Tag: Realtor - page 4

Autumn is literally right around the corner.  The kids are back in school, the weather is becoming a bit more bearable and there is downtime between summer vacations and the holidays.  There is no doubt why fall is the second best season in real estate especially when it comes to selling your home.  Not only do the colors start to explode amongst the trees, for sale signs also start to reappear.  Below you will find some of our top tips to help sellers attract autumn home buyers.

Shape Up the Landscape

In order to attract buyers a home must appear well maintained inside and out.  Make sure to take time to rake up fallen leaves and clean debris before it settles.  Overgrown vegetation should be trimmed including small bushes and large trees around the home.  Dead flowers should be cut down and prepared for next spring and vine growth should be eliminated to enhance the exterior of your home.

Create an Autumn Atmosphere

Curb appeal is everything when it comes to selling your home for top dollar.  One way to enhance the feeling of warmth and fall is add a little bit of it to your home.  Take advantage of the beauty that comes from all things fall like corn stalks, pumpkins and mums.  Accent walkways and entrances to add to the fall appeal.

Window Washing

Everyone considers spring cleaning however the momentum often dies going into the fall season.  When looking to sell your home during the fall real estate season it is beneficial to thoroughly was dusty, streaked windows.   Clean off pet prints and wipe down window ledges.  The little details may not get noticed when they are on point but if they are left uncared for you can guarantee that buyers will take note.

HVAC Maintenance

Just as homeowners take time to have central air conditioning system evaluated at the beginning of the spring season, heating systems should be checked as well at the beginning of fall.  You will want your home to smell clean and dust free.  A dirty heating system says a lot about your home that you don’t want it to.  Replace furnace filters, have vents cleaned and do the yearly maintenance that needs to be done to ensure your system is running efficiently and clean.

Prepare Fall Edibles

The scent of fall is quiet attractive and should be used to your advantage during open houses and home visits.  Fresh apple cider smells, pumpkin spice cupcakes or leaf cut out cookies left out on the counter are all ways to welcome guests into your home.  People looking to purchase a home want it to be warm, cozy and inviting.  Make sure that appeal is what they feel when they first arrive.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

When it comes to selling a house in today’s market many sellers are in for a culture shock.  Today’s buyers are different than they were five years ago.  Buyers are demanding.  In this technology savvy world we live in buyers want to see homes when their schedule permits.  It is no longer about the seller and creating the perfect ambiance for selling a home; today’s buyers want convenience and they aren’t about to wait for an open house to get what they want.  Long gone are the days of baking cookies and creating the perfect, warm home introduction.

When you decide to sell your home the first step that you should make is to call in a trusted professional.  Real estate agents help to eliminate the emotional aspect of the transaction.  This greatly improves the chance of a quick sale.  Below is a sample action plan that most realtors will use when working with you to sell your home.

One debate that exists is if a seller should buy a new home before they have sold theirs.  Is it necessary to carry two mortgages?  The answer is no.  Sell your home before you buy a new one.  A few scenarios’ can play out all of which are better than paying two mortgages.  Many buyers are willing to work with a seller if they need additional time in the home by renting it back to the seller for a few months while they find a new home.  Another option that is common is a short term rental.  The one thing you are looking to avoid is buying a home contingent on the sale of yours especially in a market where you are up against other bidders.

No longer are the good ole days of throwing a for sale sign in the yard and calling it a day.  Homes don’t get sold unless they are properly marketed.  Buyers are looking for photos, videos, floor plans, staging ideas and more.  They are looking at homes online and through social media.  Long gone are the days of Sunday drive by’s where buyers are deciding which homes to look at.  If they don’t see what they want to out of the online marketing campaign you and your realtor have set up then you won’t have to worry about setting up a time for them to see the house in person.

Selling a home today requires buyers to have immediate access to have their questions answered immediately.  Without a solid internet presence and marketing plan in place your home will sit stale on the market for months waiting for those far and few between drive-by buyers.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

It can be a challenge to sell your home.  This is especially true in a market saturated with homes for sale.  When buyers have lots of options available to them they don’t have to buy what you are selling.  If your home is just one of a million available on the market today it is crucial that you aren’t sloppy when putting it up for sale.

Don’t price your home out of the market:  You know what you paid for your home when you bought it and you know what you have invested into but that doesn’t mean you know how much it should sell for.  Your house is not worth a penny more than what the market is willing to purchase it for.  The market may have gone up or it may have gone down since you initially purchased your home.  When setting an asking price for your home it is important that you don’t overprice your home.  A home that has a high asking price may discourage parties that are interested in making an offer.  Your goal is to sell your home not show it for six months.  Take into consideration homes that are comparable to yours and be willing to set an asking price that is equivalent.

Don’t go it alone: There are a number of mistakes that can be made in any real estate transaction.  Without the proper understanding of exactly what is entailed in selling your home it is wise to hire a professional realtor to guide you through the process.  Working with a local real estate agent is helpful in a number of ways.  First, they are familiar with the local area, the selling price of similar homes in the area and know a reasonable offer when it is given. They have experience on counter offers and can help you negotiate a contract that is fair and appropriate for the market you are in.

Another benefit of using a real estate agent when selling your home is the additional marketing tools and connections that have available to them.  Selling your home in a competitive market is much more than just sticking a sign in the yard and watching buyers come pouring in.  Today real estate is all about marketing.  Your home needs to be on the internet throughout social media, video tours and public open house advertisements with additional pictures of the home.  Sellers can no longer get by on putting a sign in the yard, word of mouth and drive-by’s.

The process of selling your home can be emotional.  A real estate agent can help you through the sentimental aspect while understanding the business side.  With the right price and proper marketing your home has the potential to have a number of buyers interested before it is even officially listed by the real estate agent.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

In our last installment on buying a home we discussed how many buyers turn down a house if it lacks visual appeal.  Instead of only looking at a home for its aesthetic values it is crucial that homeowners look deeper into the bones of a home.  The condition of homes foundation and structure are the most important aspects to consider.  The following aspects can also tell you a lot about how the homes you are looking at have been maintained and cared for.

How does the plumbing throughout the home look?  Check out the water and the pressure of the water pressure.  Turn on all of the faucets all at one time and check to see their output.  Inspect the pipes to ensure they are not lead while also looking at the current insulation.  Pipes can easily be insulated using preformed insulation but it is important to know what will need to be done ahead of time.  Pipes that are in crawl spaces must be insulated as well as plumbing that is on the other side of exterior walls, often seen in kitchens.  Check the hot water heater and tank, boiler and radiator.  These are all good indicators of the updates that have or have not been done to the homes plumbing.

How well insulated is the home.  When you are inside the home is the traffic easily heard throughout the home?  Can you hear a lot of outside noise such as children playing?  This may not seem like a big deal at the time but poor insulation is not all about the annoyance of extra outside noise.  If a home is not properly insulated against the sounds of the world around it then it most likely is not apt to hold in heat or air conditioning.

Realtors advise buyers to check out the homes attic space as well.  Check for fire and water damage as both can lead to a structure that is weakened.   If you can see any light from within the attic, through even pin hole sized points it is crucial to make note of these.  If you purchase the home these areas need to be caulked to prevent water from accessing the area and leaking into the home causing damage to ceilings.  Is the attic easy to access?  Can the space be turned into something usable like an office or spare bedroom?  What about storage or extra insulation?

There is so much more to a home than what buyers can see however this is a hard concept for realtors to get across to a visual buyer.  A home that is painted with wickedly wild colors and covered in crazy bright carpet is a whole lot cheaper to repair than a home with a faulty foundation or unstable roof.  Remember this as it is easy to become caught up in the way something looks.  Professionals in staging can turn a home that hasn’t been maintained into a beauty with a few tricks of the trade. Don’t fall prey to this.  Instead keep your eyes open and look for things we have mentioned in these latest installments.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

When it comes to purchasing a new home many buyers get caught up in the visual aspects of the home.  This is a mistake that often hurts buyers.  Instead of seeing the potential in a home they are driven off by brightly colored walls or unconventional flooring.  In reality these aspects are easily changed.  Instead staging often fools buyers and they forget that beauty is only skin deep allowing them to forget about the costly realities like roofing, electricity, plumbing and foundation.

Real estate professionals often warn clients from making mistakes like this but fall on deaf ears.  To prevent the same mistake from happening to you consider the following when considering a home to purchase.  Even the ugliest of ducklings can have the makings of a castle given the shape of the homes foundation, roofing and a fundamentally strong structure.

Consider the shape of the homes windows.  Realtors stress that it is important for buyers to look at the external state of the windows over their age.  New windows that are installed incorrectly are far less attractive as older, sturdier windows that have been well maintained.  If the exterior of the windows are in good shape it is a great indicator of the condition and level of maintenance that the current homeowner showed the home.  If you push on the window and can easily push the window frame in at all then it means the windows are starting to rot.  If the windows are double hung and you can visually see any sort of condensation the windows are faulty.

The roof is also an important aspect when looking into purchasing a home.  An asphalt shingle roof has a life expectancy of between fifteen and twenty years.  If you are unsure of when the roof was last replaced it is best to have a professional roofer out to inspect any homes you are interested in.  A professional roofer will know what to look for to age a home roof.  Certain things buyers can see themselves such as if the roof has a bunch of missing shingles or if there is substantial curling that can be seen on the shingles.  These are all signs the roof will need to be immediately replaced.  If this is the case be sure to negotiate the expense of a new roof into the purchase price of the home.

Another item a buyer often over look is the homes electrical system and power sources.  Electrical wiring that is not done by a professional electrician leaves a lot of room for error.  Improperly ran electrical wiring is dangerous.  Check out the shape of the fuse box and test the circuit breaker to ensure that it is functioning properly.  Rewiring a home is a messy and expensive job to undertake.  It is often a job that new homeowners are not looking to involve themselves in.

In our next installment we will continue to look into the items often overlooked by buyers as they concentrate on the less important visual aspects of a home.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

If you are seriously considering a house to purchase take time to really look into it before making an offer or hiring a home inspector.  Many buyers don’t take the time necessary to look into a home’s they are seriously considering spending many years in.   A quick twenty minute once over is not going to suffice when really considering a home.

Make a checklist when working with a realtor.  A home without any potential can instantly be pulled from the list.  Homes that deserve consideration should be gone through using the check list below.  This list alone can save home buyers a ton of time and money.   This will help to ensure you aren’t paying for professional home inspections on homes that aren’t truly worth your time or money.

Checklist for New Home Buyers

Inspect the home for dampness:  Dampness can occur in a home for many reasons.  Some are easier to locate and fix than others.  A damp, moldy smell or flaking plaster may be coming from a small, easily repaired leak in the attic however it could also be coming from the place of a deeper more expensive issue.  It is best to find the reason the home is damp and evaluate it for yourself before putting an odder in on a home that exhibits any signs of moisture.

Examine the homes structural soundness: Look for cracks in the structure.  These may be small hairline cracks or larger fissures.  Check areas of stress such as window bays, extension joints and areas of the home where the structure can fall or bow away from the homes structure.  If you see serious issues understand that these repairs are costly and bringing in structural inspectors will cost you major money upfront for evaluation purposes only.  It may not be worth falling in love with a home that exhibits structural issues.

Check out storage space: Storage is a make or break deal for many homeowners.  Small issues such as where the trash will live or the vacuum cleaner will be stored are minor issues.  However, don’t overlook the need to store gardening supplies, holiday decorations, bikes, boats and more.  Check to see if cupboards or shelves can be installed to increase the amount of convenient and available storage space within the home.

Look into size of individual rooms: Measure each room to determine the exact size of the space.  Staging can be pretty tricky.  Designers take smaller scaled furniture and bring it in to enhance the spaciousness of smaller rooms. Be aware of this practice and don’t fall victim to it.  Measure the space and visually layout the size of your furniture or appliances in the room.  This will give you a more accurate way of determining if the space will fit your current belongings.

In our next installment on things buyers should overlook when buying a home we will examine further tricks involved in staging and how to spot issues when homes have had fresh flooring and paint updates.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

The entire process of buying a home takes time and patience.  Home buyers are excited and often times a bit overenthusiastic to get into the home of their dreams.  This fanatical excitement can often leave home buyers to sabotage their real estate agents efforts at getting their client a home of their dreams.  When working with a realtor here are some things to be aware of to ensure a smooth home buying process.  Creating a relationship of mutual understanding between realtor and client is essential for buyers to get the home of their dreams.

Are You Guilty of Sabotaging Your New Home Dreams?

One mistake many buyers make is that they care too much about the homes aesthetics.  Professional real estate agents are happy to show you just as many houses as desire until you find the one that is perfect for you.  The problem is that many buyers can only see the beauty as it is and forget that the splendor of any home is more than meets the eye.  Initially, it may be tempting to get caught up in how the house currently looks however a house that is out of date, dirty or in need of some small handyman repairs buyers are often tempted to run and continue their search elsewhere.

Buyers should consider this instead:

The cost of improvements that need to be done to the home can be negotiated into the closing deal.  It can even be set up that the minor fixes that you would like to see done can be included in the details of the contract.

Another common mistake is that buyers often show their hand and give away any ability to negotiate.  Your comfort with your real estate agent is crucial however don’t let it get in the way of making the best deal possible with the seller.  It has happened before; many buyers start talking a bit too much when looking at homes and sellers overhear their criticisms.  When this occurs it could hurt the entire negotiation process.

When you find the home you love don’t make the mistake of waiting too long to put an offer on the table.  In a competitive real estate market there isn’t a lot of time to wait to make an offer.   Nothing drives a real estate agent nuttier than knowing they have found their buyer the perfect home and yet they aren’t ready to commit.  If you find a home you are in love with put an offer in, get the negotiation process started and begin planning for your future.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that buying a home is all about money.  Yes a large offer looks appealing but a lower offer with few contingencies and the perfect timing can appear even more tempting.

It is important to listen to your real estate agent throughout the entire process.  When you discuss with them what you want and need they are listening to you.  They are the professionals and this is what you are paying them for.  Be sure to put your faith in them, take to heart their advice and allow them to guide you down the path to homeownership.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

Spring time in the north is one of the greatest times.  The landscapes are turning from brown to green, color is coming back to the skies, softball starts and home buyers eagerly start to look for a home to purchase.   There is no doubt about it; spring is the most popular real estate season.  No matter if you are looking to purchase or sell a home now is the perfect time to forge full speed ahead.  Below are some tips to assist buyers as they look to gain insight into the spring real estate market.

First things first:  Talk with a Mortgage Broker

Before you even begin to look at homes are meet with a real estate agent talk with a mortgage broker.  You must be able to secure a home loan to buy a home.  Sellers are looking for buyers who are preapproved.   Sellers do not want to waste time accepting offers from buyers who will not be able to secure a mortgage.  A pre-approval is valuable because it shows that the buyer will be able to obtain a home loan as well as a point of reference on how much the buyer can afford.  A pre-approval means that you are a serious buyer.  If a seller needs to choose who to enter into a contract with they will always go with the buyer that has already secured financial backing in the form of a pre-approval.

Secondly: Choose a Real Estate Agent

Finding a real estate agent is the next step in looking to purchase a home in the spring.   Get referrals from family, friends and individuals who have recently purchased a home.  After you get several names and numbers start by calling their office to schedule an appointment to meet to discuss what you are looking for, how much you have to spend and the needs verse the wants in the home you are looking to purchase.

It is critical when interviewing real estate agents you find someone that is not only experienced in local real estate but also one that is available to communicate with you in a productive manner.  Buying a home is the biggest financial decision in your life; you will want a partner to help you find a home that is in it for you and not just for the commission.

Check out the Neighborhood

Take time to look into neighborhoods that your real estate agent thinks best fit what you are looking for.  Drive by the area, check out the schools and such before ever stepping foot into a home.  Find several locations that you are interested in to help narrow down the search.  The last thing you want to do is spend day after day walking through home after home especially in areas that are of little appeal to you.  If you don’t love the neighborhood falling in love with the house does very little in getting you to the finish line and purchasing a home.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

Below you will find multiple tips from local realtors to increase the chances that your home will stand out amongst the competition within the spring-time real estate market:

Professional Inspection

It is important that sellers have their homes inspected prior to putting their homes on the market.  Waiting until the end when the buyer has the home inspected often leads to surprises.  To avoid these unwanted revelations have a professional inspection company out to inspect the home.  Pay special attention to the homes foundations, structural soundness and roofing.

New Life To The Home’s Exterior

• Purchase New Outdoor Entry Door Mats: New outdoor mats refresh the entry space.
• Power Wash Siding: Spring cleaning should not be kept only to the interior of the home. Power wash the siding to take off dirt, debris and mildew that can build up in areas of the home where light does not shine.
• Freshen Up Exterior Door Paint: Fresh paint really livens up the front door which is the face of the home. Dramatic colors when used in conjunction with complementary siding can really change the look of the home.  Paint draws attention to the refreshed space attracting buyers to the curb appeal of your home.

Prepare The Landscape

• Rake the Yard: The lawn must be in tip top shape. To ensure that loose grass, pine needles, leaves and lawn debris is not present the lawn should be raked.  The remains should be picked up and disposed of in paper recycling lawn bags.
• Trim Bushes: Trim bushes and cut overgrown trees. This will clean up the area and make it look fresh.  Tree limbs that are overgrown block the light on the home so removing them will allow the sun back into the yard.  Openness and light appeals to buyers.
• Mow Regularly: Having the lawn freshly mowed will come across as manicured and professional. This will also give the curb appeal a boost.
• Edge Sidewalks and Walkways: Clean, pristine walkways show buyers that the home was kept up on and well maintained.
• Add Color: Include color in the landscaping. Plant bright landscaping and arrange scented, colorful containers filled with flowering plants to bring lively, vibrant colors to the exterior.

Thorough Spring Cleaning

• Clean Drapery and Blinds: Window covering should be sent out to the cleaners. They will come back fresh and pressed.  Blinds should be professionally cleaned to get rid of the dirt that has built up over time.  Spider webs that cover blinds are not becoming to sellers.
• Wash Windows Inside and Out: Sparkling windows don’t cost a thing and really add to the overall presentation of the home. Avoid streaks and smudges by cleaning windows inside and out.  Then using a fresh micro-fiber cloth dry wipe the interior and exterior.
• Wipe Window Frames: It may seem mundane but it is so important to clean the window frames and sills thoroughly. Windows should be open to allow in crisp air when buyers are present and the last thing that sells a home is sill scum.
• Polish Floors and Mirrors: Shine and sparkle are appreciated by buyers. It demonstrates how well the home is maintained.
• Clear Clutter: Remove clutter from your home. Take your personality out of the home so that buyers can see themselves in the space.  Remove pictures, eliminate unneeded knick-knacks and purge over abundance as this allows buyers to envision the space as their own.

Add Life To The Home

• Add Fresh Flowers: Clip fresh flowers and display them throughout the home. Use flowers that are fragrant or flowers that buyers can see in the outside landscape around the home.
• Use Electric Oil Scents: Oil scents are a popular, hidden way to include favorable scents into every room in your home. Use scents that appeal to the masses.  Popular scents remain clean linen, fresh cotton, lavender and vanilla.  Light scents over harsh deep scents are preferred by the majority.  Stick with them when including electric oil scents within your home.
• Bring In Colorful Accents: Replace the inexpensive accents in the home to bring color and updates to the interior or the home.  Towels, linens, throw blankets, and accent pillows can be replaced reasonably and the new colors will freshen up the environment.
• Update Rugs: Rugs that are worn out show a lack of cleanliness and maintenance. Rugs are fairly easy to find inexpensively and bring in patterns and colors to neutral paint and drab solid colored furnishings.
• Paint Interior Doors:

Marketing The Home For Sale

• Make Use of Brightly Colored Balloons: Balloons help to create excitement and bring attention to your open house signs.
• Send Out Vibrant Flyers: Marketing materials should be brightly colored. Black and white flyers don’t do the same job that colorful promotional materials do.
• Announce Financing Options: Don’t keep buyers guessing on affordable financing options proudly display them on materials displayed at open houses or that are directly mailed to potential buyers. Many buyers appreciate an estimated monthly mortgage payment to ensure that the home is within their preapproval.
• Offer Bottled Water & Treats: Looking at home after home is exhausting. Buyers will appreciate water and treats while viewing your home.  Personalize them with photos of your home and your realtor’s information.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.