Archive for month: February, 2023

Selling your home involves a heck of a lot more than just planting a ‘For Sale’ sign on your front yard. There are still some considerations to be made, and some work to be done before your home ever hits the market. Unfortunately, sellers often do things that actually hinder the sale of their homes. Don’t be one of them.

Here are 6 common mistakes that you should avoid when listing your home on the market.

Overpricing Your Home

One of the biggest mistakes sellers make when they put their home on the market is overpricing it. Sure, it would be nice to just slap a huge price tag on your home and collect as much cash as possible when selling. But it’s important to be realistic about what buyers will actually pay for it.

Nothing will scare off hoards of buyers more than a home that is way out of their price range, or that is priced much higher than what it’s really worth. The longer your home sits on the market, more ‘stale’ the listing will get. You’ll probably wind up selling after a few price drops for less than you would have if you had just priced it right the first time around.

Hiding Information From Buyers

If your basement has flooded a few times, or your kitchen faucet is prone to leaking, you might want to disclose this info to your buyers. If a home inspection is scheduled, odds are that these problems will be found out anyway.

If they’re not, and your buyers move in only to find out these problems after the fact, you could find yourself in the middle of a nasty litigation situation to settle things. Do yourself a favor and disclose any issues up front. It’s not only required, but it’s the ethical thing to do.

Not Staging Your Home

Sellers often underestimate the power of staging before buyers walk through a home. People form an impression of homes within a few short seconds, so your property really needs to presented in a visually pleasing way. No one wants to walk through a home that’s so cluttered that it would make a great candidate for the television show “Hoarders.”

Staging your home not only involves giving your home a good de-cluttering and cleaning job, but it also involves neutralizing your decor so that it appeals to the masses. Buyers probably won’t like your hot pink shag rug, or your electric blue checker-print wallpaper. The key to staging is to make your home inviting to buyers so that can actually visualize themselves living in it.

Not Fixing Minor Repairs

If you’ve got scuffs on the walls, door hinges that are loose, or an air conditioner that acts up, you’re better off putting in a little bit of money up front to fix these problems before you list it for sale. You might be tempted to just credit the buyers so they can fix these issues themselves, but this might backfire. Buyers are busy too, and will probably want something that’s move-in ready.

If you fix these minor problems yourself, not only will your home sell faster, but you’ll probably be able to get more money for it too. A $300 visit from the plumber before listing the property could save you $3,000 in a low-ball offer or credit requests later on.

Making it Difficult to Show Your Home

You’ve got to be flexible when it comes to making your home available for showings. Don’t be so stringent that you don’t want showings after 5pm, or only on the weekends, for example. Don’t request any more than 12 hours notice to have the home shown to prospective buyers either. In fact, you should only need a couple of hours notice to give you enough time to leave the house before the buyers get there.

Once your home is on the market, you should always plan on having it ready to show. If you’ve got little kids or pets that make having the home ready to show a little more challenging, consider planning your showing times with your realtor up front. Making showings challenging will do nothing but cut down on the number of prospective buyers who otherwise might have considered putting in an offer.

Not Taking Your Next Steps into Account

Putting your house on the market is only one part of the real estate equation. Other plans need to made to accommodate the various scenarios that might occur after you’ve found the right buyer.

What if it takes months for your home to sell? Are you prepared to cover all the carrying costs? On the other hand, what if a buyer snags your house and wants a tight closing? Are you able to vacate that fast? And if so, will you have a place to stay if you still haven’t bought another home? Make sure you’ve got all your ducks in a row so you’re not caught off guard when things don’t go exactly how you initially planned.

If you’re serious about selling, avoid these mistakes. Failure to do so could risk having your listing dragging on for weeks or months. You’ll just wind up exhausted, frustrated, and even financially drained. As always, hire a good real estate agent and put your best foot forward to sell your home quickly and for top dollar.

There are 3 key components to attracting buyers in today’s market PLUS a bonus thought, 3.5 to get your home sold for the highest price with the best terms in the shortest amount of time possible:

1. Price it right

2. Do inspections & disclosures before coming on the market

3. Make your home “show ready” to appeal to the most amount of buyers

3.5 Be open to creativity – maybe offer special terms and incentives for buyers

For more info anytime: 

📱(925) 899-0825 

📧 Jason@JasonCaskie.com 

🌐 JasonCaskie.com

What stays and what goes when you buy a new home? While it might seem like a no-brainer that the appliances or light fixtures might be staying, making assumptions like these could burn you come closing day.

Even though it might be customary for certain items to be left behind for the buyer, you’d be well-advised to get it in writing.

Here are 5 things that might not necessarily be included in your new home purchase.

1. Window Treatments

While it’s more common for window treatments to be left with the new home owner, sometimes sellers decide to take them to their new home. Drapes that are used for a decorative purpose might not necessarily stay with the fitted shades. Maybe the seller had the drapes custom-made to match their furniture, and plans to use the combo in the new dwelling.

Just to make things clear, make sure the inclusion of the window coverings is in writing in the purchase agreement. Don’t just assume that they’ll stay.

2. Appliances

You might think it’s the norm to have appliances left behind after the sale of the property is complete. But, just like window treatments, perhaps the seller wants to take them with them. And if they are included, they might not exactly be what you thought you were getting.

Picture this: the listing and agreement specified that the appliances were included, but the description wasn’t specific enough. Imagine your shock when you move into the home and find that the seller had replaced the high-end stainless steel appliances with cheaper versions! If the agreement doesn’t specify the precise appliances to be left on the property, you could be left with less than what you bargained for, and be forced into litigation to get those original appliances back.

Rule of thumb: always put it in writing. Ensure that “existing” appliances are included. Take things a step further and spell out the precise appliances to be included, such as the Sub Zero Refrigerator or the Kenmore gas range.

3. TV Mounting Equipment

Flat screens are typically mounted to the wall, using mounting brackets to keep them suspended. Many buyers make the mistake of assuming that these brackets will be left behind after the sellers dismount their flat screens and take them to their new home. But these accessories are actually becoming more commonly negotiated items in real estate transactions.

Mounting equipment can be expensive, so a lot of sellers are going to want to take them with them. As a buyer, don’t assume that any mounting brackets will be staying behind after the sale, even though they are technically considered “fixtures” that are attached to the walls. Make sure this inclusion (or exclusion) is penned on paper.

4. Pool Accessories

The in-ground pool is obviously going to stay, but the accessories needed to maintain it might not. Items such as pool chemicals, vacuums, skimmers and cleaning equipment are all considered personal property, which the seller has the right to take with them when they vacate. The purchase agreement should specify whether the pool accessories stay or go.

5. Lighting

Lighting is typically considered a fixture in a home, which is why buyers will most likely expect them to stay. But if they discover that the gorgeous chandelier in the foyer or the pendant lighting in the kitchen have been removed at their pre-closing walk-through, they’ll be less than impressed.

Unless the seller explicitly states that the item is not included in the sale of the home, they should stay with the home. However, lots of lighting involves simple plug-and-play, which is not considered a “fixture.” Even if the lighting has been mounted to the wall, if they’re not hard-wired, the seller might take them with them.

Making assumptions when it comes to a real estate transaction can leave you sorely disappointed when you realize you didn’t get what you thought you would. The bottom line is, everything that you want to stay in the home should be written down with specific descriptions, including the make and model if necessary.

Don’t leave it for moving day to find out your mailbox is missing, or the stainless steel fridge and stove were swapped with old 1970’s green ones. Your best bet? Work with a professional realtor who is experienced when it comes to the game of give and take in real estate negotiations and contracts.

Living in a small house or apartment can be challenging, even if you have few belongings when you move in. Over time, you’ll inevitably collect more items, requiring you to creatively store things with limited closet space and shelving.

But you don’t have to live in a 2,000 square foot house to have plenty of space for everything you own. By making the most of the space you have available, you’ll have more room than you ever imagined. Here are a few of the most popular types of storage solutions for small living areas.

Shelving

Your place is likely covered in unused space. As you look around, pay special attention to empty walls, especially toward the ceiling. Shelving is a great way to create extra storage space where it didn’t previously exist, even if that space is close to the ceiling. Rarely-used items can be stored there to be accessed only when needed. This type of storage can be implemented in bathrooms and kitchens, as well, to create extra storage space above toilets and sinks.

Corners are also ideal for storage, with specially-designed shelving units creating a place for your books, keepsakes, and supplies. You can also use creative shelving in cabinets and closets to add extra space. Instead of simply installing shelves under your sink, you can use a Lazy Susan approach that makes frequently-used items more easily accessible. With the right type of shelving, cabinet space can be maximized to double, triple, and even quadruple the number of items that can be stored there.

Storage Bins

There’s no shortage of bins and baskets available to meet your small-space storage needs. For high-visibility areas, you can employ attractive baskets that match your décor, including stackable options that can make the most use of vertical space. Mini-chests of drawers can be used in closets and bedrooms to provide extra space for storing clothing and other personal belongings. With so many attractive options, you can find a look that enhances your living space while also keeping items neatly tucked away.

Storage bins can allow for items to easily be placed under beds, in closets, and in storage areas like attics and basements. Because these bins often stack easily, you’ll often find that you can pack mass quantities of personal belongings into them, squeezing a large amount into a small space. These bins are also ideal for seasonal items like off-season clothing and holiday decorations. Even once you’ve moved to a larger space, you’ll often find that storage bins are a great way to store items when they aren’t in use.

Living in a small space presents quite a few obstacles but with a little creativity, you can tuck items neatly away and free up extra room. Once you’ve learned to use the extra space available, you’ll likely realize that even in larger spaces, creative shelving and storage bins are a great way to keep clutter at bay while still having access to belongings in case you ever need them.

There are 3 key components to attracting buyers in today’s market PLUS a bonus thought, 3.5 to get your home sold for the highest price with the best terms in the shortest amount of time possible:

1. Price it right

2. Do inspections & disclosures before coming on the market

3. Make your home “show ready” to appeal to the most amount of buyers

3.5 Be open to creativity – maybe offer special terms and incentives for buyers

For more info anytime: 

📱(925) 899-0825 

📧 Jason@JasonCaskie.com 

🌐 JasonCaskie.com