Purchasing a home can get a little intense, especially if you are a first-time buyer. Between looking at homes online and reading design magazines, you pretty much know what you want your next home to be like. But be careful what you wish for. You may just regret wanting it to begin with. Let’s start with size. Everyone wants a big beautiful home, but do you really need it? Remember, the bigger the home, the bigger the heating and cooling bills will be as well. Along with that, cleaning the place could take forever! Instead of extra bedrooms that you …

You walk into a home and instantly fall in love with it. But many times the shiny floors or marble countertops can distract you from major issues with the property. Remember, beauty is only skin deep. Be sure to hire a qualified inspector to check behind the walls. You should also bring in a qualified heating and cooling technician to make sure that the system is big enough for your square footage. But there’s plenty the average person can unearth if they look closely enough. Water damage can be a major issue, including possible mold contamination if it’s cleaned properly. …

Spring is here and the flowers are blooming and homebuyers are out in force. Many times, it’s not only the gorgeous views from your balcony or the large backyard that sells your home. Let’s make sure your home has the right features on the inside and out so it doesn’t last long on the market. Bear in mind that you only have one chance to make a potential buyer fall in love with your home. Pretend you are a buyer and walk in the door. Would you want to view it if it was on the market in the condition …

It doesn’t always take a home inspector to find the problem points on a property that you’re looking to buy. Many times, all it takes is a keen eye during your first walkthrough. Before you leave for the walkthrough, grab that old pair of binoculars, and start on the outside of the home you’re looking it. This will help you get a closer look at the roof. Are the shingles worn or missing? And how is the concrete around the property? Is it broken or cracked? Does it pitch towards or away from the foundation of the home? The latter …

  The snows are about to melt and the spring real estate market is about bloom. Preparing your home to hit the market can be easier than you think. There are many things that can be done at little or no cost that will make your home stand out. Do you still have wallpaper in your home? Buyers can sometimes see wallpaper as an added hassle and expense. If you can, spend an afternoon removing the old wallpaper and painting your walls a neutral color. Use a heat gun or blow dryer to heat up the wallpaper; this will make …

  Your home is on the market and you are cleaning and preparing it to look its best for any potential buyer who pays a visit. Your realtor has suggested an open house next Sunday and you are all for it. Open houses are an invitation to the public to walk into your home and view what you own as openly and freely as possible with only your broker there to watch, and with that comes a certain amount of risk. According to the National Association of Realtors, at least 40 percent of agents have experienced something which made them …

  Buying a home is one of the largest purchases you’ll make in your lifetime and it could ultimately become a life-altering event. It’s normal for you to be nervous and everyone has some sort of buyer’s remorse, but it’s too late after you sign on the dotted line, so put some thought into your decision before you start your search. The expression “house rich, cash poor” means that you have spent so much on your monthly mortgage payment that you are too broke to do anything else. Just because a bank tells you they can approve you for a …

  Everyone’s decorating style is unique; one person may like a contemporary style while others may like a more classic Victorian look. But the true beauty in real estate is in the eye of the beholder. Many sellers spend thousands of dollars to ‘stage’ their home to show buyers the true potential of the living space. Use neutral colors when staging your home and make sure your tactics will appeal to a majority of buyers coming to see your space. If your furniture is worn out or just plain ugly, why would you stage your home with it? If you …

Many homes are under-marketed not for lack of advertising or effort on the part of the broker to push the property properly. The main reason is a lack of sufficient information on the full range of features that a property possesses, often because the owner may think that a buyer doesn’t care about them. Many listing sheets leave out important features, instead enumerating the same items time and time again. Which items are you failing to mention on a listing description or online marketing? What will make your home stand out over the one down the street from you? One …

  So you’re thinking about buying a home but you don’t know where to begin. There are several tasks you need to tackle months before you start house hunting in earnest. Getting started early will ensure that no surprises arise to trip you up on the way to your purchase. Do you know how much you want to spend? Is your income where it should be? Check your credit rating if you’re seeking to finance your new property. For a small fee, you can pull your credit on your own from many different online website. Check your report and make …