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Three Special Selling Tips to Move Your Home

These Selling Tips Help Adjust Buyer (and Seller!) Mindsets

Selling your home soon? It can be hard for sellers to come up with the details that make their home unique and appealing to buyers, especially since they’ve decided to move up or move on. 

I like to offer these three selling perspectives that help encourage sellers to see their home in a particularly favorable light. Ask yourself these questions and see if you don’t begin to see your listing with fresh eyes:

1. Where are the little luxuries in my home?

Don’t think big, think small: Did you have a professional organize your closet storage systems last year? Are there built-in items in the garage which make it a natural home for a future handyman? Did you weatherproof and tune-up the storage shed out back to double as a home office? Do the kitchen cabinets have slide-out shelves or other small luxury amenities? It’s not all about whirlpool bathtubs and brand new appliances... look for little wins that a lot of buyers will appreciate.

2. Why does your home beat apartment or condo living?

Many first-time buyers will have reached their limit with neighbors, noise, and cramped quarters. Sell your home on its merits compared to the “shared space” life. Is your neighborhood quiet? How big is the lot? What’s parking like at your house?

3. What’s fun nearby? (Even if you don’t think it’s fun.)

Even if you’re not a golfer, weightlifter, or theater-goer, those activities nearby can be a nice plus for potential buyers. With a new home comes the hope for personal growth and change, and playing up any activities that may catch a buyer’s eye are well worth mentioning. Have you become blind to activities nearby, simply because they’re not for you? Look again!

Of course there’s more to selling a home than these three tips, but hopefully these will get you thinking. For a more comprehensive sense of how I get my clients top dollar for their house, get in touch today:

The Most Essential Do's and Don'ts for Choosing the Right Contractor

Americans spend billions of dollars on construction and home remodeling each year. Many homeowners have discovered that improving their present residence with an updated kitchen, an additional bathroom, new windows or a new roof can be a more prudent investment than purchasing a new residence. However, adding a room or updating a kitchen can cost more than a new car, and consumers should take some time and care in planning a costly home improvement project. Unfortunately, most consumers spend less time choosing a contractor than they do choosing a car. Here is a checklist of important things to consider before starting any major construction project:

The Do's

• Do plan your project carefully.
• Do shop around before hiring a contractor.
• Do get at least three written bids on your project.
• Do provide all contractors with accurate plans or drawings that will enable them to determine the scope and cost of work when requesting bids.
• Do check with the Contractors State License Board to make sure the contractor is properly licensed, and to check the status and disciplinary history of the license.
• Do check out contractors with your local building department, trade associations or unions, consumer protection agency, and the Better Business Bureau.
• Do look at work the contractor has completed.
• Do ask your contractor to furnish a completion or contract bond.
• Do consult with more than one lending institution regarding the type of loan to obtain.
• Do ask your lender to recommend a funding-control company.
• Do make sure your contract provides for a "retention," apercentage of each payment or of the total job, ordinarily 10 percent, which you retain until the job is completed.
• Do make sure everything you and your contractor have agreed to is included in your contract, and don't sign anything until you understand and agree with all terms.
• Do ask your contractor about inconveniences that may occur, and plan accordingly.
• Do keep a job file.
• Do make sure you receive unconditional lien releases from subcontractors and material suppliers.
• Do make frequent inspections of the work, including a final walk-through.
• Do consult an attorney if a mechanics' lien is filed against your property.
• Do negotiate with the contractor first if problems or disagreements occur.

The Don'ts

• Don't hire an unlicensed contractor.
• Don't hire a contractor without first shopping around.
• Don't be fooled or pressured by a smooth-talking salesperson. Take the time and effort to make sure that the person or business doing your home improvement is going to perform in a professional manner.
• Don't act as an owner/builder, unless you are very experienced in construction.
• Don't sign anything until you completely understand it and agree to the terms.
• Don't make agreements with subcontractors or workers without consulting the prime contractor.
• Don't pay cash without a proper receipt.
• Don't make a down payment that exceeds the legal limit,usually ten percent.
• Don't let your payments get ahead of the contractor's completed work.
• Don't hesitate to ask questions of the contractor.
• Don't make final payment until you are satisfied with the job.

Eight steps to buying your home

EIGHT STEPS TO BUYING YOUR HOME

Make your dreams a reality

1. DECIDE TO BUY

Although there are many good reasons for you to buy a home, wealth building ranks among the top of the list. We call home ownership the best “accidental investment” most people ever make. But, we believe when it is done right, home ownership becomes an “intentional investment” that lays the foundation for a life of financial security and personal choice. There are solid financial reasons to support your decision to buy a home, and, among these, equity buildup, value appreciation, and tax benefits stand out.

Base your decision to buy on facts, not fears.

1. If you are paying rent, you very likely can afford to buy
2. There is never a wrong time to buy the right home. All you need to do in the short run is find a good buy and make sure you have the financial ability to hold it for the long run
3. The lack of a substantial down payment doesn't prevent you from making your first home purchase
4. A less-than-perfect credit score won't necessarily stop you from buying a home
5. The best way to get closer to buying your ultimate dream home is to buy your first home now
6. Buying a home doesn't have to be complicated – there are many professionals who will help you along the way

2. HIRE KEVIN CLARK TO BE YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT

The typical real estate transaction involves at least two dozen separate individuals – insurance assessors, mortgage brokers and underwriters, inspectors, appraisers, escrow officers, buyer’s agents, seller’s agents, bankers, title researchers, and a number of other individuals whose actions and decisions have to be orchestrated in order to perform in harmony and get a home sale closed. It is my responsibility as your real estate agent to expertly coordinate all the professionals involved in your home purchase and to act as the advocate for you and your interests throughout.

As your Buyer's Agent I will:

1. Educate you about your market.
2. Analyze your wants and needs.
3. Guide you to homes that fit your criteria.
4. Coordinate the work of other needed professionals.
5. Negotiate on your behalf.
6. Check and double-check paperwork and deadlines.
7. Solve any problems that may arise.

3. SECURE FINANCING

While you may find the thought of home ownership thrilling, the thought of taking on a mortgage may be downright chilling. Many first-time buyers start out confused about the process or nervous about making such a large financial commitment.

From start to finish, you will follow a six-step, easy-to-understand process to securing the financing for your first home.

Six steps to Financing a Home

1. Choose a loan officer (or mortgage specialist).
2. Make a loan application and get preapproved.
3. Determine what you want to pay and select a loan option.
4. Submit to the lender an accepted purchase offer contract.
5. Get an appraisal and title commitment.
6. Obtain funding at closing.

4. FIND YOUR HOME

You may think that shopping for homes starts with jumping in the car and driving all over town. And it’s true that hopping in the car to go look is probably the most exciting part of the home-buying process. However, driving around is fun for only so long – if weeks go by without finding what you're looking for, the fun can fade pretty fast. That’s why we say that looking for your home begins with carefully assessing your values, wants, and needs, both for the short and long terms.

Questions to ask yourself

1. What do I want my home to be close to?
2. How much space do I need and why?
3. Which is more critical: location or size?
4. Would I be interested in a fixer-upper?
5. How important is home value appreciation?
6. Is neighborhood stability and priority?
7. Would I be interested in a condo?
8. Would I be interested in new home construction?
9. What features and amenities do I want? Which do I really need?

5. MAKE AN OFFER

When searching for your dream home, you were just that – a dreamer. Now that you're writing an offer, you need to be a businessperson. You need to approach this process with a cool head and a realistic perspective of your market. The three basic components of an offer are price, terms, and contingencies (or “conditions” in Canada).

Price – the right price to offer must fairly reflect the true market value of the home you want to buy. Your agent’s market research will guide this decision.

Terms – the other financial and timing factors that will be included in the offer.

Terms fall under six basic categories in a real estate offer:

1. Schedule – a schedule of events that has to happen before closing.
2. Conveyances – the items that stay with the house when the sellers leave.
3. Commission – the real estate commission or fee, for both the agent who works with the seller and the agents who works with the buyer.
4. Closing costs – it’s standard for buyers to pay their closing costs, but if you want to roll the costs into the loan, you need to write that into the contract.
5. Home warranty – this covers repairs or replacement of appliances and major systems. You may ask the seller to pay for this.
6. Earnest money – this protects the sellers from the possibility of your unexpectedly pulling of the deal and makes a statement about the seriousness of your offer.

6. PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE

Unlike most major purchases, once you buy a home, you can’t return it if something breaks or doesn't quite work like it’s supposed to. That’s why home owner’s insurance and property inspections are so important.

A homeowner’s insurance policy protects you in two ways:

1. Against loss or damage to the property itself
2. liability in case someone sustains an injury while on your property

The property inspection show expose the secret issues a home might hide so you know exactly what you're getting into before you sign your closing papers.

• Your major concern is structural damage.
• Don't sweat the small stuff. Things that are easily fixed can be overlooked.
• If you have a big problem show up in your inspection report, you should bring in a specialist. If the worst-case scenario turns out to be true, you might want to walk away from the purchase.

7. CLOSE
The final stage of the home buying process is the lender’s confirmation of the home’s value and legal statue, and your continued credit-worthiness. This entails a survey, appraisal, title search, and a final check of your credit and finance. Your agent will keep you posted on how each if progressing, but your work is pretty much done.

You just have a few preclosing responsibilities:

1. Stay in control of your finances. Return all phone calls and paperwork promptly.
2. Communicate with your agent at least once a week.
3. Several days before closing, confirm with your agent that all your documentation is in place and in order.
4. Obtain certified funds for closing.
5. Conduct a final walk-through.

On closing day, with the guidance of a settlement agent and your agent, you'll sign documents that do the following:

1. Finalize your mortgage.
2. Pay the seller.
3. Pay your closing costs.
4. Transfer the title from the seller to you.
5. Make arrangements to legally record the transaction as a public record.
6. As long as you have clear expectations and follow directions, closing should be a momentous conclusion to your home-searching process and commencement of your home-owning experience.

8. PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT

Throughout the course of your home-buying experience, you've probably spent a lot of time with your real estate agent and you've gotten to know each other fairly well. There’s no reason to throw all that trust and rapport out the window just because the deal has closed. In fact, your agent wants you to keep in touch.

Even after you close on your house, I can still help you:

1. Handle your first tax return as a homeowner.
2. Find contractors to help with home maintenance or remodeling.
3. Help your friends find homes.
4. Keep track of your home’s current market value.

Home maintenance falls into two categories:

1. Keeping it clean: Perform routine maintenance on your home’s systems, depending on their age and style.
2. Keeping an eye on it: Watch for signs of leaks, damage, and wear. Fixing small problems early can save you big money later.