Cameron Norfleet

In today's real estate market, selling your home can seem quite daunting. Keep in mind that like any other competition, your home must stand out from all the other homes that potential buyers have looked at. This is a competition, and something you need to prepare for. Here are a few tips to getting your home ready to sell:

1. CURB APPEAL- Cut back bushes, keep the lawn mowed in summer, sidewalks clear in winter, plant fresh flowers or add a few large pots of flowers to add a splash of color to the front steps. Remove any clutter- kid's toys, extra vehicles, boats, or gardening equipment. This will be the buyer's first look at your home, if they don't like what they see they'll just keep driving.

2. VISUAL CLUTTER- When a buyer walks into your home, that's the first thing they should see ~ YOUR HOME. Not all the family pictures (although they are adorable, they are not for sale!), nor your collections of dolls, toys, dvd's, Elvis and Tupac figurines. If it is not enhancing your home for the buyer, it does not need to be there.

3. WALLPAPER- This is a big one. When buyers walk into a room and see wallpaper, they're actually thinking "ok, how much time/money will this take for me to get this down?" Now, there are some wallpapers that are very neutral and non-affending, you may want to ask your realtor me :) or Home Stager's opinion there. I'm talking about the ones that have pastel flowers, swirls, stripes, or anything that's been on your walls since the 70's. Don't make the buyer offer you a lower price because they know there's a lot of work involved.

4. WINDOW TREATMENTS- It's not to often that a REALTOR will hear a buyer say " I really want a home that has windows completely covered with frills, ruffles, panels and drapes". The windows are a huge part of the house, and need to be seen in order to help sell the home. Even if you are planning on including the window treatments in the sale of the home, they should still be simplified. Panels on either side of the window will soften the look without covering the window. If the windows are in bad shape, they should either be replaced or repaired. And don't hide a beautiful view!

5. TOO MUCH FURNITURE- We often have extra furniture in our homes for ourselves; for entertaining, for comfort. But when it comes to selling your home, less is often more. It's best to create a good traffic flow. Oftentimes the room's furniture layout can maximize a small space or create a warm cozy feeling in a large space.

Did you ever hear the saying "don't judge a book by its cover?" Well don't get wooed by a house just because it shows well! Underneath that lovely exterior you may have problems; potentially serious problems. Buying your first home is one of the most important purchases you will make in your lifetime. A qualified home inspector will take an in-depth and impartial look at the property inside and out! You should be sure that the home you want to buy is in good condition.

The first really cold winter day you wake up in your new house and your furnace isn't working, you'll be kicking yourself for not having your home inspected. An inspection limits the number of negative surprises you may discover when you move into your new home.

The cost of a home inspection is dependent on the size and characteristics of the property. Generally speaking it's a few hundreds dollars, which is a BARGAIN for the benefits you receive! A licensed home inspector will examine for any structural concerns, plumbing issues, functionality of the electrical system and heating and cooling, check for mold and mildew, roof damage, leaks in doors or windows, etc. As the inspector goes through the mechanicals of the home (electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning) he or she will give you an estimate of the remaining useful life. The inspector will also provide you with other invaluable details about your new home including location of shut off valves, where utilities are located, and general house operation.

You will be given a report containing the inspector's findings, identifying what items should be repaired or replaced. Find out how much it will cost to fix any defects. You can then request that the seller have them fixed by a licensed professional before you close or you can request the estimated cost of repairs be deducted from the final price you offer. If the seller won't help bear the costs and you want to go ahead with the purchase, make sure you can afford the necessary repairs on top of your mortgage payment. Bottom line, make sure and insist on a home inspection.

If you would like more detail on the content of this report don't hesitate to contact me, I am here for all of your real estate needs.

Once you've made the decision to start the home buying process and begin the search for your dream home, you need to evaluate what your needs and wants are in a home.

Keep a notepad where you will write all of the information regarding your search. As a first-time buyer it's important that you keep in mind what characteristics of a house are permanent and which ones can be modified. For example location is permanent! Do you want to live in the city or a suburban area? Do you want to live in a rural area away from the hustle and bustle, or do you want to be close town? How far away is the neighborhood from your workplace or schools? What is the transportation system like? What will your commute be? The location you prefer depends on your specific lifestyle, so establish what you NEED upfront.

Open up your notebook and list some of your NEEDS such as the ones below:

• Where do I want to live? (community/general area)
• Are schools a factor?
• Is being close to public transportation important?
• Do I have special physical requirements, such as wheel chair access?
• Do I have pets to consider?
• How many bedrooms/bathrooms do I need?
• How big a house do I want? How many rooms? How many square feet?
• How much renovation and remodeling am I willing to do?

Then lists the WANTS that are a priority to you:

• Do I want an older home or a new one?
• What style of home do I prefer? (ranch, colonial, split-level, multi-level, town home, condominium, multi-family)
• What sort of lot would I like? (small yard, large yard, fenced, garage, patio/deck, other buildings)
• How many bedrooms/bathrooms would I like to have?
• What features are important? (air conditioning, carpeting, ceramic tile floors, hardwood floors, eat-in kitchen, separate dining room, formal living room, family room, den, library, basement, separate laundry room, fireplace, workshop, other)

Also make clear to your real estate broker which features of a home you do NOT want! For example, if you have young children you might request NOT to be on a busy road. If you have a commute you may request you be within 15 minutes of the highway. If you clearly explain your needs and wants to your real estate agent (me...hint hint), he or she will be able to give you an idea of the housing on the market that fit what you're looking for.

If you would like more detail on the content of this blog don't hesitate to contact me, I am here for all of your real estate needs.

Closing costs -

There are various fees and costs required at the time the property closes. Closing costs usually range from 2 percent to 6 percent of the sale price. As you are planning out your offer, its important to distribute your cash available for the transaction between the down payment and the closing costs (also note: if you are having a home inspection done, this expense is paid for by the buyer and will cost a few hundred dollars). A part of the lending processes, you lender MUST provide you with a "Good Faith Estimate" which will breakdown all costs so that you know what to expect at closing.

Negotiate problems prior to closing-

It's common for a problem to arise before closing. You want to address those issues as soon as possible so they are resolved prior to the day of closing. For instance, if the seller had agreed to make a repair prior to closing, and the repair that has been done is not acceptable to you, discuss a solution prior to closing. This will give both parties time to analyze the options and come to a mutually acceptable resolution.

Close at the end of the month- When determining to closing date you request/accept in your offer, keep in mind how the closing date will affect your costs due at the closing table. Upon closing, your lender will charge you prepaid interest for the date the loan is recorded through the end of that month. So here's a tip...schedule the closing for the latter part of the month and you will lower your closings costs by paying a lower amount of prepaid interest!

What you will get at the closing -

•ü Settlement Statement, HUD-1 Form (itemizes services provided and the fees charged; it is filled out by the closing agent and must be given to you at or before closing)

•ü Truth-in-Lending Statement

•ü Mortgage Note

•ü Mortgage or Deed of Trust

•ü Binding Sales Contract (prepared by the seller; your lawyer should review it)

•ü Keys to your new home

You've been out house hunting for weeks, you feel as though you've done all your research and now you want to put in an offer to purchase the home of your dreams. So how much do you offer the seller?!! Well, it's not really how much you offer but how you offer it? Everything in real estate is negotiable, EVERYTHING. There is the obvious, such as purchase price and who pays closing costs. But, how about the less obvious, do I get to keep that pool table, how about the living room furniture, do I get to keep that. Let's take it a little further. You know what, I'd like to include that riding lawn mower in the purchase price. While you're at it, I'll take that nice new car in the driveway as well (OK, maybe that's taking it a little far....or is it). The bottom line is that you shouldn't feel as though you have to buy exactly what the seller is selling and how they are selling it. It is extremely important that when considering which Real Estate Agent will be representing your interest at the negotiation table he is well versed in how to get the best deal FOR YOU! Your agent should provide the tools necessary to educate you as much as possible about the seller and their situation before you make an offer. Is there any particular reason that they are selling at this time? How much did they pay for the house and when? Are there any repairs needed on the property. Armed with this information, you along with your agent will be able to structure a great offer that will work for you as well as the seller. Just remember, while all things are negotiable in real estate, be careful not to scare the seller into not even considering you as a serious buyer.