When you are ready to sell your house you’ll want to enlist the help of a REALTOR®. He or she will provide the professional advice and service you need to make the selling process go smoothly. Showing you ways to make your home as marketable as possible is just one of the many ways your REALTOR® can help. Here are a few tips from the experts: Clean everything in and out of sight With...
A stress-free move? It is possible. Nobody likes moving. Stress-wise, it’s been compared to divorce or the death of a loved one. But it really doesn’t have to be that bad. Some good planning can help smooth things out, and make your move an easier experience. Here are a few ideas to help you plan: PurgeThe less stuff you have to pack and transport, the simpler your move will be. Clear out the...
Smart Renovations: Improvements that PaySo you’re thinking about doing a kitchen facelift, putting on an addition or landscaping your yard. If you’re redoing your house with an eye to upping resale value, you may want to focus your dollars on projects that will give you the best return. The Kitchen Kitchen renos usually offer the best return of any major improvement. Just make sure you’re...
Amortization. Fixed rate. Variable rate. High-ratio. Principal. If you’re mystified by mortgage-speak, you’re not alone. Here’s a crash course in mortgage basics to help you make smart decisions about one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. Choose a term that works for you. A term is a period of time (from 6 months to 10+ years) during which you pay your mortgage at a specified...
The importance of a home inspection So you’ve found a house you love. Great backyard, gleaming hardwood, and the kitchen of your dreams. But what about the furnace? The wiring? Leaks in the basement? Before you buy, have the home inspected; no matter how experienced you are as a homeowner, it’s the best way to make sure you really know what you’re getting into. A home inspection will give you...
Setting up for a photographer Do I hire a cleaner? Do I remove the clutter? What about the family photos? Turn the lights on or off? What about your dog and cat? These are all good questions. We have shown up to homes that have been professionally cleaned, staged and lite and we have shown up to a cottage that had two dead ferrets stuck to the floor. All in a days work. Though it is...
Seller Real estate sections of public libraries abound with books on selling you home privately. In addition to pointers on sprucing up your home for maximum sale ability, they provide homeowners with tips on the “psychology of showing a house.” Yet, most homeowners choose to sell through a REALTOR®. Selecting a REALTOR® Finding the right real estate representative takes some time and care....
So you’ve decided you want to stop paying rent and buy your first home. You’re not alone. With interest rates at their lowest in decades, many people have discovered that mortgage payments can be significantly lower or at least comparable to the rent they are currently paying.