Category: Selling

If you’re selling a house, this is the place to be. Whether you’re interested in the details of staging or marketing your home, accepting a purchase offer, preparing for closing or even in relocation, we’ve got the information you need right here to get the most out of selling your home.

Settling Into a New Community

Moving to a new house creates a long “to do” list and no small amount of stress. If the house is in a new community, it’s just as important to get acquainted with the area and its people as it is to turn on the utilities.  Here are some tips for settling into a new… Read more »

A New Headquarters in Town: Help or Hindrance to Home Ownership?

Large corporations frequently relocate their headquarters to new cities. How will that affect you as a home buyer or seller? Why do companies relocate headquarters? The U.S. is always evolving. Changes in demographics, education growth, infrastructure development, and many other factors can prompt companies to relocate to new headquarters or, in the case of Amazon,… Read more »

Tackling a Big Job: Moving a Hot Tub

Sellers may want to take a hot tub with them to their next house, and buyers may want to get rid of one that came with a home they purchased. Can you safely move a hot tub yourself, or should you leave the heavy lifting to the professionals? Let’s get the job done safely without… Read more »

Buying or Selling a Home With Unpermitted Space

Selling or buying a home where construction was done without required building permits can be a prickly problem that is difficult and expensive to resolve. Here’s what to consider when a home has unpermitted space. Problems for the homeowner Homeowners may be tempted to remodel without getting a building permit and related inspections. But this… Read more »

What to Do While Waiting for Shipped Belongings

On an overseas or cross-country move, you’ll probably arrive long before your belongings. Here’s a game plan for what to do while you wait. Be Prepared Before leaving, get an estimate of how long it will take for your belongings to arrive and plan accordingly. Pack mix-and-match clothes, just as you would if you were… Read more »

New Friends: Helping Your Kids Adjust After a Move

Whether you’re moving across the state or halfway around the world, your children will be forced to adjust to new routines, unfamiliar surroundings and possibly even new languages and cultures.  They’ll also face the daunting task of making new friends at school. Here’s how parents can help. 1. Keep in Touch Emails, phone calls, texts,… Read more »

I’m Moving Abroad. What Do I Need to Know?

Moving abroad raises the stakes on the usual questions about relocation. Should we rent first or jump in and buy? Does renting have any advantages over buying? Keep reading for tips and advice so you’re prepared to make informed decisions confidently regardless of the distant locale and unfamiliar customs. Trial Run When making a major… Read more »

Important Considerations Before Selling and Downsizing

Downsizing is the byword in the soon-to-be-retired set, shedding the outsized house for smaller, more manageable living. But before you sell your house, develop a plan and answer these questions. Where do you want to live? Even in your golden years, location is a prime consideration in owning real estate. While raising kids you wanted… Read more »

The Tax Benefit of Selling Your Home

The tax advantages of buying and owning a home are well known, but what happens when you sell? Read on to learn about the tax benefit you may accrue when you sell your house. Rules affecting capital gains taxes Most tax benefits available for home sellers relate to how any profit, or capital gain, you… Read more »

Should You Buy a House Before Selling Yours?

If you’re in the market for a new home, should you buy a house before selling your current home? That’s a tough call. Here are some important considerations to help you come up with the answer that’s right for you. Market conditions are very important An important question to answer as you begin considering whether… Read more »

Resizing May Perfectly Suit Your Needs

As couples watch their children leave the nest, they are increasingly “downsizing” to homes with less space, maintenance, and expense. But a new term, “resizing,”  has emerged for this season of life. Resizing can be less demanding for couples and better suit their needs. Let’s retrofit our thinking about where to live once the kids… Read more »

7 Home Improvements Approved by Design Experts

Whether you are ready to list your home or expect to stay put a few more years, check out these top seven home improvements — the most important from an interior designer’s point of view. 1. Color Palettes Instead of painting rooms wild, brash colors, designers recommend neutral colors, while adding color and personalization using… Read more »

Is “Coming Soon” the Right Home Sales Strategy for You?

Movie theaters always show previews of upcoming films before the main feature. A similar strategy, the “coming soon” sign in the yard of a home about to be put up for sale, has become popular. Does this practice benefit the seller? What is a “coming soon” listing? Announcing that a home is “coming soon” is… Read more »

Selling Your Home Takes Teamwork

When you list with a real estate agent, you may want to sit back and let her do all the work. But selling your home is a team effort. You can make a big contribution by beginning to market your home before the listing even goes public. It’s a concert, not a solo You hire… Read more »

I’m Moving: How Do I Find the Best Schools for My Kids?

When moving with children, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is a big one: Where are the best schools to send the kids? Do Your Homework If at all possible, research your options before you move. Among the choices: local schools, charter and magnet schools, private schools and boarding schools, and, if… Read more »

5 Tips to Help Your Spouse Relocate With You

As you prepare to relocate abroad, your spouse may be in crisis, giving up a comfortable lifestyle to follow and support you. Here are five things to think about to help make the transition smoother for both of you. Work Visas This legal document, specific to one country, allows you to work for a particular… Read more »

How to Bust the Clutter Before a Move

It’s moving time, it’s probably time for the dreaded Big Purge. Why pay to transport or store items you no longer use or love? Here’s how to decide what to keep, what to sell, donate or discard, and what to store before a move. Keep… Items of sentimental value such as family heirlooms are keepers;… Read more »

Taking the Mystery Out of a Pocket Listing

You may have heard a real estate agent mention that she has a “pocket listing.” This term may sound mysterious, but it refers to a concept that might help you sell your home. Let’s unlock the not-so-secret power of this selling strategy. Give qualified buyers the first shot. Typically when you list your house for… Read more »

Should You Sell A Home “As Is”?

Sometimes a seller chooses to sell a home “as is.” What does that mean? When is this a good option for the seller? Should you consider buying an “as is” home? Read on for some answers. What Does Selling “As Is” Mean? Simply put, selling a home as is means that the seller is not… Read more »

Lockboxes: A Key to Selling Your House

You’ve seen them as you pass houses for sale: lockboxes hanging from the front door handle or porch railing. A key inside the box enables real estate agents to get into the house to show it. You might be surprised how important a role lockboxes can play in selling your house. Here’s how. Unlocking the… Read more »