For Homeowners

Buying a Home-For most people, a home purchase is the largest investment they will ever make. And yet, most buyers don’t view it as the investment that it is. We believe that you make your money when you buy. Not when you sell. So it’s important that you buy right. We spend every day looking at the market and looking for great deals. You can trust that we’ll help you find the best deal on the best home for your lifestyle. Click The Link Below to view our Home Buyer’s Checklist.

• Home Buyer’s Checklist
  • Determine how much house you can afford-Your lender decides what you can borrow but you decide what you can afford. Lenders are careful, but they make qualification decisions based on averages and formulas. They won’t understand the nuances of your lifestyle and spending patterns quite as well as you do. So, leave a little room for the unexpected – for all the new opportunities your home will give you to spend money, from furnishings, to landscaping, to repairs. Deciding how much you can afford should involve some careful attention to how your financial profile will change in the upcoming years. In the long run, your own peace of mind and security will matter most.
  • Create your home wish list-Before the home search begins, we will want to understand as much as possible about the features and amenities you desire. To help us better serve you, analyze what you want and what you need in a home’s features and amenities.
    • Age: Do you prefer historic properties, or newer ones?
    • Style: Do you have a special preference for ranches, bungalows, or another style of construction?
    • Bedrooms: How many?
    • Bathrooms: How many? Are they updated?
    • Living and Dining Areas: A traditional, formal layout, or a more open, contemporary plan?
    • Stories: How many?
    • Square feet: How much space?
    • Ceilings: How high?
    • Kitchen: How big? Recently updated? Open to other living areas?
    • Storage: Big closets, a shed, an extra-large garage?
    • Parking: A garage or carport? Room for how many cars?
    • Extras: Attic or basement?
    • Consider The Amenities You Desire Such As: Office, Play/exercise room, Security system, Sprinkler system, Workshop/Studio , In-law suite, Fireplace, Pool , Hot tub, Sidewalk , Wooded lot , Patio, deck, or porch , Laundry room
  • Location, location, location-Where you buy not only affects the home’s current and future value, but it also affects your lifestyle. We can better help you conduct a more targeted home search if you outline your preferences in neighborhoods and nearby amenities. Here’s a checklist of items you should consider.
    • Urban, suburban or rural
    • Commute time
    • School districts
    • Desirable neighborhoods
    • Proximity to the airport
    • Proximity to restaurants and retail
    • Access to major highways and thoroughfares
    • Access to public transportation
    • Health care facilities
    • Parks and recreation
    • Length of time you plan to live in the home (Your agent should be knowledgeable about growth trends and projections that could affect your investment.)

Selling Your Home– When it comes time to sell your home, knowing your numbers is critically important. Price too high and you’ll miss the market and discourage potential buyers. Price too low and you risk leaving money on the table. Proper evaluation of market direction, seasonality, neighborhood trends, and property preparation are critical to a successful sale. We know the numbers and can help you maximize the value of your property. Click the link below for a free, no obligation property valuation before you decide to sell.

• 8 Steps To Selling Your Home
  1. Define your needs. Write down all the reasons for selling your home. Ask yourself, “Why do I want to sell and what do I expect to accomplish with the sale?” For example, a growing family may prompt your need for a larger home, or a job opportunity in another city may necessitate a move. For your goals, write down if you’d like to sell your house within a certain time frame or make a particular profit margin. We will work with you to map out the best path to achieve your objectives and set a realistic time frame for the sale.
  2. Determine Pricing. Your next objective should be to determine the best possible selling price for your house. Setting a fair asking price from the outset will generate the most activity from other real estate agents and buyers. You will need to take into account the condition of your home, what comparable homes in your neighborhood are selling for, and state of the overall market in your area. We can show you what comparable homes are selling for in your neighborhood and the average time those homes are sitting on the market. Remember: You’re always better off setting a fair market value price than setting your price too high. Studies show that homes priced higher than 3 percent of their market value take longer to sell. If your home sits on the market for too long, potential buyers may think there is something wrong with the property. Often, when this happens, the seller has to drop the price below market value to compete with newer, reasonably priced listings.
  3. Prepare your home. Most of us don’t keep our homes in “showroom” condition. We tend to overlook piles of boxes in the garage, broken porch lights, and doors or windows that stick. It’s time to break out of that owner’s mindset and get your house in tip-top shape. The condition of your home will affect how quickly it sells and the price the buyer is willing to offer. First impressions are the most important. We can help you take a fresh look at your home and suggest ways to stage it and make it more appealing to buyers. * A home with too much “personality” is harder to sell. Removing family photos, mementos and personalized décor will help buyers visualize the home as theirs. * Make minor repairs and replacements. Small defects, such as a leaky faucet, a torn screen or a worn doormat, can ruin the buyer’s first impression.
  4. Get the word out. Once you are ready to sell, we will set up a marketing strategy specifically for your home. There are many ways to get the word out, including: The MLS, Craigslist, Social Media, Yard signs, Agent to Agent Mail Campaigns, etc. We will use a combination of these tactics to bring the most qualified buyers to your home and structure the marketing plan so that the first three to six weeks are the busiest.
  5. Receive an offer. When you receive a written offer from a potential buyer, we will first find out whether or not the individual is prequalified or preapproved to buy your home. If so, then we will review the proposed contract, taking care to understand what is required of both parties to execute the transaction. The contract, though not limited to this list, should include the following: * Legal description of the property * Offer price * Down payment * Financing arrangements * List of fees and who will pay them * Deposit amount * Inspection rights and possible repair allowances * Method of conveying the title and who will handle the closing * Appliances and furnishings that will stay with the home * Settlement date * Contingencies At this point, you have three options: accept the contract as is, accept it with changes (a counteroffer), or reject it. Remember: Once both parties have signed a written offer, the document becomes legally binding. If you have any questions or concerns, be certain to address them with your real estate agent right away.
  6. Negotiate to sell. Most offers to purchase your home will require some negotiating to come to a win-win agreement. We are well versed on the intricacies of Texas Promulgated Contracts and will protect your interests throughout the bargaining. Once both parties have agreed on the terms of the sale, your agent will prepare a contract.
  7. Prepare to close. Once you accept an offer to sell your house, we will walk you through all the things you and your buyer must do before closing. The property may need to be formally appraised, surveyed, inspected or repaired.. Depending on the written contract, you may pay for all, some or none of these items. If each procedure returns acceptable results as defined by the contract, then the sale may continue. If there are problems with the home, the terms set forth in the contract will dictate your next step. You or the buyer may decide to walk away, open a new round of negotiations or proceed to closing. Important reminder: A few days before the closing, you will want to contact the entity that is closing the transaction and make sure the necessary documents will be ready to sign on the appropriate date. Also, begin to make arrangements for your upcoming move if you have not done so.
  8. Close the deal. “Closing” refers to the meeting where ownership of the property is legally transferred to the buyer. We will attend the closing with you to guide you through the process and make sure everything goes as planned. By being present during the closing, we can mediate any last-minute issues that may arise.