Buyer & Seller Resources

Tips

If you plan to finance, getting pre-approved for a mortgage is the first step of the home buying process. Getting a pre-approval is generally a quick process and demonstrates that you are a serious buyer to both your Realtor and the person selling their home. A pre-approval may be required before you can view a home in person or put in an offer.

First, you need to know how much you are approved to purchase. Knowing how much home you can afford narrows down online home searching to suitable properties, no time is wasted considering homes that are not within your budget. Pre-approvals also help prevent disappointment caused by falling in love homes out of your range.

Your Lender will help show you a clear picture of what is financially required to buy a home. You’ll know how much money is required for the down payment and closing costs or if you qualify for any free grant down payment options. If you have credit concerns they can also help you put a plan together to increase your credit score.

Several preferred Lenders that can help walk you through this process.

If you want to use the equity in your current home for the down payment on the next, it is possible. However, this is tricky, and all parties need to be on their game. Our team does “back to back” closings often, but all contingencies need to be completed in a timely fashion. You have to have constant communication between all parties, and organization is a must-have. Your Realtor will help walk you through this process.

Oftentimes, it is more cost-efficient to buy a home rather than rent one. When you buy, you are investing in your own future. When you rent, you are helping your landlord to invest in his or her future. There also are financial perks like tax deductions and home equity that come along with owning a home. There are also low down payment and grant down payment options available.

Congratulations! This is an exciting time and we would be so honored for the opportunity to help you find your new home! We will set up a time to discuss your needs and learn more about what is important to you in your future home. We will then narrow down your criteria in your own personalized automatic e-alert. Our team also has access to off market opportunities that are not online. We pride ourselves in our quick response time and accessibility. The great homes sell fast and we understand how important it is to be accessible and available for you. We will work closely with you to set up showings around your schedule.

Once you have found the home that you want to make an offer on, timing is important. Our team uses the best technology to get your purchase agreement together quickly, utilizing digital signatures that you can sign from your phone or computer. We are accessible even after traditional business hours. We will take the time to run a detailed analysis to determine what the true market value is for the home you are interested in to ensure you are offering a fair price. We will use this data to put together an action plan for your offer price and terms. In this market homes can go fast and it is not uncommon to see multiple offers. We know how to help your offer stand out. There is a lot that goes into the offer process and having an experienced Realtor on your side can help you get your dream home.

If you’re ready to make an offer on a particular home and also want to prove to the home seller that you’re serious about your offer, there’s a way to prove your commitment. This is where earnest money comes into the picture. When a buyer and seller enter into a contract, the seller takes the home off the market while the transaction moves through the entire process to closing.

Earnest deposits are typically 1% of the purchase price however if your finances are tight you can offer a lower amount. The higher the deposit, the more serious you will look to the seller. As a buyer your deposit would be due within 48 hours of going under contract. This deposit is typically paid to the title company and is credited back to you at closing. If the deal falls through due to a failed home inspection or any other contingencies listed in the contract the buyer typically gets their earnest money back.

Once your offer is accepted, most purchase agreements will give you a 10 day inspection period. This gives you time to do all of your due diligence. This includes hiring a home inspector and a termite inspector. Even though your excitement is at its highest, you can’t bypass one of the most important aspects of the home buying process, the home inspection. The typical cost of an inspection can range between $400-$700 depending on the square footage and features of the home, pool, etc.

Typical escrow periods are 30 to 45 days, This gives you enough time to do the investigation on the property and get your loan and appraisal completed.

The findings from an appraisal determine the amount a mortgage lender will let you borrow for the property. Appraisals must be conducted by a licensed, third-party appraiser who has no connection to the buyer, seller or lender. That way, all parties can be sure the determined market value is fair, unbiased and free of any influence from any party that could benefit.

The lender usually orders the appraisal, but the borrower is the one who pays for it.

Home buyers pay little or no fees to their Realtor when buying a home. For most home sales, there are two real estate agents involved, one that represents the seller and another who represents the buyer. In Arizona, for most transactions the home sellers take care of the Realtor fees.
Finding a real estate professional is a crucial part of the home buyer process. Buying a home is a huge step, so you want to find someone who is accessible and available, someone who will understand your needs and look out for your best interest during this transaction.

Navigating a real estate purchase is tricky business. The internet has made it possible to do a lot of the legwork yourself, but there’s no substitute for an experienced professional. An expert negotiator who knows the market can save you time, money and heartache by helping you make the right offer, playing hardball when necessary and staying on top of the process.

This is a common question because the average person knows many Realtors. Your friend just got their real estate license, and they’re struggling to find clients. You may feel bad and almost obligated to use them. But do you really want the sale of your largest financial asset to be a training camp for your friend? That’s super risky.

Any time you’re facing a large financial decision, like buying or selling your home, it’s wise to work with an experienced professional to guide you through the process. Once word gets out that you’re looking for a real estate agent, you might be bombarded by friends and family members asking you to hire them for the job. Your cousin’s mother in law, who has only been in the business for six months, is not going to have the same networks in the real estate community as a real estate expert who has been in the business for years.

Think of it like this: A real estate transaction is likely going to be the biggest money deal you make in your lifetime, and there really is no room for mistakes. It is not the time to toss a bone to your friend or relative who just got a real estate license and lives 20 miles away.
Real friends will respect your decision and not make you feel guilty about it and so will any agent you’d want to do business with. You have to ask yourself if you would hire that person if you had no relationship with them, never hire a Realtor because you feel bad. At the end of the day this is a business decision for you and your family.

Keep in mind many popular home searching sites make millions of dollars off of leads. This means these sites are more likely to make homes appear for sale when they are actually sold or closed. This can be frustrating for buyers and waste your time. You’ll want to use a site that gives you direct access to the MLS with real time availability, the similar access Realtors have.

Yes! Never visit the model homes without your Realtor. The Sales Consultants in the office represent and work for the builder AKA the seller. Builders require that you are with your Realtor upon your first visit to the model homes. If you go in alone it is risky and if you end up buying you may be unrepresented, meaning you will have no one on your side, reviewing the legal documents and looking out for your best interests. Builders are not able to give you a better deal if you do not have a Realtor, having an experienced Realtor on your side can actually help you save money. Our team has sold hundreds of new builds and we can walk you through each step. Please call us before visiting any model homes.

If you have been searching for a home online you may have seen ads for “discount agents”, or agents that will pay you to use them. You’ll want to beware of any of these tactics to get your business. There is a lot that goes into a real estate transaction, a lot of room for error and there is no substitute for having an experienced Realtor on your side. Navigating these issues takes experience. Given enough years, an experienced agent will see just about every issue you can think of. This could be the difference between a blown up deal, and one that holds together.
Ultimately, you have to decide which route is right for you and your family. Odds are going with a discount broker probably really won’t help you walk away with a better deal when all of the final numbers are negotiated and calculated. There are many reasons why traditional agents and brokers stick around through even the toughest real estate markets and new discount brokerages tend to pop up only when the market is hot.

We are so excited to help you get your home ready to list for sale. Investing your time, energy and resources into the suggestions below may help you net thousands more on your home.

When you list your home will be seen by thousands through our unique online marketing. If you have not already set up a time to meet with us, let us show you our cutting edge marketing, market insight, experience and how we use technology and social media to market our listings.
Many of our listings have sold for neighborhood record breaking prices. Since most buyers will first see your home online, having it ready to go for the photo and video shoot is very important.

We will work together to help you prepare your home. Please do not feel the need to have your home show ready before our first walk through. We have sold and closed hundreds of homes. It is very rare that any home is 100% ready to go on day one. Don’t be embarrassed to show us around, your home may currently look a lot like our own homes with piles of laundry, legos everywhere and kids homework spread out all over the dining room table and if so, that’s okay.

Realtor walk through. If needed, our team will take the time to walk through your home with you, room by room to discuss possible improvements that you can do with little to no out of pocket expense. We will only suggest things that will help you decrease your days on market and increase your profit to help get top dollar for your home.

Change light bulbs and update light fixtures. It’s easy to forget about all the bulbs that have burned out over the years, but you will want your home to be as bright as possible. Lighting makes an incredible difference. Please ensure every bulb is working, including lamps, pool light, landscaping lights and the light over your oven. We will have these all on for photo day.

Get some boxes. A big part of the adventure you’re about to embark on involves reducing clutter. (You can find free boxes on local FB neighborhood pages.) Think of it as getting a head start on moving. You’ll want your home clutter free so the new owner can picture themselves living there. Box up anything you are not using. Organize closets and pantries. Think of your last visit to a model home. Less is more.

Storage unit or garage. Consider storing any boxes, clutter, bulky furniture pieces & toys in a storage unit or neatly in the garage. If your furniture is old, damaged and worn, it may be best to show that room empty. The team will help put a plan together for any furniture that may need to be removed or relocated.

Make an extra set of keys. Prospective Buyers and their agents will need to access your home for showings, so you’ll need an extra set of keys for the digital lockbox. Agents will only access your home upon approved showing by you. Don’t worry, most showings are scheduled the day before.

Tackle the bathrooms. Remove all the toiletries you have on display, counters should be clear. Think white and bright! Invest in some new white towels for the towel racks in all bathrooms. Shower curtain should be light and neutral.

Laundry room. Should be cleaned and organized. If you have a shelf above your washer and dryer with a bunch of stuff on it, consider getting 3 matching bins to hide your stuff in. Pinterest Laundry Rooms for inspiration.

Spruce up the kitchen. The kitchen is one of the rooms Buyers are most attracted to so if you’re looking to skip a room, this shouldn’t be it. You’ll want the counters to be as clear as possible. Clean inside the oven, microwave, fridge (and remove the magnets, photos and reminders). You may also want to clear the decor on top of the cabinets which can be distracting and collect dust. Consider investing in some fresh flowers and a beautiful white or clear bowl with some fresh fruit in it such as lemons.

Next up: the bedrooms. The bedrooms should be inviting. That means more cleaning and decluttering and investing in a few props if needed. If you don’t already have one, invest in a neutral colored duvet cover or a fluffy white down comforter (Amazon is a great resource). Think of your last visit to a luxury hotel, ensure all beds have a minimum of four pillows with crisp white sheets. Remove any bulky furniture.

Master closet. Take a close look at what you have not worn in over a year (including shoes). It may be a good idea to pack up those items or donate them. Less clothing hanging and folded on shelves will help make your closet appear larger.

Plumbing. Take care of any known leaks or plumbing issues. Update dated faucets. Switching out the kitchen faucet can be a low-priced option to freshen up your kitchen. (See our vendor or put a link?)
Tackle the living room. Clean the sofa and chairs and you may want to invest in some new light colored throw pillows. Hide the magazine rack and all the clutter that has accumulated. Hide the wires from your TV/stereo/speakers in all rooms, especially for photo and video day. Family photos are usually fine as long as there are only a few.

Dining room. Remove the kids’ homework and the piles of stuff that may have accumulated on the dining room table. Clean up the hutch. Simple and clean is best. Table should have one simple centerpiece.

Store vs. donate vs. throw away. It’s a pain (and expensive) to store all the stuff you don’t really need. Don’t pack anything that you don’t plan to bring to the next house. Consider donating anything you do not want or things that you have not used in over a year including clothing. Have a garage sale or post items for sale or free on local FB pages. House of Refuge and the Goodwill are also great options for donations. (If you’re serious about selling then I suggest packing stuff each day and put it in the garage)

The entrance. Remember that most Buyers will have an emotional reaction to your home within 15 seconds of entering it, so what they experience at the entrance is CRITICAL. You will want your entrance and front yard to be clean, de-cluttered and inviting. Paint your front door if needed, invest in fresh throw pillows or cushions on patio furniture, add fresh flowers to a pot, pull weeds, put away your hose. Check out Target for a fresh new affordable welcome mat and simple wreath. Power wash exterior and driveway if needed. Keep front porch swept before showings.

Backyard. Ensure your yard is free of weeds, clean and inviting.

Personal Items. Once you list your home for sale think of it as an investment you are trying to get top dollar for. You will want your home to appeal to as many Buyers as possible. That will only happen if they can picture their own stuff in your house. Walk through every room in your house and pretend you’re a Buyer.

Paint touch-ups and re-painting. A fresh coat of paint is one of the cheapest ways to freshen up your home. Bold colors are bound to be a turn-off to some Buyers, so to appeal to the most people possible take the time to re-paint if needed. Kitchen and main living areas should have neutral colors. Light colors will help small rooms look bigger. Bedrooms can usually get away with bolder colors, our team will help you with those suggestions. Don’t forget about baseboards and ceilings – they might need some white paint. Popular color by Sherwin Williams that works great for most homes: “Accessible Beige”.

Make a list of all the little stuff that you’ve been avoiding repairing including the leaky faucet, the picture holes in the wall, etc. and complete before listing. Replace air filters.

Get the windows cleaned. Investing in professional window cleaning before your photo and video day is well worth it. Did you know that over time, your windows build up a layer of dirt, water deposits, streaks, smudges, and fingerprints 😳? This grime can obscure the incoming light and become unsightly.

Get the carpets cleaned. Unless your carpets are brand new, you’ll want to have them steam cleaned. You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes. If your tile grout is discolored you may want to consider having that professionally cleaned as well. If your carpets are past the point of cleaning we may want to discuss other options for replacing flooring.

The final clean. While you can do this final step yourself, we recommend bringing in professional cleaners who will make sure to clean all the spots you don’t. It may also be wise to keep a cleaning service going while your home is on the market to keep it as fresh as possible for showings.

Make plans for the pets. Prospective Buyers may not love your pets as much as you. Make a plan to have your pets out of the house for showings if possible. Remove all signs of pets for photo and video day (hide bowls, litter boxes, crates).

Make plans for the kid’s stuff. Most Buyer’s won’t want to look at all your kid’s toys or finger painting works of art. Some toys are fine as long as they are organized. It may also help to store the extra toys in a closet for showings.

Make your house smell good. It’s important for home sellers to be honest with themselves about the smells curating in their home and take care of the root cause of the smell, rather than simply masking the smell. A clean smell and a deodorized smell are two different things. A strong scent can be a distraction. You may want to also limit cooking certain things that leave a strong odor before showings. Vanilla and citrus are some of the best scents.

Staging. There are certain situations where some light or full staging may be recommended. We will discuss this option with you in more detail during our walk-through.

Photo and video shoot. When your home is ready, it’s time for the photographer and videographer to work their magic. This will happen a few days before you list your home for sale. Natural light is very important, plan to have all lights on and blinds up for this day. We like to shoot in the best lighting possible, if there is rain or severe clouds we may need to reschedule the shoot. We can typically have your home’s website live and listed within 48 hours after the shoot. We promise that all of your hard work will be well worth it!

The final once-over. Take one final walk through all the rooms and adjust as necessary. Do you see anything that might distract or turn off a Buyer?

Showings. Consider leaving some bottled water and snacks out for potential buyers with a note neatly on the kitchen counter. Buyers love this! Open blinds to let the natural light in. Turn light music and lights on if possible. Secure valuable items, including medication, cash and jewelry.

Final note. We’ve helped clients accomplish everything on this list in as little as four days. We are here to help every step of the way. We are a team and if you need any help, have questions or additional referrals we have you covered!

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