To Stay or to Go: Should You Hang Around During Your Open House?

Are you thinking of listing your home for sale? Whether this is your first sale or you have been through the process a few times, you are probably aware that you will need to host at least one open house. Welcoming strangers in to tour your home can range from delightful to irritating, but it is all part of the selling process. So, should you stick around or disappear when potential buyers are viewing your home? Let's explore your options. The Best-Case Scenario For almost every buyer, the ideal situation is that they are viewing a clean, vacant home which…
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4 Mistakes That Plague First-Time Home Sellers and How to Avoid Making Them

Are you thinking about selling your home? If this is your first time going through the selling process, you may be wondering just how well things are going to go. Selling a home is usually a smooth process – there are thousands sold each day – but issues can arise if you're not careful. Let's explore four mistakes that are commonly made by first-time home sellers and how you can avoid them. Trying To Sell Without Experienced Representation The first and most significant mistake that some first-time sellers make is to try to go it alone. Selling a house is…
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What Are the True Costs of Selling a Home? Let’s Take a Look

Are you thinking about selling your house? Before you decide to list your home up for sale, it is helpful to get a clear picture of how much it's going to cost. Whether you are sprucing things up with a fresh coat of paint, replacing the roof membrane or just covering your taxes, there will be a few bills to pay. Let's take a quick look at some of the true costs that you'll incur when selling your home. Is Your Home Ready To Sell? The first question you will need to answer is whether or not your home is…
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Is ‘Curb Appeal’ Really That Important When Selling Your Home? Yes – Here’s Why

Do you remember the first time you shopped for or purchased a home? If so, think back to that moment. What did you first notice? Do you remember certain aspects of the home's appearance, or perhaps some unique landscape feature? Was it the bright color of the freshly-painted door or the glossy sheen from the clean windows? The concept of 'curb appeal' – that is, how your home appears when viewing from the curb – is an important one, especially when selling your home.  Give A Strong First Impression The first impression that your home gives is one that will…
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Selling Your House? 3 Strange Questions That Potential Buyers Might Ask and How to Answer Them

Are you listing your home for sale now, or in the near future? If so, you have probably come to terms with the fact that soon you'll be having strangers tour through your home asking all kinds of questions about it. In today's blog post we'll take a look at three strange questions that buyers might ask and how to approach answering them. "Has Anyone Died In This House Or Is It Haunted?" You might have chuckled when you read that, but questions about paranormal activity are more common than you think. Many people have beliefs and superstitions about ghosts,…
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4 Home Staging Ideas That Are Heavy on the “Wow” Factor but Light on the Wallet

Staging is one of the most important aspects of any home sale. The more attractive your home is to potential buyers, the faster you can finalize the sale and move on. With that in mind, let's explore four home staging ideas that won't cost a fortune but are sure to impress your buyers. #1: Clean The Place Until It Shines The first and most obvious option is not going to cost much more than your time. Your home needs to be absolutely, positively spotless. The floors should be so clean that you would have no issue with eating off of…
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Let’s Talk Buyer Qualification: How to Ensure You Sell Your Home to the Right Buyer

Are you listing your home for sale? If so, it is time to get ready to meet with buyers and their real estate agents. And while you surely want to sell your home as quickly as possible, you will also want to do your homework to make sure you're selling to the right person. Let's explore the process of buyer qualification and why it's important to do a little digging into potential buyers of your home. Is Your Buyer Pre-Approved For Mortgage Financing? First, you'll want to check with your buyer to see if they are approved for mortgage financing.…
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The Quick and Easy Guide to Finding the Best Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home

Is it time to move on from your house, townhouse or condo? If a sale is in your near future, you will want to start looking for a professional selling agent or broker to help manage the process. Let's take a look at our quick and easy guide to finding the best real estate agent to handle your home sale. Check Your Social Network The easiest place to start is your social network, as almost everyone knows a great real estate agent. Get a post up on Facebook sharing that you are about to sell your home and you're looking…
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Hosting an Open House? Use These Staging Tips to Make Your House Feel Like a Model Home

Are you selling your home? If so, you're going to have to host an open house at some point. In today's blog post we'll explore a few staging tips that make your house feel like a model home. Make A Solid First Impression Start with the front of the home and give a great first impression. Have the sidewalk, driveway and walkways power washed. Ensure that the lawn, plants and landscaping are healthy and look great. Clean the windows and address any external paint issues that may have come up over the years. The goal is to ensure that your…
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Selling Your Home? 3 Secrets to Getting the Best Price

Are you ready to sell your home? Whether you're just starting to make your plans or you're ready to list now, you likely want to know how you can get top dollar. It's going to take more than just throwing up a high price on the listing and waiting for a buyer to show up with a check. With that in mind, here are three secrets to ensuring that when you sell your house or condo, you get the best possible price. Great Staging Is Critical To Your Success The first secret is that you'll really need to consider how…
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