Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 21

How do I find an agent to help me buy or sell my home?

It is important to work with a full time professional agent when you are buying or selling your home. It is one of the largest investment decisions you will make and you need to work with a professional to help guide you during the process. Where do you find the right agent?

Ask for referrals. Do you know someone who bought or sold a house in the past year? Ask them who they used and if they were happy with their agent. If so, give that agent a call to see if they are a good fit for you.

Stop at open houses. Go in and meet the agent at the open house. Find out if they sell full time and chat with them about working with you. You can decide if they might be a good fit for you.

Look online. Top agents have websites, blogs and use social media to promote their listings and themselves. You can get to know them by reading information about them online and review testimonials from their past clients.

Odds are if you ask enough people someone knows a great agent they can refer you to. That is the best way to find an agent. Get a referral from someone who recommends their agent.

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 20

I've decided to buy a home, what do I do FIRST?

Get pre-approved for your mortgage OR hire a real estate agent who will then help connect you with a mortgage professional to get pre-approved for a loan to purchase your home. This is the most important step. You want to know exactly what you can afford and what monthly payment you are comfortable with.

There are lots of loan options. You want to make sure you have done your homework and know what your options are. Some mortgage loans require you to put more money down than others, but the payment will be less if you can put more down. You just have to review all of the options and decide what is best for you and your current situation.

Once you are pre-approved you can shop with confidence and know exactly what price range to start looking in. You need to be pre-approved before you start looking so you can begin your search in the correct price range.

Once you have decided, or even if you are just considering looking, getting pre-approved should be your first task. Call me today and I can help you get started.

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 19

How does a buyer’s agent get paid?

Buyers can be hesitant to work with an agent, because they don’t know the process and how the agent gets paid. They wonder if it will cost them thousands of dollars. The unknown might keep a buyer from hiring an agent.

The buyer’s agent is paid from the seller’s agent or listing agent. When a homeowner lists their house for sale they hire an agent and pay them a commission fee. The list agent then pays out a portion of that commission to the buyer’s agent at time of closing. The buyer’s agent is paid from the seller’s agent not from you the buyer. However, that doesn’t affect the dedication and service I provide when helping you find the home of your dreams.

Do not hesitate to hire a buyer’s agent when purchasing a new home. Working with the right agent can turn a very stressful process into an enjoyable one. You want to team up with someone who works with several buyers a year to help guide you along during the process to ensure nothing is missed. This is one of the largest investments most people make, you want to make sure you have a professional helping you along the way.

A Realtor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the business of buying a home. In fact, a licensed real estate professional provides much more than the service of helping you find the home of your dreams. Realtors are not just sales agents. They are expert negotiators and seasoned financial advisors. They are members of the National Association of Realtors and must abide by a code of ethics and standards of practice enforced by the National Association of Realtors. A professional Realtor is your best resource when buying a home!

If you, or someone you know, is looking for a new house, please hire me to be your buyer’s agent!

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 18

Do I really need a home inspection?

According to American Society of Home Inspections, Inc., a home inspection is defined as: An objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from the roof to the foundation.

To have as few surprises as possible, you’ll want to learn as much about the home you are purchasing as you can, before you buy it. Buying a home will most likely be the largest investment you will ever make. A home inspection will provide you with information about major repairs that are needed as well as what maintenance needs to be done to keep it in good shape for years to come.

The inspection will include a report that will tell you the condition of the following items and more. Heating system, AC, interior plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, foundation, basement and structural components.

The best way to find a home inspector to hire is to ask friends or business acquaintances to recommend one they were happy with. Your real estate agent should also be able to supply you with some names of home inspectors their clients have been happy with in the past.

I recommend all my clients get a whole home inspection before purchasing any home. Doing this will allow them to move forward with their new home purchase with confidence. It also allows them to learn many things about the house that they can refer to for future reference while owning the home. So my answer is YES, you really need a home inspection!

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 17

What should I do to get my home SOLD FAST?

This is a great question! You are ready to move into a new house, maybe you need a smaller house or a larger house, or you have been relocated to a new city or you just want to take advantage of the amazing low interest rates and move into your dream home. Whatever the reason you want to get your house sold quickly and move on. What are some tips to get your house sold fast?

If you price your house correctly, present it well and hire the right agent, you will get your house sold! I want to cover a few simple tips you can do to present your house in the best way to perspective buyers, which will result in you getting your house sold quickly.

1. Neutral Colors! This is a must. I understand that everyone’s favorite color is not tan and beige, but that is the color palette your walls need to be in when trying to sell it. Buyers want to be able to MOVE RIGHT IN. Which means, they need/want the walls to be neutral so no matter what color their furniture is, it will work with the existing wall colors.

2. Remove Clutter! Another must! I know people do not live in a clutter free home all the time, but when you have it listed for sale, it needs to be clutter free!

3. Light! Open the blinds and let it shine in. Leave lights on for showings and add a lamp to a room that is dark.

4. Clean! Clean like you never have before. Windows, under beds, closets, floor trim, ceiling fans etc…a clean house sells faster, no doubt about it! Buyers can tell the difference and will feel like the house has been well taken care of, which will put it to the top of their list.

5. Smell! What does your house smell like? No matter what you think every house has a scent. You need to make sure your house scent is a good one. Clean and fresh is the goal. DO NOT use strong room sprays before showings, and if you have pets, make sure the buyers cannot smell their odors.

These are my top 5 presentation tips. If you or someone you know has a house to sell quickly, I want to help! There is no cost or obligation to meet with me and discuss how we can get your house sold!

Is it easier to buy a car or a home?

Is it easier to buy a car or a home?

This is a trick question. For me, the process of buying a new home is easier. I would guess that is not the case for most. I recently bought a new car and found it interesting to be in the buyers “seat”. It was a great reminder of how my clients feel when they decide to begin the process of buying a new home.

Lucky for me, I stumbled upon working with a great car salesman. I knew what kind of car I wanted and no one I knew could provide me with a referral for a salesman who sold that type of car, so I had to enter the “ring” and hope for the best. His approach was exactly what I needed it to be. He was friendly, NOT pushy and was a wealth of knowledge about the car and the process. This is how I am with my clients as well. I want to be their best resource, not just sell them a house.

He let me test drive the car and explore all of the cars features. Once I was ready to purchase, he handed me off to the finance department, but stayed involved during that process to make sure I was taken care of and all my questions were answered. Again, exactly what I do with my clients.

Once the car was mine he went over all the final details and congratulated me on my new purchase. Later that week, he sent me a Thank You card with my picture in front of my new car. He was a professional from start to finish. He made sure I knew everything I needed to know along the way and followed up with me afterwards to make sure all was well.

This is the kind of treatment you will get working with me as your agent. He reminded me how important it is to provide each client with the service they deserve! I will work hard for you or anyone you know looking to buy, sell, build or invest in real estate. Please refer me on, so your friends and family do not have to rely on luck to get the service they deserve.

Anyone who is looking for a wonderful car-buying experience, give Joel a call!

Joel Patton
Stan Olsen Hyundai
Sales Since 1995
402-397-8300
j.patton@stanolsen.com

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 16

Should I list my home now, or wait until spring?

NOW! NOW! NOW!

More home owners wait until spring/summer to list their house than any other time of the year. Why? If you list now there are fewer homes on the market and fewer homes for buyers to pick from. There are about 1000 less homes on the market now VS spring/summer. You don’t want to follow the crowd you want to stand out.

One other VERY important fact is interest rates are LOW! They are low NOW! No one knows what they will be like in a few more months. If interest rates go up a quarter or half a percent, which will most likely happen due to the laws of supply and demand, your payment will go up for the house you are planning on purchasing once you sell your current house. If your payment goes up $20 a month over 30 years that is $7,200 over the life of the loan.

Don’t wait! List your home now and beat the spring/summer rush. Call, email or text me today for a complimentary comparative market analyst to determine the value of your home and the next steps to get it listed as soon as possible.