Buyers & Sellers Home Warranties What are Home Warranties? Home warranties are a type of service contract that provide repair or replacement coverage for major systems and appliances in a home. They can be purchased by either the seller or the buyer, and typically last for one year. The question that often arises is whether it is worth buying a […]
Buyers What does “as-is” mean? As-Is Properties: What Does That Mean? While looking for homes, buyers will sometimes come across a property listed “as-is” or have to make an “as-is” offer to get a home they love under contract. So what does as-is mean exactly?  An as-is offer means you can have an inspection, but you are not supposed to […]
Buyers HOMEBUYING FEES When buying a home, many buyers think they only need to have a down payment ready for closing, however, there are many other fees that have to be paid throughout the process.  So what are these other costs, when are they due, and how can you prepare for them?  Look for a separate post touching […]
Sellers BROOM CLEAN CONDITION FOR SELLERS Have you ever heard of ‘broom clean’ condition? It’s the condition in which a property legally needs to be left when a seller moves out. Here are guidelines to help you know what the requirements are in terms of how the property should be left: Fixtures:  Anything attached to the walls other than artwork should stay which […]
Buyers WHAT IS EARNEST MONEY? What is earnest money? Earnest money is a good faith payment which shows the seller that you are serious about buying their home.  It’s also part of your down payment.  So for instance, if you pay 1% in earnest money (abbreviated as EM) and your total down payment is 20% then that means you’ve already […]
Uncategorized BUYING DURING COVID-19   Buyers are navigating showings during COVID-19 with the help of protective gear, patience, and flexibility.  The process is generally the same once you have identified the home you want unless you are from out of town.  Those buyers are not likely making multiple visits here.  Finding the home you want is a more thorough […]
Sellers SELLING DURING COVID-19   Whether you are selling during COVID-19 pandemic or considering selling, read on to learn more about selling during this time.  Listing consultation, marketing, showing, pricing, and closing protocols have all changed since then.  It’s important to have an understand of selling in today’s world because some of this may remain as the new normal […]
Uncategorized A FEW THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT APPRAISALS   If the buyer is obtaining a mortgage to purchase your home then the lender will require that an appraisal be completed.  The appraisal is an estimate of a property’s value. This is based on factors such as age, location, square feet, number of bedrooms & bathrooms, amenities, structural condition, and recent sales of similar […]
Don't Miss Our Next Post
Subscribe Now
Buyers LET’S MAKE AN OFFER!   The day has come when you have found your one and only.  Maybe not your true love of the human variety, but you did find a home you love.  Now what?!  Here is some information you need to know as you move forward with writing an offer. Full legal name:   You will sign […]
Uncategorized MULTIPLE OFFERS – HIGHEST & BEST What is a highest and best offer? When a seller receives multiple offers on their property, they typically ask all interested buyers to submit a final offer by a certain time and date. The idea is that this is the highest amount the buyer is willing to pay with the best terms possible. Usually there […]
Buyers SOCIAL MEDIA PRIVACY SETTINGS Have you ever seen a friend or family member post on social media about their home purchase or sale?  I certainly have!  Sometimes those posts include information that could benefit one party to the transaction.  This is why I strongly recommend changing your privacy settings on social platforms, especially Facebook, so only your friends can […]
Buyers SECURING YOUR HOME   With all the new home technology available, there are a myriad of ways to secure your home.  The more tech savvy are controlling everything from the HVAC system to interior room lights to a crock pot from a phones.  Others are still using a wooden rod in the track of a sliding door so […]
Uncategorized ENERGY SAVING TIPS   I challenge anyone reading this to turn off all unnecessary lights when leaving your home, keep doors/windows well-sealed, turn down your A/C or heat when away, and use LED light bulbs.  Some simple steps and habits that can make a difference.  If your kids are like mine, then know that I understand how challenging […]
Buyers HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS BY SEASON Want to keep some preventable maintenance from haunting you during a home inspection?  If you purchased a home in the last year, then you probably remember the inspection process and whether or not the home you bought had a slew of issues.  Could any of those have been prevented by regular maintenance?  I would suspect […]
Buyers & Sellers IS THE ZESTIMATE A GUESSTIMATE?   If you’ve been home shopping or home stalking in the 21st century, then you’ve heard of the Zestimate.  It has been credited for Zillow’s instant popularity and continues to generate buzz today.  Is this magical estimate of value generated by algorithm’s the end all be all to your home value?  No, it isn’t! Is […]
Buyers TOP QUESTIONS BUYERS ASK ME ABOUT WORKING WITH A REALTOR   So you are thinking about buying a home and you have already read my post about selecting a real estate agent, but you still have some questions. Hopefully below you will see some of those questions asked and answered.   Can you show me homes that you don’t have listed? Yes! I am a […]
Buyers SHOULD I TEST FOR RADON? I always recommend a radon test when purchasing a home. Your inspector will ask if you’d like to test for radon. Some homes have radon mitigation systems in place, but many don’t. It doesn’t hurt to test even if a system is in place in order to confirm that it’s doing its job.  Homes on […]
Buyers & Sellers WORKING WITH A LENDER   So you want to buy a home, but are you really ready to buy in this market? The number one thing that sellers fear is buyers walking away from the sale. Thus, sellers and their savvy realtors know that they need to see a solid letter from a lender OR proof of funds before […]
Buyers & Sellers TOP INSPECTION ISSUES   Home inspections are a key part of the buying and selling process in real estate transactions. Every market is unique in terms of the way buyers and sellers approach inspections and then subsequently negotiate inspection items. In our local market, it is customary for the buyer to schedule an inspection after an offer is […]
Home Trends & Desgin COLOR OF THE YEAR FOR 2020   While we are still just entering the fourth quarter of 2019, the Sherwin Williams color of the year for 2020 has already been announced.  Drum roll, please…the color of the year for 2020 is Naval SW 6244. Otherwise known as navy through my untrained eye.  They promise it is a richer navy than we […]