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How To Handle Offers
You obviously have experience purchasing a home. But you may not have had an opportunity, yet, to be on the other side of the transaction: putting your house on the market and entertaining offers. Offers, in particular, can intimidate first time sellers (even those who have bought and sold a few ...
Continue ReadingBuying a Home That Needs Work
When you’re shopping for a new home, you may come across properties that require repairs or renovations. Are these houses worth the added expense? Will you get your money back if you decide to sell the house in the future? According to market studies, certain renovations and repairs do add more ...
Continue ReadingThe Advantage of Getting Pre-Approved
One of the best things you can do to ensure you get the home you want is to arrange for financing before you go shopping. This is often referred to as getting “pre-approved”. Getting pre-approved simply means that your lender has calculated how much of a mortgage they’re willing to offer ...
Continue ReadingUnderstanding the Home Buying Process
The more you know about the best way to reach a goal, the more likely you are to get the result you want. So, whether you’re hunting for a new job, assembling a backyard BBQ, or training for a 3 mile run, you’ll want to use a proven process to ...
Continue ReadingWill Your Furniture Fit?
When shopping for a new house or condo, most buyers consider such factors as proximity to schools, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, size of the kitchen, and more. These are, of course, all important considerations. But there’s one question that few buyers ask – until it’s too late. “Will our ...
Continue ReadingShould You Accept A “Conditional” Offer?
There’s no doubt about it. The best kind of offer is a “firm” offer. The buyer offers you a certain price for your property and, should you accept it, the deal is done. Congratulations. You’ve just sold your house! But more often than not, an offer is “conditional”. That means the ...
Continue ReadingSurviving A Bidding War
You’re about to make an offer on a home. Then, to your despair, you find out that three other offers have also come in for the same property. Be careful. It’s all too easy to get swept up in the excitement and, like a hand raised one too many times at ...
Continue ReadingGetting Schooled On Local Schools
If you have kids, the local school will be a big part of your new home buying decision. That’s why it’s important to get a school’s “vital statistics”, such as: Safety record Curriculum Accommodation for special needs Awards Average class sizes Extracurricular activities. (sports, arts, crafts, technology, etc.) Scores on standardized achievement tests Daily schedules and vacations Even such ...
Continue ReadingFresh Air Sells
The problem with household smells is that we get accustomed to them… when they are in our own homes. However, it takes just a few seconds in a stranger’s home, to know if a smoker lives there. The smell is in the air! So when you put your home on the ...
Continue ReadingWhy You Should Order Your Own Credit Report
“I don’t have a problem with credit,” a potential new home buyer says. “I pay my bills on time. I never have trouble getting a loan.” That may be true. However, according to several surveys, most people are surprised by at least one piece of information in their credit report. And ...
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