Real Estate Realness: Home Ownership
Can you name 3 advantages of home ownership? We can!
1. Your monthly payments are predictable and build equity in your home.
2. You can leverage your home to fund other purchases and investments.
3. You have the freedom to make permanent modifications and improvements.
Real Estate Realness: Buyer’s Agent
What’s the point of a buyer’s agent? If you’re purchasing a home directly from the owner or if they’re already working with an agent, why would you need one, too?
The role of a buyer’s agent isn’t just to help you look for homes. They’re also your dedicated representative throughout the home buying process, working towards your best interests. If you’re competing against multiple offers or need to negotiate something in the contract, your buyer’s agent is there for you. Your buyer’s agent is there for you if you need recommendations for lenders, home inspectors, or real estate attorneys.
Real Estate Realness: Protecting your Home from the Cold
Brrr! It’s cold out there! While you’re piling on the layers, don’t forget to bundle up your home, too. From the plumbing and gutters to the attic and windows, you’ll want to check every nook and cranny.
Here’s how you can protect your home during the cold weather:
1. Turn off water to outside faucets and sprinklers, then drain and insulate them.
2. Open cabinet doors and drip hot and cold water from the indoor faucets.
3. Insulate windows and seal any cracks in the attic door to keep the heat in.
4. Clean the gutters of leaves and debris so they can drain properly.
5. Bring plants indoors if you can and cover the rest with a tarp or sheets.
Real Estate Realness: Open Houses
You’re going to an open house that you’ve already researched every detail of. You know how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has, when it was built, what repairs have been done, and where the community amenities are located. All you need to do is see it in person to make sure it feels right. Right?
Actually, there are some things research can’t tell you.
Don’t forget to ask these questions at every open house you attend:
1. Why are the homeowners selling?
2. How many offers have been made so far?
3. Has there been a change in the asking price?
4. What is the seller’s timeline?
5. What is included with the house in the sale?
Real Estate Realness: Showing Tips
Want to know the secret to make your rooms appear bigger for a showing?
Paint adjacent rooms the same color! Instead of closing the room in, this will give an “out of the box” illusion by allowing the color to be seen through doorways. Stick to lighter colors and consider painting the ceiling, too. The more smoothly your eye line can flow from room to room, the more seamless it will look overall.
Real Estate Realness: Home Inspections
What is it and why is it important?
Home inspections are observations and reports on a home’s condition, conducted by an objective third party. For the seller, an inspection can help them identify any repairs they should make before placing the home on the market. For the buyer, an inspection can help protect them from buying a home with major defects.