The Forever Home

The Forever Home

Many believe that a large portion of homeowners are not in a house that is best for their current family circumstance; they could be baby boomers living in an empty, four-bedroom colonial, or a millennial couple living in a one-bedroom condo planning to start a family. These homeowners are ready to make a move, and since a lack of housing inventory is still a major challenge in the current housing market, this could be great news.

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Get the Max ROI with your Reno

Are you planning to update your current home to sell fast? Maybe you want to do some updates to a homes you are going to stay in for a few more years. The important thing to keep in mind is, at some point you will need to sell and you want to make sure that all of your blood, sweat and tears weren't a waste of time and money. Here is a quick list of areas that will produce the highest return at resale. 

Whether you are selling your home, just purchased your first home or are a homeowner planning to stay put for a while, there is value in knowing which home improvement projects will net you the most Return On Investment (ROI).

  • Minor bathroom renovations can go a long way toward improving the quality of your everyday life and/or impressing potential buyers.
  • Upgrading your landscaping or curb appeal helps get buyers in the door. These upgrades rank as the 2nd and 4th renovations for returns on investment.

Why do you need a Pro in your corner?

With home prices on the rise and buyer demand strong, some sellers are tempted to try and sell their homes on their own without using the services of a real estate professional. This type of sale is referred to as a FSBO [fiz-bow]. 

fsbo.jpg

Investopedia breaks this acronym down:

'For Sale By Owner - FSBO'
The most common for-sale-by-owner transaction occurs in the real estate market when a homeowner wishes to avoid paying a large commission when selling their property. By not using a real estate agent, the seller assumes all the responsibilities of completing the transaction. 

Real estate agents are trained and experienced in negotiation and, in most cases, the seller is not. Sellers must realize that their ability to negotiate will determine whether or not they get the best deal for themselves and their families.

The idea of writing this Blog post came about because I called a gentleman last week that had changed his voicemail while his home was listed FSBO. I could hear the frustration in the sellers voice:

Hi you’ve reach the voicemail of James ______. If you are calling about the home on NW 81st for sale please DO NOT leave a message if you aren’t willing to pay full-price! If you are calling to get in and see the house please do not come knocking on my door because I didn’t answer the phone! This is not an invitation to trespass on my property! Leave a message and I will get back to you at a normal time. If you’re calling after 10:00 I will not be returning your call!
— James, FSBO Home Owner

It isn't hard to tell how frustrated James is with his home listing...

We spoke for a little while and I am going to be meeting with him late next week to see if I can help him. Even if he isn't interested in listing his home for sale with me, I feel it is only right to offer counsel to a man and his family if I can. 

Selling your home on your own is no easy task. Heck, selling a home as an agent is never easy... we just make it look that way! Lol. 

Before your home even gets listed for sale an agent should be investing a good portion of time in getting to know your home, the home sales and current listings in your neighborhood and compare the data to measure it against the current market. 

Listing a home for sale isn't a matter of knowing HOW MUCH a homeowner wants to make. When a agents agrees to sell your home they should be offering a certain level of expertise and professionalism.

Your agents primary concern should be: Is this the best decision for you and your family?!

Here is a list of some of the people with whom the seller must be prepared to negotiate if they decide to FSBO:

  • The buyer who wants the best deal possible
  • The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
  • The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
  • The home inspection companies, which work for the buyer and will almost always find some problems with the house
  • The termite company if there are challenges
  • The buyer’s lender if the structure of the mortgage requires the sellers’ participation
  • The appraiser if there is a question of value
  • The title company if there are challenges with certificates of occupancy (CO) or other permits
  • The town or municipality if you need to get the CO permits mentioned above
  • The buyer’s buyer in case there are challenges with the house your buyer is selling
  • Your bank in the case of a short sale

Bottom Line
The percentage of sellers who have hired real estate agents to sell their homes has increased steadily over the last 20 years. Meet with a professional in your local market to see the difference they can make in easing the process.