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Selling Houses

Common Showing Feedback & What it Actually Means

Understanding the feedback from potential buyers is like unlocking the secret to a successful sale. Let’s delve into some common feedback scenarios and what they might indicate:

1. Mechanical Concerns: “The furnace (or some other large ticket mechanical item) is old.” This feedback often hints at worries about future expenses. Buyers fear investing in a property that might require costly repairs down the line. Addressing these concerns could involve reassuring buyers or considering upgrades to ease their worries.

2. Layout and Space Perception: Now, consider comments about the floor plan not meeting expectations or rooms feeling smaller than anticipated. This feedback reveals a mismatch between perception and reality. Ensuring that your listing accurately reflects the property’s layout and dimensions can make a significant difference. Sometimes, simply updating photos or rearranging furniture can provide a clearer picture of the space.

3. Cleanliness and Odors: “The home smells funny” or “You can tell they have pets.” This feedback underscores the importance of smell. Air fresheners are not always the answer. Deep clean your home (you may want to consider a professional carpet cleaner vs. doing it yourself) and get rid of air fresheners. Many times they do more harm than help.

4. Renovation Needs or Decor Preferences: Feedback indicating that the property needs more work than expected or disliking specific design elements like wallpaper. This feedback suggests a perceived lack of value. Considering minor renovations or adjusting the listing price might help bridge the gap between expectations and reality.

5. Location and Surroundings: Lastly, think about negative comments regarding the neighborhood or nearby amenities. These remarks highlight the significant impact of location on buyer perception. While you can’t change the location, being transparent about any potential drawbacks in your listing can manage expectations and attract more suitable buyers.

Understanding buyer feedback is key to gauging the perceived value of your home. If feedback consistently fails to translate into offers, it may signal a need for adjustments in one of three key areas:

  1. Location: If the property’s location presents challenges, managing expectations through clear communication becomes essential.
  2. Condition: Ensuring that your home is well-maintained and addressing any issues that deter buyers can significantly enhance its appeal.
  3. Price: Ultimately, if the market response suggests that the listing price doesn’t align with perceived value, adjusting the price accordingly can attract more interested buyers.

As your listing agent, I’m dedicated to interpreting buyer feedback and collaborating with you to optimize your home’s appeal. Remember, feedback from agents/buyers can be an opportunity for improvement and brings you closer to a successful sale.

Getting Ready for Your Home Appraisal – A Quick and Easy Guide!

Exciting news! Your home appraisal is just around the corner, and we want to make sure you’re all set and ready to rock it! Appraisals might sound a bit intimidating, but fear not, we’ve got your back. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the process, step by step, so you know exactly what to expect.

1. Scheduling – Be a Bit Flexible

The first thing you can expect is a call from me or a Showingtime request to set a date for the big day. Please be flexible with the timing, it’ll help speed things along. The sooner we get the appraisal done, the sooner we can move on to the next exciting chapter!

2. Quick Visit – 20 Minutes, That’s It!

Good news: the actual appraisal won’t take much of your time at all. It’s a breeze, only about 20 minutes, give or take. You’re more than welcome to be home during the appraisal, but if you’ve got plans, no worries! It’s not necessary for you to be there.

3. Tidy Up – Make Your Home Shine

Now, I’m not expecting perfection, but giving your home a little tidy before the appraiser’s visit goes a long way. They’ll be taking a few pictures to document your home’s condition and features, so it’s a chance to make your place shine!

4. Easy Access – We’ve Got It Covered

If you can’t be home during the appraisal, don’t sweat it. We’ve got options! The appraiser can use the keybox to get inside your home. Safety first, though; we’ll ensure everything is secure and properly arranged.

5. The Results – Drumroll, Please!

We know you’re eager to hear how it all went! Typically, within a week after the appraisal, the lender will receive the results. I’ll keep you posted every step of the way, and once we have the report, I’ll share the exciting news with you.

There you have it – a quick guide to getting ready for your home appraisal!

What to Expect During Home Inspections as a Seller

Ah, home inspections—the crucial step that brings both excitement and a touch of nerves to the selling process. As a seller, it’s important to know what to expect during this phase. So, let’s dive in and explore what awaits you during home inspections.

  1. Negotiating the Inspection Period

First things first, let’s talk about the inspection period timeframe. This is a detail that we negotiated on our purchase agreement. It sets the window during which the buyer’s inspections will take place. It’s like setting a date for an important event—we’ve agreed upon the time, and now it’s time to prepare.

  1. Scheduling Inspections and Flexibility

Once the inspection period kicks in, you can expect to be contacted to schedule the inspections. We want to accommodate the buyer and their inspectors, so please do your best to be flexible.

  1. Time to Say Goodbye (Temporarily)

When inspection day arrives, it’s important to create a space that allows the inspectors to do their job effectively. For that reason, it’s best if you and your furry friends take some time away from the house during the inspection. Let the inspectors have the stage to themselves. It’s like giving them a quiet space to perform their inspection symphony. The home buyers will likely be there as well.

  1. The Inspection Duration

Now, you might be wondering how long this performance will last. Well, on average, home inspections can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. It may feel like a long intermission, but remember, this is all part of the process. The inspectors are meticulously examining every nook and cranny of your home to ensure its condition aligns with the buyer’s expectations.

  1. Prompt Communication is Key

As your trusted real estate professional, I will be in close communication with buyer’s Realtor. Rest assured, I’ll keep you in the loop as soon as possible. If any findings come up during the inspection, I’ll relay that information to you promptly.

Remember, dear seller, home inspections are an essential part of the selling journey. They allow the buyer to assess the condition of your home and make informed decisions. So, embrace the process with a light-hearted mindset. Think of it as a backstage pass to ensuring your home shines brightly in the eyes of potential buyers. With my support and guidance, we’ll navigate these inspections smoothly and bring the curtain down on a successful sale.

Reviewing Offers and Choosing the Right One

Ah, the moment you’ve been waiting for—offers are rolling in for your beloved home! It’s like receiving a bouquet of possibilities, each one a potential match for your selling journey. But fear not, my friend, for I am here to guide you through the process of receiving and reviewing offers with my extensive 20 years of experience. So, let’s dive in and navigate this exciting path together!

Step 1: Separating the Wheat from the Chaff

The first step is to ensure that all offers are viable contenders. I’ll carefully review the buyer’s pre-approval letter or proof of funds to verify their capability to follow through with the purchase. We want to make sure we’re working with serious buyers who are ready to make a commitment.

Step 2: Weighing Pros and Cons

In today’s competitive market, it’s crucial to carefully consider the pros and cons of each offer. I’ll provide you with an expert analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each offer, helping you make an informed decision. Think of me as your knowledgeable advisor, guiding you towards the most promising options.

Step 3: Cost Estimates and Negotiation Strategies

To ensure transparency and clarity, I’ll prepare a detailed cost estimate sheet for each offer. This will give you a clear understanding of the financial implications involved. And when it comes to negotiations, I’ll be your skilled advocate, effectively communicating your counter offer or acceptance to the buyer’s Realtor. Together, we’ll work towards finding common ground and reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.

So, my friend, let’s navigate the path of receiving and reviewing offers with confidence. With my expertise and guidance, we’ll carefully evaluate each offer, negotiate skillfully, and ultimately achieve a successful sale. It’s time to embark on this exciting journey and find the perfect buyer for your home!

Navigating the Journey from Offer Acceptance to Closing

Congratulations, dear seller! You’ve accepted an offer on your home, and now it’s time to embark on the exciting yet sometimes unpredictable journey towards closing. Buckle up and let me be your trusty co-pilot as we explore what to expect during this crucial phase. From inspections to appraisals, we’ll cover it all. So, let’s get this show on the road!

Inspections: The Sherlock Holmes of Homebuying

First up, inspections! Once the ink is dry on the contract, the buyer will typically conduct a thorough examination of your home. They’ll bring in their trusted inspectors to search for hidden surprises like a damaged roof or electrical gremlins. If any issues are discovered, the buyers may ask for price adjustments or repairs. But fear not! This is all part of the process. Negotiations may ensue, and together we’ll find a solution that keeps everyone’s wheels turning smoothly.

Other Contingencies: The Hitchhikers on the Road to Closing

Now, let’s talk contingencies—those important checkpoints that join the ride. The most common ones are the inspection contingency, financing contingency, appraisal contingency, survey, and title insurance. Think of them as necessary steps to ensure a smooth and secure transaction.

Ah, financing contingency—a vital companion on this journey. This contingency ensures that the buyer can secure a mortgage loan to purchase your home. While they may have already provided a pre-approval letter, there are still steps to navigate before they receive the “clear-to-close” from their lender. Patience is key here, as the buyers go through the mortgage process.

Next, we have the appraisal contingency. The lender wants to make sure they’re paying a fair price for your abode, so they’ll request an appraisal. If the appraisal value comes in lower than the agreed-upon price, the buyers may have the option to negotiate a new price or reconsider the deal. This is why it’s essential to price your home accurately from the start. Don’t worry, we’ve got this!

The survey—a document that maps out the boundaries and improvements on your property. Some buyers may choose to have a survey done to ensure they understand the lay of the land. If any conditions hinder the buyer’s use of the property, they may have the option to back out. But let’s stay focused and remember that challenges along the way don’t mean we can’t reach our destination!

Last but not least, we have title insurance—a vital piece of the puzzle. As the seller, you’ll need to provide the buyer with an insurance policy that protects their interest in the property from any unpaid or fraudulent liens. It’s like wrapping their ownership in a cozy security blanket.

Closing: The Final Destination

After successfully navigating inspections, contingencies, and all the twists and turns, we finally arrive at our destination—closing! This is where the magic happens, and ownership transfers from you to the buyer. It’s a celebration, my friend—a time to exchange keys, sign documents, and toast to a successful journey.

So, dear seller, fear not the road ahead. With my guidance, we’ll navigate the path from offer acceptance to closing with ease. Remember, it’s not just about reaching the destination; it’s about enjoying the journey along the way. So fasten your seatbelt, hold on tight, and let’s make this ride a memorable one!

How Showing Your Home Works

We will decide together on how to handle showings. We can set parameters as to the hours and days that showings are allowed, and how to notify you in advance.

We will use a system called Showingtime which will allow you to respond to showing requests via email, text or phone.

Usually we use an electronic lockbox that allows buyers’ agents to access your house key. These boxes also notify me any time they are opened, so no one is accessing your home without my knowledge.

If you have pets in the home that need to be tended to during showings, we will work out the best way to handle them. Furthermore, I will try to get feedback from each showing and pass that information back to you.

I will be there for you every step of the way and will be available for all questions or concerns.

The Most Important Repairs for Selling

No more twiddling your thumbs. You’re selling and the time has come to whip your well-loved but worn-down home into tip-top shape. So…what’s next? What repairs and improvements are worth it before selling? Here are six to consider:⁣

Paint. Paint is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to update your home and get it ready to list. Plus, you don’t need to be a pro. Just queue up YouTube, pick your colors, and get to rolling.⁣
Exterior. Help buyers locate your home by refreshing house numbers and boost curb appeal with fresh mulch and planters filled with annuals. Have more time? Pressure wash your driveway and sidewalks.⁣
Kitchen. Give cabinets, appliances, and backsplashes a serious scrubbing. Install new hardware and light fixtures and replace countertops if needed. Don’t do a full reno unless your agent advises.⁣
Bathrooms. Cleanliness is king but so is functionality. Repair running toilets and leaky faucets, and consider replacing dingy toilet seats.⁣
Lighting. The brighter the better. Ditch heavy drapes for breezy curtains (or no curtains at all) to let in as much natural light as you can.⁣
Floors. There’s nothing like walking into a home with freshly refinished hardwood floors. If you can, consider refinishing your wood floors — don’t worry, the return on investment is very high.⁣

I encourage sellers to prep their homes right out of the gate for the home inspection. If it’s going to show up on the inspection, why not take care of it before it hits the market? ⁣

Are you thinking about selling and wondering what buyers want in your neighborhood? Reach out to me and let’s chat!

4 Strategies to Buy Your Dream Home and Sell Your Current One

When you first purchased your home it met your needs and budget, but life (as it always does) has changed. Maybe you have a different job that is located on another side of town, or your family situation has grown from 2 people to 4, or you now have a much higher income and would love a nicer home to reflect your current taste. The point is that the home served its purpose but it is now time to move on.

What you need is a plan to get from point A (your current home) to point B (the new home that meets your current wants/needs). Hiring an awesome Realtor to guide you down this path is highly recommended since it can be complicated and overwhelming!! Below are the most common strategies to accomplish your moving goal.

1.List your current home then look for a new one once your home is under contract and write an offer contingent upon you closing on your home.

One of the benefits of this strategy are that you know how much you will be getting in proceeds (since you’ve already accepted an offer at a certain purchase price). This is extremely helpful when budgeting and planning for the next home. The other positive is that when you do find the home that meets your needs and get an offer accepted, you will not have the stress of putting your home on the market. That step will be behind you. The risks that come from this strategy are that you may not find the right home in the timeframe that you have negotiated before closing. This may cause a double move and the need for temporary housing. Another con is that it is harder to get an offer accepted that has a contingency in it, even if it’s just to close on your home. Sellers like clean offers and the less risk the better. Another factor to consider is the chance something falls through on the sale of your current home. You risk losing out on the new home and having to start all over from square one.

2. Sell your current home then find a new home after the current one closes to eliminate the need for a sale contingency.

This one can sound super scary. Nobody wants to risk being homeless. There are many ways to make this a smooth transition with extended possession after closing or finding a temporary place to land (mom & dads, short term rental, temporary RV living…). The major benefit is that this strategy will give you the best buying power in the market. When you have your proceeds from your sale and do not have the risk of having to sell your home sellers will favor your offer over those that submit contingent offers.

3. Buy your new home (cash, bridge loan, new mortgage), then list and sell your current home.

When you decide to buy the new home before selling, the stress about finding the “right one” is minimized since that step is first and you do not have the pressure of a short timeframe. This strategy will also give you the opportunity to declutter the current house by moving items to new house which can help with the staging process, and you will not have to worry about finding temporary housing or moving twice. Of course there are risks involved. These include: being unsure of the exact proceeds from the sale of your home (the market will determine the ultimate sale price despite what you see in the sale data), you won’t have the cash from home sale for down payment, and perhaps this biggest concern is that you may have carrying costs and run the risk of having 2 mortgages.

4. Look for a new home. Once you find the right home, write an offer contingent upon you selling your home. If your offer is accepted, list and sell your home.

This strategy is the most challenging to execute smoothly, but it absolutely can be done! The reason that buyers choose to use this strategy is that they are not comfortable with the risk of selling their home without having another home lined up, yet they cannot afford and/or are not comfortable with buying a home before selling their current home.

The stars all have to align to pull this off. First you have to find a home that you like and write an offer attractive enough that the sellers are willing to accept your offer with this contingency. After that you will have to get your home on the market in a very short period of time and position it in the market for a quick offer, and finally we work hard to get everything done and close on the sales on both homes.

Which strategy is best for you?

The current market conditions and your personal situation will help you determine this. Hopefully you will be able to find a way to balance both at the same time (or a short window). If this is not possible, you need to decide which risk you are more comfortable with – owning zero houses (selling your home first) or owning two houses (purchasing next home first). Again, I cannot stress enough… finding an experienced and professional Realtor to guide you through this process is SO important!!

How to Manage Your Emotions When Selling Your Home

Hire a Realtor

You’ll gain an advocate, expert, and cheerleader whose single goal is looking out for your best interest as you complete one of the largest transactions of your life. Plus they have the skills to help guide you through the emotional roller coaster that the home selling process brings.

Trust the data

It’s only natural to feel like your home is better than the one that sold across the street. Your Realtor will help you sort through the facts and the feelings. While you are reviewing comparable sales in the market analysis, look at them through the eyes of a buyer. If you were to buy your home, how much would you pay? The data will give you the answer.

Depersonalize your home

Taking down your family pictures, putting away your family heirlooms and packing away your kids art are all examples of how you can depersonalize. The staging step of the process can help you detach your personal attachment to your home. When it looks like a show place instead of your cozy abode it will shift your mindset during the sale process.

Focus on your Why

There is a reason you are choosing to sell. Whether it’s downsizing to simplify your life, buying a larger home for your growing needs or relocating to another state. Keeping your eye on the prize will help minimize feelings of connection to your home during the sale process.

Preparing for Closing Day as a Seller

Closing day is the best day! It’s what we’ve been working towards and the deal is officially done. This is what you can expect from me as we prepare to close.

I will make sure all terms are satisfied and that the buyer’s lender has issued a clear to close or for cash transactions verify that the buyer will have funds available for the specified close date.

Closings are scheduled during the day from 9-4 on the hour. You may have to arrange from time off from work to be available for closing. I will do my best to make sure the time and location is convenient for you and your needs.

The transfer of utilities is coordinated with the time of possession. If possession is the date of close you should plan to make phone calls to the utility companies a few days before close. If the possession is extended after closing you will want to contact the utility companies a few days before you hand the buyer(s) the keys. I will provide you with the list of phone numbers in advance.

The day of closing you will need to bring your photo identification, social security number, keys (if possession is at close), a cashiers or certified check made out to the title company (if you are required to bring funds to close the transaction), and a check made out to the buyer(s) if you have extended possession and rent is a negotiated part of the contract.

At the closing you will receive copies of all of the documents and your proceeds check (if applicable). Please keep in mind the title company will issue this check specifically to the name on the title.

If you need the name of moving companies or a source for moving boxes I will provide you with a list of excellent resources.

After closing I will follow up with you to make sure that all your needs are met and answer any questions that you may have.