

d) Do not make the buyer feel that they needed to place their name and make them not want to return if they have indicated some points to take note of. Allow each prospect buyers their freedom for ano

Sell and Move For American Home-Owners

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Cities, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

Typical home owners sell and relocate on a standard, every five to seven years. Why do you think home owners move? When you live in a village or an area for over twenty years, it is difficult to believe why people still want to move.  

Giving you more reasons why owners would want to move and sell: 

1) Property is too small – New home buyers usually outgrow their first homes. If the family size increases, the main reason home owners usually prefers a bigger space.  

2) Improve – The usual saying that the grass is greener on the other side. Home owners usually crave for what they do not have and prefers a much expensive and a bigger home. Is it really the American way? 

3) Patch up for the buying error – Home owners sometimes want to believe that they made an error when purchasing their current house and want to correct that mistake. Owners thought they could easily take off parts of the houses that annoys them probably the back yard or the dining room. 

4) Work transfer – Transfer makes it required for many to grab the roots and move out especially if the commuting distance goes beyond an hour. Most owners would condemn travelling more than two hours in traffic. 

5) Personal Relationship – Living in with a partner or if you are getting married can automatically mean one of the parties would need to give up their properties especially if both homes were acquired prior to marriage. Alternatively, breaking up cause owners to sell as well for these reasons:            

a) One party may need to purchase out the other and not have the funds available.           

b) The property may no longer be available to continue on one person’s income.           

c) Home carries sad memories and would like to make new beginnings. 

6) Area changes – The area might have transformed to a worse, socially and economically. For instance, a freeway was constructed that caused too much noise. Or the area just simply got too congested.  

7) Vacant home – When the kids grew up and simply moved out. Some owners prefer a smaller home. I think the older that you get, the more it is difficult to maintain a big house to clean. 

8 ) More Family time – Some folks want to be near to their family as they grow older and prefer to move near their relatives. Parent wants it closer to their kids. Grandma and Grandpa near their grandchildren. 

9) Retirement – Active adults neighborhood are attracting quite a few buyers over the retiring age between 55 and 60 years of age. These communities have golf courses, gym facilities, back-yard parties and even more, all these amenities are designed for retirement. 

10) Lifestyle transformation – others are simply exhausted of owning a property and prefers to travel, pursue a hobby. We call these people misfits or boomers but many past a certain age want to find a calling that is meaningful to them. So, for these people, home ownership loses its priority stays and turns into the ticket for realizing dreams.  

Home Showing Tips – Part I

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

When you put your property on display, you want to connect the buyer emotionally because usually the decision to purchase is based more on emotions and less on reason. Give the prospect buyer to agree with you and say “Yes, I love and would want to buy this house.” By highlighting your home’s positive attributes and do not be drawn any attention to the negative aspects. In addition, there will be a lot of time after the deal is signed to talk about the drawbacks.

1) The Cordial Welcome

Even though the buyer is a guest in your house, you want the potential buyer to imagine feeling of owning the home. You do not want to make the buyer feel like a trespasser.

a. Please do not expect the buyer to take their shoes unless you are showing it to a buyer for whom religious reason requires it. Otherwise, the assumption is rude.

b. Depart the house. Your prospect will not talk about the house when you are in front of them or open doors with you standing there.

c. Do not stress the buyer or make them feel that they need to hurry. Make them feel that they have all the time in the world.

d. Place a bowl of assorted candies or chocolates near the front door with a small thank you note to the buyer for coming and viewing your home.

2) Test the Temperature

a) When your house is in viewing mode, it is not the time to worry about your electric bill. If it is too cold to wear a sweater to keep warm, turn on the heat.

b) If it is warm outside, turn on the air-conditioning. It is best to hear or cool the house a degree or two warmer or colder that the usual and then set the temperature at a normal. This avoids the heat or air-conditioning from jolting on when the buyer is present because some HVAC systems are too loud.

c) You would want the warmth inside to be as comfortable as you can and to offer the buyer more reasons to stay especially on hot or cold days.

3) Provide a Good Mood

a. Put on a fire in the fireplace.

b. You might want to try being romantic by putting two champagne glasses on a side table.

c. Play a soft music.

d. You love fountains? Use and turn them on. They are specifically useful for drowning out traffic noise. 

Selling Mistakes To Avoid and Maximize Profit

Published by cravat | Filed under Cities, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

We Definitely Want More Profit

When a typical seller meet to interview real estate agents, it is usually easy to get jammed up in the pleasure over choosing a sales price. More cash means more opportunities financially for the owner. Possibly it means the owner or the seller can definitely manage to purchase a more expensive home, aid them for their children college education or splurge a little on vacation that has been overdue for years. Sadly, uninformed seller usually choose the listing agent who suggest the highest listed price, which is the one of  the terrible mistake a seller can make. 

Creating Value

Honestly, it does not really be of any importance on how much money you feel your home is worth. Nor does it matter, what your listing agent thinks or any other agents for that matter. The opinion of the buyer is the most valuable one simply because they are the one who is going to make an offer and ultimately brings in the profit. Putting label on cost in your property is part of science. It entails evaluating similar and potential investments that your buyer may consider. Being open in making adjustments for the difference among them, understand market advances and taking stock in the current inventory.

All that, in an effort to come up with a realistic range of property cost and a knowledgeable opinion. This process is the same technique an appraiser evaluates a property. And no two assessors are ever the same. Nonetheless, they costing are generally close to one another. In short, there is no hard and fast tag price to whack on your property. It is only an educated estimate and market will dictate its price.

Is it too Low?

Home put up for a sell at a price a potential buyer is keen to pay and an owner or a seller that is willing to accept. If a property is tagged to low for its price, the cost under the competition, the seller must probably receive several offers to drive up the price to market value. So that is the little danger in pricing your property too low. If its too high and your only basis is your agents opinion of value, that will create another drawback in selling.

It Starts To Go Wrong

An owner of a property easily picked an agent he first sees in the internet without even interviewing because he said “She seems to be such a nice woman.” She priced his property with a price way too high in the market. Little did the agent know that other agents who are familiar in the market list on that area are just laughing around, as this agent works in a different neighborhood. After a given time her listing expires.

Arm yourself

Once your listing has expired, it definitely cost you an amount of money. The financial loss usually exceeds the extra mortgage payments paid and goes beyond the stress factor of trying to keep your home well-maintained during showings. It certainly affects the value that a buyer chooses to invest when it is not a new listing anymore. Your property becomes stale, worn, dated because it has been over priced for too long.  Do not allow this to happen to you. Do not be that seller of an expired listing. 

More Precautionary Tips for Women Home Buyers

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Cities, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

Fear again conquers the mind of more and more women most specially if you live by yourself. Statistics proves that more than a hundred million women settles in the cities and their suburbs. It pays to be more aware of your surroundings and in the neighborhood that you live in.

Here more tips to become more secure in areas that you likely to consider buying a house and living in it all alone.

Homes with Security Systems

There are so many security alarms or system, where contractors allows it on a lease terms and how much it will cost you on a monthly basis. Tell them to do an orientation on how your home is wired and whether all windows and doors are monitored on a system. Know who communicates in an event of breakage, is it a police or a security alarm staff.

Do a Routine Door Inspection

Inspect door jamb to know if it is been repaired or if it is cracked. Detect if the lock is new. If you see a damaged door jamb or a new lock, always ask why. Also, be sure that all external doors have deadbolts installed which cannot be accessed from the outside and only unlocks from the inside.

Bedroom Location

A burglar usually prefers quiet locations where they do their breaking in without being totally heard much more seen from the street. Upper floor bedrooms could appear much secure but the distance of a light noise created by the burglars could create a sound proof so when they break the sound may not travel to the second floor where you can instantly hear it. Also it is much harder to escape on an upper floor in an event of fire rather than a burglar.

Higher Floor in Condominium Units

Burglars prefer targeting lower floors where they can have an easy escape and be likely to attract crime. They do not bother to take the elevator or to climb the stairs where they can easily be noticed in a building. Units that faces the street are more safe than those at the back area.

Homes in Alleys

Alleys are typically quiet and dark during night time. This gives way to crooks to make your home a target which is not visible by your neighbors. It also provides easy access to escape, other neighborhood install gates on alleys to deter public access on private properties.

Consider Properties with A Fenced Back Yard

Fenced area discourages crime incidents at home because it makes it difficult for criminals to have access in your property. And since most or generally every human being loves a dog, consider adopting. Dogs simply make a great companion and that fenced part of your home is a perfect place for a dog to play.

It also creates a sense of security, as if someone is watching over them especially with women. Either big or a small dog, it really depends on your preferences so long as it can create a sound that instantly alarm you when someone unrecognized is lazing around.

Are You A Future Home Buyer?

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Cities, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

A newly wedded couple friend of mine was so eager to get their own home but typically carries a certain amount of fear before and right after they bought their newly owned property.

It is common to feel uncertain at a given moment when you know that you are making the biggest and probably the longest investment in your life whether you are just married or single because you are opening yourself in liabilities. 

Several first time home investors places down a certain minimal amount and purchase a home under a given a loan in which you entail yourself to a long-term commitment in most markets.

Giving you a Few Traits of a Home Buyer.

When you a living in a certain area, If you can purchase a home for around the same amount or just a little bit higher on your rental cost and you do mind staying there to build equity, considering buying a home may be a good investment call for you. You know that you are a good property buyer if:

A buyer who knows how to play with the market

If your typical statement says “Each property listed in the market is over-priced. I am not spending that much.” Then you are not conforming to the listed market. Genuine home buyers study and understand their market and have sensible expectations.

A buyer with savings.  – A reserve on at least two to three months on mortgage payments.

Mortgage lenders prefer to have potential buyers with reserve. You must not take every single nickel together and put everything into your home purchase. You will definitely need a contingency fund.

A buyer who has the time and capacity to maintain their home.

Acquiring a property needs constant upkeep. You need to regularly maintain the house for minor repairs.   

A buyer who has a stable job for at least two years.

If not in your current work or employer at least two years in the same field will be enough. Lenders require checking your stability in your employment record.

A buyer who stays and lives in the area.

If your residency is doubtful, I would suggest to skip your idea of property buying, for now. Some buyers who transfer are able to lease out their home but managing a rental long distance is not always clever. You do not want to end up being forced to see when you do not have enough capacity to pay commissions and other costs to sell.

Security Precautions for Women Home Buyers

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Cities, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

Women just like I have unique worries when it comes to personal security. Census says that more and more women prefer to live by themselves. 

Women population covers more than one third of the real estate growth on investments made by these single women more than before.

No wonder security concerns become much visible in the cities.Now, real estate developers and contractors are much aware of the increasing population of women living alone in many properties such as townhouses and condominiums and also the reason why they create a higher security measures. That includes local government planners who recognize the volume of women who now uses parking slots, streets and sidewalk, with the consideration of an increase ratio of women in a given area.

The Fear of Violence

If you suddenly felt an uneasy in public places, remember to walk at a faster pace. Women who walk confidently are less likely to be prone of attackers for easy target and avoid placing herself in a violent situation. It is an advice I always remember.

Cruelty is typically common in low-cost homes that a regular single women, can afford to purchase. It is usually in a crime-ridden area and it may fuel womens’ fear of being attacked, raped, mugged, assaulted or mugged or the most to be murdered.

With a certain amount of fear in our head could still be healthy but you need to pay more attention to your guts.

But these fears should not stop women to purchase her dream home but I can give you some tips to train you for home safety and give you tips on finding the right home with safety at front.

Here are some security tips for home buying women:

Purchase a House with Attached Garages

The day gets darker much easily during winter, which means the day-shift employees arrives homes and it is dark. You might feel uneasy walking in a dark side walk towards your house if your garage were separated. Try to prefer properties with an electronic door opener in the garage.

Villages / Subdivisions with Gated entry

Speak with the Association on how often they change the gate lock or code. Typically, home owners changes their codes to avoid unauthorized entry. Observe that gates should be completely closed just before the second car enters the gate.

Lights are important

Every woman wants to feel secured in her neighborhood and do not feel imprisoned in her own home. Women should feel free to walk or do a brisk walk after dinner to the club house with your dog or just simply go to a convenience store just right outside your village when you needed to buy something.

Abundant street lights and motion sensor lights gives a feeling of a much secure place than a dimly lighted areas.

Additional Tips on How to Write REO Foreclosure Offers

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Cities, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

Who does not want to hit the jackpot when you are purchasing an REO property? Everyone does. I am giving you more ways to stand-out and make a winning offer versus the rest of them.

1) Did you Try to ask the Number of Offers Received for that REO Foreclosure?

If they have not received any offers on the REO property, then it is a cue that you most likely you can offer less than the list price and more change to get your offer accepted. Nonetheless, if there are a couple of offers, you probably need to gauge an offer which is above the asking price. If there are more than ten offers, keep in mind that one or a couple of those offers might be in cash basis. Banks prefers to deal with cash offers. If you are getting loans, then you may consider increasing the price on your offer to be even considered.

2) Provide a Preapproval Letter

By providing the bank a pre-approval letter from your lender in advance places a step forward. Also, get preapproved by the lender who owns the house. Do not simply expect to use this lender for your loan; rather provide them also of the pre-approval letter from this letter together with the correspondence from your own. Since Banks do not easily see other lenders approval to as an advantage but only trust their own, ofcourse. 

3) For Repair and Inspections, Never Ask the REO Bank

Other banks will pay for maintenance but usually will not say yes to do so during the offer stage. If problems are found during a house inspection. Try to re-negotiate after your offer has been accepted and finalized. 

4) Cut Short the duration of Inspection

If some owners ask for twenty days, for instance, to do the inspections and you tell for fifteen, you will be most likely considered a more serious buyer. 

5) When you can afford, split the fees with the Bank

This same deal goes with escrow fees other banks will not cover and pay for the transfer fees, for instance. If a potential buyer offer to shoulder the fees into half, the bank most probably will agree more in accepting the offer.

6) Think of the Repercussions in Appraisal

If your offer is over the listed price, remember that the appraisal will need to validate that cost. If you see yourself doing transaction with a low appraisal, you still have an alternative so do not easily give up.  Keep in mind that bank will most likely experience this problem with other buyers who acquires financing,