Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. wants your help and commentary on our Real Estate Blog
Partnerships for Investment
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/30/14
Partnerships for Investment
keywords:#DFW, #Dallas, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Texas, #Tarrant, #Mansfield, #Arlington, #Fort_Worth, #North_Texas, #Home_Appraisal, #Home_Appraiser, #Real_Estate, #De_Soto, #Euless, #Johnson, #Fort_Worth_Home_Appraisal, #Fort_Worth_home_appraiser
If you are thinking about investing in real estate, you should know that you don't have to do it alone. There are several that are thinking of the same thing as you, but don't have the proper resources to begin the process. Building partnerships to invest in real estate is one of the great ways to start building an income off of owning land.
One of the benefits of having someone else investing in real estate with you is that it will allow for any missed parts of the process to be covered. This is especially important in the beginning of the process. If you are unsure of different parts to look at with the real estate investing or if you don't feel like you can cover all of the areas alone, a partner can help in determining what you are missing. Everything from contract work to needing a third person can be handled and put together from missing links. Two heads are always better than one, especially if you are just beginning.
Having a partner to help you with investing can also be beneficial because of organizational needs that will need to be met. Everything from basic paperwork to taxes and even procedures can be better when handled by two people. You will want to make sure that everything that is set for your profits is understood by both and whatever is missed will be picked up by your partner in order to keep the benefits coming in organized.
By having more than one person involved in the investment of real estate properties, you will be able to set your goals, keep standards and move forward in the business. Finding the right person who has the necessary tools will ensure that you will be successful. Having the right help will provide you the ability to continue to expand your business and make plenty of profit from real estate sales.
Real estate law: Not for you?
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/29/14
Real estate law: Not for you?
keywords: #real_estate_law, #law, #DFW, #Dallas, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Texas, #Tarrant, #Mansfield, #Arlington, #Fort_Worth, #North_Texas, #Home_Appraisal, #Home_Appraiser, #Real_Estate, #De_Soto, #Euless, #Johnson
Real estate is indeed one of the safest investments and a lot of people use real estate as an investment avenue. Real estate law is not the forte of real estate attorneys and real estate agents only. Every real estate investor should understand at least the basics of real estate law. In fact, a short course or a concise book on real estate law can sometimes be of great help (and is generally sufficient for understanding the basics of real estate law).
What you need to understand is the real estate law with respect to the legal procedures that you need to follow for ensuring a smooth transfer of title to the property you acquire/sell and other related procedures. You need to understand the fee structure (e.g. stamp duty, etc) that you need to take care of as per real estate law. You can also understand the classification of properties and how the basic real estate law applies to them. How the commercial and residential properties are treated differently by the real estate law. The tax laws with respect to real estate are one of the things that would be of most interest to you. So, your study on real estate law should also cover all the aspects related to taxes. How mortgages are treated in the perspective of real estate law is another thing that you should know about. Then again, the real estate law with respect to tenancy should also be well understood by people who wish to rent out their property.
However, you should not overdo that i.e. you should not start becoming hysterical about learning real estate law (lest you end up wasting a lot of time in trying to learn everything about real estate law and be left with no time to evaluate your real estate investment). Leave the intricacies of real estate law with the real estate attorneys (and to some extent real estate brokers who too are taught real estate law as part of their course for obtaining broker license).
Understanding the various legal terms referred to in real estate laws can help you in not only enhancing your understanding of real estate but also help in making your conversations with real estate attorneys/agents really fruitful. You should also note that though some of the basics remain the same, the real estate laws vary across various states. Also, real estate laws (especially the tax related real estate laws) can undergo a change over a period of time, so you need to keep a tab on such changes. Any big changes will anyhow appear prominently in news and you will get to know of them anyhow.
So knowing a little bit of real estate law can really be helpful (and is, in fact, essential).
Specific Performance Demands In Real Estate Transactions
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/28/14
Title:
Specific Performance Demands In Real Estate Transactions
Word Count:
420
Summary:
Every so often, real estate transactions can go bad. This often results in one party demanding the other specifically perform pursuant to the real estate contract.
Keywords:
real estate, listings, specific performance, buyer, seller, transactions, contract, #DFW, #Dallas, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Texas, #Tarrant, #Mansfield, #Arlington, #Fort_Worth, #North_Texas, #Home_Appraisal, #Home_Appraiser, #Real_Estate, #De_Soto, #Euless, #Johnson
Article Body:
Every so often, real estate transactions can go bad. This often results in one party demanding the other specifically perform pursuant to the real estate contract.
Specific Performance Demands In Real Estate Transactions
Once a seller and buyer agree on a price for a property, a real estate contract is signed. The contract contains provisions each must comply with, provisions that are legally binding. If problems arise during escrow, particularly if things turn nasty, one party may look to legal remedies to force the other party to do something.
Specific performance is a legal demand that a party perform some act. Although the theory can be applied to many situations, it is often seen in real estate transactions. This is because courts have determined that property is unique, and specific performance is often more valuable than monetary damages.
In the case of real estate, specific performance demands often involve the conveyance of title. Having met the conditions of the contract, the buyer demands the seller convey title to them. Why would sellers not do this automatically? Situations can include seller remorse, basic flakiness or the realization the seller accepted far too low an offer compared to what the market would produce.
Specific performance demands are a two sided situation. Courts often are reluctant to grant them because human nature is such that the defendant will often poison a situation by damaging the property or screwing up title. This does not mean the seller is off the hook.
While courts are hesitant to grant specific performance demands, they are not hesitant to enforce real estate contracts. Depending upon the laws in your state, the court may grant something called a “lis pendens.” The “lis pendens” represents the equivalent of the monetary damages suffered by the buyer. More importantly, it is recorded against the deed of the seller’s property. This effectively forces the seller to pay the buyer if the seller ever hopes to sell the property. When a title insurance company reviews title for any subsequent sale, it will notify the new purchaser of the “lis pendens” and refuse to issue title insurance. With no title insurance, the seller is going to have an extremely hard time moving the property. In fact, it will be nearly impossible as it is difficult to imagine any buyer that would want to get involved in the dispute.
While there can be sniping in real estate transactions, most go fairly smoothly. When they fall apart, specific performance and “lis pendens” can become dominant issues.
Follow-Up: The Key To Successful Closings
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/27/14
Title:
Follow-Up: The Key To Successful Closings
Word Count:
711
Summary:
Have all of your deals close easily and on time by conducting the proper follow up. Learn the steps and the tricks to following up to ensure that you always get to the closing table and receive your check.
Keywords:
Real Estate Investing, No Money down, investment property, investment opportunity, carlton sheets, short sale, reo, wholesaling, renting, lease options, for sale buy owner, fsbo, private money, real estate financing, estate sale, fire sale, bird dog
Article Body:
If everyone always did everything they said they would do, we would all be a lot richer. First off, I must admit that in the real estate world; sometimes we are so busy that we forget to make a call or deliver a piece of information. We are human! Unfortunately, sometimes tasks are overlooked, and occasionally the ball is even dropped. If you want to have successful closings, you must have strong “follow-up” skills to catch problems early in the process. Follow-up on everyone and everything.
I can not begin to tell you the number of closings that almost fell apart, or would have fallen apart had I not kept a watchful eye on the entire process to make sure that everything was completed when it needed to be. Here is a typical scenario: you are wholesaling a house and you have just 30 days to get it closed before the contract with the Seller expires. You find a buyer who can get a loan and close before the expiration. Then a few days before closing you find out that the loan is not ready and closing must be delayed two weeks. But the Seller already has another Buyer ready to pay more than your price, so they refuse to extend your contract. You just lost the deal.
So what is follow-up? I used to think it meant staying in touch with the buyer to make sure that everything was completed for the loan. Then I learned that the buyer is often a newbie and clueless of what needs to be done. Mortgage brokers just usually respond Everything looks great until they can not close the loan. So the real trick to following-up is to speak to the final decision maker for each step. This works whether you are selling a retail house or a wholesale house, or even if you are the buyer/borrower. The goal is to close without delays.
Assuming that you have already received a pre-qualification letter from the lender, and ensured that the lender will loan on the deal (i.e. no issues with title seasoning, assignment fees, habitability of the property), the first step is to follow-up with the broker/lender that all of the application paperwork was submitted, and have they forwarded it to the lender? If not, what is still required? Determine if the lender requires a termite letter, appraisal, and a survey (most lenders do). If so, have they all been ordered? When is each to be completed? Keep following-up until you verify that each has been delivered. You also want to verify that the appraisal was sufficient for the loan.
If I do not already own the house, I order a title report as soon as I go under contract with the Seller to discover any defects early in the process, and begin resolving them. Closing attorneys usually do not order the title report until just before closing to receive as current information as possible. But if they find problems, it could delay your closing. It is well worth the $125 to run title ahead of time, and eliminate delays.
Once the broker has forwarded the paperwork to the lender, the next step is to verify the loan has gone to underwriting. If not, what is the delay? If so, was the loan approved? Do any conditions need to be met? What are they and who is handling them? Make sure that once the conditions are met, the loan is returned to underwriting and approved.
Verify that the closing has been scheduled with the attorney, and that they have cleared title. Find out if and when the loan package will be forwarded to the attorney. Then remind all of the players of the date and time of closing, to bring a picture ID to closing, and to bring any funds required in a certified check.
This seems like a lot of work that should be handled by other people, but the reality is that often times something is overlooked. Through your diligent follow-up efforts, problems will be detected early and corrected, allowing your closing to occur flawlessly and on schedule.
Invest Early To Make Your Dreams Come True
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/25/14
Title:
Invest Early To Make Your Dreams Come True
Word Count:
367
Summary:
When looking for high quality vacation rentals, or a permanent home in an exotic location, pre-construction is often the way to go. What is pre-construction? Well, it means a home or condo that is still in the planning stages, but hasn't yet been built. The buyer purchases the home from the developer or builder-owner.
Keywords:
vacation homes, rental homes, #mexican homes, #mexico real estate, #mexican_vacation home, #DFW, #Dallas, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Texas, #Tarrant, #Mansfield, #Arlington, #Fort_Worth, #North_Texas, #Home_Appraisal, #Home_Appraiser, #Real_Estate, #De_Soto, #Euless, #Johnson, #valor_casa, #valor
Article Body:
When looking for high quality vacation rentals, or a permanent home in an exotic location, pre-construction is often the way to go. What is pre-construction? Well, it means a home or condo that is still in the planning stages, but hasn't yet been built. The buyer purchases the home from the developer or builder-owner.
But how do you decide what to buy if it doesn't exist yet? Easy! The builder will have detailed blueprints for you to look over, as well as, usually, a model of the building. This gives potential buyers a pretty good idea of what they are getting into. There may even be already built structures that are very similar to the one you are considering. This will give you an idea of the builders quality. But even if you can't see an actual building, buying pre-construction is quite reliable as long as the builder is. Do a bit of research to find out what they have done in the past. If possible, talk to an owner of something else they have built to asses their level of satisfaction. If that isn't possible, a qualified agent will usually be quite familiar with local builders.
A qualified agent can also help you sort out the legal details. For one, be sure to get written and signed documentation stating when the structure will be completed, and what exactly will be included. Find out if there is a home warranty, and what exactly it includes. Be sure there is an "out" for you if the construction is greatly delayed or if the finished product isn't what you understood it to be.
One of the great things about pre-construction is the price. Because they haven't yet realized their full potential, pre-construction real estate is often priced quite a bit lower than what it will be in the future. You, as a buyer, know that the property can only go up in value. After all, the home built will be brand new. As long as plenty of research has been done into the location, the builder, and the type of home, ensuring that it is an emerging market and not a declining one, you can't go wrong with pre-construction.
Positivity Pays!
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/24/14
Title:
Positivity Pays!
Word Count:
383
Summary:
The way you greet and interact with the people who come to view your home - however minimal - could make or break the possibility of an offer. If your prospective buyer is a hesitant or indecisive person, your approach could be critical.
Keywords:
home sales, home marketing, real estate sales, selling your home, home sales theories, #DFW, #Dallas, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Texas, #Tarrant, #Mansfield, #Arlington, #Fort_Worth, #North_Texas, #Home_Appraisal, #Home_Appraiser, #Real_Estate, #De_Soto, #Euless, #Johnson
Article Body:
The way you greet and interact with the people who come to view your home - however minimal - could make or break the possibility of an offer. If your prospective buyer is a hesitant or indecisive person, your approach could be critical.
That is because attitude is powerful! Optimism is catching! Have you ever gone out in a great frame of mind, and come back feeling awful? That is probably because you met someone who was inundated with problems, who regaled you with their complaints, who told you that your solutions were 'hopeless' and who completely sucked all your positive energy out of you!
When your prospective buyer comes, you want him to enter your home with an open, positive mind and leave with the same feeling. This is where home staging has something to offer. The art of home staging is to de-clutter your home of your own personal bits and pieces so that your buyer can visualize himself living in your environment.
But home staging is also done to ensure that any negative vibes are removed. For instance dirty dishes left in the sink suggests work. Garbage cans left on show may remind the prospective buyer about trundling out in the cold and rain to set the cans out for pick-up etc. This reminder of working in your house may not help him to feel good about buying it, so let that thought stay in his subconscious!
Another factor which can be formulated in a positive way is the reason why you are moving out of this lovely/easy care/well kept home. Saying something like, "We can't wait to move closer to our daughter now she has a baby' is a much more positive suggestion than saying, "We can't handle the stairs - or the garden - anymore."
Don't give them the feeling that will be worn out in your house running up and down the stairs or doing all that gardening!
Optimism is one of the factors in the Law of Attraction. That Attraction theory states that you get back what you give out. If you are giving out that you are happy and content living in this lovely home, the ambience may be infectious and your buyer will have an intuitive feeling that this place is the right place for him!
Picture Perfect: the Profit is in the Plan
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/23/14
Title:
Picture Perfect: the Profit is in the Plan
Word Count:
735
Summary:
As far as home improvements go, landscaping is a solid investment - in fact, a well designed outdoor project can offer a better return than most of those inside the house. Good landscaping can add between seven and 15 per cent value to your home and has a recovery value of 100 to 200 percent, so shell out now and get it back when you sell.
Keywords:
Home Improvements, Landscaping, Investing, Home Repair, Curb Appeal, #Dallas, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Texas, #Tarrant, #Mansfield, #Arlington, #Fort_Worth, #North_Texas, #Home_Appraisal, #Home_Appraiser, #Real_Estate, #De_Soto, #Euless, #Johnson
Article Body:
As far as home improvements go, landscaping is a solid investment - in fact, a well designed outdoor project can offer a better return than most of those inside the house. Good landscaping can add between seven and 15 per cent value to your home and has a recovery value of 100 to 200 percent, so shell out now and get it back when you sell.
Many realtors will tell you that a well designed landscape will help you sell your house faster. With today's explosion of subdivisions, where many of the homes look similar from the outside, landscaping can set your home apart from a neighborhood of clones.
But the key to a profitable landscape is the design, so start with a plan. A poorly designed layout could end up costing you more time and money: without proper planning, that lovely deck you've laid may crack in next winter's frost. So before you go running into the yard with your pick and shovel, get out your paper and pencil.
First consider what you want to use the area for. If you want to have an outdoor kitchen area or pool then your design will look quite different from someone looking for a vegetable garden or a private refuge. There are plenty of garden magazines on the market; study them to get a good idea of what you like and don't like. Even if you aren't planning on doing the whole yard now, plan what you'd like to see eventually. Otherwise you may find yourself ripping up this year's hard work because it interferes with next year's project.
Plan for your level of maintenance. Think about whether you want a garden that requires a lot of work or something a little easier to deal with. After you put all this work into the design you don't want to watch it go to waste. If you don't have time to maintain it yourself you might want to hire someone to take care of it for you, but look into those costs before you start planting.
Which brings us to the ever popular topic of budgets - it's important to start out with an idea of how much you have to spend, because it's easy to get carried away out there and there's no shortage of lovely plants, features and furniture to sink your hard-earned cash into. Be realistic: you might not be able to put in both the pool and the outdoor kitchen this year, but you've got your plan. You know it's coming.
The next step is to sketch out your yard. Divide it into sections and map out what you would like where. Call your utility company and map areas with underground wires and pipes. Identify areas that have special needs (drainage issues, acidic soil, shade and full sun). Next, add the feature that need to "hard-scaped", like patios, fences, fountains, pools and walkways. Depending on the complexity of your design you may want to consider involving a professional, at least to look at your design. If you are undertaking any structural projects it might be wise to have the plans vetted by an engineer. In any case, consult local building codes and do your research. You want to ensure that your hardscaping is appropriate for your particular location and climate concerns.
When deciding on plants, refer back to your sketch to match your greenery with its preferred light and soil conditions. Use marking paint or chalk to mark out planned features and bedding areas in your yard. This will give you a basic idea of whether your design works spatially. You may need to play with the width of the beds or paths to make the plan more visually appealing.
Before you plant, lay your plants out in their place and take a good look. Does the layout look crowded? Try to visualize the final size of the plant. Make sure you leave them enough room, even if your garden feels a little sparse to begin with. It's better to have a little room between them now rather than ending up with some plants being overpowered by others when they are full-grown.
And now you're ready to go! It may seem like a lot of work to get started, but a well planned design will ensure that you maximize your investment and create a beautiful space that you (or the next owners) will enjoy for years to come.
Perks That Get Buyers To Make Offers
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/23/14
Title:
Perks That Get Buyers To Make Offers
Word Count:
399
Summary:
In the real estate business, you need to take steps to make your home stand out from those around you. Here are some thoughts on perks that get buyers interested.
Keywords:
real estate, buying, selling, homes, perks, comps, houses, development, property, tips, #DFW, #Dallas, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Texas, #Tarrant, #Mansfield, #Arlington, #Fort_Worth, #North_Texas, #Home_Appraisal, #Home_Appraiser, #Real_Estate, #De_Soto, #Euless, #Johnson
Article Body:
In the real estate business, you need to take steps to make your home stand out from those around you. Here are some thoughts on perks that get buyers interested.
Perks That Get Buyers To Make Offers
From the perspective of the average buyer, hunting for that perfect home is both exciting and excruciating. Even with the advent of real estate sites on the Internet, buyers spend an inordinate amount of time looking at homes that simply do not fit their vision. Once they find a good area, they face the task of deciding between homes. In our modern society, developments tend to have one, two or maybe three styles of homes. These styles are repeated over and over with the only real difference possibly being landscaping.
In such a situation, you need some advantage over comparable homes in the area. There is a reason they are called ìcompsî, and it can be difficult for buyers to make a decision. Given similar homes and prices, they may decide on the interior dÈcor even though it will go with the seller! To make you home stand out just a bit, which could be critical, consider offering the following perks when possible.
Overall, you want to offer flexibility. If you are up front with it, buyers tend to view you in a better light. Offer to go with a fast or slow closing depending on their particular needs. If they have not lined up financing, offer to put them in touch with your mortgage representative. Heck, offer to let them store stuff in the garage while closing occurs since they are probably stressed about moving at the same time as wrapping up the purchase.
An area where you can really stand out from the crowd is an allowance. A buyer is committing to a large amount of debt to purchase your home. Inevitably, they will nitpick over various aspects they are not crazy about. Instead of fighting with them, offer them a cash allowance at the end of closing that can be used to fix whatever is bugging them. Obviously, you need to be careful about how much you offer them, but it can be the difference between getting an offer or not.
When selling your home, try to be flexible wherever you can. If you offer a few perks, your property will stand out from the others around you.
Plants and Emotional Appeal in House Selling
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/22/14
Title:
Plants and Emotional Appeal in House Selling
Word Count:
632
Summary:
As a home seller you want to initiate that positive feeling from a prospective buyer; choosing a new home is a very emotional thing and it is this emotional vibe that you want to tune into to. It is always the first impression that will dictate the buyer's mood.
Keywords:
home selling, selling your home, home staging, Saint Paul Real Estate, Minnesota Real Estate, home sale, #DFW, #Dallas, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Texas, #Tarrant, #Mansfield, #Arlington, #Fort_Worth, #North_Texas, #Home_Appraisal, #Home_Appraiser, #Real_Estate, #De_Soto, #Euless, #Johnson
Article Body:
As a home seller you want to initiate that positive feeling from a prospective buyer; choosing a new home is a very emotional thing and it is this emotional vibe that you want to tune into to. It is always the first impression that will dictate the buyer's mood.
Think of the times that you have been in the audience waiting to hear a speech. When the person walks onto the stage you are expectant and interested in what he has to say. In the first one minute he either has your attention - or you are wondering where he bought his shoes from. If he has wit, a smile and a bright voice you will listen. If he drawls, sounds dull and is talking too quietly your brain leaves the stage.
You will only listen to a boring speaker if you really want to hear what he has to say. Your house is like the speaker. If it appeals in the first minute, the buyer will proceed with interest and enthusiasm. If the first appearance doesn't draw the buyer in, he will approach the viewing of your home with the thought that he is wasting his time. This is where the price of your house comes in; if there is nothing much going for it, then make sure you take the realtor's advice about the price.
If you know your house is a no-frills house, then the first impression will be critical to set the mood. A realtor calls this curb appeal, and if yours is not able to look 'fantastic', it can at least look promising.
Step out side your house, and walk to the street and scrutinize your own home from the sidewalk. Check for things like scuff marks around the base of the house and broken parts of fence. Sweep the paths and hide the garbage can. Make sure the gardening is done - no dead weeds or yellow patches on the lawn.
Certain additions can make your home look as if it is cared for. For instance, plants in pots around your front door. A statue or an elegant bird bath placed centrally in your lawn can take away the plainness of a yard. If you are worried about theft, most of these are too heavy to be easily moved. Flowers or plants can be grouped around it.
This applies to any season. If you are selling your home in autumn you can always buy some potted chrysanthemums or azaleas, if you are selling in spring use daffodil and crocus etc. Whatever time if the year, there can be either flowers or berry bushes in the yard. The back yard will N’djamenaot count so much in terms of first impressions. So concentrate on the front for the first visual impact to your buyer.
One very easy solution to the visual appeal problem is to have a very soft bed in the front and cover it with wood chips. As each season turns, a different group of pot plants can be 'dug in' to the soft soil. Once the daffodils die, those pots get pulled out until next year and the petunias go in, then chrysanthemums, until finally it is the winter pansies and the berries. With a bird bath in the center and about three small ever green shrubs, your front yard will always have appeal.
It is not just that you are appealing to the type of person who likes a nice yard; if the yard is looking good, it will make the buyer think that the rest of the house will be looked after and he will approach the viewing of your house in a positive way. This positive attitude means that the buyer's frame of mind will be open to the emotional appeal of your home.
Little Ideas That Bring Big Dollar Increases When Selling Your Home
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/22/14
Title:
Little Ideas That Bring Big Dollar Increases When Selling Your Home
Word Count:
578
Summary:
Many people believe that - in order to raise their home's value - they must perform costly renovations. Here are several little tips that can bring big value increases.
Keywords:
#selling homes, #home selling tips, #DFW, #Dallas, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Texas, #Tarrant, #Mansfield, #Arlington, #Fort_Worth, #North_Texas, #Home_Appraisal, #Home_Appraiser, #Real_Estate, #De_Soto, #Euless, #Johnson
Article Body:
When you're selling, home price is everything. Your goal is to maximize the amount you get for your home as much as possible. Many people believe that - in order to significantly raise their home's value - they must perform extensive and costly renovations. While adding a new bathroom or bedroom certainly does increase your asking price when selling, home improvements don't need to be that dramatic to be of help. Here are several little home selling tips that can bring big dollar increases.
Aesthetics are vitally important when selling a home. For little or no money, you can greatly improve your home's appearance and, in turn, its selling price. In return, buyers will have a more favorable impression of your residence.
Clean, Clean, Clean
No one will be impressed with a house that is dirty. One of the best (and cheapest) investments you can make is in a thorough spring-season cleaning for your home. In addition to the regular mopping and dusting you do, clean the windows (inside and out), clean carpets, wipe down walls and baseboards, clean fingerprint marks off interior and exterior doors, and sweep the fireplace (if you have one). People are always more inclined to pay higher amounts for homes that look as though they have been well cared for.
Pack Personal Items & Clutter
Once you have cleaned your home to prepare it for selling, home clutter is the next project to tackle. One of the best home selling tips I offer is to keep packing boxes on hand. As you go through your belongings, immediately put items you want to keep into boxes and label them. This accomplishes two things. First, it helps you stay ahead of all the packing you must do for your move. Second, it allows you to keep clutter at bay. Another great use for packing boxes is for spur of the moment hiding places for clutter. If a prospect wants to see your home at the last minute, temporarily toss piles of clutter into moving boxes and close the lids.
Curb Appeal
Another great home selling tip is to increase your curb appeal. When prospective buyers drive up to your home, are they immediately impressed with what they see? A fresh coat of exterior paint, an extensive pressure washing of vinyl siding and some new, inexpensive shutters can really make an impact on buyers. In addition, adding or upgrading landscaping details can be helpful as well. Replace old, faded mulch or pine straw with fresh. Edge your driveway and sidewalk as well as your flowerbeds, and make sure bushes and scrubs are neatly trimmed. These items are a small investment that will pay off with a quicker sale at a potentially higher price.
Single Fee Real Estate Broker
Even greater than the money you can gain with small improvements is the money you can save on real estate commissions. Fees and commissions certainly take away from the amount you earn on the sale, yet most sellers don't have a plan for saving money in this phase of the process. The best home selling tip I can offer is to use a single fee broker. Single fee brokers will sell your home for free if you agree to purchase your next home through their office. This can save a typical homeowner thousands of dollars in commission fees and is, without a doubt, the best way (and the easiest way) to make more money on your home sale.
