Chris Ross

Let's be honest. The point in working with any professional is to get the job done better than you can do it on your own. Sure, you could do it, but you probably don't have unlimited time, resources and the in-depth knowledge of the industry that a professional senior real estate specialist does. Ask yourself: what can this person do for me that I can't do on my own? Hiring a real estate agent will help you get more return on your investment. A senior real estate specialist can:

1. Help you decide what to fix. Talk with your agent about what should be fixed. In general, the rule is: if it's broken, fix it. In today's market you're going to have a lot of competition to sell your home. If you have broken items you've just lived with (we all do!), get them fixed. Even if the rest of your home is in reasonably good repair, little things like a leaky faucet, a window that doesn't open, and a broken garage door opener are all excuses for buyers to lower the amount they're willing to offer. You can actually save a lot of money by making these small repairs before you sell.
2. Help you decide what to replace. Before you replace that living room carpet or those kitchen appliances, talk with a real estate agent and get suggestions on what will make your home more marketable. If the potential buyer for your home is a first time home buyer or young family, the type of flooring you put in the kitchen may be different than if you live in a luxury condominium that might appeal to a young executive. Spending a lot of money on unnecessary high-end flooring for your home may be just as costly as putting in an inexpensive floor in a luxury home. Talk with a local real estate agent about what your competition has, and how you can minimize the cost of improvements without sacrificing the marketability of your home.
3. Prevent your spending money on things that break. Getting your home ready for the market is a lot of work, and in some cases, can cost you money. Talk with your agent about a home warranty. Many of the home warranties available today cover the home owner from the date the home is listed until it is under contact with the new buyer. That means if you have a mechanical failure, you won't be trying to figure out how to pay to get it fixed while your home is on the market. Instead you can put in a claim to the home warranty and get it fixed with minimal out-of-pocket cost. A home warranty is also a nice additional selling point for your home-especially when you need to stand out from all the other homes on the market!
4. Suggest loan alternatives to buyers that will save you money. With lending guidelines getting tighter for borrowers, home buyers are using first-time home buyer programs that charge fees to the seller. For example, there are two nonprofit programs for first-time home buyers, Nehemiah and Genesis. Both offer essentially the same benefit to the buyer, but one charges the seller a $295 fee, and the other does not. Your real estate agent will help you understand these loan programs and work with the buyer's loan officer to see if the fees can be reduced.

Depressed real estate markets may make it tough to sell your home, but at least do the math, and figure out your minimum selling price and how much you can save if you move into a smaller place. Smaller means less money. Consider unloading unneeded possessions. Start or expand a home garden.

What should you expect when you work with me?
Once you select me as your Realtor we will want to establish a proper business relationship. You likely know that some Realtors represent sellers while others represent buyers. I represent both. I will explain the options available, describe how I work and provide you with complete agency disclosures, the ins and outs of your relationship with me.

Once hired for the job, I will provide you with information detailing current market conditions, financing options and negotiating issues that might apply to a given situation. Remember: Because market conditions can change and the strategies that apply in one negotiation may be inappropriate in another, this information should not be set in stone. During your time in the marketplace I will keep you updated and alert you to each step in the transaction process.

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Here are five recommendations for young people who want to position themselves for homeownership.

Granted, few young people spend much time day-dreaming about buying their first home. They're naturally preoccupied with academics, athletics, parties, dating and future career possibilities. Nonetheless, there are a number of good reasons to start learning early in life about the costs of buying a home and the responsibilities of homeownership. For example, a college student's misuse or abuse of credit cards can preclude his or her buying a home later on.

Here are five recommendations for young people who want to position themselves for homeownership:

1. Establish good credit habits and a favorable credit history. Get a credit card and use it responsibly. Apply for an automobile loan and make your payments on time every month. If you're renting an apartment, put your own name on the lease and the utility bills and make sure the rent and the bills are paid every month.

.2. Start saving for a down payment and closing costs. It's possible to purchase a first home in many parts of the country without much in the way of savings. But in high-cost housing areas, starting to save early can be enormously beneficial because you'll get the advantage of compounding interest and have a longer period of time to grow your investments. Open a savings account or a stock brokerage investment account and make regular deposits.

3. Read some books. Your local library and bookstore probably have at least a few shelves of books about financial management and buying a home. Take notes. Make a financial plan for yourself. You can learn a lot about real estate, budgeting and credit on REALTOR.com® too.

4. Research where you'd like to live. Many young people assume they'll continue living in their own home town when they get older, but people are more mobile than ever and chances are good you'll one day live in another city or even another state. Again, the library, bookstore and Web can be excellent resources for information about housing costs and homeownership opportunities around the country.

5. Tap a real estate agent for advice. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or older cousins that have bought/sold real estate can give you good information about the cost of housing in the area where you want to live and what it takes to buy a home.

Questions to ask a realtor:

1)Is housing affordable in this area?

2)How much money would I need to save in order to buy a home?

3)What advice would you give me about planning my financial future?

4)Would you recommend some books that I might like to read about buying a home? Don't be shy. If you have a question, ask.......Click here