Should I Sell My House Myself?

Should I sell my house without a Realtor?

This is a question that thousands of home owners ask themselves every year. Selling your home can be a long and complex process. Before you make a decision, consider how you will deal with the following 4 major components to selling a house: pricing, marketing, showings, and drawing up the contract.

Pricing Your Home

Your first responsibility as a seller is to assign your home a realistic and accurate value, meaning the price you choose does not exceed what a ready and able buyer will pay. As part of that decision you will have to objectively consider comparable properties in your area and current market conditions, as well as the cost of financing and its availability. Your home needs to be in line with comparable properties and market trends, you don’t want your home to linger on the market if you price it too high or sell for a lower price than you might have otherwise received if you price it too low. Also keep in mind that “For Sale By Owner” homes typically attract bargain hunters who may expect you to lower your price since the know you are saving money with no Realtor commission.

Marketing Your Home

When you decide to list your home, it is extremely important to make sure people know that your home is for sale. Realtors have a number of ways to make sure the public knows that your house is on the market. As a Realtor, I can list your house on a number of different sites, including the MLS (multiple listing service), which is a forum where participating real estate agents can list properties they have for sale. Only Realtors have access to the MLS. This means that for you to successfully market your own house, you need to consider doing one or more of the following:
• Put up signage that is consistent with local ordinances
• Develop and pay for advertising in print and online
• Hold open houses
• Work to ensure your home gets good word of mouth exposure amount your friends , neighbors and community organizations

Showing Your Home

You will be responsible for all showings of your home. With that in mind, always encourage prospects to make an appointment and discourage drop ins. Work to screen the “buyers” from the “lookers.” You should also pre-qualify potential buyers to ensure they can afford to buy your home. When the time comes to negotiate, you will need to be prepared. Try to resolve any doubts your buyers might have, work to keep their interest high and make final agreement as quickly and efficiently as possible. Once an offer is made, agree on the price and terms, respond to objections and try to be responsive and flexible to legitimate concerns.

Drawing up the Contract

Every independent home seller should have an attorney or another qualified individual to review all agreements. That individual should be the one to draw up the contract and manage the sale proceedings and closing. You should be sure to include a list of items you want written into the contract, including any personal property that will remain with the house (like the refrigerator, microwave, oven, dishwasher, etc.) or items excluded from the sale. Also remember as the seller you are required to disclose any material defects in your property to the purchaser.

Selling your own home takes a lot of hard work and know how. Making even a small mistake can be costly. Working with a Realtor gives you the services of an experience professional with advanced training in residential sales. Not only will that free you up from time consuming tasks involved with selling your home, it gives you the added expertise to help maximize the profit from your home. Consider all of the above before you decide to sell your house without a Realtor. Still not sure? Call me and let’s set up a no-obligation meeting to discuss what it would be like to hire me to sell your home.

Is my house ready to sell?

Is my house ready to sell?

What do you really need to do before you put your house on the market? You may ask yourself questions like, “Can I just put it on the market now and do things over time?” or “I am hiring a real estate agent to sell it, is that enough?”

You need to do things to prepare your house to sell. While a real estate agent will market your property and screen potential buyers, it’s up to you to give your home a simple, inexpensive sprucing up that can go a long way toward getting your home sold quickly. You should make these updates before showings begin and maintain these updates throughout the home’s time on the market.

What should you do before showings begin? First impressions are lasting impressions! The exterior of your home will determine how buyers will view the interior. Start with making sure your front entrance is clean and inviting. Then keep the cleaning going inside your home. If your house is clean, buyers feel like you have taken care of it and that piques their interest. Here is a short list of some easy things you can do to make your home look its best to buyers:

• Keep windows and floors clean at all times.
• Repair worn woodwork.
• Repaint any rooms that need it and keep the colors neutral.
• Steam clean carpets.
• Replace and repair caulking in bathtubs and showers.

Once your house is listed, clean up before the showings, and leave before the potential buyers arrive. Turn on the lights in the house whenever possible. The overall condition of your house is different when you have it listed for sale versus everyday living. When your house is on the market, try to make it a blank canvas so buyers can picture living there. Remove all pets from the home and evidence of them. Keep personal items hidden, and create a homey atmosphere.

You did your part getting everything ready; now the professional you hired will market your property, screen potential buyers, and sell your house! If you are wondering if your house is ready to sell, invite me over. We can put together a plan to get it ready and get it sold!

Do you have to call the agent on the sign?

Do you have to call the agent listed on the sign to see the house?

The answer to this is kind of. At some point the agent listed on the sign needs to be contacted to set up the showing. If you are working with an agent already then you would ask your agent to set up a showing to see the house. Your agent would then contact the listing agent. If you are not working with an agent and want to see the house then you can call the agent listed on the sign.

I highly recommend using an agent to represent you. It takes so much of the stress and guesswork of the transaction. If you hire me as your agent, I can show you any house that is listed for sale. It does not matter what agent has it listed or what real estate company is on the sign. We can look at as many houses as you want. I can even show you for sale by owner homes.

You can call the agent on sign or hire an agent to represent you and show you any house you want. Pass this on to others you know looking to buy a house. I would love to help them in their search!

When is the best time of year to buy a house?

When is the best time of year to buy a house?

According to data from the National Association of REALTORS®, the months between April and July are when the most house sales take place. Spring/Summer is typically when you will see an increase of new homes on the market. Also depending on where you live, your house will have better curb appeal in the spring/summer than fall/winter. Some buyers will try to make the most of school breaks and move during that time. All these things contribute to the fact that most house sales take place between April and July. Does that make spring/summer the best time to buy?

My answer is, buy when you are ready! Buying a house should be fun and one of the most exciting times in your life. You don’t want it to be stressful. You want to do it when it is best for you. The market dictates what the right price for a property is and there is rarely a large change within a year.

Work with a seasoned agent who can guide you through the process. I chat with each buyer about what is best for them. What is right for one buyer may not be right for another. Call me and I will take the time to get to know you and what is the best time for YOU to buy a house.

Share this with others you know looking to buy, sell, build or invest in real estate. I would love to help!

How do I find an agent if I am moving out of state?

How do I find an agent if I am moving out of state?

You are moving out of state and need to find a Realtor to help you buy a house in your new state. Where do you begin? The best answer to this is ask a local Realtor. I can confidently refer you an agent in any state.

I recently received my certified residential specialist designation. Only 3% of all agents nationwide have this designation. A certified residential specialist is a Realtor who has earned certification from the council of residential specialists by completing a rigorous course of advanced training and by meeting significant experience requirements. It’s a rare combination that makes a certified residential specialist more than just another real estate agent. It’s the ability to make a real difference in the purchase or sale of your home that places them among the best in the business. This designation has connected me to agents in all 50 states - agents that that I can confidently refer to you.

I am also the immediate past president of the Omaha chapter of The Women’s Council of Realtors. The Women’s Council of Realtor is the 12th largest women’s organization in the world. Over the past 3 years, I have traveled to the national conventions and mid-year meetings. During my travels, I have met several talented agents in many states. These are Realtors that are committed to continuing their education and being top notch agents. Being a member of the National Women’s Council of Realtors has also connected me to agents in all 50 states, and again agents that I can confidently refer to you.

How do you find an agent if you are moving out of state? Ask me! I have aligned myself with top agents nationwide that I would love to refer to you. If you know someone else moving out of state, please share this information with them.

What are some easy ways to increase curb appeal?

What are some easy ways to increase curb appeal?

The importance of curb appeal is often overlooked, but one of the most costly mistakes you can make is not taking it seriously. The outside of your house is the first impression a buyer has. In an online house search, the front outside photo of a house is almost always the first picture a potential buyer sees. If that first picture does not stand out and make them want to see more, they move on within 2 seconds, and your house does not end up on their list. Here are some easy ways to increase your curb appeal.

1. Add big bold house numbers.
2. Paint the front door. Maybe add a pop of color.
3. Update the outside lights.
4. Add a red accent. Red has such vibrancy; a little goes a long way.
5. Repair driveways and paths. They should be clean and inviting.
6. Replace the garage door. You will not believe the difference new garage door makes.
7. Add a new door knocker. This adds polish.

When I meet with a client before listing their house, we come up with a list of things to do before putting the house on the market. You only get one chance to make a good first impression with buyers. Start from the outside and work your way in. Please share this with anyone you know looking to get their home sold.

What are 5 things first time home buyers must know?

What are Five Things First-Time Home Buyers MUST know?

Most important: Don’t leave purchasing your first home up to chance! Use a Realtor that will help you every step of the way. There are many layers to purchasing a home, and you need to be informed. Here are my top tips for first-time home buyers.

1. Be choosy, but realistic
Your price point will dictate what options and features are realistic in the home you are looking for. A Realtor who looks at several houses in different price points each week is a great resource to help you decide what is realistic within your budget and the area where you want to live.

2. Do your homework
Take the time to really know what you are looking for in a house, including location and house features that are most important to you.

3. Get pre-approved for a mortgage
There are a lot of mortgage options right now. Meet with a mortgage lender who will take the time to explain the options and help you determine a comfortable price point for you and your family. If you would like to speak to a mortgage lender, I would be happy to make a referral!

4. Think long term
Don’t buy house that you will outgrow in 2 years. You want to make sure you see yourself living in this house long term.

5. Get a home inspection
I recommend this to every client, regardless of price point, location, or apparent visible state of the house (i.e., even if the house looks perfect). Having a professional inspect the home before you buy it can save you thousands of dollars down the road.

If you are a planning to buy your first home this year, give me a call! It is never too early to start planning and preparing. Please share this with anyone you know looking to purchase a home.