Real Estate Blog - Real Estate Tips & Resources

Real Estate Inspections Explained

Real Estate Inspections Explained 

So, unless you’re a contractor or a handyman (or handywoman!), you may be wondering how you’ll determine if the home you’re buying is in good condition. 

As Realtors, we include an inspection period in your contract. Typically, this is a seven to ten day period where you're allowed to hire a contractor or an inspector to inspect the property. You can actually inspect it yourself if you’re comfortable with that, or you can hire a state licensed inspector to come in and do a thorough inspection. That's really the most common method, though some do choose to hire a general contractor. If you know something specific that you're interested in knowing more about, for example the the roof or the hvac system, you…

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Six steps to buying a home

Six steps to buying a home

So, what are the steps to purchase a home? Today I’m going to guide you through the six basic steps. 

Step number one -Get Qualified. The first thing you need to determine in your home buying process is your budget . The best way to do this is by consulting an expert. Those online calculators don’t know everything. There is more to consider in a monthly payment than just the price of the home! Also, an online calculator can’t tell you all the ins and outs of a FHA loan vs. a conventional, or USDA loan. Some mortgage companies even have special programs for medical professionals that you may qualify for. A mortgage broker can sit down with you an analyze YOUR situation and determine what is best for YOU. And you…

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Getting prepared to buy

So, are you ready to buy a house? Let’s talk today about what you need to know and do to be prepared to buy when you find your dream home. There’s more to buying than falling in love with a home, and I’m here to guide you through every step of the process. 

Step one is to get pre qualified. You’ll want a reputable lender, preferably a local one. Listing agents like to see a pre qualification from a lender that they are familiar with. This letter says that you have done all your pre-home buying home work, and that your loan is looking good. You know your price range and your required downpayment. You are a Qualified Buyer.  

Just a quick side note here- with interest rates changing make sure that you know what your budget is according to…

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Steps to Selling Your Home Explained

So, you think you're ready to sell but you don't know where to start?

 Step one is an initial property review. Give me a call and we'll schedule a time for me to out and take a look at the entire property. We'll just do a quick review and talk about things that need to be done with the property and ways that you can improve it to get it ready for showings. Some of these suggestions may include basic repairs, decluttering, and maybe even refreshing your landscaping to increase curb appeal.

Stop two involves reviewing local market comps to come up with the fair market value of your home. At the same time, we’ll do some required paperwork  including a listing agreement and a property disclosure. The disclosure provides the buyers with a lot of…

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Getting Prepared to Sell Your Home

Today let’s take a few minutes to talk about ways to prepare to sell your home. You may think that “Yeah I know how to sell a house. I’ve done it before I get it!” In addition to just making a general punch list of things to do like painting touch-ups, repairs, cutting the grass, there are other things you can do to help you better prepare your home before it hits the market.

One of the main things that I see that sellers aren't thinking about is do I need to leave the house for showings?  A typical showing lasts from 30 to 60 minutes. Showings tend to be more successful if the sellers are not present. Also, if you have small children you may want to schedule showings around nap times. If you have pets, you’ll probably need to make arrangements to…

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I Don’t Have a Real Estate Agent, So Who Do I Call To See This Home?

One of the most challenging parts of buying a home can be choosing your agent. There has always been confusion about who can show which property. As a licensed real estate agent, I want you to assure you that I can show ANY other Realtor’s listing, and all Realtors can show my listings.

You don't have to call around to six different agents to see six different properties. You can decide who you want to work with and make one phone call and then that one person can show you all the properties that you're interested in.

So, can you call the name on the sign? Absolutely! The person that's on the sign is the Listing Agent. This means that they have been hired by the seller to represent them in the marketing and sell of their property. They can…

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Tips to writing a competitive offer

The days of simply writing an offer with the normal inspection, appraisal, and financing contingencies are behind us. Today, if you want to grab the seller’s attention, you have to take risk and be creative. While all situations are different, here are a few key techniques to consider:

1. Pass or Fail Inspections - most buyers are not willing to buy a house without a professional looking at it. By all means, keep the right to inspect in your offer, but take out the concern for the seller. Let them know the inspection is a pass or fail - meaning you won’t ask them to fix anything. You will simply accept the property as-is if you don't find anything catastrophic during the inspections. You still retain the protection of being able to walk away if…

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