Little things that make a big impression on buyers

It doesn’t take much to change a buyer’s impression of a home.

Add some peeling paint, a leaky faucet, and dirty dishes in the sink of an otherwise appealing house, and suddenly the buyer crosses that property off his list. Just as minor imperfections can turn off a buyer, a few small actions by you can make your home seem even more appealing.

Fix conspicuous problems. You want to put your home’s best foot forward. If you can’t afford to remedy all the problems with the house, at least fix obvious ones. A buyer will notice the rotten porch railing or cracked window pane on a casual walk-through.

Show the owner’s manuals. Sure, everything’s available online, but you still need to know the model number of your oven, dishwasher, and microwave when something breaks. Showing buyers that you’ve kept that information suggests that you’ve taken care of other things related to the house.

Make an effort outside. Short grass makes bare patches less obvious, and a few bags of mulch around trees and in flower beds can work magic on an otherwise lackluster yard. Add in a planter of colorful flowers by the front door, and you’ve added significantly to your curb appeal.

A little effort goes a long way with buyers, so ensure your home makes a great first impression. 

Source: Advice for Consumers RSS Feed

3 tips to help your kids cope with a move

There are more than just logistical challenges when you move with children. Many kids feel emotional about leaving their friends or old home behind. Here are some common challenges kids face when moving and ways to help them feel more comfortable in their new place.

When your child is nervous about a new school …

Coordinate a tour of the school well before she starts so she can get familiar with the building. See if you can also introduce her to teachers and a few classmates so she’ll have connections on her first day.

When your child is upset about leaving friends behind …

Put together treats your child can use to remember his far-away friends. Include a photo album, frames, and other mementos from your child’s hometown.

When your child is worried the new city won’t have familiar activities …

Get your Texas REALTOR® to help you find out where your child can participate in the hobbies she enjoys. Whether she likes to play soccer at the park or take art classes after school, your Texas REALTOR® should be able to point you in the right direction for kid-friendly activities in your new location.

Check out more tips for smoother moves, including buying, selling, and leasing information, from texasrealestate.com.

Source: Advice for Consumers RSS Feed

Why you might want a house that others don’t

There aren't many people who ask their REALTOR® to find them a house that backs up to railroad tracks or sits under a flight path. Buyers tend not to be attracted to homes on busy streets or next to a large business developments. That's where the laws of supply and demand can work in your favor.

When lots of people don't want something, the price is cheaper. So if you want to get in a neighborhood that's a stretch for your budget, you might consider homes with a so-called undesirable quality. That could also help you afford a larger or nicer home than you would otherwise find in your price range.

You might even decide that some of these perceived drawbacks are actually benefits. For example, the noise and activity of a busy elementary school across the street will turn off many buyers, but consider how convenient the playground—and the school itself—would be for your young kids. Airplane noises go hand in hand with quick trips to the airport. A busy street may help you get where you want to go faster, too. 

If you want to explore properties that are more affordable due to factors that turn off some buyers, talk with your REALTOR® about your options.

Source: Advice for Consumers RSS Feed

As a buyer, time is of the essence

Buying a home isn't a process to be rushed. Yet with all the variables that go into purchasing property—your existing finances, mortgage rates, competition from other buyers, assistance programs, and government policies—the smart buyers are the ones who are ready to jump at the right deal.

To set yourself up for success, have all aspects of the buying process you can control squared away as far advance as possible. That might mean working on your own finances, current housing situation, or applying for assistance programs as early as possible—maybe months ahead of when you start house shopping in earnest.

Make sure you're going into the buying process with a team of professionals to help, as well. That may include knowing a good real estate attorney, researching reputable home inspectors, establishing a relationship with a mortgage broker, and of course, finding a REALTOR® you feel comfortable with. Of first-time homebuyers in Texas, 71% said their real estate agent helped them understand the process of buying home and 51% of all buyers said they received better contract terms because of their agent, according to the 2016 Profile of Texas Homebuyers and Sellers. Start the search now for a Texas REALTOR® who fits your needs at texasrealestate.com.

Source: Advice for Consumers RSS Feed

The most important negotiating tip

There’s a simple thing you can do to put yourself in a powerful negotiating position: If you want something, don’t care about getting it.

Does that sound crazy? Can you see yourself not caring about your dream home, the one you can see yourself blissfully happy in for years to come?

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not suggesting you don’t try to get the house. Not caring means you sit down with your Texas REALTOR® and put together a data-driven offer that makes sense for your situation. Then you divorce yourself from the outcome.

Not caring—removing the emotion—makes your decisions easier because you’ll be assessing objective criteria. Either the seller meets your price or he doesn’t. Either he agrees to make a repair or he doesn’t.

You won’t win every negotiation this way, but you’ll be less likely to pay more than you wanted to or compromise on something that you’ll regret.

There’s no line in the contract that says, Check this box if you really want this house. Focus on the particulars of the deal without caring about the outcome. It’s easier said than done.

Source: Advice for Consumers RSS Feed

Why you should consider selling a home you haven’t even bought

You’ll consider several criteria when purchasing your first home, but have you thought about how easy it will be to sell later? Things like location, features, and nearby amenities—the same criteria you’ll consider—can affect a property’s resale value.

You like it, but will they?
If it’s your first home, you may only plan to stay in it for a few years. And while you may be willing to buy a house that, for example, is located on a busy street or close to railroad tracks, ask yourself, “Will future buyers feel the same way?”

Keep the next buyers in mind
Once the home is yours, think about how to improve or maintain the home to appeal to future buyers. This can include things like upgrading bathroom or kitchen fixtures, improving the landscaping, or using paint colors that have broad appeal.

Ask an expert
If you have questions about whether a property will be easy or hard to sell in the future, talk to a Texas REALTOR®. He or she can offer advice about purchasing a home you love that will also appeal to the most buyers when you’re ready to move.

Source: Advice for Consumers RSS Feed

Home-staging tips for a show-worthy home

Staging your home is a great way to enhance the appeal of your property to buyers. Home-staging and lifestyle expert Tori Roth shares some tips for homesellers.

Add natural touches
Take a cue from the geography surrounding the home and use natural elements that reflect that area. You want to add plants and flowers to soften spaces and subliminally remind buyers that life grows here.

Rearrange furniture
Moving furniture to open traffic flow can make a room feel bigger, or arranging it to create a conversation area gives the space purpose. 

Set the mood with lighting
A house that's illuminated says, “Come on in.” Open your blinds and curtains to let in natural light, and put the maximum allowable wattage in fixtures to boost illumination.

Accessorize the entryway
Add strategic pieces—a table lamp, artwork, mirror, decorative box—to create a statement when welcoming people into a home.

Get more tips, including a free home-staging video series, at toritoth.com.

Source: Advice for Consumers RSS Feed

What to update before selling your house

Should you replace your laminate counters with granite before selling or just repair the burn marks? What about your leaking gutters? There's the outdated wallpaper in the hall bathroom, exterior paint that's peeling, and a window that sticks, too.

Deciding what to do about conditions like these can be difficult. On one hand, granite counters are expensive. On the other, laminate may turn off buyers who can choose from nearby homes with granite counters. Whether you'll get your money back on upgrades and repairs is one consideration. But some repairs and remodeling projects may make your home enticing to potential buyers.

How do you know whether to tackle a pre-sale project or leave things as is? Talk with a REALTOR®. He or she can give you guidance on what pays off. A REALTOR® has a finger on the pulse of what buyers are looking for in your neighborhood, how much they are paying for certain types of amenities, and how much interest properties similar to yours are generating. You will be able to discuss how the options fit your time frame and price expectations. And that can save you from making a decision you'll later regret.

Source: Advice for Consumers RSS Feed

4 signs the home you’re considering might need a foundation evaluation

While kitchen countertops, flooring, and bathroom fixtures might be top of mind during your home tour, you should also consider the foundation. Foundation problems can be costly, and difficult to address. Here are four signs that could indicate foundation trouble:

  • Cracks in a home’s walls—especially around doors, windows, or corners—can indicate foundation damage.
  • Doors and windows that don’t properly align can indicate foundation damage that has become more severe.
  • If there are indications that water is moving under or toward a home’s foundation, there may be ongoing damage occurring.
  • A chimney separating from the home might be a problem with the chimney itself or could indicate foundation issues.

Even if you don't see any of these signs on your tour, it's always wise to have a professional home inspection to identify potential problems with a property. Learn more about these tips at permapier.com.

Source: Advice for Consumers RSS Feed

Five reasons to include a home warranty with your home’s sale

When you put your home on the market, you’ll clean and de-clutter, and you’ll probably stage it with newer furniture and on-trend décor. But have you considered including a home warranty? It’s not always at the top of every seller’s list, but it can be a huge benefit to you. Here’s why:

It reassures your buyer

A home warranty gives buyers comfort—if something goes wrong with the systems and appliances of the home, they’re protected.

It gives you peace of mind

Having your air conditioning break while your home is on the market is one of the many unpleasant scenarios that can happen. Many home warranty companies include sellers’ coverage when a home warranty is included as part of the sale. Sellers’ or listing coverage is usually free, and will help you repair or replace systems or appliances that break down while the home is on the market. Such coverage is less comprehensive than a regular plan, so check what’s covered and what isn’t.

Your home may sell faster

A study done by the Service Contract Industry Council in 2014 found that homes with a home warranty as part of the sale spent 11 fewer days on the market than homes without a home warranty. If you want to sell your home fast, a home warranty can help.

Your home could bring a higher price

That same study found that listings with a home warranty sold for $2,300 more on average than homes without a warranty. Getting more money for the sale of your home is excellent, but it’s even more alluring when you look at the return on investment.

It provides a higher return on investment than many repairs

Most home warranties cost less than $600. Even if your sales price increase by only half the $2,300 average seen by properties with home warranties, you’re still way ahead. Compare that to the return seen by sellers who replace their front doors, buy a new garage door, or make similar upgrades and you’ll see that a home warranty usually brings a good return on investment.

What benefits have you seen from including a home warranty with the sale of a home?

Whitney Bennett is the SEO specialist for Landmark Home Warranty, which provides affordable and comprehensive home warranties in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.

Source: Advice for Consumers RSS Feed