10 Ways to Increase Your Home's Value

Buyers as well as sellers can benefit. That’s because purchasing a home is comparatively cheap right now, thanks to still-low interest rates (they recently dipped below 4 percent for a 30-year fixed mortgage).  And although home prices will continue to climb in 2015, they’re expected to do so at a slower rate than in 2014.

Your real estate professional is advising you to declutter, stage your home, plant new flowers, and make repairs and updates. You may be reluctant because of the costs, but your real estate agent is giving you sound investment advice that can actually make you more money when you sell your home.

There are 10 home improvements under $1,500 that add the most to home sellers' bottom line, as recommended by real estate professionals across the nation.

Home improvements are listed by the greatest return on investment (ROI):

Cleaning and decluttering: Nothing drives away would-be buyers faster than clutter, grime, and the weird smells that accompany a messy home. Bruce Irving, a renovation consultant and real estate agent based in Cambridge, Mass., tells clients to imagine their boss is coming to dinner with his or her spouse. “Your home should be at least that nice on the day of any open house,” he says. 

Remove personal items; wash and clean all areas inside and outside of house; freshen air; remove clutter from furniture, counters and all areas of the home; organize closets; polish woodwork and mirrors, etc.

Home staging: Add fresh flowers; remove personal items; reduce clutter; rearrange furniture; hide old furniture in the storage; add new props or furniture to enhance rooms; play soft music; hang artwork on walls, and more.

Lightening and brightening: Open windows; clean windows and skylights inside and outside; replace old curtains; remove other obstacles from windows that block out light; repair lighting fixtures; make sure windows open easily, among other suggestions.

Kitchen and Bathroom: Buyers want to see that a home is clean and well-maintained, especially in the bathrooms. “Simple improvements like caulking the tub or re-grouting the tile floor will go a long way in the mind of a buyer.

Paint Interior: A fresh coat of paint is the quickest way to transform a room. But it probably doesn't make sense to have your entire house repainted prior to putting it on the market.  (Sixteen percent of real estate professionals said interior painting is an important element in fostering the sale of a home.)

Enhance the Exterior: You wouldn't go to a job interview without brushing your hair and putting on a crisp, clean outfit. Nor should you try to sell your home without sprucing up its exterior. Start with basic maintenance: mowing the lawn, trimming overgrown shrubs, applying a fresh layer of mulch to garden beds.

As with your home’s interior, it’s also important to make minor repairs, such as replacing cracked siding boards or repainting brick walls.

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Source: Consumer Report Magazine 

5 Things Home Sellers Should Never Do

Find out what is your home's value here http://wayne.ourdallashome.com/sell.php

Catalyst Real Estate Experts

The Builder Move Up Program

Presently, many other homeowners feel stuck in their homes yet they don't really understand the effect of waiting to sell and how it is affected by interest rates.

Here is how 5 percent increase in the market can really cost you:

Let's say a couple is in a two hundred thousand dollar home and they want to wait until the market goes up 5 percent in order to get $210,000 because that's where they can make ten thousand dollars.

The trade-up home their looking at cost 350,000. If they apply that same five percent and that home is going to go up to 360,750, so instantly waiting for ten thousand dollars is going to cost them over seventeen thousand dollars. Now they’re already behind by waiting for the market to increase when trading up.

The most essential thing is to look at the impacted interest rates.  Let’s say the current home was acquired for two hundred thousand dollars and all of these numbers are based on 100 percent financing. So their current monthly payment for a thirty-year mortgage is $1,340 dollars. If they purchase their new home now for $350,000 at a 4 percent interest rate then their monthly payment is only going to be 1,670 dollars that only a $330 dollar-a-month increase for such a step in increasing their lifestyle possibly doubling the square footage of their home.

Let's say they wait for the market to return to a higher price or when the market goes up we know the economy is getting better. However, when economy gets better the FED is not going to subsidize the interest rate so seven-percent is probably even optimistic because traditionally and historically interest rates run about 10 percent. As for point of illustration lets say 7% what they're getting right now their mortgage payments can be $2,444 dollars a month so first they lost. 17,500 just by waiting because the increase in their higher priced home is going to cost them $775 dollars a month more to live in that new home instead of three hundred thirty dollars a month.

At CATALYST REAL ESTATE EXPERTS we offer our exclusive Builder Trade Up Program

The Builder Move Up Program is especially suited for growing families that need more space to accommodate their evolving lifestyle.

With the Builder Move Up Program, you’ll be able to buy your dream home, while saving thousands in commission dollars on the sale of your home. 

Get an exclusive Builder Trade Up Program

from

Catalyst Real Estate Experts

How Does It Work?

1.  Register to get started in the program

2.  Meet with a Established Listing Specialist

3.  Institute the proven marketing plan

4.  List and sell your current home at a significantly reduced commission rate

5.  Close on your new home and receive an additional commission rebate

MAKE YOUR DREAM HOME A REALITY

GET STARTED TODAY by calling us @ 469-500-4663 or go online

to www.dfwbuildermoveup.com

Find Your Home's Value INSTANTLY here -  http://wayne.ourdallashome.com/sell.php

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10 Things You Should Consider in Choosing a Home Stager

10 Things You Should Consider in Choosing a Home Stager

While not every home seller and real estate agent believes in the power of home staging when selling a home, there are those who do, thanks to the proliferation of shows on television and real life success stories.  So, if you have made the decision to hire a professional home stager, then what should you be looking for?

There are a number of things you should consider:

1. Portfolio - every home stager should have a website (this in itself is something you should look for) where you can view his or her portfolio of homes they have staged. There should be before and after photos for occupied homes and at least the after photos for vacant homes and make sure it is their portfolio, not some stock photos they purchased, or worse, photos they have stolen from another home stager's website (this has been known to happen). While it may be difficult to prove the photos are really the stager's, one way you might be able to tell is if some of the photos look  amateurish and others look totally professional and expensive.  You can also meet with the stager and ask to see their printed portfolio of before and after photos. And in particular, ask to see pictures of homes that are in a similar market and style as yours.

2. Experience - This goes hand-in-hand with number one. While every newbie deserves a break, experience and longevity should be given high consideration. All things being equal, it is better to go with someone who has been a home stager for awhile and has the portfolio to prove it as they have more experience dealing with any stumbling blocks. Also, think "survival of the fittest". 

3. Decorative Style - one of the goals of staging a home is to make it less taste-specific and less personal, and instead make it appeal to the broad range of buyers. Having said that, every stager usually has some unique decorative style. However, what you want to make sure of is not every home they stage looks just like every other home they stage. Each should be decorated and accessorized for the type of home it is, the location and the profile of the buyer for this type of home. 

Some stagers have their own inventory of furniture and others use a furniture rental company. The advantage of using a furniture rental company is that there is a wide selection in terms of both price and style.  However, some home stagers are forced to use their own furniture because there are no furniture rental companies in their area. So make sure they have an extensive inventory. 

Lesson: Beware of the cookie-cutter stager.

Also beware of the home stager who seems to do primarily small vignettes, such as a totally empty room save for a corner with a chair, lamp, artwork and tiny rug. This accomplishes nothing in getting a buyer to fall in love with the home and want to live there.

 4. Education and training - home staging as a profession has a low barrier to entry, Meaning, that anyone can call themselves a home stager. And don't be fooled by those home stagers saying they are "certified". There is no universal certification or licensing of home stagers. One thing you do want to see however is that they did take some interior decorating or design and/or home staging education as this shows seriousness on their part and a commitment to this profession. Beware of the home staging hobbyist, e.g., the wife of a friend of yours who likes to decorate. Staging involves much more than that. It's about downplaying the negative features and emphasizing the positive features of a property. It's about emphasizing the focal point of the room and making sure there is proper flow within a room and between rooms so it's easy for buyers to navigate. 

5. Testimonials and Referrals - some home stagers' websites have testimonials from homeowners and real estate agents, but go beyond just reading them. Ask for the names and contact information of their past clients who are not listed on the website. 

Contact them and ask them these questions:

• How did you like working with_________?

• What do you think he or she did best?

• What are some of the things you feel he or she could have done better?

• Was he or she responsive, professional and reliable?

• Was the project completed in a timely manner?

• Were you pleased with the results?

• Overall, how satisfied were you?

• Any advice for me in working with_____? 

6. Fees - don't choose a home stager because they are the cheapest of the ones you have called. Seriously consider all of the things listed here. And don't think that the one with the highest fee also means he or she is must be a great home stager. It could just mean that they have found they can charge this price and only deal with a certain clientele. If they offer free consultations, you have to ask yourself, why would they want to give away advice for free?  Is it because they are desperate for business, or are you really going to be getting any good advice? If their bid for a vacant or occupied staging comes in much lower than others; it may be because they will be using inexpensive accessories or furniture or cutting corners to cut their time in the project. 

7. Insurance - make sure your home stager has insurance. They should at least have general business liability insurance. Some even have professional liability insurance, also more commonly known as errors and omissions insurance. Those companies that have employees should have workmen's compensation insurance. Ask for a copy of their insurance certificate(s). 

8. Personality and Traits- Whether you're a homeowner or a real estate agent, you want to make sure

you will be able to work with the home stager.

• Do they have the type of personality you would get along with or one that might annoy you?

• Do they appear to be professional and serious?

• Have they been responsive to you so far? Did they return calls and emails promptly?

• Do they seem organized?

• Are they a good listener?

• If you are a real estate agent, how do you think they might talk to your clients when it comes to

providing advice on sensitive things they need to change in order to get the home sold? 

9. Written Agreement - an agreement in writing between the homeowner and the client will protect both parties. And it also points to the professionalism and seriousness of the home stager. 

10. Resources - particularly if you have an older home that needs to be sold and particularly if you don't have your own resources, a home stager who knows good house painters, handymen, landscapers etc. can be very valuable.

COMPARABLE SALES – A GUIDE TO HOME SELLERS

When selling a home selecting the list price is just one of the most difficult in the selling process. Over pricing would entail longer time in the market while under pricing or selling the property lower than its value means a financial loss on your end. These losses could have been gains if only properly planned and thought of. That is why it is essential to have a Realtor or a professional to guide you on this journey. Before you decide the listing price, you need to know everything about the market in your area. Understanding comparables is a great place to start.

1. Eye for an Eye: Analyzing the comps entails some detective work. Obviously, your house isn't exactly like every other on the block. It can be far better – or far worse. You have to wade through and pick out comps that truly come closest to yours. Then make note of what similar homes have that you don’t and what your house have that the comps lack? Consider these comparisons:

Square footage: This is significant for most buyers. Some will even hunt based on square footage alone. And when it comes to pricing, the bigger the property, the bigger the price tag.

Age and condition: Do you live in a 1910 Victorian? Or is your house practically brand new? Newer homes don’t necessarily command higher prices, or vice versa, but condition relative to age does factor into price. So when you compare your home to others, stay within a five-year range.

Number of bedrooms and baths: How many your home has – and where they’re located – can radically change the price. Like square footage, families often shop for homes based on these numbers.

Amenities: This one’s pretty straightforward: the more perks you have, like walk-in closets, a pool, spa, gourmet kitchen, and so on, the higher the price.

Lot size: Is there room for the buyer to add on to the house or plant a sprawling rose garden in the backyard? The exact acreage of your land correlates to price. When you compare your home to others, stay within .05 acres.

Condition: A tear-down, a fixer-upper, updated, or pristine – where do you fall in the spectrum? The condition of your house can be a deal-maker or a deal-breaker. That’s why you have to pay close attention to other homes’ upgrades to make a fair assessment of how they affect value.

Location: This factor is multi-faceted. It relates not only to your state, city, and neighborhood, but also to where your house sits on the street. Does it face an eyesore or busy intersection? Does it have a view? Does it get nearby freeway noise or sit on the bank of a tranquil lake? Don’t forget to take these location nuances into consideration.

2.  Don’t Look Back (Too Far) – The price of your home today can’t be compared to the selling price of your neighbor’s identical home 6 months ago. This has been a year of quick price increases in most cities. If you’re looking at comps further back than 3 months, dump them. Your house could be worth more.

3.  Go Online and Check Prices – A wealth of information lives online, and it’s accessible with the click of a mouse.

 4. Check Out the Competition in Person – Don’t analyze your comps on paper alone. Get moving! Ask your realtor to recommend homes you should drive by or open houses you should attend. It’s important for you as a home seller to know what’s out there. Find out up close and in person where your home stacks up against the competition.

5.  List vs. Sale Prices – The difference in percentage between list prices and actual sales prices for the homes in your neighborhood speaks volumes about the current real estate climate. This number is a strong indicator of which direction the market is moving and it will suggest how much under – or over – your ideal asking price you can expect to get for your home. Anyone can throw a house on the market at a high price. But the number you want to look at closely is the sale price of the home, which is much more indicative of the actual value.

6.  Know what’s Not Selling – You can learn a lot by observing not only what IS selling nearby, but also what’s NOT selling. Is a home that initially looks like a comp really overpriced for what it offers? How does it compare with your house? What is it lacking that yours isn’t?  Once you identify why it’s not selling at its current price, you can avoid the same mistake when determining your own home’s price tag.

If you can have a good grasp on the comparable sales in your area, you will be ahead of the game. If you take the time to see exactly what has sold, for how much and why, you can use this to your advantage not just when selling your home but also when planning to buy one.

TIPS TO MARKET YOUR HOUSE

With home prices back where they were ten years ago and sales still sluggish, it seems as if sellers can't catch a break. But with the right persons at hand, enough skills and information, selling a home will be a walk in the park.  In seller's markets, good marketing can bring higher prices and, in buyer's markets, it could mean the difference between sold or expired. Good marketing might not sell your house, but it will make the phone ring. Because if buyers don't call, you won't sell.

Here are simple tips to market your home and make it sell really fast.  

1. Photograph the Front

Most home buyers begin a home search online, so good photos are essential. Listings without a photo or with only an exterior shot are often passed over and ignored. Buyers are visual. Follow these tips and your house photo will look ten times better than the competition's:

• Crop out sidewalks and streets.
• Remove vehicles from driveway / front of home.
• Shoot up-close & angled photos.
• Avoid shade on the house.
• Clear away vegetation blocking front door or path to door.

2. Exterior Photographs

If you own a condo or town home without a yard, then take pictures of the clubhouse, pool, spa or tennis courts. If you have a yard, however, buyers will want to see it.

• Emphasize space and shoot long.
• Mow the lawn & trim bushes.
• Remove evidence of pets.
• Put away children's toys.
• Avoid shooting into the sun.

3. Interior Photographs

Take photographs of every room. Even if you suspect the room won't photograph well, shoot it anyway because the photo quality just might astonish you and be usable.

• Open drapes & blinds
• Turn on lights.
• Focus on interesting details like the condition of a wood floor or a fireplace mantle.
• Remove trash cans & close toilet lids in bathrooms.
• Use floral arrangements in kitchens & dining rooms.
• Avoid shooting into mirrors because your image will reflect.

4. Virtual Tours

Virtual tours aren't just to showcase million-dollar homes anymore. Every home should have a virtual tour, even if it's only two spins. Buyers love, love, love virtual tours.

• A good virtual tour will grab a buyer by the hand and lead her from room to room, showing a 360-degree view.
• Depending on the tour company, you can add sound, music or an exciting, professionally written description that scrolls with the movement of the tour.
• Virtual tours can also include individual photos available for download or to print.

5. Signage

Signage encourages home shoppers to immediately call you or your agent. It's free advertising! If your home is a corner lot, put up two signs.

• Some homeowner associations prohibit real estate signs.
• Some HOAs allow only window signs.
• Try talking to a neighbor, whose home is located at the corner of a busy street, asking for permission to put a sign in that yard with an arrow pointing toward yours.
• Agent signs should include the phone number of the closest office (if the brokerage operates multiple offices) and the agent's cell or voice mail number.

6. Print Advertising

Print advertising reaches buyers who read newspapers. Online ads reach the rest. If your neighbors say, "Everywhere I look, I see your home advertised," you're doing a good job. Puts ads in:

• Major newspapers. Find out which days pull the most readers. Typically it's Sunday but some newspapers also publish "picture classifieds" on other days.
• Local newspapers. You can probably run a larger ad for less money that will more closely target those looking in your area.
• Real estate publications. Check on press date; can you wait?
• Every Web site you can find. Most online listings are free.

7. Direct Mail

If you're an unrepresented seller, you can buy mailing lists from list brokers. If you are represented by an agent, ask about a direct mail program. I prefer over sized four-color postcards because they are inexpensive to mail and eye-catching. Here are three places to mail:

• Neighbors. Everybody has friends and relatives who might want to move near them.
• Agents who represent buyers in your neighborhood.
• Buyers who live in other areas and often relocate to your neighborhood.

8. Open Houses

Not every home is suitable for an open house due to location or other factors, and sometimes the only way to determine that is to try it. If nobody comes, that's probably a good indication. However, if your home is located near a high traffic area where buyers often swarm, then it's a good candidate.

• Place open house signs throughout the area directing buyers.
• Advertise in the newspaper.
• Advertise open house times online.
• Invite the neighbors; they're going to come anyway.

9. Host Broker / Agent Tours

If you're planning to sell your home without representation, then skip this step. However, since most buyers are represented by an agent, it's a good idea to draw as many agents and brokers as possible to view your home.

• Agents who linger in your home will better remember details to later describe to buyers.
• The best way to entice an agent to hang around is food. Doesn't need to be expensive, sandwiches will suffice.
• As agents munch and network, the hope is they will admire your home and bring back a buyer.

10. Send E-Flyers

Technology has made it very easy to create and send electronic flyers. You can also include multiple photographs of your house. Costs vary but it's generally less than $100 to produce. Here are ideas for recipients:

• Real estate agents who sell in your area.
• Friends, family and coworkers.
• Out-of-area brokers and agents who represent buyers in your area.

SELLERS CHECKLIST

If you were to ask someone who just sold their home, you will notice that most of them gets annoyed as they describe how the profits that they assumed they will get after the sale were upstaged by unforeseeable expenses.  It won’t be too appalling if you plan ahead.  In fact, if you start planning ahead of time, you may find ways to reduce some of the costs, perhaps by handling some tasks yourself or getting lots of competing bids for work.

EXPENSES BEFORE SALE 

Here are the typical upfront expenses. Some are a matter of choice, yet may be important investments in making sure your house sells for the highest amount possible -- or sells at all. (Save those receipts! If you might owe capital gains tax, your prep costs will be important in reducing your "gains," as discussed below.)

• Painting. A new paint job is one of most cost-effective ways of freshening your house up, inside and out. If you've recently painted, this is less important -- though if your color choices were bold or unique, you might want to tone them down with some crowd-pleasing neutrals. Your stager, if you hire one (see below) can help advise on the best colors.
• Window washing. When did you last wash them -- especially on the outside panes of upper floors? Sparkling windows make a surprisingly large difference to buyer perceptions. Hiring someone will cost a few hundred dollars, depending on the size and height of your home.
• Fixups. Which fixups are necessary (such as replacing cracked windows or stained carpeting) and which (such as major remodels) should be left for the buyer to handle is a separate discussion in itself. But there's practically no house that couldn't use some quick maintenance to make sure it looks well-cared for and leaves fewer items for a home inspector to comment on.
• Staging. It's de rigeur in some parts of the United States, and less known in others -- but staging your home, or having a decorator help declutter, reorganize, and in some cases refurnish it after you've moved your stuff out, can help impress buyers in a big way. In fact, studies show that buyers pay more for staged homes. Expect to pay a professional stager a few thousand dollars for their services (a bit less if some of your own furniture is usable
• Adding decorative or new items to your home (if you're not hiring a stager). Even if you decide to save money by staging your own home, you're almost guaranteed to have to buy things like a new doormat, new plush towels for the bathroom, flowers for the showings, and more, depending on what your house needs. Other likely possibilities include new couch cushions, area rugs, a nice table runner, and artwork to replace your wall of kids' photos.
• Landscaping. Buyers are increasingly interested in the state of your garden. If it's already fully planted, you'll want to hire someone (or put in some sweat equity) to get it raked, pruned, and otherwise tidied up. If the area hasn't already been landscaped, plan to add some new greenery and flowering plants. (By the way, if you plant in containers, you can take the containers with you when you move -- unless they're so big or incorporated into the property as to be considered "fixtures.") Many sellers simply put in new sod -- but do the buyers a favor and don't leave the plastic mesh backing on it, in case the buyers want to replace it with something more interesting and environmentally friendly.
• Pre-inspection reports. Having a professional inspect your house for either termite/pest damage or other structural matters isn't required , nor expected in most parts of the United States. Buyers expect to pay for their own inspectors, and in fact will probably want to hire ones they know and trust regardless of whether you've had the property inspected first. Yet there are situations where you might want to have the house inspected before letting buyers in -- for example, if you've owned the property for many years and wonder whether any problems have arisen "below the hood" that you're oblivious to, and would perhaps prefer to fix before buyers have a chance to get upset about them. Inspections will run you upwards of $200.
• Lights and heat while the house sits empty. If you'll be moving out before putting your house on the market, expect to pay double utilities for a while. You'll want to leave the lights and heat on in the house for sale, or program them to stay on during any hours that potential buyers and their agents may be stopping by the place. No one likes to enter a cold, dark house and fumble around for the light switches.
• Extra homeowners' insurance for the vacancy period. Check with your homeowners' carrier. Your insurance may not apply when the home is "vacant," which term will be defined in your policy. You can ask for a rider to cover any period of vacancy. (In the current down market, many houses take months to sell.)

EXPENSES AT CLOSING

The good news is, most of what you'll be paying out at closing will come out of the sale proceeds. The bad news is, you'll be saying goodbye to some big dollars.

• Real estate agent commissions. You, as the seller, will likely be paying the entire 5% - 6% commission, to be split between the buyer's agent and yours. 
•  Other closing costs or credits to the buyer. You might have agreed -- based on local tradition or buyer negotiation -- to pay various of the standard costs associated with closing the deal, such as fees for the escrow company; the mortgage and home appraisal; recording and transfer of the property; homeowners' and title insurance; and more. With the market down, some buyers are asking sellers to pay all of the closing costs, which typically add up to 2% to 4% of the selling price.
• Transfer tax. Your city or state may require you to pay transfer taxes, as a small percentage of the sale price.
• Home warranty for the buyer. Whether because the buyer requests it or to make the buyer feel secure about the home purchase, many sellers buy a home warranty on the buyer's behalf. This is a service contract that covers repairs to appliances and certain systems within the house for the first year of ownership. It will cost about $500.
• Capital gains tax. If you earn less than $250,000 on your home sale (or $500,000 if you're married and filing jointly), don't worry -- you won't owe a thing in the way of capital gains taxes. But if you earn more than that, you'll want to look further into the matter. Once you've subtracted things like the costs of preparing the property for sale from the supposed gains, you may not owe the tax.  
•  Moving costs. Asking your friends with pickup trucks to help can save you some dough -- but will take a lot more time. Sometimes it's worth paying for the deluxe treatment, where the company packs your boxes for you, transports them to the new location, and unpacks at the other end.

Contact Us today 469-500-4663 Sell your home now and move to your dream home in Dallas tomorrow! 

THE SELLING PROCESS

If there’s anything common between buying and selling a house, it will be both of them are not as easy as it seem… they are a little complicated than what we thought they are.  But with help from experienced people and knowledge about certain things everything will work out just fine.  As I’ve mentioned in my previous post, there are a lot of things to consider when buying a house just like when you are selling one. Selling a house is not as easy as putting up a sign and telling your friends that your house is for sale and expect the buyers to come to you as you please.

The procedures in selling a house may vary according to State but then they are similar in so many ways.  And since I’m most familiar with Texas here’s how it goes around here.

Here’s the process in selling a home:

1) Choose a Listing Agent

• A listing agent will represent you and have a fiduciary responsibility to look out for your best interests.
• Interview agents and meet with at least three neighborhood specialists.
• Negotiate your listing agreement, including term.

2) Get Home Ready for Sale

• Prepare your home for sale by cleaning, decluttering and improving curb appeal.
• Hire a professional stager to stage your home, or ask your real estate agent for help in staging.
• Make repairs before selling.
• Protect your privacy while your home is on the market.
• If you're selling a home where pets live, make alternate plans for your pets.

3) Figure out How Much Your Home is Worth

• A seller's biggest mistake is to overprice.
• Price your home in line with sold homes identified in a comparative market analysis report.
• Consider whether your market is hot, cold or neutral, and price according to the market temperature.

4) Market Your Home

• You or your agent should identify the sizzling selling points and choose advertising words to sell.
• Approve your agent's marketing campaign or figure out how to advertise your house for sale yourself.
• Hire a virtual tour company to take quality photographs and put a 360-degree virtual tour online.
• Tweak marketing to increase traffic and showings.
• Post internet listings online. Your agent or you should saturate the internet with photographs and description of your home.

5) Show Your Home

• If you're wondering about lockbox vs. appointments, you'll get more showings if you let agents use a lockbox.
• Your home will show better if you are selling in spring than selling in winter.
• Selling during the holidays will likely result in a lower sales price, regardless of what agents tell you.
• Prepare for an open house and use the approach sparingly.
• Ask for buyer feedback so you can adjust your price, condition or marketing campaigns accordingly.

6) Receive Purchase Offers and Negotiate

• Make certain that buyers use the right form for writing a purchase offer.
• Even if you receive a lowball offer, negotiate by issuing a counter offer. Don't ignore offers.
• Ask for a kick out clause or first right of refusal if the buyer's offer is contingent on selling a home.
• Consider making a counter offer contingent on buying a home, if market conditions warrant.
• Don't be afraid to make a full-price counter offer, if you are priced competitively.
• If you are priced right, prepare yourself for multiple offers.

7) Open Escrow / Order Title

• Your agent or transaction coordinator will open escrow and order a title policy.
• Write down the contact information for the closing agent.
• Select a date to close based on when the buyer's loan will fund.
• Ask for a receipt for the buyer's earnest money deposit.

8) Schedule Appraiser Appointment

• Clean the house the day before the appraiser arrives.
• If you receive a low appraisal, ask your agent about alternatives.
• You are not entitled to receive a copy of the appraisal because you did not pay for it.
• If the buyer decides to cancel the contract based on an appraisal, ask your agent or lawyer about your rights.

9) Cooperate with Home Inspection

• Get ready for the home inspector.
• Ask your agent to provide you with a home inspection checklist so you will know which items an inspector will want to see.
• Expect that the inspector will want access for an attic inspection and will look for a wet basement; prepare those areas for inspection.
• Prepare as well for the final walk-through inspection.

10) Obtain Seller-Required Inspections

• If your contract calls for a roof certification, hire a reputable company to conduct the inspection.
• States that allow for termite / pest inspections make these reports public records.
• The fees for all inspection reports, even if seller-mandated, are negotiable.
• If your home was built before 1950, a sewer inspection might call for a new sewer line, but trenchless sewers are less expensive to install.

11) Delivery Seller Disclosures

• All homes in the US are subject to lead-based paint disclosures.
• If you are aware of material facts, disclose them.
• Your title company should provide CC&Rs, but if you belong to a homeowner association, additional documentation will be required.

12) Negotiate Request for Repair

• Ordinarily, sellers do not need to accept a buyer's request for repair; however, buyers can generally then cancel.
• You are entitled to a copy of the home inspection report, if the buyers request repairs.
• If you do not choose to make repairs, a buyer might instead accept a closing cost credit.

13) Ask Buyer to Release Contingencies

• In California, for example, contracts default to 17 days, at which time, the buyer must release contingencies.
• If you do not demand a release, buyers are not obligated to provide it.
• If buyers do not provide a release, in CA, sellers have the right to cancel.

14) Sign Title / Escrow Documents

• In southern California, you will sign escrow documents shortly after opening escrow.
• In northern California, you will sign escrow documents near closing.
• Bring a valid picture ID.

15) Close Escrow

• Your property deed, reconveyance and deed of trust will record in the public records.
• Title will notify you and your agent when it records.
• Depending on buyer's possession rights specified in the contract, you may be required to move on the day it closes.

HOME SELLER TIPS: PROVING HOUSE VALUE IN NORTH DALLAS, PLANO & FRISCO

Being one of the best real estate company in North Dallas, here are some tips I can share with you on How to sell your Home.( Free Home Evaluation Form )

To sell your house has to prove its value to three people:
1.  The buyers agent whose job it is to scout for the best homes in the buyer’s price range
2.  The buyer who selects from these homes and
3.  The lender, who decides who actually decides if the home is worth the price
Your real estate professional will take all this into consideration when helping you set the list price.   To do this, your agent will prepare what is commonly called a  CMA (Comparative Market Analysis).  A CMA allows your agent to analyze your most up-to-date local market conditions by factoring in the following:
Factors houses that recently sold, houses that have recently been placed on the market, failed sales (expired listings) or houses that are under contract.  A closer look …
ACTIVE LISTINGS:  These are listings that are on the market.  Some sellers make the mistake of looking strictly at active listings for setting their list price.
WITHDRAWN and EXPIRED LISTINGS: These are homes that haven’t sold either after being on the market for some time and in some cases even going through several price reductions.  Usually these homes were overpriced or had major issues that deterred buyers.
SOLD AND PENDING LISTINGS:  Unlike active expired and withdrawn listings, these stats can show what prices are attracting buyers and getting offers.  Your agents CMA will help you to determine where the market has been, where its going and where it’s not.  To be a successful seller you need to know where to set your price.
Take a look at the video below for further explanation.

Home Buyer Turn Offs

Selling a Home? Avoid these Home Buyer Turn offs

1. Odors

House odors are number one on the home sellinguh-oh list. And narrowing it down, odors from cigarette smoke and pets take top billing, with mildew not far behind.

If you smoke indoors--the house smells like cigarettes. If you have pets, the house might smell bad--even if you don't notice it. Ask someone who doesn't live there to take a sniff, and don't get angry when they tell you the truth.

Eradicate the odors so that you can present potential buyers with a clean, fresh atmosphere--not a house that's full of perfumes to cover up the odors.

2. Dogs that Meet You at the Door or in the Driveway

Dogs frighten some people and irritate others. You'll have a much better response from showings if you control your pets--dogs, cats, whatever.

You say you plan to put them in a bedroom or garage and then ask people not to open the door to that area? Bad idea. Would you buy a house you can't inspect? Of course not.

Remove pets during showings if possible. If you can't, contain them in crates for their own safety and to show respect for the feelings of potential buyers.

3. Dirty Bathrooms

Grimy bathrooms are an instant turnoff. Scrub them, paint them, buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels--do what it takes to make them shine. If you're serious about selling the home, the extra work is a must.

4. Dimly Lit Rooms

Dark homes are a turnoff to most home buyers, so try to brighten them up:

• Replace dim light fixtures
• Install additional light fixtures
• Install (quality) sun tunnels or skylights
• Remove heavy drapes to let the light stream through windows
• Repaint some rooms with colors that reflect light
• Trim tree limbs that shadow the house

Dirty and fogged windows are another buyer turnoff. Clean them inside and out to bring in more light. If possible, replace any double-pane windows with broken seals. You can find them by looking for a foggy residue that cannot be removed.

5. A House Full of Busy Wallpaper

Busy wallpaper in every room turns off most buyers, and even people who love wallpaper rarely like what you've chosen. It's a personal decorative touch that they want to select themselves.

It's the masses you must appeal to when you're selling a home, so take a hard look at your wallpaper and decide if it should be removed and replaced with paint. Don't paint over it, because it will be obvious that you did--and buyers know that makes removing it even more difficult.

6. Damp Basements

Dampness or damp smells in the basement throw up a red flag to buyers that the foundation leaks!

Most problems we see are not caused by faulty foundations. They occur because rainwater is being diverted towards the foundation instead of away from it.

• Clogged underground drains
• No rain gutters along roofline
• Downspouts aimed the wrong way

Go outside the next time it rains and determine where runoff water is going.

7. Bugs

Roaches, spiders, any insect that shouldn't be in the house. Get rid of them.

8. Poor Curb Appeal

You must grab a buyer's interest from the curb if you want to sell the home for top dollar. Home buyers often refuse to go into a house with an unkempt yard, sagging doors or peeling paint. You say you can't afford to paint? Okay, but get that yard in tip-top shape and grab a screwdriver to fix those doors.

9. Gutters with Plants Growing in Them

I'm serious. Some people never clean their gutters, and it always makes buyers wonder what else hasn't been maintained.

Remember the drainage issue in #6? Cleaning packed gutters might help.

10. Sellers Who Hang Around for Showings