12 BASIC TIPS WHEN BUYING/SELLING A HOUSE
Here are some basic tips on home buying and selling. You might already know some of this, but in order to have advanced conversations about homeownership, house hacks and investment opportunities, we must first discuss the basics. So without further ado, for the experienced folks, you can probably just skim through the bullet points, but for my first time home buyers and first time home sellers, let’s get acquainted with the basics!
I curated this list when I used to hand out magnetic calendars for my prospects and past clients with each month representing different tips, I’ve updated some of the verbiage, but enjoy my digital version below.
January - Buying Tip
Before searching for your new home, get preapproved by a mortgage lender. Having the approval in hand significantly strengthens your offer when you find a home to puchase
February - Selling Tip
A clean, organized, well-maintained property-inside and out-creates appeal and may be the reason a buyer chooses to make an offer on your house instead of another one. Devote yourself to this process for maximum results.
March - Buying Tip
After your offer is accepted, set up a home inspection. Inspectors commonly find problems, including leaky roofs, cracked walls, insect infestations, and foundation problems. If you negotiate repairs as part of the purchase, ask for a walk-through before finalizing the paperwork.
April - Selling Tip
An evenly cut, freshly edged, wll-watered lawn that is free of brown spots is vital. If your lawn has problems, take care of them before working on the insdie of your home to give your lawn time to grow.
May - Buying Tip
Make a list of must-have features you want in a home as well as features or issues you want to avoid. Turn the list into a scoreboard for each house to help you keep track of the properties you have seen and to compare them.
June - Selling Tip
Flowers inside and outside create a positive emotional impact for homebuyers and other visitors. Flowers that are colorful and easy to work with are marigolds, pansies, snapdragons, and alyssum, but you can choose whatever appeals to you and grows well in your community.
July - Buying Tip
Avoid posting comments on blogs or social media that you would not want the seller to see. The seller might find inappropriate posts about the transaction, which could hurt your negotiations.
August - Selling Tip
Depersonalize and neutralize the environment. The first items to put in those packing boxes: family photos, collections, and any artwork or school certificates that have kids’ information on them. Streamline your artwork and tone down the bold decorating.
September - Buying Tip
Select a professional to help you find your dream home and fine-tune your financial expectations. Work with a buyer agent or consider a sales agent or dual agent. Before making a decision, have a Realtor explain the advantages and disadvantages of each.
October - Selling Tip
Thoroughly clean your house
Clean it again
Repeat steps 1 and 2 if necessary :)
November - Buying Tip
Before rolling out the welcome mat, consider some moving basics: arrange for an alarm company; turn on the electricity, water and gas; clean or replace the carpet; and notify the post office about your change of address. The best time for renovations is before you move your furniture in.
December - Selling Tip
Do not turn your home into a second hand store. When prospects come to view your home, you may lose the biggest sale of all if you distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer need.
I hope you found these tips helpful. Stay tuned for more advanced topics and hyper local topical discussions!