9 DEADLY MISTAKES HOME SELLERS MAKE –#8
9 DEADLY MISTAKES HOME SELLERS MAKE – #8
Selling the most expensive asset that most families own is serious business, not something to be taken lightly. It can be a highly stressful process and costly mistakes are easy to make. In order to net the most from the sale it takes careful planning and some work on the seller’s part.
Based on our years of first-hand experience, we have compiled a list of the 9 Deadly Mistakes Home Sellers Make to help home sellers avoid them. As the old proverb says, “forewarned is forearmed.”
A copy of the list is available at no charge to anyone who requests one by e-mail. Send your request to: Mike@SellYourVilla.com
DEADLY MISTAKE #8 – Not planning your move early enough
Most sellers simply don’t plan their move early enough and then feel totally overwhelmed at the time they have to 
move out of their home. As with most things in life, planning ahead enables you to complete the task with less stress and, often at a lower cost.
One of obstacles to selling most homes is that they are frequently jam packed with treasures, gathered over the years. Although those treasures are of considerable importance to you, the seller; a potential buyer usually sees them as needless clutter. They take up room, making the home seem smaller, and detract from the overall appeal of the home. Packing away your treasures when you list your home for sale serves two purposes. First, it helps you maximize the appeal of your home and makes is look larger. Second, it helps as the first step of the moving process. Items packed when you list the home will not have to be packed at the last minute before you move.
If you have the luxury of selecting the time of year that you will move try to avoid the summer months. That is peak-season. Costs will be higher and availability of service providers limited. Also consider that the first and last few days of the month are also extra busy.
Keep a record of all expenses related to the move, some or all may be tax deductable. Compile l list of all items that you will move, room by room. This will help you establish an amount that you will have to declare as the value of your belongings. Try to include the year purchased and purchase price of expensive items. This will help with insurance if needed. The use of a video camera may be helpful here. A slow pan of all items, room-by-room may prevent you from forgetting important items and help with insurance claims if the items end up missing of damaged. Make a separate inventory of high value items such a jewelry, antiques, art, cameras, crystal, china, firearms, electronics…etc.
Note that unless you have been given a binding moving estimate where a firm cost is established in advance, the exact cost of a move can not be determined until after everything has been loaded into the truck and the truck is weighed. The charges are usually based on the loaded weight of the truck less the empty weight of the truck. The total cost of the move will include transportation charges, declared valuation charges plus any extra charges for special services performed. All of these charges are basked of tariff rate schedules.
It makes no difference if you are in El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Cameron Park or any other city or town in California, or in any other state. The same rules apply. If you are considering selling, contact your Realtor today!
If you have any questions or want to put your home on the market call today: (916) 337-0658. You will get a no-cost market evaluation and suggestions on how best to maximize your selling net!
9 DEADLY MISTAKES HOME SELLERS MAKE–#5
DEADLY MISTAKES HOME SELLERS MAKE – #5
Selling the most expensive asset that most families own is serious business, not something to be taken lightly. It can be a highly stressful process and costly mistakes are easy to make. In order to net the most from the sale it takes careful planning and some work on the seller’s part.
Based on our years of first-hand experience, we have compiled a list of the 9 Deadly Mistakes Home Sellers Make to help home sellers avoid them. As the old proverb says, “forewarned is forearmed.”
A copy of the list is available at no charge to anyone who requests one by
e-mail. Send you request to: Mike@BuyYourVilla.com
DEADLY MISTAKE #5 –
Forgetting what you would want to see if your were the buyer of your home
Although we all strive to attain our own individuality, there is a remarkable similarity in what we expect when those expectations are met at someone else’s expense. Every prospective buyer wants to buy the perfect home. Few will settle for much less than their perception of that perfect property. The smallest imperfections can turn a buyer off.
With that in mind, a seller must be diligent in maintaining their property when they have is on the market. Keeping everything neat and CLEAN is essential.
Outside
- Keep walkways and patios and courtyards orderly and swept
- Put toys, bikes and gardening tools away
- Park extra vehicles away from the property
- Ensure that plants and shrubs are kept trimmed and well watered
- Apply fresh, clean paint
- Keep windows and coverings clean
- Inspect roof and gutters and keep them clean and functioning properly
- Mow lawns frequently
- Water and maintain vegetation
- Repair any damaged areas
- Keep all pet areas clean
Inside
- Reduce the number of personal items, place non-essential items in storage
- Keep everything CLEAN
- Ensure everything is in good repair (paint, sealant, etc.)
- Kitchens and bathrooms should SHINE
- Put all dishes, glasses and cooking utensils away
- Vacuum carpets and floors daily
- Hang up all clothes or place in laundry hamper
- Make all beds daily
- Straighten all closets
- Put all toys away
Before a Showing
- Open window coverings, let in as much light as possible
- Turn on all lights
- Remove pets from home
- Secure jewelry, valuables and prescription medicine
- Play soft background music
- Make sure that the television is off
- Remove the family from the home and stay away until you are sure the buyer and their agent have left
Once you have done everything you can to make the very best impression, relax and wait for the offers to come in.
It makes no difference if you are in El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Cameron Park or any other city or town in California, or in any other state. The same rules apply.
If you have any questions or want to put your home on the market call a REALTOR today: (916) 337-0658. You will get a no-cost market evaluation and suggestions on how best to maximize your selling net!
ADD A LITTLE PIZZAZZ TO YOUR BATHROOM FOR $ 100!
Most of us are aware of the fact that homeowners get the most bang for their renovation buck in the bathroom or the kitchen. While a full blown renovation can cost a fortune, we would like to improve things at a slightly lower price point.
Bill and Kevin Burnett, writers for Inman News just published an article on how to do a $ 100 bathroom make over.
Select this link for the complete story:
http://lowes.inman.com/InmanINF/lowes/news/138393
ADMINISTRATION RELEASES APRIL HOUSING SCORECARD
ADMINISTRATION RELEASES APRIL HOUSING SCORECARD
President Obama’s administration has released what it calls its April Housing Scorecard. They have commented on successes to date for their HAMP (Home Affordable Modification Program). Although detractors claim that these programs are helping no one, evidence indicates that there has been some success.
Select this link to view the scorecard:
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2011/HUDNo.11-080
ARE YOU THE VICTIM OF ROBO-SIGNING?
ARE YOU THE VICTIM OF ROBO-SIGNING?
Did you lose your home to foreclosure between January 1, 2008 and December 21, 2011? Was your loan servicer, the company you paid your mortgage payments to, on this list?
Bank of America
Ally
Chase
Citi Bank
Wells Fargo
The United States Department of Justice recently announced a TWENTY-FIVE BILLION dollar settlement with these banks, to let them off the hook for alleged illegal Robo-signing activities.
Robo-signing was the practice of having employees sign hundreds of documents per day, attesting to the fact that each properties’ foreclosure document file was in order and that it met all of the legal tests required by the courts before a foreclosure could take place. So, rather than reviewing the documents and making sure everything was in order, these employees just signed pile after pile of legal documents and forms without looking at them.
Fortunately, there were one or two people with a conscience involved. They became whistleblowers and the banks had to pay $25,000,000,000 to get off the hook for those alleged illegal activities.
So, you may ask, what does this have to do with me? The fact of the matter is that if you were one of the distressed homeowners who were a victim of Robo-signing activities you may have some cash coming.
You will have to go to www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com (a government web site) and complete a foreclosure review request. There is NO CHARGE to you for this review. IF they find that your loan servicer caused you financial harm resulting from following improper procedures, you may get up to $ 2000. It certainly is not going to make up for the loss of you home, but it is better than getting nothing.
There are strict deadlines, so do not delay requesting your foreclosure review. There will be many people applying. The process is also going to take some time. It may be two or three years before you get the cash. However, the fact that you got something back may be satisfying to some borrowers.
Please pass the information on to friends and family members who may qualify.
If you have any friends of family members facing foreclosure in the greater Sacramento area, please let us know. (916) 337-0658 We are here to help.