Home Buyer & Seller Tips

Our homes are our private sanctuary where we can retreat from the world, or raise our family, and where we can give expression to our interests and personality. While at the same time, a home also represents the largest personal investment that most people will make in their lifetime. The old Godfather saying, “It’s nothing personal, it’s just business.” rarely ever applies to buying or selling a home. More often than not, it’s very personal. It also involves a great deal of money. Once you consider the size of your investment, and the importance it represents in your life, it makes sense to treat it as seriously as you would any other major life decision, and to be just as careful about the team you want representing your interests.

Residential real estate is different from many businesses because Realtors have made their inventory (the MLS) accessible to the general public. This was not always the case. Despite the familiarity and accessibility of residential real estate to everyone, this does not translate to an automatic depth of knowledge that will serve a person well when buying or selling a home on their own, or with an inexperienced or poorly trained agent.

It is my goal to be a resource for people to give them the knowledge and insights to help them steer clear of pitfalls that could cost them a lot of money, or that can leave them stuck with a problem house, or that create legal headaches for them. I want to help people to know the right questions to ask when buying or selling a home, and how to avoid problems that can hurt them now, or in the future.

You can attend one of my Home Buyer or Home Seller Seminars for a complete guided tour of the process from either side. I am also happy to send out my Buyer and Seller literature that I have put together over many years to help people have a more positive and profitable real estate experience. My ongoing Buyer and Seller Tips video series will also provide a lot of great insights. Finally, you can feel free to contact me directly any time with your questions, or to set up a one-on-one.

Whether buying or selling, there are a lot of things to consider and a lot of details to cover to maximize your financial gain, and to ensure that everything goes well before and after your sale. Let me help you make the most of your real estate plans.

Home Buyer Tips

1) Mandatory Affiliated Business Arrangement and Agency Disclosures. - What is Dual Agency?
2) Lenders are the 1st step. – They all have access to the same rates, but they are far from equal. How to identify the good ones.
3) How much cash do I need to buy a house?
4) Figuring out your goals & time frame – threading the needle.
5) Key elements to protecting resale value.
6) How to identify serious issues with a house.
7) Understanding ALL features of a purchase agreement – writing a ‘clean’ offer
8) Are you a ‘customer’ or a ‘client’? It is critical to know!
9) Factoring the balance of power in negotiations.
10) Have there been prior offers that canceled? Why?
11) How to win in a multiple offer.
12) How can you lose your earnest money?
13) City inspections, work permits, wells, etc.
14) The importance of private inspections, radon, sewer lines, fireplaces…
15) Are there any special assessments on the house?
16) What is a home warranty? How can it help?
17) Major lender red flags.

Home Seller Tips

1) Selling before going on the MLS could cost you TONS of $$!
2) Maximize your chances for multiple offers.
3) 4 Keys to Selling a Home: Price, Location, Condition, Exposure
4) The Seller’s Disclosure is a Seller’s best protection.
5) Pricing right to get the highest offers.
6) Covering the details can add up to a big difference in price.
7) Staging – From the basics, to professionals, to virtual.
8) Cost vs Value – Prepping your home for the market.
9) How does a home warranty protect the Seller?
10) Buyer first impressions mean everything!
11) The value of easy showings and quick responses.
12) The importance of courtesy, goodwill, and professionalism.
13) Networking – An advantage of a large brokerage.
14) Marketing ‘outside the box’ for the right exposure.
15) Professional photos are the ONLY way to display your home!
16) The accuracy of your MLS data is critical to selling, and staying out of court!
17) Accepting an offer is just the beginning – Keeping everything on track.

Buyer & Seller Materials

I am a pretty analytical person, and I like to be efficient. I also hate making mistakes, and missing things. The end result has been that I have become pretty obsessive about my lists. Over my decades in real estate I have created many lists and documents for my Buyers and Sellers that I have continuously updated and improved upon in an effort to make their real estate experiences more positive, profitable and problem-free. A am happy to share them with you if you are interested.
Here is a list:
Preparing Your Home To Sell
Selling Tips
Photography Prep Checklist - Exterior
Photography Prep Checklist - Interior
Buying Process
Buying Tips
Buyer Walk-Through Checklist
Closing Costs & Prepaid Expenses
Utilities Contacts
Closing To-Do List
Moving & Packing Checklist
Moving & Packing Tips
Organize, Declutter & Packing Resources

It's Great If You Can Get It!! - Buyer Tip #29.1

An assumable mortgage feels like a gift from heaven when the rates are high, but don’t get ahead of yourself. You’ve got some hurdles to clear first.

For More Buyer & Seller Tip Videos Click Here

You Can Win, and Still Lose - Buyer Tip #28

How do you write an offer good enough to get accepted by a Seller, but also one that completely covers your own interests? Here are some things to consider.

For More Buyer & Seller Tips Click Here

Assumable what?!? - Home Seller Tip #29

When you are buying a home, asking this question could end up cutting your mortgage payment in half.