5 Can’t Miss Tips When Choosing A Realtor To Sell Your Home

Selling a home can be tricky and complex. One of the most important decisions that homeowners need to make when selling is who they will hire to sell their home.

A top notch Realtor® can make the difference between a home selling or not. Many homeowners take hiring a real estate agent too lightly, which can ultimately lead to a seller losing thousands of dollars and creating additional unnecessary frustration and stress.

If you’re planning on selling your home in the near future, it’s important you understand what it takes to choose a top Realtor.® Below are 5 can’t miss tips to help increase the odds of hiring the best to sell your home!


Know How To Interview Prospective Realtors

The first step to successfully hiring a top Realtor® is knowing how to interview. Some homeowners will actually skip the interview process and will hire a real estate agent because they are a friend, family member, or neighbor. While it’s completely possible their acquaintance is a top agent, it’s vital to make sure this is truly the case.

Once a homeowner decides which Realtors® to interview, they must prepare themselves for the actual interview process. It’s important to know what the top interview questions to ask a Realtor® are! Here are five of the best questions to consider asking:

• Are you a part-time or full-time agent?
• What is your list price to sale price ratio?
• What methods do you use to determine the value of a home?
• What methods of communication do you use with your sellers?
• How many homes did you sell last year while representing sellers?

These are just five of the best questions to consider. There are many more and it’s extremely important that a homeowner asks these questions. Some are more difficult to ask than others, but a homeowner will thank themselves in the future when they have a successful and enjoyable home selling experience!

Request To Contact Past Clients

One recommendation for homeowners who will be choosing a Realtor® is to ask if they can contact a handful of their past clients. It’s important to understand that some people will not allow or want a real estate agent to provide their information to prospective sellers, however, a top agent should have many past clients who would be willing to talk with prospective sellers.

If a homeowner gets the chance to talk with past clients, they should be asking some important questions. Below are five of the top questions a homeowner can ask a past client.

• How was your experience working with him/her?
• Did they deliver on what they told you they would do for you?
• Was there anything you felt they could’ve done better?
• How was their communication?
• Do you feel they earned their money?

Check the Realtor’s Sales History

The number of homes a Realtor® sells is not a guarantee that a homeowner will have a great experience, or a miserable one.

The reality, though, is that anyone who has sold fifty homes in a given neighborhood has more experience than a brand new Realtor® out of their local real estate academy. Three things to consider finding out about a Realtor’s sales history include:

• How many homes have you sold in my neighborhood?
• How many homes on average do you sell a year?
• What percentage of your business is repeat and referral business?

These questions can often shed some light into whether or not an agent has a solid sales history or not. Every agent starts at zero in their career at one point or another, but experience comes with time and transactions.

Find Out How the Realtor Plans to Market Your Home

One of the top three reasons why a home will sell or not is due to the marketing and exposure a home gets. It’s critical that homeowners find out exactly how a real estate agent plans on marketing their home.

Since all Realtors® run their business differently, they market their sellers homes differently. Some will literally place a sign in front of a home, enter it into their local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), and pray that it sells. These are sometimes classified as a post and pray Realtor® and are Realtors® that should be avoided at all costs.

Homeowners hire a Realtor® to sell their home should be aware of their web presence, first and foremost, and also what other marketing channels they plan on using. Five of the most important marketing questions to ask include:

• Do you have a website?
• What type of traffic does your website get?
• Is it local traffic?
• Do you have a real estate blog?
• Does your website and/or blog rank highly on Google and other search engines?

There are literally dozens of questions that homeowners should be asking a real estate agent when it comes to their marketing of their listings. In 2016, since the majority of buyers are beginning their home search online, it’s critical that their website ranks highly on search engines. The higher a Realtors® page ranks, the more exposure for a seller’s home.


For example, a seller in Rochester NY would love to put their home in front of anyone who is thinking of moving to Rochester NY, right? Of course they would! It’s huge if a Realtors® website is ranking within the first couple results for search terms such as “moving to Rochester NY” and other variations of this search term.

Don’t Choose a Realtor Because They Offer the Lowest Commission

Last but certainly not least, when a homeowner hires a Realtor® to sell their home, they should not do it based solely on the fact they offer the lowest commission. Commission is negotiable, yes, but it’s also important to be aware of the many home sale gimmicks and discount brokers that are out there.


If a real estate agent is offering the lowest commission, you need to be absolutely sure they are going to provide the same services that other Realtors® would. Four questions to ask include:

• Will you still pay to advertise my home in the newspaper?
• Will you send direct mailings to my neighbors?
• Do you have a top website?
• Do you pay to advertise on Facebook?

While it’s possible the Realtor® offering the lowest commission may be the best one for the job, it is important to proceed with caution.

Final Thoughts

Hiring the right Realtor® is critical. Not doing so can be a huge mistake, and a costly one at that! By following the 5 tips that are listed above, a homeowner will greatly improve their odds they will hire a top producing Realtor.

source: totalmortgage.com

IN PHOTOS: Sharon Cuneta's $2.2-M US mansion

MANILA – Megastar Sharon Cuneta is selling her mansion in California for $2.2 million, or more than P103 million.

An article by Realtor.com published on Foxnews.com said the property was built in 1997 and sits on a 6,610-square foot estate.

It has six bedrooms, six full baths and one half bath, a grand marble entry, a custom library, a chef’s kitchen with a breakfast room, a living room with a fireplace and a family room.

Outside is an expansive lawn with a covered patio, a barbecue area, a swimming pool and a spa with a waterfall.

Here’s a look at Cuneta’s US mansion, which the “Your Face Sounds Familiar” judge once considered her “happy place.”

Mobile users can view the desktop version of this slideshow here.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How to Simplify the Home Buying Process

As a first­-time home-buyer, the home buying process can be intimidating and stressful. This is brand new territory for you. And since you don’t know what to expect, you might not realize how slow and complicated the process can be.

But even if you’re new to the “home buying game” and slowly learning the ropes, there are simple ways to streamline a purchase and minimize stress.

1. Organize your documents ahead of time

 

When you apply for a mortgage loan, the first thing a lender will do is request financial documents. This includes your tax returns from the past two years, recent paycheck stubs and copies of bank account statements.

If you’re not organized, finding these documents can be tedious and time-consuming. So make sure you have a system where all your financial information is located in one place and easily accessible.


The sooner you locate and forward these documents to the mortgage lender, the sooner the bank can process your application and get you approved for a loan.

2. Get pre­-approved before shopping

 

Some first­-time home-buyers don’t understand the importance of a mortgage pre-approval. Pre­approvals aren’t required to make an offer on a house, but they can streamline the process since you’ll already have financing in place. 

A pre-­approval involves completing an official mortgage loan application and going through the underwriting process, with the lender checking your credit and verifying your employment and income.

 

Once you’re pre­-approved, you know exactly how much you can spend on a property, plus you know your estimated mortgage rate before shopping for a home.

3. Check your credit beforehand

 

You might think you have excellent credit, but your credit report can paint a different picture. To avoid any surprises when applying for a home loan, check your credit report beforehand.

You can order a free report each year from AnnualCreditReport.com. Check the report for errors and unfamiliar account activity which can be a sign of identity theft. Mistakes on your credit report can lower your credit score and jeopardize qualifying for a mortgage.

4. Know what you’re expected to pay a lender

 

Speak with your mortgage lender to find out how much you’ll need for a down payment. Down payment minimums vary depending on the type of mortgage.


For example, a conventional mortgage loan requires a down payment between three percent and 20 percent, whereas an FHA home loan requires a 3.5 percent down payment.


You will also need cash for closing costs, which can be as much as two percent to five percent of the sale price (unless the seller agrees to pay all or a percentage of your closing costs).

5. Make sure your realtor understands your needs

 

Be as specific as possible when speaking with your realtor. If your realtor understands exactly what you’re looking for in a property, you won’t waste time looking at homes that don’t meet your needs.

For example, how many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? Are you seeking new construction or a resell? What type of square footage do you have in mind? What’s your price range? Do you prefer a specific neighborhood or school district?

Bottom Line

 

There’s nothing more thrilling than buying a home — especially if you’re a first-time buyer. But the stress of getting a mortgage and negotiating a purchase can overshadow the excitement. The above tips, however, can reduce the risk of setbacks and speed the process so you can quickly move into your new place.

source: totalmortgage.com

What to Do If Your House Isn’t Selling

So you haven’t had a showing in weeks and you’ve forgotten what your realtor looks like and you may or may not have started to wonder if you’ll be moving after all.

You’re not alone. With the housing market recovering so unevenly, many sellers are finding that they’re not able to move on as quickly as they’d like. That being said, if your home has been sitting on the market for months, it’s probably time to reevaluate your strategy.

Before you do something drastic, try giving these 5 tips a chance.

1. De-clutter and read up on home staging. Many sellers assume buyers won’t mind the clutter—it doesn’t come with the house, after all. But though buyers know this, it doesn’t keep them from focusing on the knick-knacks when they should be admiring the hardwood. A messy house can also make buyers wonder what else you haven’t kept on top of, or even signal a lack of storage space

If you’re wondering where to start, home staging could be your answer. Staged houses typically sell faster and for more money than vacant or as-is homes. The basic idea? Aim for the hotel look. That means clear surfaces, neutral colors, no personal photos, and minimal furniture.

2. Be willing to compromise. When you’re selling something as big as a house, flexibility is your best friend. For instance, if you’re only showing your home on certain days or during certain hours, you may not be reaching the right buyers, lowering your chances for a sale. Refusing to entertain a lower offer, or to compromise in other ways can also be an issue. Don’t let a deal fall through because of something as small as closing fees or a broken toilet.

3. Fix the little things. Speaking of broken toilets, fixing yours (or your dingy paint job, or that loose tile in the kitchen, etc.) may make a big difference in the eyes of a buyer. No matter how small the fix, it’s still one more thing for a buyer to worry about in the middle of an already stressful move. Try taking a few weeks to get your house as close to move-in ready as possible, and it could just pay off.

4. Make a bigger (or a better) marketing push. Sometimes, selling a house is just a numbers game. If no one sees your listing, or if it’s not appealing when they do see it, you’re not going to be getting the traffic you need to make a sale.

Often, this just means uploading better pictures to your internet listing. These days, most buyers want to get a good feel for a property before they visit in person, and if you only have a handful of fuzzy cell phone photos taken pre-decluttering, you’re not showing your home at its best. Make sure your photos are well-lit, clutter-free, and plentiful.

5. Take a second look at your asking price. Nothing can kill a sale faster than an unrealistic asking price. Many sellers make the mistake of letting their attachment to the house get in the way of their subjectivity. This is why it’s important to listen to your realtor or appraiser, or else know the prices comparable houses in your neighborhood are selling at. It may just be time to lower your expectations.

source: totalmortgage.com

Survival Tips for Living in a House You’re Trying to Sell

Those last minute panic-cleaning skills you’ve developed for in-law visits probably won’t do you much good when months of home showings are on your horizon. Unless you’ve already found the perfect new home and moved, that means it’s time to develop a long-term strategy, even if it’s just for the sake of your own sanity.
Here are some tips for maintaining that tricky balance between the perfect show house and one you actually live in.


Keep the house ready at all times.

Well, try to.

In reality, you’re probably not going to be able to keep your house showroom-worthy for weeks or months at a time. The key, though, is to be constantly making the attempt. That way, when the call comes and you need to get ready for a showing, you can whip the place into shape quickly.

This is a perfect situation to take a page out of the home staging manual. Box up your family pictures and personal collections in anticipation of your move, and clear all your flat surfaces and as much as your storage space as you can spare. If you need to rent a storage unit in the meantime, then go for it. The less clutter you have in your house, the better it will look to buyers and the easier it will be for you to keep neat.

Ask for as much notice as possible

No realtor will try to show your house without first calling you, but when they call is what you should worry about. Realtors’ practices vary, and you may end up with ten hours’ notice or ten minutes’.

The solution? Ask for notice at least a few hours in advance.

If that’s not enough control for you, you can also turn away showings when your house isn’t ready, or limit showings to certain parts of the day. Keep in mind, though, that “limit” is the operative word here. The harder it is for potential buyers to see your house, the fewer opportunities you’ll have for for a serious offer.

Always leave during a showing if you can—and have a plan

Generally speaking, it’s best to leave the house when you have a showing. No potential buyer wants to be reminded that the house belongs to a stranger, or feel watched as they make their decisions. Plus, you probably don’t need to see someone judging your backsplash.

The actual leaving can be a hassle, though, especially if you work at home or have an already-tight schedule to juggle. The trick is to find a quiet place where you can get work done, like a library or coffee shop, or put off doing your errands until a showing forces you out. That way, showings can still be productive.

Be smart about your privacy

You may be used to leaving personal documents and valuables scattered around your house (no judgment), but that’s probably not smart if you’re welcoming strangers into you house with only an equally strange realtor for a chaperon.

If you’ve done a good job staging your house, you may find that potential buyers feel comfortable enough to poke through your closets and cabinets. Even if you haven’t, some people are just nosey. A good rule of thumb? If you don’t want it seen or potentially taken, best to tuck it away somewhere safe.

source: totalmortgage.com

How to Spot a Bad Realtor—And then Part Ways Properly

Just because real estate agents have guidelines to follow and tests to pass doesn’t mean they’re all the same, quality-wise. Whether you’re putting your home on the market or about to start the search, here are the hallmarks of a realtor you should stay away from.

The agent is difficult to get a hold of

Communication is a super important part of home selling and buying process. If your realtor takes longer than 24 hours to get back to you, or won’t give you weekly status updates, then it just isn’t going to work out and you might want to consider switching.

The agent is part-time.

Nothing against people who have other commitments, but if this isn’t your realtor’s full time job, you might want to look elsewhere. Having an agent on the outskirts of the industry usually means you’re the one missing out.

On the same note, don’t feel like you need to work with a friend or relative just because they happen to have a real estate license. If they’re not working actively and familiar with your area, they’re really not qualified to be helping you sell or buy.

The agent makes too-good-to-be true promises

In a down market, or even one that’s just starting to pick back up again, you’re going to have to face certain realities, and a good realtor won’t sugarcoat them for you.

So what sort of things should you hear from a good agent? That the longer your home is on the market, the more you will have to drop the price. That you may need to make some improvements before your home is attractive to buyers. That you may not be able to get exactly what you want for what you’re willing to pay.

The agent pushes you toward homes that don’t fit

Occasionally, you’ll run into realtors who are more concerned about their bottom line than yours.  If your agent is herding you in the direction of properties that are out of your price range or not in your neighborhood, be wary. They may be pushing you toward a friend or associate’s listing, or putting their commission ahead of your needs.

These warning signs are all well and good, but what should you do when you miss them?

The first thing to remember is that your real estate agent is working for you. This isn’t a partnership, and they aren’t lending you their services out of the goodness of their heart. Other than that:

Be upfront. Every real estate agent has broken up with a client at one point or another—you shouldn’t need to tiptoe around their feelings. Lay it out for them.

Don’t hesitate. You’re making this decision for a reason. Don’t let yourself get talked into giving the agent a second chance.

Be respectful. When you point fingers and get angry, no one comes out of the situation looking good. Not to mention that you may need to, or even want to, work with this agent again in the future.

source: totalmortgage.com

How to Sell Your Home Without an Open House

It doesn’t matter whether you’re selling a home yourself or working with a realtor, selling your property quickly is a priority. This way, you can move into your new home sooner rather than later.

Several marketing techniques can help sell a home faster, and many real estate agents host open houses which give potential buyers an opportunity to visit the home, receive information, and ask questions.

Although open houses are typical when selling a property, these aren’t always effective. As a matter of fact, you may consider open houses to be a complete waste of time. Luckily, there’s no rule that says you have to host an open house Instead, you may choose to focus on other selling methods. For example:

1. The power of an online listing

If you’re working with a realtor, ask about his marketing plan. You need your agent to do more than simply post a sign in the yard. You need your home to appear on websites, such as Zillow.com and Trulia.com.


Since many homebuyers use the Internet for preliminary searches, getting your house online is one of the most effective ways to attract attention. If you’re selling the home yourself, you can list the property on the multiple listing service (MLS) for a fee. This way, real estate agents can learn about the home and schedule times for their clients to tour the property.

Additionally, list your property on other websites, such as Owners.com and ForSaleByOwner.com (if you’re selling without an agent). You can also take advantage of a free Craigslist posting. However, there are rules when posting on this site. Read the terms and guidelines carefully to avoid having the listing removed from the site.


2. Don’t forget to add photos
With an online listing, it isn’t enough to provide text details about the property. That may be important stuff, but a picture speaks a 1000 words. Take images of each room of the house, and stage the property before taking these photos. Remove clutter, repaint and rearrange furniture to maximize space. It’s important to highlight as much available space as possible. Also, take photos of impressive features, such as a new fireplace mantel, granite countertops or any other sought-after real estate feature.

3. Create a video tour and post online

Since many homebuyers start their home search online, the more information you have online, the better. Some home sellers and agents have gotten creative and started making video tours of a property. These don’t have to be elaborate videos, and you can use any handheld video camera or the video camera on your smartphone.

Start recording at the entrance of the property and slowly walk through the home highlighting features and rooms, such as the kitchen and bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, and any other amazing features. You can add narration to your video, or use editing software to add music in the background. Once you finish recording and editing the video, post it to YouTube, attach it to your online listing, or post a link on Facebook or Twitter and share with your friends.

Bottom Line

The odds of finding a buyer with an open house are slim, so you’ll need to consider other ways to market your property and attract attention. Since the Internet is one of the first places homebuyers look, you’ll need to increase your online visibility to move your house quickly.

source: totalmortgage.com

Pacquiao selling off Los Angeles mansion

MANILA - If you’re looking for some real estate, for a little under $3 million, you can get the mansion of a Philippine icon.

Realtor.com has listed Manny Pacquiao’s mansion in Los Angeles’ Hancock Park for sale.

The 5-bedroom Mediterranean style home is listed for $2.7 million. The house which the Pacman bought in 2009 for a reported $2.17 million has been featured on an episode of MTV’s Cribs.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com