When you are ready, I highly recommend using a Realtor.  There is no better way to get the job done when trying to maximize the value of your property and get the experience and knowledge of a reliable source and negotiator.  If you are in the Houston area, I recommend one of Register Real Estate Advisors experienced and trained Realtors.  Below are a few things to get you started in the right direction before contacting your agent.  Remember, your Realtor only gets paid when the deal closes, so they are doing everything they can to get you to the closing table as soon as possible.  They have a lot of people to work with to facilitate the transaction – the other Realtor in the deal, the title company, the lender, the appraiser, the surveyor, the inspector, and more.  They get paid on a percentage of the sales price.  So it’s a good incentive for Realtors to get the maximum amount of money for your home.

1. PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR SALE

If you don’t correct the minor things around the home like blown light bulbs and dirty air filters, potential buyers will wonder about the things that they cannot see.  In contrast, when all the little cosmetic things are taken care of, the buyers overall perception of your property is positive.

2.  STAGE YOUR HOME TO MAKE IT APPEALING TO BUYERS

In many cases, sellers continue to live in the home while it is for sale.  If you are going to do that, understand that you can’t live like you normally do.  You will need to keep your home ready to show.  Keep it clean, organized, smelling nice, and at a good temperature.  You will need to keep the blinds open even when you are at work.  You may need to leave lights on in certain areas of the house so that if it shows while you are out, it will appear bright and welcoming.  You need to store all personal items around the sink, all the mail, the food and small appliances you like to keep handy on the counter, and your wall photos.  Family photos are wonderful, but if the buyer walks into your bedroom and there is a huge framed photo of you on your wedding day, they are going to talk about how pretty you are and what a great photo it is, instead of looking at the bedroom!  Here are a few reminders…

• Clean the blinds and dust the fans
• Paint
• Steam clean the carpets and stretch where needed
• Fix any leaky faucets
• Replace the cauking around the tub and sinks
• Pack up clothes you don’t wear to make the closet look bigger or donate those clothes to a good cause
• Pack up everything you don’t need (you’re moving anyway!) and stack the boxes along the wall of the garage or in a rented storage unit
• Wash the Windows

3.  CURB APPEAL

Seems like everyone should know about curb appeal since there have been so many HGTV shows about it.  And yet, we get so comfortable with our own homes that we don’t notice things that buyers see.  Make sure you are not just cutting the lawn and planting flowers.  Go ahead and blow off the patio, power wash it, edge the lawn, trim the shrubs, fertalize, restaing the front door, and paint where necessary.

4.  EMOTIONAL APPEAL

When you are selling a home, remember that the buyers are making an emotional decision that will affect their family.  Make sure your home gives buyers a good feeling.  They have to picture, in their mind, their family living happily in that home.  The house has to leave them feeling like this is the place they want to live.  So open the drapes, turn on the lights, and keep the house at a refreshing temperature.  Make sure it smells nice.

Using this list and the help of your experienced real estate agent, you will help your home to sell quickly at the maximum value.  Buyers aren’t looking for a handout – they want the house perfect for move in.  So if you know it needs repairs, do them.  Don’t offer them money at closing or come down on the price.  Get your home ready and you will get it sold!  Call RREA today for more information 281.288.3500.

"Selling Your Home" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

I have seen families rent out their homes and purchase or rent a cheaper house until they catch up financially.  This is a viable option as long as you find a good tenant that pays on time every month and does a good job maintaining the property.  A con is that if the home needs a lot of repairs over the next year it could be costly.  In this situation, your credit has no negative impact unless you slow pay on your mortgage due to slow paying tenants.  Remember that if you cannot find tenants, you still have to continue to pay your mortgage, HOA fees, taxes, and insurance.  If you purchase a smaller home, now you owe two of everything!

If you sell your house for more than you owe on it and you aren’t paying the difference, you are doing a short sale.  This shows slow pay on your credit, but at least you can buy another house in a few years which is a better outcome than having a foreclosure on your credit.

The only good thing about a bank walk away is that you no longer owe on a mortgage.  As for your credit, it’s just like a bankruptcy.  As far as your credit rating is concerned, a deed in lieu and a bank walk away damage your credit equally according to FICO.  Bad credit can damage any security clearance you have.

These are some things to think about when you cannot afford your mortgage.  You should always consult with as many professionals as you can to determine which route is better for you.  If you would like to talk with a Realtor who can help you through a short sale, give RREA a call today to speak to one of our Realtors.

"Take A Look at Your Options" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

"How Important is Paint Color When Selling a Home?" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

• Remove and donate unwanted items, reorganize and clean closets, attic, basement and garage
• Power wash exterior walls, porch floors, deck, patio, driveway and sidewalks
• Clean outdoor furniture and outdoor light fixtures
• Clean out gutters or have new ones installed
• Clean out refrigerator and freezer, making sure to vacuum the grill and coil
• Remove lint from the hose attached to back of clothes dryer
• Vacuum baseboards, walls and ceilings, wipe down walls
• Steam clean carpets and area rugs and upholstery
• Reseal natural stone surfaces (travertine, etc)
• Reseal and repair grout in bathtubs and showers
• Clean window treatments, dust and clean blinds and shutters
• Remove items from all shelves, dust and clean
• Oil hinges

If you need a recommendation for anyone to help you with this list, call me for a referral.  And when you are ready to sell your home, give me a call!

"Spring Clean Before You Put Your Home on the Market!" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

We all know that when you renevate a bathroom or kitchen you add value to a home. But what about just adding some decorative knobs to the cabinets or restaining the front of your current cabinets? You can replace laminate countertops with corian without spending the amount of money you would spend on granite. Some corian countertops even look like granite. Adding under the counter lighting and over the counter lighting can change the ambiance in the room, but using rope lights, it won’t cost you that much. They will be hidden, so who cares what they look like! New faucets are always nice. Did you know that some name brand faucets offer lifetime warranties? So if yours has simply rusted out or is leaking, you may be able to get a free one from the manufacturer and just pay for the labor to install it.

Outside it’s much easier to repaint the garage door instead of replacing it. Same goes for restaining the front door. Planting some inexpensive annuals can really increase the curb appeal and spruce up the landscaping. Fresh mulch is another that helps sparse flower beds.

Inside the home it doesn’t cost anything for you to declutter. If you know you will be moving, why not start packing and make the home mmore appealing to buyers? You can add inexpensive shelving to the laundry room for easy buyer appeal. Everyone wants more space for stacking laundry, storing the iron, and containing that laundry detergent. The Container Store offers many organizational items that help the home to function better and appear more organized and less cluttered.

If your home needs more space, consider building out some of the attic space, instead of adding on to the home. This can be much more cost effective.

Our RREA blog offers lots of tips to both buyers and sellers. We hope you will join us each week for our “White Board Monday” that gives you consumer real estate tips in the form of a video. As always, if our agents can help you with your buying or selling needs, please contact us at 281.288.3500.

"Deal With Your Design Problems Affordably!" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

Conventional Loans Require:

• Chapter 7 BK – 4 year waiting period from the discharge/dismissal date
• Chapter 13 BK – 2 year waiting period from the discharge date or 4 years from the dismissal date
• Multiple Bankruptcies – If there are multiple bankruptcies within a 7 year period, the waiting period is 5 years from the most recent discharge/dismissal date
• Foreclosure – 7 year waiting period from the completion date
• Deed-in-Lieu/Pre-Foreclosure Sale (Short Sale) – Minimum 2 year waiting period

FHA/VA Loans Require:

• Chapter 7 BK – 2 year waiting period from the discharge/dismissal date
• Chapter 13 BK – 1 year of the payout must have elapsed and the borrower’s performance must have been paid as agreed.  Document that the borrower’s current situation is not likely to recur.  The court must grant permission to the borrower to enter into a mortgage transaction.
• Foreclosure/Pre-Foreclosure/Short Sale – 3 year waiting period
• VA Loans ONLY – 2 year waiting period for Foreclosures

"Curious About Waiting Periods for Foreclosures & Short Sales?" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

your dream is leasing or purchasing a home. Or maybe your dream is putting your

home on the market to sale. Well, go ahead and take the first step by giving me a call.

I would love to help you make your dream come true!

"Make Your Dream of Home Ownership Come True" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

Many homeowners appeal their property appraisals every year to lower their taxes.  The changes to the Texas Laws for property owners in Collin, Denton, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties affect those properties that are worth more than $1 Million.  Property owners of properties over $1 Million can now appeal their property appraisals throught the State Office of Administrative Hearings rather than taking that appeal to district court.  Property owners in Bexar, Cameron, El Paso, Harris, Tarrant, and Travis counties were given that option two years ago.

To find out more information on appealing your taxes, contact your local Realtor.  Realtors have access to the comparable properties in your area that can help you fight your taxes.  Give us a call at RREA if you would like a market analysis of your property – 281.288.3500.

"Changes in Texas Laws for 2012 Affect Property Owners – Part IV" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

"This is How RREA Sells Houses!" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

"What’s Important 5 Days Before Your Closing?" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.