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SELLING QUESTIONS
How
do I find the best agent to sell my house?
Look for a very experienced, knowledgeable real estate professional.
I have over 24 years of experience in helping families make the
Great American Dream come true! I can provide you with a list
of happy, content buyers and sellers that I have worked with in
the past. Interview several agents. Ask for references and find
out how long that agent has been in the business. You are selling
what is probably your largest asset. I can guide you through the
process. It's not just what your agent does that's important but
what that agent KNOWS.
I'd
like to work with a successful agent, but perhaps I should choose
an agent who does less business and would have more time for me?
Here's an analogy ... would you choose a doctor, attorney,
or CPA based on who does the least amount of business? You most
likely would choose the professional with a proven track record.
Success breeds success! The person who is less involved may have
more time to spend with you, but may offer you less in skills
and experience. Ask many questions when you interview agents.
Decide who has time for you and who has the skills and experience
that are critical. I am sure you will find that I am the agent
you are looking for.
I've
heard of staging a house - what does that mean and is it important?
Staging
your home is the process of making your home look like new construction
or like a model home. By staging, you are increasing the likelihood
of having quicker offers on it. If your home shows very well,
two or three sets of buyers may want it.
When
is the best time to sell: spring, summer, fall or winter?
Traditionally,
spring is the most active season of the year. Spring brings a
newness to life ... after a cold winter, flowers begin blooming,
the sun is more enticing, and people are in the mood to shop and
buy. Fall can also be like a "mini-Spring." There often
are buyers who look during that time so a seller will usually
have less competition. The winter can be a good market but poor
weather can cause the market to slow.
I've
been told my price is too high. What's wrong with seeing if I
can get that for my house?
This is a classic mistake. A home priced too high may end
up sitting on the market for weeks. At that point, buyers begin
to wonder if there is something wrong with it. You may end up
having to reduce your price over and over again in order to get
it sold. As your real estate professional, I can provide you with
the most accurate market analysis and price your home accordingly,
enabling you to get the highest dollar for your property.
Should
I have my house inspected before I put it on the market?
An inspection informs you of any problems you might have with
the house. Then you can decide if you want to repair those prior
to selling, offer a credit for the repair, or require the buyer
accept the problem. This is much less stressful for you.
Has
the real estate market reached its peak?
If only I had a crystal ball! My guess is the market should
continue to be strong and prices increase somewhat in our area.
The economy is softening, therefore, I don't think the double
digit price increases that we've seen the past couple years are
going to continue. If you are thinking of selling, certainly now
would be an outstanding time to do so.
Who determines what the price of a house should be when
it goes on the market?
The seller determines the price of the home after much discussion
with their agent. As your professional real estate agent, I provide
you with an estimate of value based on market research and my
knowledge of the community in which you live. Once again, over
24 years of experience speaks for itself!
BUYING
QUESTIONS
I am a new buyer, what are some of the things I need to
consider?
1. The Agent is a critical part of the process - choose an
experienced, knowledgeable agent.
2. Location, Location, Location.
3. Try to avoid buying a home with any major problems.
4. Buy the home you can really afford.
5. Buy a home with good resell value.
6. Always have a thorough inspection to determine if there are
problems.
7. Buy the home you like - remember, you're the one living there!
How
do I find an honest, reputable lender?
As your professional real estate agent, I can work with you
to find the best loan agent possible. As part of Prudential Alliance,
Realtors, we have our own mortgage lending division, also I have
several lenders who have given us great service. We can make the
process easy and get you into the home of your dreams.
How many houses should I view before I decide to write an
offer?
That is entirely up to you. Some find the right home immediately.
Others might view that same house, like it, and want to keep shopping
to make sure. The risk here is that someone else might purchase
the house. It is usually helpful to view 5-10 homes so you can
become familiar with what is on the market and if the asking price
is a fair price. When you find something you really like, that
is the time to write the offer.
How
much of a deposit is usual in this area?
As your real estate professional, I can guide you through
this process. The minimum initial deposit is usually about 1%
of the purchase price. However, usually at the removal of the
loan contingency or inspection contingency, an additional deposit
of 3% of the asking price range might be expected.
How
is an offer presented to the sellers?
Generally, the seller and seller's agent determine how offers
are presented. Usually, the Buyer's Agent meets with the Seller's
Agent and maybe the Seller to present the offer. The Buyer's agent
then leaves. The Seller and the Seller's Agent discuss the
offer and determine whether to accept it or reject the offer and
send a counter offer to the Buyer.
Who
pays for the inspections?
This is usually paid by the buyer of the house.
If problems are found during the house inspection, who pays
for the repairs?
Items found on the inspection report are negotiable between
the buyer and seller.
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