717 Real Estate

It's easy, right? You have a friend who has a sibling who is a Realtor. You call them and they say they'd be glad to help you find a home. You start getting automatic computer-generated emails everyday with lists of homes for sale . This is all fine, but is it working for you? Ask your Realtor what their schedule is for helping Buyers find homes. This isn't a rude question --- you are counting on them to help you. If I have an agreement with someone to help them find a home, I have their daily home search scheduled in my planner. It involves more than looking at the local Multi-List each morning. Don't give up on your Realtor if they stumble at first. They may not understand your level of interest in purchasing a home. Make sure they understand if you are serious, or if you are just preparing for something a few months down the road. It's the fair thing to do. You found the home before your Realtor did? Not unheard of in today's world. Your Realtor is still a...

After figuring out the Fair Market Value of your home --- the next question is usually "How long will this take?" . The answer to that is unknown, but your Realtor can give you their expert opinion based on the average time on the market in your area. I chose three similar areas where I work ---- and the average Days on Market until a contract is accepted is 75 days* (including homes that sold from March 1, 2010 to November 12, 2010). However, there is much that goes into how long it takes for a buyer to make a move on a home. - If the home is overpriced ---- it will most likely sit until the price is dropped. - If the home is not prepared to show to buyers ---- the buyers will lean towards all of the other homes that are for sale in this market. They'll put a new kitchen in if it is outdated, but they will want a "deal" on the purchase price. - Local conditions play a big factor in home selling. If the local economy is adversely affected due to business closi...

Don't let Fido or Tabby take a bite out of your home sale price . I see it happen all the time. It seems like every month I have a client who is very excited about a particular home only to be disappointed as soon as the front door is opened. It is not the gaudy chandelier that has them back pedaling. It is the smell of household pets . This is a touchy subject. Many of us love our pets. We love them to the point of being offended if others are not overjoyed by the sight of them. So, what do you do? Ask a friend or neighbor without pets to let you know if they smell anything. Ask your Realtor. If the feedback is bad, air your home out. Wash the curtains. Clean your carpets. Hire a pro --- and don't bargain shop . If you save $150 on the carpet person but receive $8,000 less for you home --- that bargain won't seem so great. There are some great tips at HouseLogic . And yes, that is my dog. She is perfect and doesn't smell :-)

Get your chimney cleaned. Just do it. As cool weather approaches, the chimney experts are going to be getting busy so get ahead of the curve and contact them now. A good article on chimney maintenance for warmth and safety is here . Regular chimney maintenance by a professional is not only a smart idea for you now, but a record of the maintenance will be important to a Buyer when you sell your home.