TIPS, GUIDELINES & REPORTS
At Front Street Realty we take pride in going the extra mile to provide for our clients needs. During the process of buying or selling a home, you will likely unearth countless questions. A REALTOR® knows how difficult it can be to sift through all the details in order to find answers relevant and meaningful to you.
The following series of Tips, Guidelines and Reports provide clear, concise and useful information on a wide range of issues related to real estate. Here you will find a selection covering a variety of Real Estate topics on how to save money, insider secrets, renovation advice, and much more.
We trust that you will find the information to be useful. As always, we would be happy to personally answer any other questions you may have. Remember, please feel free to call or contact us.
Your Front Street Realty REALTOR® is here to assist you every step of the way!
Benefits of Using a REALTORBenefits of Using a Realtor: Selling your home can be a complex and time-consuming process. An experienced REALTOR has the knowledge, skills, and connections to help you through the process every step of the way. Selling Mistakes to Avoid
Selling Mistakes to Avoid: It is natural to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of details involved, but the experience can be very manageable - and educational! The following is a list of common pitfalls encountered during the home-selling process. Use these as a guide to help your journey remain a smooth one.
Prepare Your Home for Showing ... Where to StartPreparing Your Home for Showing: "You never get a second chance at a first impression." Stop Paying Your Landlord!: Own Your Own HomeNo matter how dire you believe your financial situation to be, there are several little-known facts that may be key to helping you step from a renters rut to home-owning paradise! Home Inspections: Top Ten ProblemsThe one thing that unites all potential homebuyers is the desire to find a home that is fundamentally sound. This is when a Home Inspection is invaluable. The Best Asking Price for your HomeWhen you price your home properly, you increase the chances that the offer you receive will nearly match your asking price, and that there will be competing offers - which may net you even more in the long run. "Drive-Up Appeal": Get your Property Ready to ShowWhen preparing your property to show, work your way from the outside in. It is essential that your home possess a certain "drive-up appeal". Remember, a potential buyer's first impression of your house is formed while s/he is still sitting in the realtor's car. So, first you need to view your house from this perspective. Go stand on the opposite curb and observe your property. Compare it to surrounding properties. Buying a Home: What Expenses to ExpectBudgeting for a new home can be tricky. Not only are there mortgage installments and the down payment to consider, there are a host of other - sometimes unexpected - expenses to add to the equation. The last thing you want is to be caught financially unprepared, blindsided by taxes and other hidden costs on closing day. How to Set an Offer PriceThere is no set equation to determine how you'll reach an offer price. Rather, the process involves a range of research and comparison that will vary with each situation. You'll need to look at sales of comparable properties, and factor in additional data such as the condition of the property, the current market, and seller circumstances. With this information in hand, you will be able to determine a fair price range and, from there, establish the price you're willing to offer. 7 Things to Look for in a New NeighbourhoodWhether seeking solace, activity, schools, churches, or green space, every homebuyer looks for a different combination of attributes in a new community. Choosing a neighbourhood that suits your needs and wants is one of the most important decisions you'll make in the home-buying process; your choice of environment will affect the way you experience your new home. Hire the Right Agent, For the Right Reasons: 8 Questions to AskFinding a real estate agent who is right for you requires doing a little homework, and asking the right questions. Choosing an agent is a decision that could ultimately cost or save you thousands of dollars. Keep in mind the individual you choose will be handling almost every maneuver in the biggest financial investment of your life. Experience, interests, and expertise vary from agent to agent, so you should be asking very specific questions in order to align your own needs with the abilities of an appropriate representative Know the Market before You BuyThe asking prices of most homes on the market indicate the current state of the market, and usually mirror the prices for which other similar homes in the area have recently sold. In deciding upon a selling price, a home-seller must establish a balance between the desire to draw the highest offer and finding a price that will be reasonable enough to attract an appropriate pool of prospects, and competitive offers. While most selling agents counsel their clients to consider this equation when pricing their home, keep in mind that some homes are not properly priced. How to Get Top Dollar for your Home, Fast!Your home is likely your largest asset, so selling it may be the biggest financial move you've ever made, one that requires significant thought and strategy. However, once you've entered the market, the process may move very quickly: your property has the best chance to sell within its first seven weeks on the market. Studies indicate that the longer a property stays on the market, the less it will ultimately sell for. So, you need to ensure you're ahead of the game. Get your property into top selling shape before it hits the market in order to increase its chances of selling within the desired window of time and drawing top dollar. Prepare the Inside of your House for ShowingOnce you've minimized the clutter in your home, clearing out excess items and furniture, you'll be ready to concentrate on repairs, cleaning, and decoration. Your goal is to get each room looking its sharpest and most fresh - the better your house looks, the greater your chances that it will sell quickly and for top dollar. Concentrate on the following areas to get your home into selling shape. A Manual to Prepare your Home for Selling"You never get a second chance at a first impression." We've all heard this expression before. And now, while you are preparing your house to sell, it should not be far from your mind. Showtime: Tips for Showing your HomeAfter putting in a huge amount of time and effort to get your home looking good and ready to sell, your hard work is finally going to pay off: your home is on the market - you're ready to begin showing. Your house should always be at-the-ready for a tour, as agents may bring clients by with very little notice. If they catch you unprepared and you aren't able to show the house on the spot, you could be losing out on a sale. Tips for the Moving ProcessIt's official: you've signed the papers, dotted all the i's and crossed the t's - you own a new home! You've almost reached the end of your journey. However, now, faced with the daunting task of moving, it may seem as though the journey has just begun. Moving can be a time-consuming and stressful experience if you let yourself be overwhelmed by the job. Remember, though, having a successful move means taking care of the details, one by one. If you break the process down into steps and arrange your time accordingly, you can make it manageable. Top Legal Mistakes to AvoidThe process of buying or selling a house seems to involve a million details. It is important that you educate yourself on as many parts of this process as you can - this knowledge could mean the difference of thousands of dollars in the long-run. The legal issues involved in the process are often particularly intricate, ranging from matters of common knowledge to subtle details that might escape the untrained eye. Any of these issues, if not handled properly, could develop into larger problems Second Time's a Charm!: Sell the House that Didn't SellDon't get discouraged if your property hasn't sold during its first appearance on the market. Your home may actually have been one of the most appealing listings of its kind - and the reasons it didn't sell may have nothing to do with the property itself or the market. Rather, a number of separate factors may have influenced the outcome. Take a step back, break your original selling method into parts, and allow yourself time to evaluate each one. Make a commitment. Establish a new approach. Stick to it. A reassessment of your system, and a shift in perspective, may be just what you need to realize your ultimate goals in the sale of your home. |