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Staging your home is a critical step in getting it sold, but all the recommended updates and upgrades can get pricey. Thankfully, there are tricks you can use to make your home look bigger, better, and brighter, without spending a dime.
1. Fix up your floors
2. Make it sparkle
Presumably, you already have cleaning supplies, sponges, and paper towels in the house. Now all you need is some elbow grease to make your home look shiny and new. When selling your home, you need to take the cleaning beyond your typical weekly run-through. Think “Spring cleaning” turned up a notch or two. Remember that potential buyers will be looking everywhere, including inside drawers and cabinets. Make sure they’re crumb-free and well organized. They may also open your refrigerator. While this can seem intrusive, you don’t want to give them a reason to walk away, so make sure to tidy up the inside, wipe up any spills, throw away rotten food, and put a nice big box of Baking Soda in there to absorb any leftover smells.3. Let the light in
Everyone is looking for “natural light,” so show off what you’ve got by opening up those blinds and drapes. Did you just reveal a bunch of dirty windows and sills? Ewww. Grab that cleaning spray and make them shine. An old toothbrush is a great way to get gunk out of corners and in window tracks. If your place isn’t light and bright, even with all the blinds and drapes drawn, you’ll need to depend on artificial lighting. This is no time to have lightbulbs out. Go hit that stash in your laundry room cabinet and switch out for fresh bulbs.4. Declutter
Home stagers will tell you there is no more important step when preparing your home for sale.Do a walk-through with an outsider’s eye, or ask a friend or family member to help since they’ll be more objective. Anything that isn’t used regularly or is taking away from the open feel of the house can be packed away. Small appliances and anything else hanging out on countertops can be put in a cabinet if you’re not ready to stick it in a box. You want people to see the bones of the house, not your blender.5. Depersonalize
While, you’re decluttering, keep personalization in mind. Buyers want to be able to picture themselves living in the home, and they might not be able to do so if they can’t take their eyes off your wall of taxidermy.6. Create closet space
Even if you have the world’s largest walk-in closet in the master bedroom, you can give buyers the impression that there isn’t enough space by overfilling it. Stagers recommend taking half of your clothes and shoes out and packing them away to create some airiness. Does the idea of packing up your stuff freak you out? You’re going to have to do it when you move, anyway. This is just giving you a head start.7. Remove the stink
Does your home greet guests with a big whiff of cat box? Potential home buyers might just turn right back around and get in the car. You also want to make sure your animals aren’t irritating those who are touring or impeding them from entering certain rooms. Don’t want to board them? Surely you have a friend or family member who’d love to watch your pets during showings, right?8. Pull those weeds
You really can’t overestimate the importance of curb appeal today. Even if you don’t want to spring for a few bags of mulch and some colorful flowers to frame your door, there are easy and free steps you can take to give buyers a great first impression. Dispose of any visible weeds, leaves, and other unwanted stuff hanging out in the yard. Give your bushes a trim and mow the yard. If you can’t power wash your home, at least wash the outside of the exterior windows that are within eye level.
And don’t forget about the area closest to your front door. Sweep that stoop and make sure your welcome mat is actually welcoming, instead of dusty and dirty.
9. Address your furniture
Some of the most common problems in homes when it comes to furniture: 1) It’s ugly; 2) It’s old; There’s too much of it; The arrangement is uninviting. Ugly and old might be hard to overcome when you’re trying not to spend money, but the rest you can do something about.
Sometimes when sellers are trying to make a small room seem like it’s more spacious, they have a tendency to push all of their furniture against the walls to leave a big open space in the middle. This type of arrangement may leave a lot of open space, but ultimately leaves the interior design looking unfinished — a big turn off for buyers. In this situation, it’s better to create furniture groupings. First, envision the way the space should be used. Do you have a huge flatscreen TV that requires a lot of seating? Is there a corner in your living room that would serve perfectly as a reading nook? Group the furniture in ways that would make sense for the intended use. Then, make sure that there are clean and direct pathways through the room. You want potential buyers to be able to envision themselves living in your home and one of the quickest ways to do that is by creating a cozy seating area that’s fit for conversation.
If the problem is that you’ve created a crowded space by using too much furniture, ditch a few pieces in a friend’s garage for the time being (or, even better, donate them!) to create an intimate seating area. You can always bring those pieces back into your new home.
10. Borrow stuff
If, at the end of the day, your home still isn’t looking show-ready, maybe it’s time to raid a friend’s house. Have a loved one who has an extra couch that’s more neutral than yours or a couple of great accessories? It’s time to test their love for you.
5 Lawn Maintenance Mistakes You Could Be Making
Proper watering nourishes lawns, just as proper hydration nourishes our bodies. Yet too many of us are failing at both. Here are five lawn-watering mistakes that you’re likely making right now and ways you can fix those mistakes.
1. You’re over-watering your lawn.
Many homeowners drench their lawns with water. However, that’s not a wise move. Over-watering can leave your lawn susceptible to fungus and other diseases. It also can cause your lawn to grow too quickly and can wash away costly fertilizers.
To avoid excessive watering buy a soil moisture meter. Lawn care experts say most lawns need one inch of water per week. However, that’s merely a rule of (green) thumb, as watering requirements vary according to grass type, climate and seasonal changes.
2. You’re under-watering your new lawn.
While your existing lawn may be getting too much water, your newly planted lawn may not be getting enough. New lawns are in shock during their first year.
Don’t rely solely on rainfall to establish a healthy, deep root system—provide supplemental irrigation during the first year of growth
3. You’re not monitoring your irrigation system.
If you’ve set up an automatically timed irrigation system to water your lawn, don’t put it on autopilot.
Timers are not ‘set it and forget it’ devices. Sprinklers should be adjusted according to precipitation events. For instance, if it’s been steadily raining the past two days, your sprinkler system should be off for a while afterward. The San Diego County Water Authority recommends turning off the sprinklers for two weeks after “significant rainfall.”
In reality, deep and infrequent watering makes for deeper root systems.
4. You’re watering your lawn at the wrong time.
The worst time to water your lawn is when you’re probably sound asleep. Watering after dark soaks the lawn overnight; a soggy lawn invites fungus and other diseases to invade your grass. During the afternoon is just as bad, each drop a mini magnifying glass burning the lawn and wasting water due to evaporation.
When’s the best time to water your lawn? Experts says it’s around 4-8 a.m., before many of us have sipped our first cup of coffee.
5. You’re assuming that you’ve got to water brown grass.
When your lawn is brown, you might think it’s parched. However, it may simply have gone dormant during hot weather or drought conditions.
Dormant turfgrass will turn brown and is often considered unsightly, but it will recover when conditions improve. In other words, brown grass doesn’t necessarily equal dying grass. Summer dormancy is a normal response to heat and drought, and most lawns can stay dormant for at least three to four weeks without dying.
Spring Home Maintenance List
Just as you prepare your home for the winter by covering outside pipes, making sure your heater is working well and removing all of the old leaves and branches from your property, there are also a number of things homeowners should do to ready their homes for warmer weather. With spring in full swing, check out the following list of
Five Things to Check Off Your List Before Summer Arrives:
Check For Pests
As plants, flowers and bushes began to come back to life with the warmer weather, so did a variety of pests. Every spring, walk the perimeter of your home checking for signs of infestations. Look for evidence of termites in the wood — either by seeing the insects with your own eyes or by seeing damage to the wood or their droppings; also watch for ant hills, bees swarming in trees and places where four-legged critters like squirrels and raccoons might be able to get into the attic.
Do the same thing in the home; if you have spotted a cockroach in the bathroom or crickets in the kitchen, chances are good there are many more of the insects that you cannot see. If you spot a large number of bees building a hive, call a bee removal company that will safely relocate them, and if you see other evidence of pests you may want to call an exterminator for help — especially in the cases of termites and wild animals getting into the home.
Examine Your Sprinklers
You may not have run your underground sprinkler system all winter, but now that the weather is heating up you’ll want to be sure your grass and other outdoor plants are getting plenty of water. Turn on the sprinkler zone by zone and check to be sure the sprinkler heads are rising from the ground properly and spraying in the right direction. If you spot any that will not budge or have broken off and are shooting water into the air, you can call a local landscaper to come fix them, or DIY-minded folks can fix these themselves.
Examine the Roof
Another important task to complete in the spring is giving the roof a thorough check up. Depending on how pitched or large your roof is, and how comfortable you are with heights, you can carefully do this inspection yourself or hire a roofing company. If you do this job on your own, examine the roof shingles or tiles to see if any were damaged or blew off during the winter, and check the flashing around skylights and chimneys to be sure it is tight and not allowing water to seep into the house.
Ready Your Air Conditioner
Before it gets too hot, give your A/C unit a thorough inspection to be sure it will keep the home and your family cool during the upcoming warm months. Change the filter, check all hose connections for any leaks and make sure the drain pans are not clogged. Vacuum the unit to remove any dust that can prevent it from working at full efficiency, and if you spot any issues along the way, call in a professional to fix them before summer arrives. Afterall it gets more expensive to do Air Conditioner repairs when the busy season sets in. Save some moolah and do it early.
Trim Away Overgrown Branches
As the DIY Network notes, spring is a great time to remove branches from trees and bushes that are touching up against your house. In general, try to keep the branches about 5 or 6 feet away from the sides and roof of the house to prevent critters from having a highway to hop onto your roof and prevent spring rains from getting onto the roof and sides of the home.
Buying a Home? Don’t Go Alone… (Part 1)
As everyone knows, a home is one of the largest purchases you will ever make. For many it is their source of retirement. For others it is simply a place to live while you figure out what life has in store for you. A house is not an impulse purchase. You can’t just waltz in and declare “I’ll take it!”
There are many steps you should take long before you get to making that offer (on paper, through your real estate agent)— or even before going to your first open house.
The process may seem daunting, but there are ways to make purchasing a home . Overwhelmed? Don’t be. Here’s a checklist of some of the things you need to do to get ready to buy a home.
Check your credit score
Thou shall not pass “Go,” do not start browsing homes until you have checked your credit score.
What is your credit score? This is the number that mortgage lenders will look at to determine whether you are “creditworthy,” and thus dictates the rates you will get. The higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate—and that’s what you’re going for, right?
Get a free copy of yours at AnnualCreditReport.com to see where you stand.
Clean up any credit blemishes you can
Any surprises on that report? Credit errors are more common than you might think, so contact the credit bureau to correct any erroneous information. Got credit that’s less than stellar? Check out these (totally legit!) tricks to boost your score fast and nab great rates.
Figure out how much home you can afford
Next, make sure you are clear on how much home you can afford. Check out our calculator that lets you determine your monthly mortgage payment, adjusting for variables such as the size of your down payment, your mortgage type, and current interest rates. You can also get an official estimate by following our next tip…
Shop for a mortgage lender
“A prospective home buyer should make one of their earliest stops with a mortgage originator to see if they can qualify for a mortgage and confirm how much of a mortgage they can afford,” says Realtor® Steve Ujvagi with Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners. Different mortgage shops offer a wide variety of rates and programs, so shop around to find the best rate and mortgage option for you.
Secure mortgage pre-approval
Once you’ve found the mortgage that’s right for you, you’ll want to show sellers that you have what it takes to buy their home. In hot markets, a pre-approval is almost required for a seller to take your offer seriously. That’s because it spells out exactly how much a lender has agreed to loan you, thus assuring the seller that you’re both willing and able.
Save up for a down payment
To get the best rates, you’ll need to make at least a 20% down payment on a home. With the current median home price of $306,700, that comes to $61,340. That’s a lot of money! Check out these smart ideas to help you save for a down payment. But if that amount is out of reach, don’t worry—most people put down less.
Sit tight!
Once you’re ramping up to buy a home, it’s wise to not make any—we repeat, any—major changes in your life or, most important, your finances.
“Do not switch jobs. Do not buy a new car. Do not even buy furniture or apply for a new credit card, which could affect your credit,” says Ujvagi. “Just a credit pull alone from a car dealership or a furniture store is enough to affect your credit score and could cause you to lose your dream home.”
Find a real estate agent
There’s no reason to go it alone—having an agent helping you can make the whole process much easier.
“In times like these, with a limited number of homes on the market, a buyer needs a great Realtor to make sure they find their dream home,” says Ujvagi.
Referrals are often a good place to start; check with family and friends, or find out the go-to gal or guy in your preferred neighborhood.
Make a wish list
Of course, this list may be a very long one, but you need to be realistic about what elements are truly “wishes” and which ones are nonnegotiable—such as number of bedrooms, a fenced yard for a pet, a specific school district, walking distance to the bus stop, etc. Sometimes it’s helpful to divide your list into three categories: Those nonnegotiable elements, followed by items that would be nice to have (e.g., a bonus room or home office) and your dream features (e.g., in-ground swimming pool).
Browse listings online
If we do say so ourselves, realtor.com® is a great place to start to figure out what properties are available in your area in your price range. Search by price, number of bedrooms, location, and other variables to start narrowing down your options.
Visit open houses
Poring over online listings is one thing; seeing the properties in person is quite another. Take advantage of open houses as a low-stress way to visit several homes in one day. Map your strategy in advance, and while you’re in each home, take photos and notes so they don’t all run together in your mind. (Now, which one had the in-room fireplace again?)
Check out the hood
You’ve undoubtedly heard the adage “location, location, location.” What that essentially means is that you’re not just buying the property you’re looking at; you’re also buying into the whole neighborhood. That’s why you have to be certain that it has the vibe you want. Savvy home buyers know that the best way to find out more about the neighborhood is to meet the neighbors and then visit at various times of the day and night to see what it’s really like.
What You Need To Know About Buying A Home This Spring… And It’s a Doosy
This years Spring buying season started early. Unlike previous years this 2017 Spring is a mix of Low inventory combined with higher prices, and rising interest rates. This has made this Spring buying season challenging, but not impossible.
Here are some things you need to know going in to navigate this 2017 spring real estate season.
1. Inventory is low
Home inventory has dropped for eight consecutive quarters, making it harder to find a home. According to the Greater Antelope Valley Association of REALTORS we are seeing unprecedented low inventory. The current supply of homes is barely enough to cover a month.
Hit hardest? First-time homebuyers. There’s a larger inventory of trade-up homes and luxury homes than starter homes. As prices rise, people who might have been looking for a luxury home may now be in the trade-up market. Those who would have been in the trade-up market are buying starter homes or hanging on to the homes they already have, and to complicate things further downsize movers are competing for the same inventory. This means first-time buyers have to put in extra effort to land a home.
2. Homes are selling fast
Understanding the current real estate market can keep you from being blindsided. Short supply is the dominant issue this spring. Homes that are priced at market and are in attractive condition sell in days. Act quickly when you find something you like, and be flexible with seller requests to nab that home.
It’s best that you speak to a lender before you start your search and get pre-approved vs.pre-qualified for a loan. This will give you the ability to move fast on that cute little 4 bedroom that you love so much. As sellers will likely have multiple offers a Pre-Approved buyer is a stronger buyer.
3. Interest rates are rising
Rising interest rates could price some buyers out of the market. The Federal Reserve announced in March that interest rates would be increased by a quarter point based on the growing confidence on the economy, and based on some comments they are likely to raise rates again when they meet again in June.
Even with that interest rates are still historically low and affordable. Higher rates will likely decrease one’s home-buying power, but it’s unlikely to deter serious buyers who are actively looking for a new home.
4. Timing is everything
Should you wait to save 20% for a down payment (to avoid private mortgage insurance, or PMI), or should you buy now with only, say, 5% to put down before interest rates rise? In most cases, it becomes more expensive to wait. If it’s going to take you two years to save 20% and prices and rates rise, it’ll usually be better to go ahead at 5% and pay PMI. Do your research. There are even programs available where Lenders will pay PMI for you.
5. Consumer confidence is high
Rising interest rates signal a strong economy, and consumers, with renewed confidence in this strongest job market in 15 years, are buying homes. Wages for the most part are on the rise as is the stock market. This is what most people call a comeback.
People who found themselves underwater on their homes are now starting to see those homes gain value, But as home values increase, we’re not seeing a glut of homes listed for sale. In fact, Trulia research has determined that in markets with the biggest home value gains, supply is tightest.
The reason for this isn’t clear. One theory is that while homes are easy to sell in this environment, they are still difficult to buy. So even if people can sell for a good price, they would then be thrown into the same buyer pool as everyone else. A tactic that can improve your chances of success as a buyer this spring? Cast a wide net in your search, increasing your opportunities to land a home.
6. Being able to overlook the little things can help
If your ultimate goal is to become a homeowner this spring, you may wish to circle back to that older home with no upgrades that didn’t initially excite you. Many available properties lack modern layouts and amenities, but for a good deal you might want to ignore cosmetic issues like bad paint colors or poorly placed furniture in favor of “Good Bones” and a layout that will last many years. In a competitive real estate market with low inventory, being able to overlook simpler flaws could be the difference between getting a good deal on a home and not getting a home at all.
7. Preapproval is more important than ever
You may need to offer more money to buy a home in this busy real estate season. First, figure out what you can comfortably afford. Don’t stretch yourself financially.
Once your budget is set, focus on preparing your finances for a home purchase. The more prepared in preapproval you are, the more value you add to yourself and your buying appearance. This means having all documentation in line so you can move fast.
Centennials – The next generation!
Generation Z (also known Centennials) is the demographic cohort after the Millennials. There are no precise dates for when the Gen Z cohort starts or ends; demographers and researchers typically use starting birth years that range from the mid-1990s to early 2000s, and as of yet there is little consensus about ending birth years.
A significant aspect of this generation is the widespread usage of the Internet from a young age, Members of Generation Z are typically thought of as being comfortable with technology, and interacting on social media websites for a significant portion of their socialising. Some commentators have suggested that growing up through the Great Recession has given the cohort a feeling of unsettlement and insecurity.
The 5 New Rules Of Homebuying
The rules have changed. If you’re serious about becoming a proud homeowner in the near future, you’ll want to read this first!
So what’s changed? For starters, prospective buyers should brace themselves for sticker shock and competition. The Median house sales price in Los Angeles county is $465,000 according to Realtytrac. Plus, total inventory remains much lower than it was a year ago, falling well short of buyer demand. The result? Despite rising home prices, properties that are priced well and are in good condition are not staying on the market for long.
To land the right home in today’s housing market, follow these new rules.
Rule No. 1: Prepare for a marathon house hunt
With today’s low housing inventory and strong buyer demand, it might take you three to six months to buy a house—and maybe even up to a year in some of the country’s tightest markets. Prepare accordingly.
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You’re more likely to encounter a multiple-offer situation today than in years past, vastly complicating many negotiations. So don’t presume you’ll be moving any time soon. If you do have a fast-approaching deadline for moving, you’d better get started on your home search, NOW.
Rule No. 2: Secure financing before you start shopping
Unless you have briefcases full of cash, you’re going to need a mortgage to buy a home, you’ll want to get pre-approved for a home loan before you set foot in a home because without a lender’s pre-approval letter in hand, buyers will have a hard time getting sellers to take them seriously. Y
our offer, though sincere, could easily fall through for lack of funds.
To survey your mortgage options, meet with at least three lenders—which could be banks, credit unions, mortgage brokers, or any combination thereof (you can get recommendations from your real estate agent). You’ll want to get a good-faith estimate, which breaks down the mortgage’s terms, including the interest rate and fees, in order to make an apples-to-apples comparison for the best deal.
Rule No. 3: Don’t lowball your offer
Bargain hunters, beware! If you’re making an offer on a home that’s priced to sell—meaning it’s listed at, or slightly above, fair market value you should present your best offer right out of the gate. While you’re trying to negotiate a better price they will be opening the door for potential other buyers to outbid you and close the deal.
Real estate markets vary by area, so look to your agent for advice on how much to offer. Also, maybe be looking in a nearby neighborhood you can find a deal.
How long a house has been on the market can make a difference, too. If a home has been listed for more than 30 days, that might mean it’s overpriced—and that means you might have a little room to negotiate on price.
Rule No. 4: Curb the contingencies
When buyers make an offer, they can tack on contingencies—terms that must be satisfied before a deal goes through. For instance, you might require that the place pass a home inspection to ensure that it doesn’t need tons of repairs. If you’re getting a mortgage, your lender will require you to include an appraisal contingency where an appraiser makes sure the house is worth what you’re paying.
All in all, contingencies protect buyers, but sellers don’t always like them because they insert many “what ifs” into the deal, which might mean it falls through.
Since this is a seller’s market, buyers can stand out by attaching fewer contingencies to the deal.Many buyers may include a contingency that they have to sell their own home before the deal goes through; consider waiving that if you can. Bridge loans may solve that issue for you.
Rule No. 5: Move fast
There’s no time to waste. In many cases you have just a few days during which to view the property, confer with your agent, and submit an offer. Be ready to pull the trigger and make an offer.
4 Numbers You Need To Know About Before Buying
You might be eager to look at homes online, or even swing by a few open houses, but without getting your finances in check, your offer could be the last to the table. Evaluating your buying power isn’t the most exciting part of the home-buying process, but understanding how these numbers affect the chances of an offer being accepted is crucial for every prospective buyer.
Credit score
Your credit score is one of the most basic ways a lender can determine your ability to pay your loan on time every month. Five key factors influence your score, each varying in importance: payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), credit mix (10%), and new credit (10%).
While a low credit score (think below 620) doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be denied for a loan, it certainly impacts the quality of loan you’re offered. Interest rates for scores in the 580 to 699 range could be anywhere from 0.5% to 4% higher than the lowest rate available — and that will make your mortgage more expensive.
On the other hand, a score of 760 to 850 could land you the best possible rate, and a score of 700 to 760 could put you just 0.25% above the lowest rate.
Down payment
Credit scores are playing a larger role, but cash is still king in the home-buying game. Regardless of how low your mortgage rate is, the ability to offer a serious down payment improves your overall buying power the most.
There are plenty of benefits to the often-repeated 20% rule of thumb, in which you come up with 20% of the home sale price in cash. Putting this much money (or more) into a down payment can eliminate the need for private mortgage insurance (PMI), and allow you to negotiate for a lower interest rate, and, in competitive markets, could place you above the competition.
For sellers, it all boils down to looking committed and financially ready to make such a hefty purchase. In turn, your high down payment could significantly lower the amount you pay over the life of your loan.
Debt-to-income ratio
Making a nice, steady income is great, but not everything when it comes to determining your mortgage eligibility.
Lenders want reassurance that you’ll be able to pay your mortgage in addition to all other outstanding debts currently in your name. To do this, they will look first at your front-end ratio, or housing ratio — your monthly housing payment (including insurance, interest, taxes, and PMI, if applicable) divided by your monthly income. The general rule of thumb is to keep this at or below 28%.
Next, lenders will consider your back-end ratio or debt-to-income ratio, a calculation that determines how much of your monthly pay services your existing debt (e.g., car loans, student loans, credit card payments, etc.). This calculation is your total monthly debt payments divided by your total monthly household income. The general rule of thumb for this calculation is to keep it at or below 36%.
While landing above the suggested ratios won’t necessarily end your journey to homeownership, it can certainly impact your loan terms.
Assets
A lender’s biggest concern is always whether the borrower will have the income coming in and the financial resources already on hand to stay up to date on payments, regardless of other financial storms they may be weathering.
Therefore, you will be required to provide documentation of assets showing where money for the down payment is coming from and what your savings and investments currently look like. The bigger your cushion, the more likely lenders will think you can afford all mortgage costs and fees, and all other home-related financial obligations afterward.
The bottom line
Understanding the importance of these four numbers and making necessary adjustments before window-shopping can do wonders in ensuring your bank account will be ready when the time comes to make a purchase.
How To 203k And Buy a Fixer Upper For The Win?
The idea of buying a fixer-upper and turning it into your dream abode can seem so perfect — every nook and cranny just to your specifications! The reality, however, can be harsh. When you realize how much it will cost to remodel, you often also realize that you can’t afford it. Or you find out that a lender won’t give you a loan because the home is considered “uninhabitable” as it is. That’s where an FHA 203k loan comes in.
HOW TO USE FHA 203K TO BUY A FIXER
- Contact a 203k Lender and get pre-qualified. We can assist you in finding a lender in your area that we’ve worked with to insure that you’ll get the best service.
- Hire a real estate professional to assist in finding a suitable property. Always choose one that understands 203k, (if your’re refinancing an existing loan with a 203k, a real estate professional is not needed.)
- Set an appointment with us as your 203k Consultant. As your consultant, I will meet you at your site and review copies of the contracts and agreements required for the 203k loan given to you by your lender that you will need to sign prior to the close of the loan. After our meeting and the HUD/FHA Home Inspection that I will provide, I will create a “Job Specification & Bid Request”, which is a list of FHA required repair items to be completed. I will also list inclusions you may want to add like new cabinets, flooring, windows, etc. I will also forward copies of the various reports to your lender to assist you in the loan process.
- Get contractor bids by using the “Job Specification & Bid Request” prepared by me as your consultant.
- Choose a contractor. As your consultant, I can assist you in this process and verify contractor compliance to the specifications. The lender will hire an appraise and once the appraisal report is done, in most cases, your lender can close the loan.
- Schedule the contractor to begin the work. Once the work begins, the contractor will require continuing inspection called “Draw Request” to get the progress payments for the work as it’s completed. As your consultant, I will inspect the project and prepare these documents and repeat the procedure until the project is complete.
*Although the “Streamline”Program does not require a Consultant by FHA Standards, if the work to be done is valued over $15,000 and under $35,000, it would be recommended that you use the Consultant to prepare the “Job Specification & Bid Request” and to act as a “Plan Reviewer” to verify compliance with the specifications and to perform a “Final Draw Inspection”.
Do This When Selling Your Home To Make More Money
Let’s be honest you probably have a clue about how best to show off that home in photos even if you personally lack the skill to take them yourself.
But what happens when you ignore the rules? Is it OK to list a home for top dollar when the condition is more fixer-upper?
You might think that buyers can see the potential of a house that just needs a little bit of work, but most are looking for a house that is move-in ready and doesn’t need any major repairs and even a home that only needs minor repairs may still look like a bad deal to some buyers, turning them off based on appearance alone. The more they feel that way, the less they are willing to pay.
The truth is that if you want good money for your home, you have to do a little work to get it showing ready. Buyers expect it at least look like it’s move-in ready.
1. Don’t take your own photos
We’d be remiss if we skipped over one of the main problems here before getting into the details. Don’t Take Your Own Listing Photos.
A listing with pictures attracts a lot more attention than one without, but do you know how to take great pictures of a home? It’s vital that you make a big first impression, and pictures are the best opportunity that you will have to do just that.
2. Address your kitchen
Don’t want to make any upgrades to your kitchen before you get the home on the market? That’ll cost you (literally). Even painting out those cabinets is a cheap and easy fix that would make a huge difference. But, if you’re not going to… at least make the most basic effort to show it in its best light by removing as much clutter as you can. Everything off your countertops, your fridge and the top of our fridge.
3. Emphasize the space and function, not the other way around
That printer on the kitchen countertop says: “We don’t have room for a home office.” Unplug. Put in closet. Problem solved. The desk in the bedroom also says that. Make the space fit it’s purpose. It will help buyers see themselves in the home.
4. Always keep your selling points in mind
Sell the sizzle not the steak. What are the best points of the home. Highlight that. Make sure that you do your best to capture clean and spacious parts
5. Focus!
Maybe check the photo to make sure nothing is blurry before posting it? Just a suggestion. Also, even if this picture was in focus, it still wouldn’t be effective. You’re not selling bedding, you’re selling a home. This image tells a potential buyer nothing about the size or condition of the room.
6. Show off your bathroom
Where do we even start here? From the weird angle that doesn’t show the space, to the missing light bulb, to the clutter in the shower/hanging robe, this is just all wrong.
7. Emphasize outdoor space
It goes without saying that showing off your outdoor space is important. A little effort to repaint the unkempt patio would have helped. At the very least, mow the yard, trim the bushes, and remove the ladder. An unkempt backyard will only make a potential buyer wonder what else needs attention, especially if they’ve seen some questionable spaces indoors.
8. Keep people out of your photos
Stalker alert! The straggler near the fence draws attention away from the other features of the yard – which, in this case, might not be so bad, really. Still…If you only have one photo of the yard or if the best of the bunch has a person in the frame, there’s still one thing you can do: Learn how to to use the camera’s crop feature.
Or let us do the hard work. Call 661.220.5506 and get going with GATELY!