Do you want to sell your house on your own? As a Realtor I believe you should list your home with a real estate agent. In fact, I think you should list it with me.
Do you really know what it takes to get your home sold? Here is a quick peek at the process...
And that's the basics...it's a certainly a lot more detailed than that. This is not meant to scare you from selling your house on your own. It's meant to educate. I will actually provide you with all the forms and information you need, at no charge, to sell your house on your own if you like but before you email me for that info here is a staggering statistic. This comes from data compiled by The National Association of Realtors. The median FSBO (For Sale By Owner) selling price in 2006 was $187,200, compared with $247,000 for agent-assisted transactions. We as Realtors keep a close eye on this information. NAR has also stated that the number of FSBOs has steadily declined over the years. Currently it is a little more than half of what it was in the late 80s.
Nashville has leveled off a bit in terms of home sales and prices. FSBOs usually do a bit better during a “seller's market”. Right now Nashville is a “buyer's market”.
One word: MLS. It Works.
To get started in selling your home on your own use this helpful link. Before You Sell
contact me: briantsmith@realtracs.com or 615.975.0578
Here is the fourth part of a 4 part blog I am writing on what issues or potential problems to look for when viewing a house. Remember a reputable home inspector is recommended. Your comments are welcome.
9.Take a look at the home's breaker box. Exposed wires or a panel that does not entirely cover the breaker box is suspect. A good home inspector will know if the panel needs updating or if it is sufficient for the home. In areas of the home where a water source is located (e.g. - kitchen sink, bathroom sink) GFCI outlets should be present. These are Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt outlets, essential safety features in a home. Since the 70s and 80s, homes built to code were required to have these in kitchens, baths, garages, and outdoor outlets. Generally any place a water source was present. These outlets monitor the flow of current present in a circuit. Any fluctuation in that current causes the CFCI to shut that circuit down and avoid a potentially hazardous situation. Older homes may not have these installed. Buyers should consider updating outlets to GFCIs that may require them. GFCI breakers can also be installed directly into the home's electrical panel. Here is a helpful link... The Circuit Detective
10.Now it's time to check some of the mechanicals of the home. On most HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) units you can find a manufacture date or installation date. Most units will last about 12-15 years before needing excessive over haul or replacement. A good maintenance schedule will help the life of any home's mechanical units. Check the water heater. These usually have a date on them as well as a length of time they are supposed to last. Some may say 5 year, 7, 10 or even 12 year limited warranty. You probably will not get the benefit of the warranty unless documented by the seller and transferred to you at closing. Just expect the water heater to last about as long as the sticker says. Be prepared to replace it soon if it is near the end of it's life. Now a days most are opting to replace old units with tankless water heaters. As far as appliances check with your Realtor or the seller to see how old they are and also make sure your home inspector tests them for functionality. Below are some helpful links... Again, this is not a comprehensive list of everything to look for when you are viewing a house. Nor is it meant to scare a buyer into thinking they need to be on their guard any time they look at a home. These are simply some of the things I look for as a Realtor when I am helping my clients find a home that suits them. As mentioned before a reputable home inspector is recommended to check the house over as an impartial party to the possible transaction.I welcome comments from any one, especially other Realtors or home inspectors. Maybe some of you savvy buyers would like to comment. If you would like to add to this list please do.
contact me: briantsmith@realtracs.com or 615.975.0578
Here is the third part of a 4 part blog I am writing on what issues or potential problems to look for when viewing a house. Remember a reputable home inspector is recommended. Your comments are welcome.
5. Attics...if the home has an attic try to get up there and get a good look around with your flashlight of course. Look for roof leaks, broken rafters and most importantly venting? Is it really hot up there? It is generally going to be much warmer up there than in the house itself. Sometimes it can be too hot. Do you notice proper ventilation? Some homes have gable vents (at the two ends of the house), some ridge vents (directly above in the spine of the roof), static vents (usually square), some have turbine vents (the ones that spin). If you have the spinners these should be moving on a hot summer day. If they are not they may need to be replaced. Or the problem could be air flow. These vents usually require air flow into the attic space to work properly. Many times you will notice vents in the eves of the house (the over hang of the roof). These vents allow cooler air to flow into the attic and the warmer air will flow out through the roof vents. Good ventilation in an attic will not only keep your cooling bills lower but actually help a roof last longer. BTW: while you are up there look for insulation as well. The ceiling should be properly insulated to aid in the home's heating and cool efficiency. Here is a helpful link... Ventilation
6. Ceilings...look at the uniformity of the ceiling. Do you see any discoloration or areas that look to have been patched? If so, this could be where a previous leak was remedied. Make a note of this and be sure to mention to your Realtor or home inspector. You will want to be sure the leak was fixed and not just the damage that the leak caused.
7.As you are walking from room to room check out the windows and doors. Do they operate smoothly? Are screens or storm windows installed? If not ask if these are stored anywhere in the house. Look around the framing of the window. Do you see any cracking between the window and the framed area the window is in? Look around door frames. Cracks could indicate settling or movement in a home.
8. While inside the home take a look under the kitchen sink and bathroom sinks. Do you see any discoloration on the cabinet's bottom (below the pipes)? Feel the pipes. Do they feel wet? Turn on the water and check down under the sink again. Everything should be dry and clean. A leaky sink or leaky pipes could spell mold. Generally not a deal breaker but certainly a nuisance to clean up and deal with.
contact me: briantsmith@realtracs.com or 615.975.0578
Here is the second part of a 4 part blog I am writing on what issues or potential problems to look for when viewing a house. Remember a reputable home inspector is recommended. Your comments are welcome.
3. If the home has a basement take a good look around down there. Try to find a place in the basement where you can see the inside of the actual exterior wall. Does it look dry? Or is it discolored? Pay close attention to the corners and the side of the house where water may collect if the property is sloped. If the house has a crawl space grab your flashlight. Open one of the crawl space doors and peek your head in there. Take a good look around. Does it seem dry? Does it have a very wet or mildew smell? A wet or mildew smell means water could be collecting under there. Make sure there is no debris or wood lying on the crawl space floor. This is an attractant to termites. Get a look around the interior of the foundation if you can from your vantage point with your flashlight. Also take a peak at the floor joists above. They should look clean and not discolored or moldy. If the home is on a slab and it has a garage look at the floor in the garage. Check for cracks on the garage floor. If there are cracks look around at the bottom of the walls where they meet the floor of the garage. Do you see much difference in where the floor meets the wall on one side compared to the others? If one side seems lower than another there could be potential movement of that slab. A home inspector will be able to tell you more. Here is a helpful link...
4. While you are exploring the basement, crawl space or any other part of the house where plumbing is visible, look to see what material the pipes are made out of. Old metal galvanized pipes are generally outdated and subject to failure. PVC is preferred. They are easy to distinguish from one another. Cast iron looks obviously made of metal and is generally black and PVC is generally white and plastic. If you see PVC chances are there have been recent repairs or updates made to the plumbing. Also look for copper. Water lines are now generally made of copper. Check joints to be sure a good solid bead is in tact. An alternative to copper is PEX (crosslinked polyethylene). Corrosion resistant and generally easier to work with than metal or rigid plastic. Make sure to run faucets and flush toilets if the water service is on. Another helpful link...
Stay tuned for Part 3...more to come.
contact me: briantsmith@realtracs.com or 615.975.0578
Most buyers know that a home inspection is an absolute necessity to make sure a house is sound and potential problems with the house can be known before they move forward. As a Realtor I am not licensed or qualified to perform these inspections or tests. Although, I do take it upon myself to look for possible issues with a home and point them out to buyers and their home inspectors. I have put together a 4 Part Blog to help buyers learn some key issues to look for. Please remember this list is not comprehensive. I welcome comments from any one, especially other Realtors or home inspectors. Maybe some of you savvy buyers would like to comment. If you would like to add to this list please do.
1. Take a walk around the property looking at not only the foundation but how the property is graded. Do you see any cracks or cover ups in the foundation? If the house is brick do you see any cracking in the brick or mortar? Look closely near window corners and above garage doors. Do you see cracks? Is there any wood from the house in contact with the ground? Wood in contact with the ground is a termite attractant. This is not a good thing. It will need to be remedied quickly. Does the grade of the property around the home drive water away from the foundation? Water is the main culprit in the deterioration of a foundation. Proper grading and down spout systems will keep the foundation dry and eliminate deterioration. Sometimes down spout extensions or catches are necessary to help move the water from the gutters and down spouts farther away from the house. Pooling of water below a down spout (generally at the corners of a foundation) over time can lead to failure of a foundation in those areas. Here is a helpful link.
2. Next, as you are walking around the house look at the roof and gutters. Are the roof tiles in good shape? Do you see any curling on the tiles, especially on the ends? Curling generally means the roof has seen better days and it's usable life is near it's end and it may need to be replaced. As for the gutters. They are very important in how they are installed. Above I spoke about their down spouts. Are the gutters attached to the house correctly? You should see that the gutters are right up against the house. If you stand under them you should see no light between the house and the gutter.Looking For Problems With Your Roof
Tune in next time for Part 2.contact me: briantsmith@realtracs.com or 615.975.0578
 |
|
|
A Realtor with integrity that does it right the first time. I am NOT a salesman. I provide a service. So if you don't want high pressure and someone just looking to make a sale, call me.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
