Expert advice from our Realtors!
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SELLING YOUR HOME - Andrew J. (Joe) Bihl, Broker
Andrew J. (Joe) Bihl, Broker
Andrew J. (Joe) Bihl, Broker
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- Janet Lodwick, REALTORWhen planning to sell your home, I suggest these helpful hints. They will make the selling of your home a more pleasant experience for all of us.
- Make good first impressions. the grounds should be properly maintained Summer or Winter. have the lawn mowed and raked, shrubs trimmed, driveway and sidewalks swept or shoveled clean and all debris removed from property.
- Arrange shades or drapes to give a maximum amount of light in dark rooms. Replace all burned out light bulbs and repair faulty switches. light colors add cheerfulness to dark rooms, especially kitchens.
- Badly cracked plaster, loose doorknobs, crooked light fixtures are among the small items that can be easily repaired. Small things sometimes hinder a sale more than large repairs.
- Display your storage and utility space by removing all unnecessary accumulations in attic, stairways, basement and garage. They will appear much larger than they actually are.
- Correct faulty plumbing. leaky faucets can discolor porcelain and call attention to plumbing defects. Minor redecorating is recommended, if needed, such as painting, rug shampooing, etc. it will create a much more appealing appearance.
- Keep radios and televisions off or turned down during the showing.
- If you have pets, it's recommended they be kept out of the way or out of the house, if possible. Some people are uneasy around animals and they may detract from the prospects attention.
- Buyers ask a great many questions of the representatives when being shown a home and most prefer to do this in privacy. the inspection should proceed without your immediate presence. The buyer usually feels more relaxed. If you insist on being present, please don't discuss terms, price, etc. we will handle these details.
- It is important to furnish us with accurate figures on taxes and utilities and inform us of all recent major improvements. Remember, if a reasonable offer is presented, it is wise to negotiate immediately, it may never be repeated.
- Always be prepared to show your property. if you delay a prospect, it may lose you the sale. Your real estate salesperson will always arrange appointments with you in advance.
Finally, may I remind you that our years of experience are always available to furnish you expert advice on any problems or questions that may arise.
- Janet Lodwick, REALTOR - Real Estate Gallery, Inc.
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- Andrew J. (Joe) Bihl, BrokerWith all the choices in today's market, how do you go about finding the right home? It seems the more research you do, the more alternatives you discover.
It's important to visualize your needs and plan ahead. "Know what you want in a home, what's important to you, and what you can live without," Andrew J. (Joe) Bihl, REALTOR, says; "many of us start out with a champagne taste and a beer pocketbook, so it's important to be realistic."
Where and what you buy will affect you for as long as you live in the house. Get your priorities in order before you start looking or even talk to a real estate broker or sales associate.
For first-time home buyers this is a new experience, so it's especially important to do your homework. If you currently own a home, you know exactly what's lacking. You may need another bedroom or bathroom, or a good school nearby.First, decide where you want to live. A big part of the answer hinges on where and how you earn a living. If your job requires a lot of reading or is quite stressful, public transportation may offer valuable time to sit quietly. Regardless, you should practice the commute in rush hour before you make a commitment. A seemingly quiet road can transform into gridlock during peak hours.
People with children have other major considerations: school and safety. If you plan to send your children to private schools, you can live where you want assuming you can easily arrange transportation. On the other hand, a lavish public school system may indicate high local real estate taxes. Check them out. Obviously, life-style is an important consideration. People who frequently dine out, go dancing and attend the theater probably belong in the city or a close-in suburb. In other words, make sure you're in close proximity to the things that matter most.
It used to be that homes came in a limited variety, but today, you have many choices.
In addition to the traditional single-family home, you can buy a townhouse, condominium or apartment condominium or co-op. In planned unit developments (PUDs), you can find almost any combination. In condos and other such communities, make sure the rules and regulations, as well as the by-laws, match your life-style. This type of housing is great for people who want to own their own space without being responsible for mowing the lawn or repairing the roof; a management company handles that. On the other hand, you'll pay fees for these services. In addition to checking the documents and financial soundness of the homeowner's association, you must determine if the monthly fees are worth the services and additional amenities such as a swimming pool or exercise room.
Affordability can be a factor not only in the type of housing, but whether it's new or an existing home. Old houses often have fine woodwork or interesting nooks and crannies not normally found in new homes. They generally sit on landscaped lots with mature trees and grown bushes. New homes may cost more, but you can make many more decisions on amenities, colors, carpeting and fixtures. Make sure you're dealing with a reputable builder, and have an attorney review all documents.
Selecting a real estate professional is an important first step in beginning your search. Ask for personal recommendations to find an individual who is knowledgeable about the neighborhood and has access to the local Multiple Listing Service. Make sure you feel confident about his or her knowledge and skills, and understand the business relationship that you have established.
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- Andrew J. (Joe) Bihl, BrokerPrequalifying Helps Determine How Much House You Can Afford. Before you start your house hunting in earnest, the real estate professional with whom you are working likely will "prequalify" you to determine a price range you can afford. According to the Andrew J. (Joe) Bihl, prequalification is a necessary part of the home buying process that helps save you time and money.
Don't be shy or withhold information about your income or credit status. Your real estate professional isn't trying to pry. Rather, he or she must know all details related to your ability to obtain a mortgage. By candidly discussing your financial situation, you'll give the agent the information necessary to show you homes you can afford. If you don't open up, you are placing the real estate professional in the role of a tour guide, not someone who can help you find a home within your budget. You'll wind up wasting your time and that of the seller.
Once you have signed a contract to purchase a home, you must choose a lending institution or mortgage company from which to obtain your home loan. Your loan application will request financial data including your place of employment, assets, and liabilities (including recurring debts such as credit card bills and car payments).Here are two important tips on loan qualification: 1) Do not borrow the down payment without disclosing the loan, submit fake letters-of-credit or gift letters, or make secret financial arrangements. 2) Accurately list your income and assets, all debts and the approximate amounts you owe.
You'll most likely be charged a credit report fee by the lender, which will cover the cost of having your credit history examined. Credit reporting agencies compile credit reports on consumers, including bill payment history, as well as whether you have been sued or filed for bankruptcy among other information.
Federal credit reporting laws do not give you the right to inspect the actual credit report at the reporting agency or to receive an exact duplicate of the report. But, you are entitled to a summary containing the sources of the report's information. If your ability to obtain a mortgage is adversely affected by the credit report, you have the right to challenge its accuracy and seek corrections.
The credit report is part of the information the lender uses to determine if you qualify for a loan. It is not a mechanism to prevent you from buying. Remember, lenders want to make loans, not turn them down.
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- Andrew J. (Joe) Bihl, BrokerSelling real estate through an MLS broker gives you the advantage of having potentially 100 ± REALTORS working to sell your property. When you list (contract) to sell your property, ask your REALTOR (agent) to present you with a copy of the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) computer printout. This printout should be available to you in 48 hours or less.
The following are some checks that will insure that your property with all of its features and information are available to all of the MLS REALTORS. This will provide you with the greatest opportunity to quickly sell your property.
- Spelling: A misspelled address will prevent a REALTOR from finding your property. For example Main St. (correct), Mane St. (incorrect).
- Completeness: You should make sure that the listing is complete. (No blanks) Features left out could prevent the computer from selecting your property. Example; if a buyer specifies .91ac or more and the listing shows 0 ac. then your property would not be selected even though it might contain more than .91 ac.
- Accuracy: If a buyer is looking for a property with no more than 3000 square feet of living space and your listing shows 9999.99 sq. ft. then the potential buyer will possibly never see your property. This error can occur when the info is not obtained from the Co. Auditor. or is mistakenly entered into the computer. If the buyer is looking for a home in Minford (8) and the property has been placed in Bloom-Vernon (7) then the buyer will possibly never see your property. (This 7 or 8 is called the locator number)
- Advertising: If a REALTOR can't locate the property and property information, then she, (he) can't sell the property. When your property is advertised it is imperative that the needed information be presented in the "ad". This information should contain, at least, the description or picture and the street address or MLS number. The MLS number is computer assigned to each property and using this number makes this property available any time to all REALTORS.
Do you want one REALTOR selling your property or do you want the potential of 100± Realtors selling for you?
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Andrew J. (Joe) Bihl, BrokerA question that came to me recently was, "How do you establish a price range from which you can start to make offers?"
My opinion is that some of the time there is no direct correlation between asking price and the value of a property. Therefore it would be futile, based on the asking price, to attempt to establish a range from which to make an offer. When working as a Buyer Agent, I would start with some research, into basic information that is available, to establish the real value of the property. All factors should be considered, as would be practical, including the buyer ideas as to the value of the property.
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