THESE BUYING AND SELLING TIPS ARE COMPLIMENTS OF:
FREE HELPFUL REAL ESTATE TIPS
BUY a HOME or CONDO And Get What You Want For Less Money
16 TIPS
SELL Your HOME or CONDO For the Highest Price and Faster
15 TIPS
BUY a HOME or CONDO And Get What You Want For Less Money
16 TIPS
1 Look For Non-Listed Properties
Many great homes and condos are NOT listed for sale online, in the MLS or websites. These are privately for sale through certain real estate agents (like me) who are known for non-listed properties. These non-listed homes and condos can be terrific properties at excellent prices.
2 Make Your Priority List
Make a list of what you want most in a home or condo, then rank these in order of importance. For example, your ranked list could be: oceanview, 4BR, newer kitchen, modern building, good gym.
3 Keep Your Emotions in Check
Otherwise, you may end up overlooking some costly issues and overpaying if your emotions cloud your judgment which is easy to do if you are not careful.
4 Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Let’s face it, some homes show horribly. Some have old carpet, peeling paint and some smell. Look past the bad showing and find out if the house has good bones, and it could be a bargain.
Fort Lauderdale luxury condo bought for $174,000 less than asking price.
5 Pick a maximum price and stick to it
It’s easy to spend too much if you’re not careful. One key: Don’t let your real estate agent show you properties priced more than your maximum.
6 Learn Association Details
Find out if there’s an HOA or any similar type of association. If there is, read through their rules. Note any fees and what they cover. If there’s anything you want to change about the home or condo, see if it’s allowed as HOAs can have a lot of rules.
7 Offer An Odd Number
A nice round number sounds like every other offer out there. When your offer is an oddball number the sellers think you’ve given the offer careful thought and will not go higher.
8 Research The School District
It affects the value of your home in a very big way. If you buy a house in a good school district versus a bad school district, the value can be affected as much as 20 percent.
9 Before you make an offer, get the lay of the land
Many buyers have become heartbroken because they thought they found the perfect place, only to find out the neighborhood wasn’t right for them. Visit the property morning, noon and night to see what the neighborhood is really like.
10 Don’t Try to Time the Real Estate Market
Trying to anticipate the housing market is impossible. If you try to wait for the perfect time, you’re probably going to miss out and make a costly mistake. The best time to buy is when you find the property you want at the right price.
Boca Raton home bought for $575,000 less than list price.
11 Get Pre-Approved for Your Home Loan
Pre-approval involves a lender reviewing your financial details and the specific mortgage amount they will lend you. Pre-approval saves time and effort by focusing your search on homes you can buy, and can get a seller to accept your offer over others.
12 Negotiate for a better deal - very important
You can save money by having the seller handle repairs or reduce the price to account for these repairs. Consider asking the seller to cover part of the closing costs, and don’t hesitate to negotiate the property’s price.
13 Closing Date Tip
Consider offering a flexible closing date (move-in date) or being willing to accommodate the seller’s timeline. This can be music to the seller’s ears, and get a lower dollar amount offer accepted so you save money.
14 Find Out About Other Offers
Are there any other offers on the house or condo now, or are there expected to be? A smart Realtor will have a good idea about this, and how it can work to your advantage.
15 Check Crime Stats
Before buying, get a report of police calls in the neighborhood. A bargain price may be due to the recent crime rate in the area.
16 Touch The Windows
Put your hand against the sunniest window in the house. A cool window indicates that it’s higher quality, so it won’t let in heat or furniture-fading UV rays. If the window feels hot, it’s the opposite.
SELL Your HOME or CONDO For the Highest Price and Faster
15 TIPS
1 Don’t forget to list the extras
The motion-sensitive outdoor lighting, an automatic garage door timer, a phone-activated security system, or camera door bell. These bells and whistles may seem normal to you, but they can make sellers feel your property is more special than others — and inspire a top-dollar offer for your home or condo.
2 Describe the neighborhood culture
Think of everything interesting you can about your neighborhood— the nearby community pool, street basketball games in the cul-de-sac, the number of dog walkers, and the popular neighborhood coffee shop. No one knows these details better than you. Mention them in your listing.
3 Create a video tour
Make sure your realtor creates a first class video for buyers to view your home online. This always draws in more and better buyers.
4 Make the right use of your rooms.
If you use the dining room for a kid’s playroom, or if the loft is empty, restage your rooms so they reflect their original purpose. Buyers want to see the space used in a traditional way to picture themselves living there.
5 Reglaze the bathroom
The best tip I use to get top dollar for some our condos and homes is to reglaze an old bathroom that has a terrible color of tile. Reglaze the bathroom white for a few hundred dollars, and the dated bathroom will look 10-30 years younger.
Sunny Isles beachfront condo sold for $325,000 more than appraised value.
6 Think like a buyer
It can be tempting to present your home in a way that highlights the aspects you like the most. Potential buyers won’t be looking at your house through your eyes. Help them see your home as a blank slate where they can form their own identity.
7 Stay neutral
If you personalized your house by using vibrant colors in each room, it might be a good idea to repaint. Painting the walls in neutral colors will let potential buyers observe the overall house without getting hung up on whether or not they like the colors.
8 Make it less “you”
Make a special effort to remove decorations and knick-knacks that reflect your personal tastes and identity. Family photos will make buyers feel like they’re visiting someone else’s house. You want them to imagine themselves in it.
9 Clean and declutter
Clearing clutter will make the house look cleaner and bigger. And when it comes to cleanliness, there’s no such thing as too clean.
10 Use some common scents
Go a step beyond deodorizing and introduce a pleasant scent. Candles, essential oils, and fresh-baked cookies can do a wonderful job of creating a welcoming environment for buyers.
11 Spray your grass greener
Painting your grass can be pretty quick and cost-effective. A 32 oz. bottle of concentrated grass paint costs $25 at Home Depot and can cover 1,000 sq. ft. (safe for pets and humans).
Bal Harbour home sold in 18 days for $108,000 over list price.
12 Don’t show or describe any negatives
Every house and condo has at least one weakness if you look hard enough. Make sure this is not shown in your listing pictures or in the property description. It’s shocking how many realtors do this. Let potential buyers see your whole beautiful place in person!
13 The Importance of Online Marketing
A whopping 92% of buyers start their home search online, making online visibility essential. Top Realtors will promote your listing through their network of agents and potential buyers using email, social media, and paid online ads. Maximizing your home’s online exposure increases visitor traffic, potentially leading to a higher sale price.
14 Use a Great Photographer
It’s crucial to have eye-catching photos that showcase your home’s best features. I collaborate with top real estate photographers to ensure your property is presented with high-quality, attractive photos.
15 Start Preparing To Sell 3 to 6 Months In Advance
Once you’ve decided to sell your house or condo, it’s time to start preparing. Your job now is to develop your plan, and assemble your team.
If you will be buying or selling a home or condo soon, please call me to ask any questions. You can also schedule a Free
Meeting. I will give you a detailed plan and strategies I would use to buy or sell for you. The result: You will get what you
want, and come out thousands and thousands of dollars ahead, with less stress and time spent.
THESE TIPS COMPLIMENTS OF:
SAMANTHA PAVLISH
Real Estate Agent – Top Producer – Expert Negotiator
Serving Broward, Dade, Palm Beach Counties
Friendly 5-Star Midwestern Service You Deserve
www.SellWithSammy.com