6 Surefire Ways To Get Your House Sold

Whether you’re just getting ready to list your home or haven’t had any bites on your existing home for sale, these tips will get it – and you – moving.

Price it right

This is the most obvious, but also the most contentious, tip when it comes to selling a home. Everyone wants top dollar. But rule No. 1 about a house that isn’t selling is to lower the price. (Likewise, listing a house now at an unreasonable price likely won’t get you the sale you’re looking for, especially when kids go back to school and sales naturally slow down.) ABC News has a good piece on how to tell if your home is overpriced, but…if it’s not selling, and your showings are limited, and your real estate agent has already talked to you about this (maybe more than once, including when you first discussed the list price), you probably already know why it’s not selling.

Here’s how to get past the disappointment of having to list your home at a lower price than you want or lower it when it’s sitting on the market: Your ultimate goal is to get the home sold and get on with your life, right? Maybe that means buying a larger home. Perhaps you’re looking to downsize or even move out of state. Whatever your plans, you’re delaying them by letting your home stay on the market.

Every month it doesn’t sell is another month you’re in a holding pattern. And, it means you’re spending more money on carrying costs if you’ve already moved to a new home before your old one has sold. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself what your happiness or peace of mind is worth. Chances are it’s more than the money you’ll miss out on if you sell for less. Once you’ve come to that realization, it should be easier to make a price adjustment.

Choose the right REALTOR®

Another “Duh” statement here. But the reality is that the right agent can make or break your sale. You may be inclined to list your home with a friend who’s just getting into the business or a cousin twice removed due to family pressure, but consider this move carefully. When you’re dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars, you want to make sure you have someone in your corner who has the knowledge and experience to navigate professionally and successfully through every step of what can be a very complicated process. While your pal or relative may be eager, they might not have the depth of understanding of sales trends to strategize the best listing price, or the negotiation skills to get the deal done. The relationships a seasoned agent has with other industry professionals is also key to a quick and profitable sale.

Paint your front door

We all know the value of curb appeal, so getting your front yard in order is a must-do when listing your home. (If it’s not selling, perhaps a little more sprucing up out front is in order.) But don’t skip your front door while you’re trimming bushes and laying down new mulch. A refreshed (or new, if needed) front door regularly tops the list of improvements providing a good return on investment on the annual Cost vs. Value Report. It’s an easy DIY update, too.

But, before you run off to buy paint, carefully consider the color. Choose wrong and you could turn off buyers. Choose right and you could actually get more for your home.

“When it comes to paint color, homeowners may have reason to go back to black. Houses with front doors in shades of black – from charcoal to jet – fetched $6,271 more than expected when sold, said MarketWatch. “Pops of color are especially important for front doors. It often forms the first impression in a prospective home buyer’s mind and can determine how they will view the rest of the property when touring a home. A door paint in a popular color can help make buyers feel that the property is well cared for.”

Take half the stuff out of your closets

Yes, your overstuffed closet can kill a sale. If a potential buyer feels like they won’t have enough space for their stuff, they won’t be a potential buyer for long.

Put your personal stuff – and your personal taste – away

“Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. You’ll have to do it eventually anyway when you move, and buyers tend to have a hard time seeing past personal effects. You don’t want your potential buyers to be distracted. You want them to be able to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can’t do that if yours are there,” said The Balance. “This goes for furniture items, too, painful as that might be. Not everyone will share your taste, so if you have your bright red sofa screams, “I’m unique!” you might want to remove it for the time being. Try to stick with your more understated pieces.”

Keep your emotions out of it

Selling your home can be an emotional experience, especially if it was your first home or it’s otherwise filled with memories. But emotions can get in the way of a home sale, and waylay your objective, which is to move up or move on.

“Once you decide to sell your home, it can be helpful to start thinking of yourself as a businessperson and a home seller, rather than as the home’s owner,” said Investopedia. “By looking at the transaction from a purely financial perspective, you’ll distance yourself from the emotional aspects of selling the property that you’ve undoubtedly created many memories in. Also, try to remember how you felt when you were shopping for that home. Most buyers will also be in an emotional state. If you can remember that you are selling not just a piece of property but also an image, a dream and a lifestyle, you’ll be more likely to put in the extra effort of staging and perhaps some minor remodeling to get top dollar for your home. These changes in appearance will not only help the sales price, but they’ll also help you create that emotional distance because the home will look less familiar.”

Find us at www.BHHSCooperRealtors.com or download our FREE Mobile App! Text BHHSAL302 to 87778 or go to: www.app.bhhsre.com/BHHSAL302
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Realty Times Article

Freshen Up Your Home With Spring And Summer Updates

Freshen Up Your Home With Spring And Summer Updates

Updating your home can seem like a huge undertaking, especially if it’s been a while and it seems like everything needs an overhaul. But there are easy ways to freshen it up and make it look spring- and summer-ready that won’t break the bank and won’t create a long, drawn-out hassle. Each of these updates represents a classic or current trend and is something you can pull off yourself this weekend if you’ve got a little time and a little skill.Take it to the floor

There was a time when the Persian rug dominated formal spaces. But take a look at this one from Wayfair. The somewhat worn look of the Aliyah rug brings in a vintage feel but the color palette is all new. This is an easy and affordable way to instantly update a living room with bold colors that will get your space noticed.

“If there’s one piece to invest in this spring, it’s a rug,” said The Glitter Guide. “It’s a surefire way to bring interest and style to any room. Try a colorful pattern or print.”

Brighten up the bedroom

While you’re thinking about patterns…”Swap in a patterned headboard,” said Elle Décor. “You don’t have to grab your paint rollers or ready the wallpaper to revamp a bedroom. Upgrade the centerpiece of your room—the headboard—to something bright and cheery.”

Patterns, patterns, patterns

Mixed prints have been all over the runway, and you can create a similarly textured and stylish look at home. Mix it up, mash it up, and freshen it up with an assortment of prints—florals, houndstooth, stripes, graphic patterns. You can create a look that brings depth to your space by using one main color as your anchor and then creating a mix of patterns around it.

Coordinate your pet decor

Your basic scratching post or dog bed may fade into the background for you, but they can stand out like a sore thumb to visitors. Pet decor has come a long way, and no matter what style you’ve got going on at home, you can find something to match, blend in, or even stand out—for all the right reasons. Stores like HomeGoods and Target have tons of options that are affordable. But if you’re looking to break the bank, perhaps consider this.

Spring for a new appliance

Lowe’s and Home Depot have both been running spring specials with appliances that are 35–40% off. These discounted prices could easily lead you down a rabbit hole, and before you know it, you’re wanting to redo your whole kitchen. But a new fridge all by itself sure would make your kitchen look pretty. If you really want to make the purchase painless, look into 0% financing that lets you spread the cost of the purchase over 24 or 36 months with no interest—it’s an easy way to upgrade that appliance without the crunch of putting out a lot of money upfront.

Paint, paint, paint

There really are few places inside and out of your home where paint can’t make a huge difference, and with such a low dollar commitment, you just have to pick and choose your projects. We love a good-ole fireplace makeover that can totally change the energy of your living space in one weekend for almost no money.

Bring in the flowers

When spring flowers start blooming, we have a natural desire to bring them into the home. After all, just the smell of fresh flowers can lift our mood. “Flowers always brighten up a space, no matter what kind you use,” said The Spruce. “You also don’t need a lot of them. A small floral arrangement on a table, mantle or windowsill makes a big difference. What’s particularly great about flowers is that every color and combination works together, so it’s a great way to experiment with colors you wouldn’t normally put together.”

Big, bold floral patterns are also a huge trend this season, so, while you’re thinking about how to display your cut roses, consider where you can also make a splash on the walls, on an upholstered piece, or on the bed.

Frame your windows

Another easy way to bring an additional layer of interest to your home is with modern window coverings. Already have blinds or shutters? Framing the windows out with drapes that can be changed seasonally is a great way to create an interior that always looks updated while calling attention to the outdoors and to your architecture (or creating architecture where there isn’t much).

Shop your home

You can give areas of your home a whole new look without spending a dime. “I love updating the look of our home by styling the coffee table, accent tables, shelves, countertops, and mantel,” said Jane at Home. “One of the reasons I love styling is that I can use items I already have on hand. If I don’t like how something looks, I can easily change it by moving things around or bringing in new items from another part of the house.”

Some of her styling tips include: “Use stacks of books to raise objects off the surfaces; combine items in groups of threes–preferably with a tall item, a shorter, more sculptural item, and a horizontal item; balance hard and soft objects, as well as things with different textures, colors, tones, and styles; layer–placing some things in front of others and some off to the side–to create more depth and give the space a more natural look.”

Find us at www.BHHSCooperRealtors.com or download our FREE Mobile App! Text BHHSAL302 to 87778 or go to: www.app.bhhsre.com/BHHSAL302
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Realty Times Article

Should You Buy A Home For Your College Kid?

Should You Buy A Home For Your College Kid?

If you’re about to send your child to college, you’re undoubtedly suffering from sticker shock. And it’s not just from the cost of tuition and mandatory fees and books and a meal plan and parking, but also from housing. Maybe, especially, from housing. The mouse – hole your dorm – bound child will live in for at least the next year come August or so might as well be the Taj Mahal for what it costs to shelter them in much less extravagant environs.

The high cost of student housing – not just in the first year when they are typically living in on – campus housing – is just one of the reasons people are increasingly looking to purchase property for their college kids to live in. Is this a consideration for your family? We’re breaking down the particulars.

Financial savings

Yes, it may be that buying a property for your college kid to live in is a smart financial decision. “Average prices per year for housing are more than $9,000 in college towns,” said U.S. News & World Report. “In highly desirable college towns outside major cities, housing costs can be much higher. Monthly housing prices in Berkeley, California, home of the flagship of the University of California system, can reach more than $3,000, making the price tag for the academic year more than $27,000. In Cambridge, Massachusetts, outside of university – rich Boston, the four – year price for housing can exceed $100,000 as well.”

If that has you getting ready to search for homes for sale RIGHT THIS SECOND, “Don’t forget to factor in the additional costs of homeownership besides the mortgage, like maintenance expenses, homeowners’ association fees, insurance and taxes,” they said. You may find that buying a home doesn’t make as much financial sense as you think.”

Tax savings

You can enjoy a tax write – off on a second home, which could make a college town purchase much more affordable in the long run, but you have to be careful about how the property is used and the way it is reported on your taxes. “Many homeowners look forward to purchasing a second home that can be used for vacations, rental income, investment purposes or as a primary residence during retirement. Current tax laws offer several tax breaks that can help make second – home ownership more affordable,” said Investopedia. “If you already own, or are thinking about purchasing a second home, it will be in your best interest to understand the tax breaks and how they work. Different tax rules apply depending on how you use the property, for either personal or rental use, or a combination of the two.

As long as you use the property as a second home – and not as a rental – you can deduct mortgage interest the same way you would for your primary home. You can deduct up to 100% of the interest you pay on up to $1.1 million of debt that is secured by your first and second homes (that’s the total amount – – it’s not $1.1 million for each home).”

That would mean adding rent – paying tenants/roommates to the mix would be off the table. Keep in mind also that you can deduct property taxes on a second home. You will want to talk to your tax advisor about the tax situation in the state in which you are considering making a purchase.

Appreciation

Is your child attending college in an area that is appreciating nicely? It might be a good investment to purchase a property that you can sell after graduation for a nice profit, or hold onto for passive income by turning it into a rental for future college students.

Depreciation

Then again, there is the chance that entrusting your child, and your child’s future roommates and friends, with a property you own could spell financial disaster if the home is not maintained. Worried about college parties that trash the place and/or illegal activities like drug – taking in the home, which could endanger your child’s future? If you’re thinking about buying a property for your child (and possibly other people’s children as well) to live in, you need to have an honest conversation with him or her, and with yourself, about the responsibilities involved. Is your offspring responsible enough to make smart decisions and properly care for a home?

To roommate or not to roommate

There are additional questions and potential concerns around the roommate issue. Yes, allowing your child to live with friends will provide companionship that is important for college students and will cut down on your monthly costs – and perhaps even provide some monthly income. But consider these questions from Bader Martin:

“If your child will have roommates, how much do you plan to charge them and can they be depended upon to pay their share of the rent on time each month? What will you do if a roommate – renter moves out and how long are you willing to carry the mortgage without replacing the roommate? And will your child and roommates occupy the property all twelve months of the year or only during the school year? What are your potential liabilities if a roommate is hurt on the property or loses personal possessions in a robbery or fire? Are you adequately insured?”

Retirement strategies

Individual real estate markets differ widely, and what seems like a good investment in one city may be totally undoable in another. Having an alternate or future use for the property in question can tip the scales. In some cases, parents purchase a condo or townhome in the city for their college student child to live in, with the intention of keeping it in the family for the child post – graduation, for another child intending to attend the same college, or even as a place for themselves. Another growing real estate trend has parents following their child to the city in question as part of their retirement plan.

“Increasingly, parents are also considering the move as part of a long – term plan in which they also participate,” said U.S. News & World Report. “If your child goes to school in a city whose lifestyle and cultural offerings are pleasant to you as well, why not retire there? Schools from Berkeley and Cambridge to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Bellingham, Washington, can be pleasant places to retire. The property you purchase could thus be part of your long – term retirement strategy.”

Stability

Having to find a new place and move every year, find storage, and put down new deposits is a drag for anyone. Buying a home that your child can live in for his or her entire college experience provides stability as well as a fixed expense they (and you!) can count on.

In – state tuition

If your child is attending college out of state, you’re being hit with even higher expenses. “About 17 percent of students attend college out – of – state, and they pay dearly for it,” said Parenting. “The typical out – of – state tuition rate at a four – year public university is three to four times more than the in – state rate.”

For this reason, parents often explore options for in – state tuition, like purchasing a property – but with varying success. “Most states have established residency requirements designed to prevent out – of – state students who become residents incidental to their education from qualifying,” said FinAid. Buying a home in the state is a good start, but likely won’t be the only commitment that needs to be made in order to get that elusive in – state tuition. It’s a good idea to learn all you can about the requirements for the school and state in question before making a purchase for this sole reason.

Find us at www.BHHSCooperRealtors.com or download our FREE Mobile App! Text BHHSAL302 to 87778 or go to: www.app.bhhsre.com/BHHSAL302
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Realty Times Article

8 Ways To Up Your Chances Of Buying Your First Home

8 Ways To Up Your Chances Of Buying Your First Home

Between rising prices, tough loan limits, and massive competition among other eager would-be buyers, it can seem like an impossible feat to purchase your first home. Homes in first-time buyer ranges are highly coveted and stories abound of buyers having made offers on numerous homes, only to be shut out time and again by multiple offers that drive prices up and out of their budget. But, there are ways you can put yourself ahead, even if the situation seems desperate.

Work with a good REALTOR®

Everyone has a real estate agent in their neighborhood or in their family or friend group (or all three!). And, while you would undoubtedly love to give business to someone you know and care for, you have to balance your sense of loyalty against your goal. This may not be the time to entrust your financial future to a brand-new agent or one who simply dabbles in the industry in his or her spare time. You’ll likely need a seasoned agent to buy your first home, especially if you’re looking in an area where the market is highly competitive. An agent with extensive experience and good industry relationships can help find you homes that may not be listed yet and then negotiate a winning offer.

Get that preapproval

It goes without saying today that you need a preapproval to buy a house. Many real estate agents won’t even take clients out to tour homes unless they have received their preapproval amount from a lender. Even if you are just casually looking, make sure you talk to a lender before you head out on a househunt. You don’t want to fall in love with something and lose out on owning it because someone else was already preapproved and you first had to start pulling your paperwork together. Nor do you want to fall in love with a house that’s out of your budget because you didn’t know what your purchasing power was.

Talk to landlords

If there are rental homes in your target area (and there probably are!), you might have an opportunity to buy a home that isn’t even on the market yet—and might not be listed for sale anytime soon. Your real estate agent should be able to locate some homes and initiate a conversation about the potential of purchasing. Some rental home owners may want to sell but be reluctant to take the steps to update the home and get it on the market. You may be able to slide right in there, which would be a win-win!

Consider a home that needs work

You might have better luck buying a home that isn’t updated and/or staged because they can tend to stay on the market longer. But, a home that’s a real fixer-upper can be a great buy thanks to the 203(k) loan, which packages the home loan and money for needed repairs.

“An FHA 203k loan allows you to borrow money, using only one loan, for both home improvement and a home purchase,” said The Balance. “203k loans are guaranteed by the FHA, which means lenders take less risk when offering this loan. As a result, it’s easier to get approved (especially with a lower interest rate).”

There are a number of improvements that can be made with a 203(k) loan, including bathroom and kitchen remodels, additions, HVAC, plumbing, and flooring, but if you’re looking to add a pool, you’ll have to do that on your own dime. “Luxury improvements” are not allowed under the terms of the loan.

Look just outside your target neighborhood

In the city of Frisco, TX, a suburb of Dallas and one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, home prices have climbed to levels that can put even the smallest and oldest homes out of reach for many first-time buyers. In the adjacent city of Little Elm, however, home prices are lower – even though it’s also a desirable, growing city—and many of the neighborhoods feed into the preferred Frisco ISD schools. For young families that are looking to get their foot in the door and make sure their kids have access to great schools, looking just outside your target neighborhood can be a great way to go.

Consider a transitioning neighborhood

Buying in a neighborhood that is transitioning can be tricky…you’ll have to depend a lot on your real estate agent’s knowledge and your own gut to make sure you’re buying in an area that is going to appreciate—and is also going to meet your needs now. The current state of the the neighborhood might not fit that dream home idea you’ve had in your head, but, if you’re in it for the long haul, you could be making a smart move by looking in an area that isn’t exactly top of your list in its current state. The obvious draws of buying a home in a transitioning neighborhood are: more affordability or more home for the money, and the possibility to make some money as the neighborhood changes.

“Getting a lot of bang for your buck is one of the benefits of buying in a so-called transitional neighborhood,” said LearnVest. “Keys to finding such a place: “The area’s proximity to public transportation is one of the most revealing factors. Pinpoint your favorite trendy neighborhood – and then take the local train or subway one or two stops past it. That’s how you’re most likely to spot emerging areas because they’re already linked to established routes of transit.” Also, a neighborhood “that’s adjacent to a much-desired one is much more likely to gentrify than one that’s surrounded by less prime areas.” Paying attention to decreasing local crime and DOM (days on market) for real estate listings in the area, and noting whether there is a vibrant art scene in the area, are additional tips to locating an up-and-coming neighborhood.

Raise your budget

Some people get a number in their head and decide that’s the most they’re comfortable with spending. Say you’ve decided you can’t spend more than $300,000 on a home, but you’re not having any luck finding anything in your target neighborhoods and you’re not willing to look elsewhere. Consider this: Is your preapproval from your lender higher than that magic $300,000 number? If so, consider upping it. That $20,000 difference could open up your search to numerous additional properties, and would cost you only about $100 per month. Bring a lunch to work instead of eating out a couple days a week or skip one night out at the movies and dinner per month and you’ve got it covered.

Go back to your lender

If you’re already looking for homes at your max approval amount and not having any luck, have a conversation with your lender. There might be a way to reconfigure your loan options to get you more money to spend.

Find us at www.BHHSCooperRealtors.com or download our FREE Mobile App! Text BHHSAL302 to 87778 or go to: www.app.bhhsre.com/BHHSAL302
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Realty Times Article

Selling Your Home For The Holidays? Don’t Be A Curb Appeal Scrooge

Selling Your Home For The Holidays? Don't Be A Curb Appeal Scrooge

Thanksgiving means turkey and all the trimmings and family get-togethers and football and the Macy’s parade and eating until you can’t breathe. It also means you’re going to be seeing your neighbors up on ladders in the next few days putting up their holiday lights. If your house is currently for sale or if you’re considering listing it, you may be wondering whether you should bother at all with holiday decorations this year. In a word: yes. But there’s more to it than that. There’s a long way between Scrooge and The Griswolds.

“It’s hard to argue with the fact that glitter lights and colorful accents make a home look more cheerful and inviting,” said Realtor.com. “But you also probably know that if you’re trying to sell your home, buyers need to have an easy time imagining themselves (and their own holiday traditions) in your home.”

These tips will help you strike just the right balance.

Go ahead and put up lights

Being the only house on the street that isn’t decorated could leave potential buyers feeling uninspired and unmotivated to purchase – or even come inside. If putting up holiday lights this year means heading to Target to buy new stuff, you’ll have numerous options: white lights, colored lights, snowflake shapes, icicles. Think clean, simple, and elegant to best accentuate your home.

Don’t overdo the lights

Putting up lights doesn’t mean you have to create a spectacle. Plastering every horizontal surface and wrapping every tree and bush with lights may read festive, but people who are out home shopping at this time of year are likely serious about buying. And they want to see your house, not how many lights you own.

“You want them to be impressed with your house, not distracted by decorations,” said Forbes. “So keep it simple this year. If minimizing the ‘ho ho ho’ cramps your style, just remind yourself that you can go all-out next year in your new home.”

Consider LEDs

Another thing to consider if you’re buying new lights this year is what type of bulb to get. If you have had your existing lights for many years, you may not even realize how many LED options are available now. The benefit to LED bulbs is that they save energy, and therefore, money. They may cost a little more upfront, but if you are making an investment in lights you plan to use for years to come, it’s worth it.


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Go ahead and pack up the inflatables

Keeping it simple definitely doesn’t include that big, inflatable Santa or The Grinch family or an entire lawn full of holiday-themed Peanuts characters.

“One man’s ‘merry’ is another man’s ‘tacky,’ so tone down any garish light displays while your home is on the market,” said HGTV. “(No, your neighbors didn’t pay us to say that.) Instead, use simple string lighting to play up your home’s architecture or draw attention to the gorgeous fir tree in your front yard.”

Address your entry

You don’t have to have a sweeping front porch to establish a warm welcome. Place a festive mini tree or cluster of poinsettias next to the door or hang a wreath to add a little holiday interest.

“Classic is always best: Hang an elegant wreath on the front door, rather than a ‘Santa stops here!’ sign, Jamie Novak, author of “Keep This, Toss That,” told Realtor.com

Go ahead and put up that tree

Putting up the tree may seem like a hassle when you’re focused on decluttering and keeping everything in your home extra clean this year, but think of it as staging. A well-placed and well-decorated tree will make the home feel nice and inviting at holiday time. Placing it in a window that allows it to show through to the street creates that Norman Rockwell feel that will tug at your buyers’ heartstrings.

Find us at www.BHHSCooperRealtors.com or download our FREE Mobile App! Text BHHSAL302 to 87778 or go to: www.app.bhhsre.com/BHHSAL302
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Realty Times Article

Why the First Offer is the Best Offer

Why the First Offer is the Best Offer

“The first offer is your best offer.” Countless agents have tried to explain this to clients as we discuss the sale of their home. This isn’t a sales gimmick, nor are we trying to make a “quick sale.” Emphasizing the importance of the first offer has nothing to do with money. This is a genuine attempt to educate clients about the opportunity before them, and why they should take that offer seriously.

By the time a person is ready to submit an offer, they have invested a lot into the home buying  process. That buyer has contacted a lender, gone through the steps of becoming pre-approved and has looked at multiple houses before committing to one. The search for the right home can take weeks or months. The buyer may have even submitted offers on other homes only to lose out to a stronger, more qualified buyer. Eventually your home caught their eye and they liked it enough to make that rare and special thing: An Offer. You may not like the proposed amount, but you should take time to evaluate the opportunity before you. To help you come to a decision, I suggest analyzing the offer against the following criteria.

1. Is the number similar to what your Realtor said your home was worth when they first met with you to discuss the sale of your home? What have comparable homes sold for in the last six months?

If the offer is close to the original list price your Realtor suggested, and is similar to what other homes have sold for in your area, that price might be the best you can reasonably expect.

2. How long has your home been on the market?

If the home has been on the market for over a month without any offers, it could be the only one you get for a long while.

3. Will that offer net you enough money to achieve your financial goals? Will it satisfy your timeline for moving?

If it is sufficient for you to reach your financial goals and it works with your timeline there is no real reason reject the offer.

Deciding to reject the first offer means later you might be accepting a lower offer or taking your home off the market. If you want to sell your home quickly and for the most money, accept that first offer.

Find us at www.BHHSCooperRealtors.com or download our FREE Mobile App! Text BHHSAL302 to 87778 or go to: www.app.bhhsre.com/BHHSAL302
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Realty Times Article

6 Surprising Benefits Of Buying Or Selling Your Home In The Fall

fall house

Seeing fewer for-sale signs now that summer is over? That can be great news for buyers who are looking to score a new home and buyers who want to get rid of their place and buy a new one. If you think you missed the boat on making your move this year, we’re here to tell you why buying and selling in the fall can work for you.

Less competition

 Yes, there may be fewer homes on the market, but there are also fewer buyers out there competing for the same home you want. That gives buyers an important edge. “Families on a mission to move into a new home before school starts are out of the picture,” said Forbes. “Competition for houses drops off in the fall, a time many people consider to be off-season in real estate. But there are still homes for sale – and in some cases, there’s just as much inventory as there was during the spring and summer.”

The benefit to sellers is that those buyers who are out there tend to be more serious, which means your REALTOR® can key in on the real buyers without having to sift through the riffraff.


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Tax breaks

If you’re a buyer who closes escrow before December 31, and you may get a nice write off on your taxes. “Property tax and mortgage interest are both deductions you can take for your whole year’s worth of income, even if you closed on your home in December,” David Hryck, a New York, NY tax adviser, lawyer, and personal finance expert told Realtor.com. “Any payments that are made prior to the closing of the loan are tax-deductible. This can make a serious difference in the amount you owe the government at the end of the year.”

There are also potential tax breaks for home sellers. “You can include all sorts of selling expenses in the cost basis of your house,” said The Balance. “Increasing your adjusted cost basis decreases your capital gain because this is what’s subtracted from the sales price to determine how much of a gain – or loss in some cases – you’ve realized. If you have less of a gain, you’re more likely to fall within the exclusion limit, and if you’re gain isn’t excluded, you’ll pay taxes on less.” And that’s just the beginning. Closing costs and home improvements may also be write offs for sellers. Check out the full list here.

Home for the holidays

Buy or sell early in the fall and you could be nicely situated in your new home in time for the holidays and before winter weather hits. Moving during a calmer time of year also means you may have better access to movers and other necessary resources than during the busier spring and summer seasons.

The right price

Did you list in the spring or summer with an exorbitant number that you thought you’d have no trouble getting because it was a hot market? That’s pretty common these days. Whether you’ve had a revelation about the price you should be asking or have made updates to your home to justify a higher price, you’re probably in better shape to get your (realistic) asking price in the fall. If you’re a seller and you establish a smart pricing strategy, you could find your home standing out in the crowd and selling while others sit on the market under a blanket of snow.

Buyers also may have a better time getting a home that’s within their budget because when there is less competition for homes, there is less chance of bidding wars and over-asking-price sales.

Fall may be safer for buyers and sellers

Here’s something you may not have thought of. “Did you know that burglars have peak seasons? They do, Sarah Brown, a home safety expert for SafeWise.com, told Forbes. “July and August are prime months for burglaries to take place. Waiting until the fall [to buy] gives you an advantage when learning about a home and the neighborhood. You’ll be settled in your home and can take precautions—like setting up that new alarm system—before the next burglary season rolls around.

For sellers, less competition for your home can be a good thing if it means your home is safer from theft.

Great deals on stuff to fix up your home

Coordinate the timing right, and those items you need to fix up your home for sale in the fall or update and upgrade after a purchase might be priced to your advantage. Check Consumer Reports for a full list of the best times of year to buy everything, and keep in mind holiday and Black Friday sales. You could score some great deals at this time of year.

Find us at www.BHHSCooperRealtors.com or download our FREE Mobile App! Text BHHSAL302 to 87778 or go to: www.app.bhhsre.com/BHHSAL302
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How to Simplify Your Next Move.

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When you’re selling your home, getting your belongings organized can seem like a low priority. You’re dealing with finding the right real estate agent, the best time to list your home on the market, and maybe even house-hunting for a new place to live.

All of that can keep you quite busy considering many of us have to do those things while we work a full-time job. Organizing your home so that you can simplify your move just doesn’t seem practical.

However, there is one main reason why getting organized can not only simplify your next move but also help improve your chances of selling your home faster and for more money.

When you go through the process of getting organized, you should be eliminating items from your home which helps to clear clutter. Clearing clutter is one of the first things agents and experts who stage homes for sale will tell you to do.

When the clutter is gone, the home can be shown much easier. Potential buyers can see what makes your house so special and different from others in the neighborhood.

If you’re putting off the process of getting organized because you think you should wait until you accept an offer, let me encourage you to get motivated to do it sooner. I’ve seen it happen many times. The homeowner thinks there’s plenty of time and then when an offer is accepted they’re thrust into high gear because the buyer wants to close escrow fast.

Of course, your agent can negotiate the closing date but sometimes a faster closing is a must. Yes, you may be able to rent back from the new owners to give you more time to prepare to move but you can’t avoid the fact that you’ll need to move at some point.

Here are five tips that can help you jump start your organizing and simplify your next move. You will be glad you start before you get an offer to purchase your home.

1. Sort piles of belongings into groups: keep, giveaway, maybe, and trash. The “maybe” pile you box up and seal for six to 12 months. If you don’t have a use for your items in the “maybe” box during the year then perhaps you can donate it.

2. Give yourself plenty of time. Be patient. This process of getting organized takes time. Know that when it comes to sorting through personal papers and memorabilia it will take you much longer than reviewing other items. Leave some extra time for the expected reminiscing that will occur.

3. Store your items in clear plastic bins. Using clear boxes helps to let you have a quick view of what’s inside. If you used cardboard boxes or colored bins, then use a pen to clearly label what’s inside and which room it will go in at your new home. You might want to use a large piece of paper to write the label on so that you can reuse the bin again later for another purpose.

4. Get rid of the paper. A big problem in many homes is the paper trail they have from room to room. It could be magazines, newspapers, documents, advertisements, receipts, you name it. Most homeowners keep a lot of paper which creates a lot of clutter. Go through your files and reduce the paper by shredding or recycling documents you don’t need. You’ll find that a lot of what you’re hanging on to, you just don’t need.

5. Do it now! This is the most valuable tip. As soon as you finish reading this, go put a time on your calendar when you will begin to get organized. Placing it on your calendar should help you block off time to get started and prevent procrastination. If you take care of things right away, you’ll find that life gets simpler. The same goes for your move. So, get organized and simplify your next move!

Find us at www.BHHSCooperRealtors.com or download our FREE Mobile App! Text BHHSAL302 to 87778 or go to: www.app.bhhsre.com/BHHSAL302
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Realty Times Article

 

7 Ways To De-Stinkify Your House For A Showing

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Your stinky house isn’t making any friends. And if you’re trying to sell that house, it’s certainly not convincing any lookers to become buyers. You may think your house smells like roses and baby kisses, but, trust us. Everyone thinks that.

The truth is that every day smells can get past most of us. You might not realize that the cat box is giving off “They don’t clean me enough” vibes, or that there’s a slight musty smell in your master bathroom – a musty smell that’s going to make potential buyers think your home has issues, by the way (and, by issues, I mean you should be prepared for inspections and scary terms like “leak” and “mold” and money coming right out of your pocket.).

But, before you can even get to the inspection stage, you have to get someone interested enough in your home that they’ll want to make an offer. Use these creative tips to de-stinkify your home and infuse it with the magical scent of “buy me.”

Vinegar

There may also be musty smells coming from your washing machine or dishwasher. A cup full of white vinegar and a run through the cycle should help freshen them up.

Baking soda

Your mom (or grandma) had the right idea with that box of Arm & Hammer in the fridge. It helps to absorb odors, which will come in handy when potential homebuyers open it – which they will.

“Baking soda, unlike most commercial air fresheners, doesn’t mask odors, ‘it absorbs them, home economist Mary Marlowe Leverette told Houselogic. “Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate in a convenient box) neutralizes stubborn acidic odors – like those from sour milk – as well as other funky smells lurking in your home. It’s a natural odor eliminator.”

Not convinced? Baking soda can also be used to eliminate odors in: Your dishwasher, your drain, your garbage can, your upholstered furniture pieces, and your cat box.

Charcoal

Speaking of cat boxes, agents’ preference as it relates to open houses and showings generally leads toward: remove them – and the pet! But if a showing pops up last-minute and this isn’t going to happen, at least your area can be tidy and as clean-smelling as possible. Charcoal can help.

“Activated charcoal, which is a form of carbon that has been ‘activated’ to make it extremely porous, is great for absorbing a range of odors, especially those caused by pets,” said Gizmodo. “You can buy activated charcoal specifically designed for pet odors for $7. Put them in or near your litter box to help mitigate the stink.”

These charcoal bags are another great product you can use throughout the house to absorb unwanted smells. “Place a few of these charcoal-filled linen bags around your house and poof – odors gone! Best of all, each bag lasts for up to two years, just put them outside in the sun for an hour once a month to rejuvenate the charcoal,” said Bravo. “Large bags are suited for bedrooms, kitchens, and living areas; whereas smaller versions are great for bathrooms, your car, or even your fridge.”

Chocolate chip cookies

There’s a reason so many real estate agents bake cookies for open houses. Not only are they delicious and capable of imparting a sense of warmth and comfort, they can also cover a multitude of malodorous sins. Pick up a couple of packages of pre-made cookies you can just pop into the oven before potential buyers show up.


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Air fresheners

The problem with many air fresheners is that they attempt to cover smells with what many consider to be even more offensive smells. If you’re showing your house, beware of anything overpowering or highly chemical-laden because it can aggravate your visitors’ allergies. Gimme the Good Stuff has a great rundown of all the chemicals that can be found in some of the air fresheners on the market and some natural alternatives, including vitamin-infused air fresheners.

Odor-eliminating nightlight

Sounds odd, but this Hamilton Beach TrueAir Plug Mount Odor Eliminator Air Cleaner Purifier with built in night light might be the answer to your stinky problems. “Why just use a night-light when you can use a night-light that also makes the room smell great? Plug this into an outlet and a tiny fan inside pulls air through a carbon filter and sends it back out as fresh, odor-free air,” said Bravo. “An optional ‘green meadow’ scent cartridge can be installed to add a light scent to the room.”

Dryer sheets

Have a teenager with stinky teenage sneakers? A dryer sheet placed in each shoe will help absorb the odors (But, if they’re really bad, you might insist they’re kept outside or removed entirely from the property for showings).


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9 Eyesores That Kill Your Home’s Value.

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First impressions are extremely important when you are selling a home.  You only get one chance to make a good first impression and in a blink of the eye you can turn people off.  When it comes to curb appeal, minutes count.

1. If your landscaping is drab plant some flowers to spruce the front up a bit, be sure to use a seasonal arrangement.  The best thing to do is to mix it up a bit but stick to a seasonal color scheme.

2. Take a look around, is there anything dying, like shrubs or trees?  This can turn a buyer away faster than you think.  Bag these up and dispose of them properly before the home hits the market.

3. Do you have a lawn?  Well think of a better pattern to mow your lawn.  Mowing it in the same direction all the time can hurt your lawn so try mowing in varying patterns to encourage lawn growth.  It can also be an attractive eye catcher for buyers looking at your home.

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4. A can of paint can go a long way to touch up the exterior of your home if you have faded or peeling paint.  Some lenders have issues with peeling paint so grab a brush and touch up those areas that are making things look ugly.

5. Garage doors can get dirty and dusty both inside and outside.  Gently hit this area with a hoes sprayer, not a power washer, to spruce up the garage door.  Also, getting rid of all those nasty cob webs inside the garage can help buyers feel less intimidated when they enter this area of your home.

6. If your home’s roof is more than 10 years old, this would be a good time to take a close look at the roof.  Look for loose or missing shingles and replace as needed.  Shingles of this age will start to break loose and buyers can spot them a mile away.

7. Clutter is bad, plain and simple.  You do not want your buyers looking at all the stuff that you’ve accumulated over the years that you’ve lived there.  Get rid of stuff by selling it, giving it away or donating it to a good cause.  You want your home to shine not look like a hoarder lives there.

8. Take notice of the front door.  Does it look drab?  If a new door is out of your budget then perhaps a fresh coat of paint will help?  Or consider new hardware for the front door.  A new door knob and new knocker can go a long way to attract buyers.

9. Driveways that are beaten up with age and lack of care can scare away buyers as well.  By having a fresh coat of sealer put on the driveway, you not only help to protect the driveway but will do wonders for buyers pulling into you home.

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