Easy Agent Blogs

Buying your first home is exciting. At first.

If you’re like most, at some point the anxiety creeps in. It’s normal. As with anything new, you have questions, you may have fears and, at times, may even feel stressed out. Even repeat homebuyers feel anxious during the homebuying process.

“As it turns out, many Americans, about 40%, say buying a new home is the most stressful event in modern life …” according to housingwire.com’s Kelsey Ramirez, citing a survey by a nation-wide real estate website.

Thirty-three percent of those surveyed said they were reduced to tears at some point during the homebuying process.

It all boils down to a lack of confidence-the same malady that afflicts all of us when learning a new process.

There are certain points in the process that are more stressful than others so today we’ll introduce you to those and point you to where you can learn more.

Learn all you can about the mortgage process

Surveys say that most consumers know very little about mortgages. For instance, “Many people believe that if you don’t have at least 20% down, you can’t buy a home,” according to the folks at rocketmortgage.com.

It’s a myth. There are many home loans on the market with only a 3% down payment requirement. Some have zero down payment terms.

Rules for qualifying for a mortgage are also misunderstood. Many consumers are under the impression that the qualification process is stricter than it is. Yet, when asked about qualification standards, such as debt-to-income ratio, about half of the buyers surveyed didn’t know anything about them.

If you don’t think you can afford a home, you may be laboring under some common misconceptions. When you clear those up, you’ll go into the mortgage application process far more confidently. Here are some websites to help you get up to speed:

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Rocket Mortgage
• Motley Fool
• The Mortgage Reports
• Freddie Mac

Once you’re familiar with the process, start searching for a lender. Ask friends, family and colleagues who they used (if they had a good experience).

Then, start applying for mortgages, keeping an eye out for the lender that is the best at getting back to you promptly and that is able to explain things in easy-to-understand terms.

Go ahead and apply to several. You are under no obligation if they say yes and, it gives you a chance to compare lenders to find the best rates and terms.

If you’re worried about your credit score from all of credit pulls, don’t be. “Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO), the creator of the FICO model, states that multiple mortgage inquiries that occur within 30 days of one another do not affect your FICO score,” according to Greg Depersio at investopedia.com.

To be safe, according to Craig Berry at themortgagereports.com, try to submit all of your loan applications within a two week period.

Stressed about the down payment?

Earlier, we discussed the down payment myth. For some homebuyers, however, even a 3% down payment is a fortune. It shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your dream of homeownership, however.

If you serve, or have served in our nation’s military, or you are the surviving spouse of someone who served, you may qualify for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan. These loans require zero down payment. Learn more about this program at va.gov.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also offers a no-down mortgage for those who wish to purchase in eligible rural areas. To learn if the home you have your eye on is considered “eligible,” enter the address here.

The USDA offers several programs and you can learn more about them online at usda.gov.

You’ll can also apply for the various municipality, state and federal down payment assistance programs. Ask your lender for a list or search online.

Hire the right real estate agent

Interview real estate agents carefully to ensure that you find the right one for your needs. After all, your real estate agent will be your advocate during the homebuying process; you’ll be doing a lot of leaning on your agent.

During the interviews, ask questions, share your concerns and pay attention to the responses. Choose someone who understands how stressful the process can be and helps put you at ease.

It has been said that “knowledge is power.” The more you know about the process of buying a home, the more empowered and less stressed you’ll feel.

It doesn’t take much to turn off buyers. Right now, however, there are so many in the market, clamoring for homes in decent areas and in good condition, that homes are practically selling themselves.

Getting the most money possible for your home, however, requires a bit of work. Skipping the following, basic tips, is like throwing money away.

Let’s see if we can step up your home’s game so you can reap maximum rewards.

1. Ignore your home’s appearance from the curb

“Curb appeal” isn’t just a concept from home and garden TV shows; it’s actually what gets homebuyers out of the car and into the house.

Stand at the curb and take a look at the exterior of your home and the landscaping. Like what you see?

If not, a little bit of elbow grease can change that.

If your home needs painting, paint it. Stick with neutral colors, such as gray, taupe and white, according to the experts at Benjamin Moore.

For a pop of interest, paint the door a coordinating color. Black is popular right now, but red and blue are attractive as well.

Next, turn your attention to the landscaping. Just as you’ll need to do to the interior, clean the landscaping of any debris. If the lawn isn’t dormant, mow it and add fresh mulch to the beds.

Then, add attractive plants (even if they’re potted). Ensure that the exterior of the home is as inviting as possible.

2. Assuming since you can’t smell it, buyers won’t either

We’ve all walked into a home and been blasted by stinky, stale odors. Whether they come from pets, kids, cooking or cigarettes, these odors can have potential buyers running for the door.

Fabrics hold odors so consider having upholstered furniture professionally cleaned. Change the HVAC filters for they, too, tend to hold odors. Dry-clean or launder drapes, curtains and throw rugs.

If the odor is cigarette smoke, you may need to paint. Wash the ceilings and walls first with ammonia and water. Then, use a shellac-based primer, such as Zinsser B-I-N, before applying the paint.

3. Your bathroom seen better days

Yes, we understand how difficult it is to keep the hardest-working room in the home tidy. But bathrooms are important to buyers, so yours should be spotless and completely depersonalized.

After cleaning and painting (if necessary), remove personal items, such as toothbrushes, mouthwash, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. from the countertop and the /tub shower’s interior. Ensure that the shower curtain and the toilet lid are closed.

A good rule of thumb for the bathroom is that if something is not decorative, remove it from view.

4. Your home’s interior gives off a“cave” vibe

For as long as we can remember, homebuyers value a light and bright atmosphere over all else. Most of the time they don’t know why a dark home feels uncomfortable; it’s more of a perception.

It’s imperative to remedy a lack of natural light in the home. You can do this with additional lighting and by opening all window coverings.

Dark and gloomy doesn’t sell homes. Light and bright does. Light up every dark space in the home.

5. Assume buyers won’t look at your garage.

You won’t like this one.

Clean the garage.

In their efforts to de-clutter their homes for sale, we see many clients shove all the excess into the garage. Bad move, especially in light of the fact that 86 percent of homebuyers want garage storage space.

Show them how roomy yours is by removing oversized items (take them to storage) and cleaning the garage with the same zeal you did when cleaning the home. Organize what’s left so that the room screams “Look at all this storage space!”

Ensure that while it’s on the market, your home is the belle of the neighborhood. Correcting these five deal breakers is inexpensive and easy but play a big role in your home’s presentation.

You have only one chance to impress the home inspector. Of course, you can’t possibly know everything that might show up on the inspection report, but you can make your home appear well-maintained and take care of some common problems before the inspector knocks on the door.

1. Clear all access points that the inspector will use. These include the attic, water heater and electrical panel.
2. Change the HVAC filters and clean the fuzz off the vent covers.
3. Ensure that all light switches work and replace burned-out bulbs.
4. Clean out the fireplace. Check the damper to ensure that it is operating properly. Cracks in the brick? Seal them with a high-temp silicone sealant.
5. How are those windows? Replace cracked glass and torn screens. Then, open every window in the home to make sure they slide smoothly (both upon opening and closing). While they’re open, take a rag and some cleaning solution to the tracks. Finally, clean both inside and outside glass.
6. Another common problem that makes its way onto too many inspection reports is water-damaged wood, especially the soffits, fascia, window sills (and here you thought you were finished with those windows!) and door trim.
7. Cracks and holes in stucco should be sealed. We found a YouTube video (“How to Repair Cracks and Holes in Stucco”) that will walk you through the process.
8. The pros at TheBuildingInspector.net suggest that owners of wood-framed homes should ensure that mulch isn’t piled up the foundation. “You should be able to see 4 inches of exposed foundation,” they suggest.
9. Those same pros urge you to ensure that your kitchen appliances are clean and that they work properly. (Ice maker as well).
10. Fix any leaks in the ceiling. Then, seal the stain and paint.

Remember, the home inspector will perform a visual inspection of the home and its components. This includes the HVAC system, plumbing, heating, gas lines and electrical panel.

The inspection will take between two and three hours and, as tempting as it may be to be present, the buyer (who hired the inspector) will often tag along, with his or her real estate agent, naturally.

If you have any questions about the home inspection process, please feel free to ask. We’re happy to provide all the information you need.

 

The home selling process is unlike any other. Sell a car and pretty much all you do is hand over the keys and the pink slip.

Selling a home requires mountains of legal paperwork, however. From listing to closing, get ready to sign a lot of papers.

Sadly, it can become so burdensome that many home sellers (and buyers too), become overwhelmed and stop reading what they’re signing. Big mistake.

If you can’t stomach reading another document, run them by your attorney. This is important stuff and you need to understand what your signing.

Today we introduce you to two forms that you’ll receive and help you understand their importance.

Listing Agreement or Contract

When you choose a real estate agent to represent you in the sale of your home you are actually hiring his or her broker. Only the broker is legally able to enter into a contract with home sellers and buyers.

Real estate agents (unless he or she is also the broker) act as the broker’s representative (which is why they are called “agents”).

This is important information that most real estate consumers don’t understand. The listing agreement is a contract between you and the real estate broker who is being represented by a real estate agent.

There are certain items that must be included in this contract according to federal and state law and the National Association of REALTORS® (if the broker is a member).

The basics include:

• The offering price
• The date the contract begins and ends
• The amount of the broker’s fee (the commission you’ll be expected to pay at closing)
• Your agreement for your agent’s broker to cooperate with other brokers and how that other broker (the one who brings the buyer) will be compensated.
• Whether or not your broker can reveal previous offers.

Other items you may see include:

• Your permission to allow the broker to put up a sign in the yard and a lockbox on the door.
• Your permission to allow the broker to list the home in the Multiple Listing Service and online.
• A list of items that are not included in the home sale (such as appliances).
• Your promise that you own the home and there is no pending notice of default on the property. 

Seller’s Disclosure

Real estate brokers have legal and ethical duties to both parties in the transaction – duties that their agents must carry out.

Sellers, too, have duties and one of them is a legal duty: disclosure.

Failure to disclose aspects of the home that may impact the buyer’s safety and comfort or the home’s value can land a home seller in court, facing huge fines.

A home defect discovered after the sale is the primary court dispute in the real estate industry.

Take your time when filling out this form. If you don’t understand anything, ask. Although we aren’t licensed to practice law, we’re happy to help in any way we can.

Answer the questions honestly. If you truly don’t know if a certain defect exists, say so. If you do know, however, you have a legal duty to disclose your knowledge.

Preparing a home for the market is a lot like trying to get a sip of water from an open fire hydrant. Depending on how well you maintained the home, it can be overwhelming.

In the frenzy to get the big things done, some of the small, but critical tasks remain unattended to.

We see it often. An otherwise well-prepared home with just a few small items that need attending to.

Since bathrooms and kitchens are the rooms most important to most homebuyers, we’ll concentrate on them.

If you’re getting your home ready for the market, put these on your to-do list.

Get the bathroom ready for homebuyers

1. Ring around the toilet bowl? Get rid of it. Even though we always suggest to our sellers that they leave the toilet lid closed, we often find it open.

A ring at the water line or any other part of the bowl that’s visible will be noticed by those viewing your home.

We spoke with a team of professional cleaners who offered up a few tips:

Start with bleach. Pour about 1 cup of bleach into the bowl and walk away. If the stain hasn’t calcified, it should be gone in about 30 minutes to one hour.

If it remains, grab a pumice stone. Let the water drain from the toilet as it’s flushing and use the water turn-off valve (usually behind the toilet) to turn of the water before it starts refilling.

Lightly scrub the stain with the pumice stone.

If all else fails, consider buying a product specific to removing calcium and lime, such as CLR. You can pick it up at Walmart, Home Depot and online at Amazon.com.

Follow the instructions carefully and that ring should be a thing of the past.

2. Nasty grout

The internet is full of helpful and not-so helpful cleaning advice. One of the most common chores we’ve seen is cleaning bathroom grout. The suggestions for the job include everything from toothpaste to the ubiquitous baking-soda-and-water to vinegar.

It turns out that bleach is the best grout cleaner. Use it right out of the bottle and let it sit before scrubbing away the grime. Do wear gloves and a face mask for this job.

Too toxic for you? Try using oxygen bleach powder (sodium percarbonate). A well-known brand is OxiClean but there are others as well. Check out this list at Amazon.com.

Mix the powder with enough water to make a paste and smear it over the grout lines. Leave it there for 15 minutes.

Add more to the areas where the solution has soaked in, ensuring that the grout is always flooded with the paste.

Finally, use a toothbrush or other small scrubbing implement to scrub the grout, adding more if needed to remove the stains.

Get busy in the kitchen

1. Look at listings of homes for sale and you’ll no doubt come across one of our pet peeves: photos, school work, etc. stuck to the front of the refrigerator. Remove them, please.

2. Clean the glass on the oven door. Yup, it sounds like a huge headache of a job, but we promise, it’s not.

Before starting, lay an old rug or towel on the floor in front of the oven to catch any paste or other substances that may fall to the floor.

Wipe the glass surfaces down and then spread a baking soda-water paste over the glass window portion. Lay it on as thick as possible, swirling as you spread it.

Allow the paste to remain for 30 minutes then use a clean, wet rag to remove it. You may need to wring out the rag and wipe several times to remove it.

If any stubborn stains remain, use a sharp razor blade to gently scrape them away.

Repeat the procedure on the front of the glass window in the oven.

Finally, use your favorite window cleaner to shine up the glass.

3. Organize the contents of kitchen cupboards. Yes, potential buyers will open the cupboards and the pantry door.

While it may seem nosy, they’re looking to see how roomy they are and whether they will contain all of their kitchen “stuff.”

If you haven’t yet removed items you rarely use (especially larger items, such as that ice-cream maker or waffle iron), remove them now.

Then, organize what’s left so that when potential buyers peer in they see lots and lots of space.

4. Clean the inside of the dishwasher

Remove and clean the filter. You’ll find it beneath the spray arm on the bottom of the dishwasher’s interior.

Get the water from the faucet as hot as you can tolerate and rinse the filter, using an old toothbrush to scrape away food particles stuck to it. Once it’s clean, replace it in its spot inside the dishwasher.

Use a dishwasher cleaning product to finish the job. Cascade manufactures one but there are others you can find at the supermarket, Walmart or purchase online at Amazon.com. Follow the instructions carefully.

5. Shine up stainless-steel appliances

Buyers are in a long-time love affair with stainless steel appliances.

Yet, if you’ve look at listings of homes for sale recently, you’ll notice that many homeowners neglect to clean off the handprints and spilled food and drink.

The best way to clean these appliance fronts is with WD-40 (available at auto parts stores, big-box home improvement stores and many supermarkets).

Spray the product on a rag and wipe down the appliance. With a clean rag, wipe the surface again. Finally, use a microfiber cloth to buff the finish.

Don’t forget to replace dead lightbulbs, clean their fixtures and wash the windows in both rooms.

Now, you’re one step ahead of the competition.

Happy selling!

Let’s get this out of the way upfront: Not everyone that shows up at an open house or requests a viewing of your home is honest.

Sure, most folks are, but some may be tempted to steal anything that catches their eye. And some of them may just act on the urge.

One of the most important steps in readying your home for the market is to protect your valuables and your information from the strangers that will be passing through.

Here’s a checklist of the most commonly “lifted” items.

Artwork

While valuable artwork isn’t exactly easy to pocket, thieves have been known to look at MLS listing pictures of luxury homes online. They aren’t in the market for a luxury home, but they do want to see what’s inside.

Before the photographer comes to the home to snap the pictures, take down anything that may catch the eye of a bad guy.

Prescription drugs

It’s not difficult to slip a bottle of pills into a pocket or purse. Plus, since most people keep their prescriptions in the bathroom, the perp has all the privacy he or she needs to rifle through the medicine cabinet.

Remove all prescription medications from the home. Keep them in your car, lock them in a safe or ask a friend to hold on to them for you.

Weapons

Most gun owners are responsible and keep their firearms under lock and key. If you don’t have a gun safe, take the weapon out of the home. The same holds true for other weapons

Technology

Laptops, iPads, smart phones, smart speakers, smart watches and earbuds are quite popular with thieves. Again, take them out of the home or lock them up.

Any tech items that are too large to remove from the home, such as a desktop computer, should be password protected and turned off.

Cash and Jewelry

Every thief’s favorite find is jewelry. In fact, the experts at The AA Home Insurance claim that jewelry is the most commonly stolen item from homes.

They are especially fond of diamonds, pearls and gold but will take anything they can pawn. Almost $1.4 billion worth of jewelry and precious metals was stolen in 2016,” according to Cannon Safe Company’s Angela Avila-McDonald, quoting FBI statistics.

Keeping cash and jewelry in a secure safe is the ideal way to foil a thief while your home is on the market.

Sensitive documents

Lock up bills, letters and anything else that may have identity information, such as social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank account numbers, dates of birth, Wi-Fi or computer passwords.

The following documents should be locked away or removed from the home:

• Bank statements
• Blank or cancelled checks
• Mortgage statements
• Passports
• Social Security cards and records
• Credit card information

Anything that can help someone steal your identity should be considered sensitive.

Car keys, house keys and garage door openers

Easy to pocket, keys and remotes allow the perp to come back at another time and gain access to your home and/or car. Don’t leave spare keys, etc. sitting in a drawer.

Pets

If your pets will remain in the home, keep them kenneled. Consider investing in a lock for the kennel, especially if you have a dog breed that is popular, rare or expensive.

Thankfully, most open houses and showings go off without a hitch. In fact, thefts are rare. But it’s always better to be proactive, especially with strangers coming into your home.