Insider Tips on How to Win the Competitive Edge When Buying a Home

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With our all-time low interest rates and prices so low it’s no wonder that buyers are lining up trying to take advantage of the great deals out there right now. But if you are one of those buyers that are finding it tough to deal with the competition, what can you do better to make sure you get the home of your dreams? There are a few things that many buyers, under the guidance of their savvy agents, are doing to stand apart from the rest. Here we’ve shared them with you to make your real estate buying endeavors both fruitful and as seamless as possible!

Be Prepared In Advance and Know What to Expect

Too often when prospective homeowners walk into a new property, they do not take into consideration the all-important fact of how much they can actually afford. It’s one thing to have a ballpark figure in mind but it’s another to have an actual preapproval letter from your bank. Buyers that have a preapproval are taken far more seriously by sellers than the buyers that express an interest in the home but then have to start from square one.

Know what the market holds when you go to make an offer on a property? Many times a buyer will not have studied the area’s market trends and as a result ends up suffering the consequences. For example, in a strong market where there are good homes at desirable prices, buyers find themselves competing against others in what ends up to be bidding wars. Being prepared in advance and being willing to offer more than the asking price is sometimes what is necessary to get you that dream home. Keep in mind that eventually, the market will experience an upswing so you will see some return on your investment. By focusing on what you are getting now with the best of what the market has to offer, you will end up with a winning transaction.

Adding a Personal Touch To Appeal to Sellers

The transaction of buying or selling a house can be very impersonal at times but it does not have to be that way. One of the best ways that highly successful real estate agents succeed in helping their clients get their dream properties is to add a personal touch – especially when it comes to communication with the sellers. An example is sending a letter introducing the family that is vying for the property, with details about them, why they love the house, or what makes them the perfect fit for the home. When sellers come across this type of thing, it gives them a warm glimpse into the people that could be moving into their home – a home that they are undoubtedly very attached to and would like to see go to only the perfect new owners. Another thing that works well is complimenting the sellers on how they have maintained the home or on other aspects of the house you find very appealing.
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At the end of the day, if the house is meant for you it will likely become yours but not without you and your agent doing the best possible to stand out from the rest. For a customized consultation on how we can help you buy the perfect home, we invite you to visit us soon!

How To Prepare Your Home For Sale – Spruce It Up and Sell It Fast!

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If you have made the decision to sell your home and will be listing it soon, especially as we continue to experience this challenged market lately, you want your home to sell as quickly as possible and at a price closest to your asking price.  By following these tips, you are sure to be successful in your home-selling endeavor, and most likely with an edge over other sellers who may not have taken the time to prepare their property for sale. 

Get Your Home Ready So It Shows Its Very Best

Curb appeal is a very important aspect of attracting serious buyers.  Beginning with what they see as they drive up, to what their experience is walking up to the front door – as a seller, your greatest opportunity to grab their interest lies in those very first moments.  Make sure there are no dirty corners, cobwebs, mildew, stains or other unattractive visible signs of neglect that will catch prospective buyers’ eyes. 

Tip: Pressure-wash the area, clean up weeds, add shine to pavement blocks with some sealant, make sure the storm door is in good shape and that the door bell operates.

Clean, Mark-Free Walls and Windows Are Essential

Regardless of whether you are still living in the space or the house is vacant, it’s important to have the house cleaned and devoid of all marks and blemishes.  Windows and glass should be clean and smudge-free.  Walls should be without any scuffmarks, moving dents or other signs of wear and tear.  

Tip:  Hire a cleaner to clean the house, the bathrooms, fixtures, kitchen, appliances, floors, walls and windows -- patch up dents in the wall and apply a fresh coat of paint throughout the home.

Address Aged Aspects of the Home

If you have some areas with older appliances, tiles with loose grout or any other things that need some updating, try to do so before putting up the house for sale.  Without taking on too large an expense, do make an effort to make the home presentable. 

Tip:  Clean grout on older tiles, have loose tiles re-grouted, and freshen up shower stalls and bathtubs with new caulking.

Don’t Ignore Hard-To-Reach Areas

Pool cages are often ignored within a home because homeowners cannot easily access the insides where mold and mildew can accumulate.  Cleaning the pool cage will make all the difference when a buyer walks through the home and imagines their family using the space.

Tip:  Pressure-wash the inside of pool cages for a quick, bright spruce up.

The Home Should Be Warm and Inviting

Depending on where you are located, keep the temperate of the home at a comfortable level.  If it is too hot or cold, buyers will leave too quickly without getting ample time to walk through, see all the features and visualize themselves in the home.  If the home is still occupied, cook a pot of apples and cinnamon on the stove a few hours before the showing, so there is an inviting aroma throughout the house.

Tip:  In the summers, keep the air conditioning on at a comfortable 68 to 70 degrees.  In winters, leave the heating on at about 73 or 74 degrees.

Exterior Aesthetics Are Also Important

Pay attention to overgrown shrubs, trees, flowerbeds and hedges.  When the outside of a home looks unkempt it can give off a false impression of the rest of the home too.  You want your prospective buyers to see the home and fall in love at first sight – and that begins from the exterior. 

Tip:  Make sure grass is watered, fresh and green. Clean up your lawn and driveway area.  Trim overgrown trees and vegetation, add some mulch or decorative rocks and flower pots for some color.  Decks should be stained.


Get a Second Opinion

Since you are used to the environment in the house, you may have turned a blind eye to some aspects of the home without even realizing it.  If you can ask someone to walk through the home and make a note of any issues that may be visible then before the showing you can get an additional perspective on how the house presents.  Heed that person’s advice as much as possible and repair or address the issues that are brought up.

Tip:  Request a close friend, family member or your listing agent to walk through the home once you have prepared it for showing and provide a list of any issues or concerns that need addressing.

Great Expectations for Great Opportunities in 2012

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Now that everything’s back on track after a busy holiday season, we finally have a moment to step back and admire what a fantastic year 2011 happened to be. Wow – was it incredible! Despite reports of supposed “doom and gloom” and even though the economy was not doing very well, we had our best year ever and we have you, our valued clients and supporters, to thank for all that. With over 200 homes sold last year, we’re ready to begin 2012 with a bang.

What Makes a Good Market “Great”?

The main thing that we can attribute our selling success from 2011 to is having motivated sellers and serious buyers. It’s as simple as that. So, what exactly makes a good market “great”? We find that the perfect combination of the right price, excellent condition and accessibility, makes any home a strong contender in the crazy competitive property-selling world today. In fact, that’s exactly what we expect to see more of in 2012.

Low Interest Rates Continue, Inventory Moves and Prices Begin to Climb

Our prediction for 2012 is that as buyers continue to reap the benefits of our current market and unbelievable interest rates right now, inventory will begin to level off and we will start to see more stabilization in the market. Not only that – the seemingly “bottomless pit” that has been our declining home prices, seems to have come to an end.

Fewer, But More Serious Buyers Dominate the Season

Now that we are officially in our spring season (though it sure doesn’t feel that way from the looks of it outside) real estate is going to move at a really nice pace. And though there may be fewer buyers now than we might see a couple months from now, the ones that are out there are downright serious about purchasing a home. This is great news for sellers right now since there is less selling competition to have to worry about and at the same time a potential for more serious offers.
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As we move into what seems to be the hopeful next phase of our real estate journey beginning the past several years, it is with great confidence that we forecast an amazing year ahead. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like a custom consultation to learn how we can assist you with your real estate endeavors today or even if you just have some questions you would like answered about any of this. We look forward to hearing from you!

Happy Holidays from Team Elliott!

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As we approach the turn of another great year together, I wanted to wish you and your family on behalf of my team, our families and I – a wonderful holiday season.  As always, we are ever thankful for your presence in our lives and strive to continue our lasting relationship.  May you and yours enjoy good health and prosperity – now and always.  We’ll be back in 2012 with a whole new insight, plus lots of perspective and ideas on your real estate endeavors.  Happy Holidays from Team E!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Harnessing the Sun’s Energy to Stay Warm This Winter and Operate Efficiently Year-Round

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It’s no surprise that many homeowners continue to seek time, energy and money-saving energy options for their homes – and one of the best options remains using solar energy.  Solar panels have been around for a while, in fact, for many decades and as with any technological advancement, they have progressed over the years.

In today’s world of hybrid cars, paperless offices, digital communication and so many other energy-efficient tools and techniques – solar panels have also evolved to keep up with the times.  In this article, we share with you the benefits verses risks of installing solar panels in your home, as well as touching on other important things too such as price and installation considerations.  Hopefully you will soon be on your way to harnessing the sun’s energy to light up and warm up YOUR life.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

Sunlight is converted into energy through the use of Photovoltaic cells – when the sun’s rays hit the Photovoltaic panels on a solar panel.  The energy can then heat water and air – providing ample energy to operate a home, including its heating.  Air conditioning units can also run using Photovoltaic technology when the sun’s energy is converted into electricity.  Ideally, to obtain the most sunlight exposure, panels are typically placed in places getting the most direct sunlight such as rooftops or other elevated areas on or around the home.

What Does It Cost to Install Solar Panels?

The cost to install solar panels will vary depending on a few factors.  First, the amount of energy needed to run the home will need to be assessed.  Some homeowners use this technology in designated areas of their home while others get all their energy through this source. Of course, the more energy needed, the more it will cost, as a greater number of panels will need to be installed.

There are ways to cut costs; discounts are offered through major membership warehouse retailers like Costco.  Another way to make it affordable is to assemble and install the system(s) on your own.  A sizable amount of labor costs goes into the installation of solar panels.  For homeowners interested in self-installing their system there is information available online or they can request installation guides from manufacturers, distributors or retailers.

Economic and Environmental Benefits to Homeowners

• Solar panels provide a free source of renewable energy – not to mention a clean and environmentally save source of fuel.

• Solar energy saves homeowners a significant amount of money on home utility bills.

• Housing values jump up, increasingly sizably with the installation and operation of solar energy units.

• The government provides tax credits to homeowners utilizing energy-saving techniques and systems in their homes.

MORE MONEY SAVING AVENUES THROUGH SOLAR ENERGY:

• When more energy is produced than needed, in some cases the utility company will buy extra energy from you and generate a credit on your account.  This concept is called net metering.
• No fuel is required to generate energy using solar panels.
• Since fuel is not needed to produce energy from solar panels, the cost of gasoline and the corresponding supply and demand of fuel that drives prices up do not affect homeowners who use solar energy panels.
• Once the initial investment pays for itself, energy from the sun costs absolutely nothing.

ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ASPECTS OF SOLAR ENERGY

• Solar energy does not create any pollution through the release of harmful chemicals or by-products such as carbon dioxide, mercury, sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide.
• Using solar panels contributes to the decrease of green house gas emissions.
• Energy is generated only where it is needed and used.
• Since solar energy is a clean and renewable source of energy it is a sustainable form of energy that does not add to the perils of global warning threats, acid raid or smog – making it one of the most sustainable form of energy.

Disadvantages of Installing Solar Panels for Solar Energy Use

Though the benefits outweigh the disadvantages there are still a few drawbacks to installing solar panels in a home for energy.

• The high cost of installation usually is the biggest deterrent to most homeowners who want to use solar energy in their homes.
• Solar panels are quite large and require a lot of space for installation in order to run most efficiently.
• Weather patterns can and do affect solar energy efficiency so a backup system is needed.
• Efficient operation depends largely on the position of the home and where the panels are installed so that maximum exposure to the sun’s rays can be accessed.
• Energy is only produced during the day.
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For people who know they will be living in a home for several years, or even those who plan to sell their home soon after installing solar panels – it is largely a matter of being able to recover the cost of installing the solar panels needed.  Once recovered, the cost of energy is almost non-existent.  Add to that the fact that there is little to no maintenance required once installed (assuming proper installation), if homeowners can afford it, this is an excellent way to save money while giving back to the environment at the same time!

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The Little Known Secret That Will Get Your Home Sold

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We all want our real estate buying and selling transactions to run smoothly, efficiently and with minimum hassle.  This holds true even more so these days with the real estate market the way it has been lately.  With just a few simple things, many buyers and sellers today have a huge hand in how their transactions end up happening and as a seller there is one thing you can do that will sell your home in less time, get you more money and in a way that everyone is happy.

The Big Secret is to Be Prepared in Advance

Sure it makes sense to be prepared to sell a home in the traditional ways, such as cleaning up all the extra clutter, making it ready to show to prospective buyers and sprucing up the home’s curb appeal.  But market-savvy sellers are going one step further.  Instead of just relying on what they think might be the issues that need resolution prior to sale, they are going out and actively trying to find out.

Get a pre-sale home inspection done, saving you lots of money on the transaction and potentially saving you the risk of losing the sale altogether.

With things the way they are in the market today, plus as we head into the cooler months and slowing down sales – now is a time when there is a lot of seller and buyer remorse going on.  Sellers feel they are getting a bad rap with the amount of concessions they have to offer in order to get their home sold.  Meanwhile, buyers get upset when they go through all the motions only to find that after having a home inspection done they have uncovered some concerns and want to renegotiate the price.

The simple secret that many successful sellers engage in is to have their own pre-sale home inspection performed.  Whatever the items are that show up on the inspection report can then be included in the seller’s disclosure.  Not only that, the existing homeowners can then work to address the issues that seem like potential deal breakers.  In case potential buyers request further information about the items on the report – anything that has been resolved by the seller after the fact can be proven with receipts and contracts from contractors.

Home Inspections Will Typically Uncover Structural, Maintenance or Aesthetic/Cosmetic Concerns

Another advantage the seller has by being able to present a completed home inspection report done by a certified, local home inspector is that buyers will be more confident in the sellers’ disclosure.  It demonstrates integrity on the part of the sellers to present a full report on their home from top to bottom.  There are several levels of inspections that can be requested and depending on the amount the seller is willing to spend, they can provide detailed reports on many systems of the home, including plumbing and electrical, water and sewerage, foundation, structure, heating and cooling plus aesthetic aspects.  All systems in the home will also be checked for adequate functionality.

A Little Investment Goes a Long Way

It does not cost a lot of money to have a home inspection performed on your property.  By spending no more than a few hundred dollars you can count on selling your home for a better price, often a premium price that might not have been possible without a formal inspection report and corresponding repairs.

The single best reason to engage in this technique to successfully sell your home is to prevent the premature fall-through of your home’s sale.  Since buyers today have the upper hand in this soft real estate market, you need to have an edge over others sellers because they can easily lose interest and move on to the next prospective property on their list. Demonstrating you are serious about selling your home, a home inspection only makes it easier for all sides of the transaction – not to mention that buyers will be requesting a home inspection at some point in the process too.
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Most Realtors have a list of preferred vendors who are local and that have served their area for many years. To find someone within the preferred vendor circle of your Realtor, ask for a list of their contacts and request a reference as well.