Posts with tag 'Buying a home'

Some people make my job so much easier, just by being themselves! One instance of this was when I listed a custom-built home in Niles. I was delighted to see that the house had been kept in excellent repair through preventative maintenance. I was positively ecstatic to find it was immaculately clean and uncluttered. Being extremely organized and thoughtful people, they had already packed away their nonessential items and deep cleaned the entire house before they ever called me.

I cannot overstate how helpful all this preparation was in the sale of the home! In most instances, there are plenty of opportunities for sellers to stress out during the sale: preparing for showings, waiting for inspection results, dealing with...

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One of the most frequent questions that homeowners ask me is: What do I have to do in order to get my home ready to sell?

The answer depends on your willingness and ability to clean, repair and update your home, balanced against how much you intend to profit from the sale. Sure, it's entirely possible to sell a property with an old roof, leaky pipes and hideous flooring. But the sales price, in that case, is going to be far from top dollar.

As the market shifts, both buyers and sellers are adjusting their expectations. The brutally compe...

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In this hot seller's market, with competing offers driving sale prices thousands over asking, buyers are willing to overlook a lot. Homes which once would have sat for months with worn roofs, outdated kitchens and baths or older HVAC systems are now being gobbled up without complaint. But some things will still stop a sale.

Here are some real-life examples of issues discovered during home inspections and how they could have been avoided.

Wet Spot in Basement: The ground was sloping toward the house, channeling snow and water right at the foundation.

Solution: Re-grading that portion of the yard so it diverted th...

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If "BUY A HOUSE!" tops your list of New Year's resolutions, then you are probably aware of the fierce competition facing buyers today. Are you prepared to do what it takes to stick to that resolution? Here are 7 Dos and Don'ts to help you reach your goal.

• DO know your buying power. This starts by having an in-depth conversation with a lender to obtain your pre-approval. They should be aware of not only your current financial status, but also your history. The more they know, the better they can help you, so choosing the right person to work with is extremely important.

• DON'T buy anything major until after the keys are in your hand. The underwriters will watch for changes to your account bala...

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