Thursday, May 23, 2013
How to Make Your House Marketable!
Small improvements can make a huge difference in how much your home sells for. Pillar To Post is the leading home inspection company in North America, according to Entrepreneur Magazine. Here are five tips from Pillar To Post for making your home more marketable:
First impressions: The first thing a potential buyer is going to see is the outside of your home. Make it count. Make sure the outside of your home is freshly painted, that the landscaping and the lawn are well manicured and that toys and other clutter are removed. Putting a layer of mulch on gardens and other non-grassy areas is an easy improvement that doesn’t cost that much. It not only makes your yard look nicer, but it also helps prevent weeds
Paint: A fresh coat of interior paint is one of the easiest ways to increase your property value. A light, neutral color makes your home look larger and prevents potential buyers from worrying about their belongings not “going” with your home.
Staging is everything: You’ll want to remove larger pieces of furniture and other clutter to make your home look as big as possible. You should also make sure dishes are clean and put away, clothes are neatly hung in the closets and towels in the bathroom and kitchen are clean and nicely folded. You should also remove personal items, such as photos and knick-knacks, so it’s easier for potential buyers to imagine what their stuff will look like in the home. Replacing stained carpeting and outdated tile floors is another easy fix that instantly adds to your home’s value. You’ll also want to make sure all light bulbs work, particularly in closets and other dark spaces.
Update the kitchen and bathroom: Update older appliances and fixtures. If this isn’t in your budget, updating the hardware on the cabinets and sinks is an inexpensive way to give them a more modern look.
Hire an inspector: It’s a good idea to hire an inspector to come out before listing your home. You don’t have to fix everything, but it allows you to be up-front with potential buyers, so there aren’t surprises later on.
Source: www.pillartopostfranchise.com
Friday, March 29, 2013
Real Estate Q&A - What is seller financing?
Q: What is seller financing?
A: Also known as a purchase money mortgage, it is when the seller agrees to "lend" money to the buyer to purchase and close on the seller's home. Usually sellers do this when money is tight, interest rates are high or when a buyer has difficulty qualifying for a conventional loan or meeting the purchase price.
Seller financing differs from a traditional loan because the seller does not actually give the buyer cash to complete the purchase, as does the lender. Instead, it involves issuing a credit against the purchase price of the home. The buyer executes a promissory note or trust deed in the seller's favor.
The seller may take back a second note or finance the entire purchase if he owns the home free and clear.
The buyer makes a sizeable down payment and agrees to pay the seller directly every month.
For further details don't hesitate to contact my office - 812-323-1231 - I, or any of our agents would be happy to help you in your search for a new home... or sell your current home.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Avoid These Common Home Improvement Blunders
Consumer complaints and lawsuits regarding home improvements are on the
rise according to Ripoff Reports; a homeowner that does not do their homework
before embarking on a project could find themselves with poor workmanship,
inferior products, health and safety issues or even legal problems.
So what's a homeowner in need of a fix up to do?
"Start by reviewing the three most common mistakes people make when embarking on a home improvement project," says Dave Harrison, chief marketing officer of Champion Windows, Sunrooms, Roofing and Home Exteriors, one of the nation's leading home improvement companies.
No.1: Buying Only on Price
Your home is probably one of the most expensive items you own, so making improvements is not the place to budget shop.- "Make sure you are getting quality products professionally installed. A properly done home improvement should only have to be done once," added Harrison, "and remember the old adage 'you get what you pay for'."
No. 2: Not looking at the Long Term Investment Benefits
When your home improvement project is finally over, you should be getting more than an upgrade to your home; you should also see an increase in your home's value. When you do it right you can reduce energy and maintenance costs and increase comfort and pride in your home, and never have to worry about it again for as long as you own your home.
On the flip side a poorly executed project can lower the value of your home, have to be re-done in several years and even put your family's health at risk. For example, water damage from faulty windows could cause mold.
No. 3: Not Knowing How to Screen a Contractor
"I've seen many independently owned contractors close their businesses after a short year or two," said Harrison. "When selecting a contractor to work with it is important to get a sense of who they are, what products they use and how long they have been in business."
According to Harrison there are four essential questions to ask during this screening process:
- Who designs it?
- Who builds it?
- Who installs it?
- Who guarantees it?
"When you don't get the correct answers to these four questions you may end up with an inferior investment, expensive surprises, property damage or even lawsuits and liabilities," says Harrison.
"Ultimately, the answer you want is that there is a single source of accountability for your project. Having one company design, build, install and guarantee the product and work can save you time, money and hassles in the long run."
Make sure you have a contractor relationship you can trust for the long-term. This long-term relationship starts with a quality product and professional installation and includes a lifetime warranty from a company that has longevity and provides you with a sense that they will still be in business five or ten years down the road. -You should also ensure that your warranty is transferable, applies to all systems, applications and materials, and is non-prorated. A non-prorated warranty is considered to be the most valuable as it means that the manufacturer or seller will replace or repair the item at no cost to the buyer if there is a problem with a product.
So what's a homeowner in need of a fix up to do?
"Start by reviewing the three most common mistakes people make when embarking on a home improvement project," says Dave Harrison, chief marketing officer of Champion Windows, Sunrooms, Roofing and Home Exteriors, one of the nation's leading home improvement companies.
No.1: Buying Only on Price
Your home is probably one of the most expensive items you own, so making improvements is not the place to budget shop.- "Make sure you are getting quality products professionally installed. A properly done home improvement should only have to be done once," added Harrison, "and remember the old adage 'you get what you pay for'."
No. 2: Not looking at the Long Term Investment Benefits
When your home improvement project is finally over, you should be getting more than an upgrade to your home; you should also see an increase in your home's value. When you do it right you can reduce energy and maintenance costs and increase comfort and pride in your home, and never have to worry about it again for as long as you own your home.
On the flip side a poorly executed project can lower the value of your home, have to be re-done in several years and even put your family's health at risk. For example, water damage from faulty windows could cause mold.
No. 3: Not Knowing How to Screen a Contractor
"I've seen many independently owned contractors close their businesses after a short year or two," said Harrison. "When selecting a contractor to work with it is important to get a sense of who they are, what products they use and how long they have been in business."
According to Harrison there are four essential questions to ask during this screening process:
- Who designs it?
- Who builds it?
- Who installs it?
- Who guarantees it?
"When you don't get the correct answers to these four questions you may end up with an inferior investment, expensive surprises, property damage or even lawsuits and liabilities," says Harrison.
"Ultimately, the answer you want is that there is a single source of accountability for your project. Having one company design, build, install and guarantee the product and work can save you time, money and hassles in the long run."
Make sure you have a contractor relationship you can trust for the long-term. This long-term relationship starts with a quality product and professional installation and includes a lifetime warranty from a company that has longevity and provides you with a sense that they will still be in business five or ten years down the road. -You should also ensure that your warranty is transferable, applies to all systems, applications and materials, and is non-prorated. A non-prorated warranty is considered to be the most valuable as it means that the manufacturer or seller will replace or repair the item at no cost to the buyer if there is a problem with a product.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Top 10 Predictions for Housing in 2013
RE/MAX Co-Founder - Dave Liniger - Sees 2013 as the Best in Years
Denver, CO – The national housing market made a strong rebound in 2012 and that positive trend is expected to continue in the New Year, according to RE/MAX Co-Founder and Chairman Dave Liniger. His 2013 Top 10 Predictions are revealed in a video presentation released today.“Although interest rates have been at historic lows, they have not been the driving force behind this recovery,” said Liniger. “There’s no single factor driving this market; it’s been a combination of low prices, low inventory, improving consumer confidence and a huge pent-up demand. That was true throughout 2012 and will continue to be true in 2013.”
Many consumers now understand what real estate professionals have known for the last year, a number of related factors have combined to create a favorable opportunity for homebuyers and investors to purchase residential properties.
“The 2013 situation is so unique that those of us who’ve worked in real estate for many years have never seen opportunities like this,” Liniger added.
Dave Liniger’s Top 10 Real Estate Predictions for 2013 are:
1. More Homebuyers and Sellers come back to the market.
2. Homes Sales will rise by 6-7% and Prices rise by 3-4%.
3. The inventory of homes for sale will hit a bottom.
4. Higher priced homes begin to sell.
5. Distressed property numbers continue to fall.
6. Shadow inventory continues to fall.
7. The number of Short Sale closings will rise to a peak.
8. Record low mortgage rates rise slightly by year-end.
9. Lending remains tight.
10. Home affordability remains the best in years.
While Liniger feels that 2013 could be the best year in real estate in many years, he admits that the recovery is fragile and still faces some obstacles. In his video presentation, he states that tight lending, government regulation and the overall economy still have the potential to negatively impact housing.
However, Liniger also believes that “if housing can stay on the road to recovery, it’s possible that it can pull the rest of the economy along with it.”
In recent years, Liniger has been a highly vocal advocate for the home buying and selling consumer, and real estate professionals. He has supported reforms aimed at helping troubled homeowners avoid foreclosure and streamlining the Short Sale process.
In October, his open letter to candidates Obama and Romney called for a continuation of mortgage interest deductions, an extension of the Debt Relief Act and more reasonable regulations on mortgage lending. The Fiscal Cliff Agreement left the deductions mostly intact and extended the Debt Relief Act until the end of 2013. These moves support the American dream of home ownership, help distressed families avoid foreclosure and promote a sustainable housing recovery.
Information Courtesy of RE/MAX of Indiana - Press Release January 2013 - For more information visit remax.com
Friday, September 14, 2012
Financial Tip of the Week: Improve Your Credit Score
Just like a top football, basketball or hockey player is drafted based on their stats, your credit score is used to determine your financial fitness.
Your credit score is the best way to define your ability to handle debt. It's based on several aspects of your financial picture and can help creditors determine if you're responsible with your money.
Improving your credit is one of the easiest ways to improve your overall financial scorecard. Doing so may help you get approved for loans and lower your interest rates and insurance premiums.
The following steps can help you improve your credit score:
Pay on time. Payment history is one of the most important factors used to calculate your credit score, so consistently paying on time is one of the easiest ways to boost your score. To help you pay on time, consider enrolling in an e-bill pay program that will make payments automatically on your behalf and guarantee they arrive on time.
Reduce debt-to-credit ratio. Focus on paying down the amount you owe on your credit cards so each one has an available credit of at least 50 percent. Doing so improves your debt-to-credit ratio and in turn will improve your credit score.
Use more than one type of credit. Your score is built around both revolving (ex. credit card) and installment (ex. mortgage loan) credit. Having both types in your credit history shows you can responsibly handle multiple kinds of credit, and in turn may improve your score.
Stick with the accounts you have. Opening new accounts means new inquiries on your credit report, which may lower your score. On the other hand, avoid closing accounts you already have, even if you don't use them that often. Doing so can negatively impact your debt-to-credit ratio and credit history – both of which are used to calculate your score.
Source: BMO Harris Bank
Your credit score is the best way to define your ability to handle debt. It's based on several aspects of your financial picture and can help creditors determine if you're responsible with your money.
Improving your credit is one of the easiest ways to improve your overall financial scorecard. Doing so may help you get approved for loans and lower your interest rates and insurance premiums.
The following steps can help you improve your credit score:
Pay on time. Payment history is one of the most important factors used to calculate your credit score, so consistently paying on time is one of the easiest ways to boost your score. To help you pay on time, consider enrolling in an e-bill pay program that will make payments automatically on your behalf and guarantee they arrive on time.
Reduce debt-to-credit ratio. Focus on paying down the amount you owe on your credit cards so each one has an available credit of at least 50 percent. Doing so improves your debt-to-credit ratio and in turn will improve your credit score.
Use more than one type of credit. Your score is built around both revolving (ex. credit card) and installment (ex. mortgage loan) credit. Having both types in your credit history shows you can responsibly handle multiple kinds of credit, and in turn may improve your score.
Stick with the accounts you have. Opening new accounts means new inquiries on your credit report, which may lower your score. On the other hand, avoid closing accounts you already have, even if you don't use them that often. Doing so can negatively impact your debt-to-credit ratio and credit history – both of which are used to calculate your score.
Source: BMO Harris Bank
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Helping Sellers Maximize their Profit Potential
For most people their home is their largest investment. It is most likely going to bring the greatest return on investment and it is perhaps the only investment that allows you to enjoy it while it increases in value. Therefore, homeowners should put a lot of thought and consideration into the eventual possibility of selling the home. After all, we all sell at some point, right?
Your sellers may be thinking of selling in a month, six months or six years, but the process is the same and the main objective is to get the maximum return on the investment. This translates to faster, higher commissions for you.
Staging has become an important factor in home sales. However we take a different approach to traditional staging. We actually don’t even like to use the word “staging.” Staging implies false or façade, which most savvy buyers can see through.
We like to call it detailing the home, or creating a lifestyle that buyers want, presenting the home as a “hot commodity.”
We do this by helping homeowners make decisions that will not only improve the way they live in their homes, but ultimately increase its value. Keeping a home updated and organized throughout the years will help to give the home the curiosity factor that makes people interested in seeing more.
As we all know, good curb appeal and updated kitchens and bathrooms help sell a home. They don’t need to be high-end or luxurious. Just updated, clean and well designed is enough. The investment made in these updates will definitely translate into cash at closing and could be the difference between a fast and profitable sale, versus a listing that languishes on the market.
Investing in preparing a home for sale can be a tough nut to swallow for homeowners in this challenging market, but they can’t really afford not to. Frequently, we hear that a homeowner did not know that the cost of preparing a home for sale—including the cost of professional staging—is often tax deductible.
In addition, it can often be charged on a credit card and paid off slowly or once the home sells. This minimizes the out of pocket costs for the homeowner and gives them the confidence that they have increased their profit potential.
We have found that the magic formula for selling high in the current market is what we refer to as the “selling trifecta.” A fair market price, excellent marketing and a well prepared “staged or detailed” home is the winning combination.
Help your homeowners sell high and fast by providing them with the tools they need to be market ready, and you too will reap the benefits when you hit the closing table.
Our top 5 ways to boost your sales appeal:
1. Curb Appeal - People do judge a book by its cover, so the outside of the home becomes as important as the inside. Seasonal color, a well manicured lawn and landscape, and a freshly painted front door all add value and interest to the home.
2. First Impressions - Make the entryway of the home inviting. Add a mirror. Buyers really do like to literally "see" themselves in a home they are interested in. Remove all personal items such as coats, shoes, sports equipment, etc. This will give buyers the impression that the home offers plenty of storage solutions. Adding flowers or natural elements will also add a welcoming touch. Don't forget to attract a buyer’s sense of smell. Consider air fresheners that are subtle with a natural scent like cinnamon or vanilla. Stay clear of florals. These small tricks will give buyers a positive first impression and make them interested in seeing more.
3. Kitchens sell homes - A well designed updated kitchen will pay for itself and then some. Changing out cabinet hardware is an inexpensive way to change the look of the kitchen. An interested buyer will open up drawers, cabinets and closets so remove anything unnecessary and give the illusion of a clutter-free lifestyle. Also, keep the counter tops clear of clutter and most appliances.
4. Bathrooms - In most cases, today's buyers are looking for homes that they can move into and live. They may have long term goals of renovations and updates, but they want to feel good about the investment that are making. Keeping the fixtures updated is essential to giving a bathroom that “move-in ready” feel. Again, by reducing the clutter and personal items, buyers will see the potential.
5. Furniture placement and flow - Edit down furniture and accessories to help buyers envision their things in the home. There does not need to be something on every wall or every corner. Leave passageways and hallways opened enough to allow two people to pass. It may look bare to the homeowner, but will look fresh and organized to a buyer.
Also, always keep paint colors neutral and current. Paint is an inexpensive way to freshen up a space and neutral colors always give a good first impression.
For more information and staging tools, visit www.centerstagedesignsct.com. Article written by: Cyndi Sadowsky Berardi
Friday, May 25, 2012
5 steps to picking the right agent to sell your home!
If you're selling a home, a good real-estate agent will help you set the right price, market the home professionally, qualify the buyers and expertly negotiate and finalize the deal.
A great agent has long experience with recent sales and can walk a tightrope, balancing optimism with realism and diplomacy with brutal honesty. You'll pay big bucks for an agent's service — an average of 5.3% of the sale price in 2011, according to Real Trends, a real-estate consulting company. So you owe it to yourself to interview more than one agent.
1. Round up good prospects
To identify prospective agents, you can ask for referrals from neighbors or friends or use the search tools on the websites of the National Association of Realtors or the Council of Residential Specialists.
Try to limit your search to agents with credentials that match your needs. For example, on the CRS website, you can search for agents who specialize in the sale of single-family houses, condos and luxury or resort homes, as well as short sales (selling a home for less than the owner owes on a mortgage) and assisting seniors.
Leigh Brown, an agent with Re/Max in Charlotte, N.C., says you want someone who is on his game. Although many half-hearted agents left the business after the housing bust, she says some of those who remain live under a black cloud, having lost a lot of income and confidence. Not only will you feel that lack of passion, but it may alienate prospective buyers. You want someone who will work assertively on your behalf but won't come on too aggressively, like a used-car salesman. That will turn off the buyers' agents, too.
2. Ask tough questions
You want an agent who is "intimately and passionately" familiar with your neighborhood, says agent Cotty Lowry of Keller Williams in Minneapolis. But, Lowry says, the agent with a lot of signs in your neighborhood may not be your best choice, either. "If a prospective agent has little constructive input about price and condition for you, be curious: Do they want to help you sell your house or do they just want to put a sign in your yard to bring in buyers?" he says.
Each agent you interview should offer a comparative market analysis (a comparison of recent and pending sales of homes similar to yours) and know enough about the neighborhood and recent sales to explain why you should list your home for more or less than the neighbor down the street who sold last season. Don't fall for the agent who glibly promises the quickest sale for the highest price.
3. Find out who the agent is working for
Most states require agents to disclose their "agency" relationships to you early on. But you'll benefit if you ask prospective agents whose financial interest they will serve throughout the sales process — and hire an agent who will serve as your agent only. If an agent insists on dual agency (meaning that the agent lists your home for sale but may also bring in the buyer, thus pocketing the entire commission instead of splitting it with the buyer's agent) or designated agency (your agent and the buyer's agent work for the same brokerage firm), feel free to negotiate the commission down by a point or two.
A lot of money is at stake. And the situation is an inherent conflict of interest, Brown says, because "the buyer wants the lowest price and the seller wants the highest price." She points out that an agent in that boat could "browbeat" sellers into taking a deal that's not best for them, or the agent may fail to present multiple offers equally to protect a buyer client.
4. Make sure your agent has backup
Lowry says that it's important for an agent to have at least one assistant; many agents have a team of specialists to help them. Advertising a home is "not just the Sunday paper anymore," he says. "All the various outlets — many online — require feeding and nurturing, collecting quantifiable analytics and forwarding the info to sellers." At the same time, you don't want to communicate through the assistants all the time; you want an agent with whom you can talk directly. To quell your inevitable anxiety, find out how frequently you'll receive updates from the agent.
5. Sign the right contract
Ask each agent how long the listing contract would last. The slower the market, the longer the contract an agent is likely to demand. However, three to six months is typical. For slower-selling high-end homes (say, those over $1 million), agents may want a year, says Francie House, an agent with Windermere in Seattle. Agents don't want to risk losing the listing after they've spent a few thousand dollars on marketing and staging.
Information reposted from LinkedIN - Courtesy of Pat Mertz Esswein of Kiplingers. Retrieved on May 25 2012 from this LINK.
A great agent has long experience with recent sales and can walk a tightrope, balancing optimism with realism and diplomacy with brutal honesty. You'll pay big bucks for an agent's service — an average of 5.3% of the sale price in 2011, according to Real Trends, a real-estate consulting company. So you owe it to yourself to interview more than one agent.
1. Round up good prospects
To identify prospective agents, you can ask for referrals from neighbors or friends or use the search tools on the websites of the National Association of Realtors or the Council of Residential Specialists.
Try to limit your search to agents with credentials that match your needs. For example, on the CRS website, you can search for agents who specialize in the sale of single-family houses, condos and luxury or resort homes, as well as short sales (selling a home for less than the owner owes on a mortgage) and assisting seniors.
Leigh Brown, an agent with Re/Max in Charlotte, N.C., says you want someone who is on his game. Although many half-hearted agents left the business after the housing bust, she says some of those who remain live under a black cloud, having lost a lot of income and confidence. Not only will you feel that lack of passion, but it may alienate prospective buyers. You want someone who will work assertively on your behalf but won't come on too aggressively, like a used-car salesman. That will turn off the buyers' agents, too.
2. Ask tough questions
You want an agent who is "intimately and passionately" familiar with your neighborhood, says agent Cotty Lowry of Keller Williams in Minneapolis. But, Lowry says, the agent with a lot of signs in your neighborhood may not be your best choice, either. "If a prospective agent has little constructive input about price and condition for you, be curious: Do they want to help you sell your house or do they just want to put a sign in your yard to bring in buyers?" he says.
Each agent you interview should offer a comparative market analysis (a comparison of recent and pending sales of homes similar to yours) and know enough about the neighborhood and recent sales to explain why you should list your home for more or less than the neighbor down the street who sold last season. Don't fall for the agent who glibly promises the quickest sale for the highest price.
3. Find out who the agent is working for
Most states require agents to disclose their "agency" relationships to you early on. But you'll benefit if you ask prospective agents whose financial interest they will serve throughout the sales process — and hire an agent who will serve as your agent only. If an agent insists on dual agency (meaning that the agent lists your home for sale but may also bring in the buyer, thus pocketing the entire commission instead of splitting it with the buyer's agent) or designated agency (your agent and the buyer's agent work for the same brokerage firm), feel free to negotiate the commission down by a point or two.
A lot of money is at stake. And the situation is an inherent conflict of interest, Brown says, because "the buyer wants the lowest price and the seller wants the highest price." She points out that an agent in that boat could "browbeat" sellers into taking a deal that's not best for them, or the agent may fail to present multiple offers equally to protect a buyer client.
4. Make sure your agent has backup
Lowry says that it's important for an agent to have at least one assistant; many agents have a team of specialists to help them. Advertising a home is "not just the Sunday paper anymore," he says. "All the various outlets — many online — require feeding and nurturing, collecting quantifiable analytics and forwarding the info to sellers." At the same time, you don't want to communicate through the assistants all the time; you want an agent with whom you can talk directly. To quell your inevitable anxiety, find out how frequently you'll receive updates from the agent.
5. Sign the right contract
Ask each agent how long the listing contract would last. The slower the market, the longer the contract an agent is likely to demand. However, three to six months is typical. For slower-selling high-end homes (say, those over $1 million), agents may want a year, says Francie House, an agent with Windermere in Seattle. Agents don't want to risk losing the listing after they've spent a few thousand dollars on marketing and staging.
Information reposted from LinkedIN - Courtesy of Pat Mertz Esswein of Kiplingers. Retrieved on May 25 2012 from this LINK.
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