It is important for you have an agent who represents you in the transaction, and puts your interest first. Buying or selling a home can be a complicated process. Along the way, you’ll interact with several different professionals. Two of the key players when buying or selling a home are the listing - or seller's agent, and the selling - or buyer's agent. You need to understand the Continue Reading
Community Property and Your Home
Editors note: As real estate professionals we hear these questions and misconceptions on the daily. The answer to every question is: Talk to your lawyer! - Norma Wall, Broker Community property is the legal concept that assets and debts acquired by either party during a marriage or domestic partnership are owned equally by both parties. This includes your home. When the union is dissolved, the Continue Reading
Pills, Puppies & Cyber Security
When you're house is on the market for sale, you need to take extra steps to help keep you, your family, pets, and property safe. Puppies, pills and cyber security are the big three - but there are others! Remove your pets from the home, or at least crate them for safety. Lock up you prescription drugs and keep OTC drugs out of sight. Put away cash, jewelry, personal documents and Continue Reading
Home Inspections 101
When you buy a house, you want to know as much as possible about the property. Hiring a home inspector is a good way to learn more about the property condition of your potential home. It’s for this reason that real estate professionals recommend that you have a property inspected immediately after contracting. A HOME INSPECTION IS A VISUAL EXAMINATION OF A PROPERTY’S STRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS. It Continue Reading
Simple Upgrades for a Messy Kid’s Room Before Selling
Staging your home is one of the best steps you can take to attract potential buyers and get more competitive offers on the property. However, making even small and simple changes to a messy child’s room can feel difficult. You don’t want your child’s room to be unlivable while your house is on the market, but you don’t want to scare away buyers with a loud or cluttered room. Fortunately, it Continue Reading
Bathroom Remodel ROI
Before you dive into major home remodeling projects, such as a bathroom remodel, it's good to know how it will affect your resale value and if you're going to get a return on your investment. When homeowners remodel, it is usually to upgrade worn-out surfaces, finishes, and materials or because it is time for a change, to add features and improve livability. The typical cost of 19 Continue Reading
What to do if Sellers Leave Their Junk Behind
Closing on your new home and preparing to move in should be an exciting experience. You and your family get a fresh start in a new space, and you have endless possibilities for how to arrange and decorate each room. This ideal image of your move can come crashing down, though, if your home is filled with the seller’s belongings. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to leave a few items behind when Continue Reading
How To Avoid A Delayed Closing
Buying or selling a home requires an enormous amount of paperwork coming from a number of different directions. Because there are so many moving pieces in this process, one tiny mistake can lead to significant delays. And the last thing you want is to delay the closing. So be prepared to do everything you can to finalize the closing on time. Here are some of the most important things you can do Continue Reading
The Dreaded “R” Word of Buying/Selling a Home
Sometimes the most frustrating part of selling or buying a home is the dreaded "R" word - repairs. Even when all parties want the same end result, the home repairs can be a big stumbling block. It's no picnic for the real estate agents either! Things go much smoother when everybody knows and follows the rules. Here's the deal. The Buyer and Seller have agreed on certain repairs that the Continue Reading
Survey Property Before Closing
Where is everything? Get a survey done before closing on your new home. Why? You need to know where the property lines are, in relation to the house and other structures. Does your fence fall within your property lines, or does it wander onto your neighbor's property? Do you have encroachments from neighbors? Where and what type of easements are on the land? Get a survey before Continue Reading
