Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent in Today’s Market
By Amanda Halm and Elwood Dakota
In a world and economy where a whopping 87% of potential buyers are shopping for homes on the internet, it is integral that your real estate agent has the know-how and innovation to utilize this increasingly-important avenue of sales. If your real estate agent is ignoring the internet as a place to advertise your home or property, or implies that their services do not include internet listings, seek new representation.
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Short Sales – The Right Realtor Makes All the Difference
By Dave Halpern
As you in search for the realtor with whom to place your trust to successfully procure a short sale? Please make sure that the Realtor is (1) Capable, (2) Available, and (3) Cares.
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How Does Foreclosure Impact Your Credit Report and Rating?
By H. Milla
Having to deal with the possibility of losing your home is bad enough, but when a foreclosure shows up on your credit, it will also hurt your score for years to come. Lenders will always be checking your credit whenever you apply for a loan. There is not anything that will hurt your score more than this or a bankruptcy.
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The Importance of Staging Your Home in a Slow Market
By Eric Badgely
If the market is slow, you need to go above and beyond to make your house sell-able. It is necessary to have a clean, inviting and exciting home for buyers to view. Not only do the buyers need to want your home, they need to want it more than all the other homes around you.
A thorough cleaning is the first step in getting your house ready for viewing. You need to perform a deep clean of every room in the house. While doing this, start moving stuff out. Your house should be about half as full as it was before your started. One way to go about this is to get a storage unit to hold all of the extra stuff while your house is on the market. You want your buyer to focus on your house, not your stuff. When you think your home is clean and emptied, let your realtor walk though and review your space, they have the experience selling homes, and will be able to give you good advice.
Next, consider the arrangement of your home. For best results, make each room open and bright. Small, cluttered spaces without much light won’t give the viewer much to work with when imagining the room with their stuff in it. In an open space, the buyer can fantasize about how their furniture will look in your space. Keep the curtains opened and the lights on to help create a light, airy feel. Move your furniture around if you need to, and remove some pieces if a room is too crowded. Create clear pathways from room to room so that it is easy to walk through the house.
You will also want to consider how each room smells. Anything too strong can potentially turn a buyer off. It is a good idea to light candles or place air fresheners in rooms or hallways to make your home smell inviting, but be careful to choose light smells.
The small details can make all the difference. Always keep extra light bulbs around so that there is never a dark light when a buyer flips a switch. All the trash cans should be emptied and the bathrooms fully stocked with toilet paper and tissues. Place a fresh fruit bowl or flowers on the kitchen counter, and set the table in the dining room. These little things will impress the buyer.
The areas you should attend to most are the front yard, porch and front room since these are the first places your view will see. Landscape your yard carefully and clear off your front porch. A new welcome mat can make the house seem extra inviting. The front door should open easily and the entry way should be perfect. First impressions are vital to selling your house.
Once you have made your home perfectly inviting, keep up with it. Don’t let time discourage you. Use current pictures of your home for advertising, and change up the design if it doesn’t seem to be working. If your house has been on the market for a long time, changing the staging inside can freshen it up. Selling your house can be a long process, and staging it correctly will be vital to getting a buyer.
About the Author: This article was produced by Eric Badgley; specializing in Lynden Real Estate and Blaine Real Estate.http://www.bellingham-realestate.net
Source: www.isnare.com
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