The moment a sales contract is signed, the clock begins ticking for both buyer and seller to fulfill contractual obligations. The seller must provide important documents to the buyer. Many, but not all, of these items, are procured by the title company or attorney hired to facilitate the transaction. Items the seller provides. A title… Read more »
If your house has been up for sale for two months — or longer — without a nibble of interest, it’s probably time to ask yourself some tough questions. What causes a house to languish on the market and when should you lower the price? Pinpoint the problem. With a Comparative Market Analysis or CMA… Read more »
When you get an offer to buy your house, take a deep breath and set aside your emotions. It’s time to negotiate using solid numbers based on the real estate market’s current conditions in your area. Crunch the numbers. Ideally, you and your agent did a Comparative Market Analysis or CMA before listing your home,… Read more »
When a home seller and a buyer come to an agreement on a sale, more than just the house and land are involved. Misunderstandings sometimes arise over elements of the home that the buyer thought were staying and the sellers intended to take with them. These decisions revolve around three legal concepts: real property, personal… Read more »
If you’re talking about a potential home renovation project, it’s important to know if the money you put into the project will translate into more money down the road when, or if, you sell your house. Some projects will pay off handsomely while others will not. And, sometimes, it’s how you do the project that… Read more »
Before jumping into a home remodeling project, think hard about the reasons behind your proposed renovations. If an anticipated big payoff at resale time is one of your top priorities, you might want to reconsider. While many home improvement projects will add value to your home, most will give you less than a 50 percent… Read more »
When you decide to sell your home with an agent, one of the most important decisions you will make together is the asking price. Set the price too high and your home could languish, causing buyers to wonder what’s wrong with it and forcing you to drop your price. Set the price too low and… Read more »
Pulling up stakes and moving is stressful. Add kids to the mix, and your stress levels may be off the charts. Look at it from a child’s point of view. You’re asking them to leave their home, their schools and their friends. Pave the way for an easy transition by following these four tips. Preparation… Read more »
Your family is moving to a new home. It’s an exciting and stressful time for everyone — including your pets. Here are four tips to help your pets survive the ups and downs of moving day. Visit the vet. Before you move, take your pet for a veterinarian visit. Make sure your pet is up… Read more »
Recent home sales in your neighborhood are a good predictor of the price your home might fetch, but your neighbors — good and bad — are also likely to play a major role. Here are four examples of how the neighbors and the area surrounding your neighborhood may help or hurt your home’s value. Neatness… Read more »
The complexities of selling a home can be daunting. You don’t have the time or inclination to sell it yourself so what should you expect when hiring an agent to list and sell your home? A specific plan. The agent representing you should put together a detailed plan for marketing your home for the best… Read more »
Congratulations! You have a contract on your house, at or near your asking price, and your buyer is in the midst of the mortgage approval process. The deal is not totally closed, however, until a few important milestones are met. One of the most crucial is that your home appraise high enough to meet the… Read more »
One of the most anxiety producing aspects of selling a home is when the buyer sends the home inspector. As the seller, you don’t want your buyer to get cold feet over the inspection report. Although such nervousness is normal, a little knowledge and preparation will go a long way toward a successful outcome. Fix… Read more »
