Glen Russell Real Estate Professional Collegeville, PA

This years Halloween Parade will be held OCTOBER 29TH at 6:30 PM. It will be about an hour to an hour and a half long. The parade begins behind Benjamin Moore Paint, and the BP Gas Station, which are located on Main Street in Collegeville.

The parade will be making it's way EAST down Main St. and end at The Philly Soft Pretzel Factory, at approximately 7:30pm.

Remember! There is a costume contest for all different age groups!

If you would like to be in the parade, there is NO formal registration required. If you would like to be in the parade or for any other questions call Mr. Joe Greenwald @ 610.220.6454

Make it an awesome day, and I hope to see you all there!!

Glen 610.792.3000

The actual borough of Collegeville PA is very small, and often confused for the entire Collegeville area.

The information listed about is calculated from October 2007 - until August 2008.

For an area with a population of only 4,600, that is only 1.6 square miles in size, there sure is a lot of business going on!

Clearly my team and I do business in many more areas, and I would love to do a market analysis for any area in question.

Make it an awesome day & never hesitate to call for any of your real estate needs!

Glen Russell

Unlike to experience of buying your first home, when you're looking to move up, and already own a home, there are certain factors that can complicate the situation. It is very important for you to consider these issues before you LIST your home for sale.

Not only is there the issue of financing to consider, but you also have to sell your present home at exactly the right time in order to avoid either the financial burden of owning two homes or, even worse, the dilemma of having no place to live during the gap between closings.

These common mistakes have simple strategies to overcome them. Being informed will help you make better choices before you put your existing home on the market.

Rose-Colored Glass -

Many of us dream of improving our lifestyle and moving to a larger home. The problem is that most times theres a discrepancy between our hearts and our bank accounts. How many times have you drove past a home you instantly fell in love with, only to find out that it's already sold, or that it's more than you can afford. Most homeowners get caught in this hit or miss strategy of house-hunting when theres a much easier way of going about the process.

For Example: * Find out if your agent offers a buyer profile system or "house-hunting service" which takes the guess work away, and helps to put you in the home of your dreams.

* This type of program will help cross match your criteria with ALL available homes on the market, and supply you with printed information on an on going basis. A program like this helps homeowners take off their rose-colored glasses, and affordably move into the home of their dreams!

Failing to Make Necessary Improvements -

If you want to get the best price for the home your selling, and who wouldnt? There will certainly be things you can do to enhance it in the prospective buyers eyes. These fix-ups don't necessarily have to be expensive, but if you do have to make a minor investment, it will often come back to you ten-fold in the price you are able to get when you sell.

**It is very important to make these changes before you put your home on the market. **If cash is tight, look into an equity loan that you can deffinatley re-pay on closing.

Not Selling First -

You should plan to sell before you buy. This way you will not find yourself at a disadvantage at the negotiating table, feeling pressured to accept an offer that is below market value because you have to meet a purchase deadline.

* If you've already sold your home, you can buy your next home with no strings attached. If you do get a tempting offer on your home but haven't made significant headway on finding your next home, you may want to put in a "contingency clause" in the sale contract.

* A contingency clause will give you plenty of reasonable time to find a home to buy.

* If the market is slow, and your home is not selling as quick as you would like it to, another option could be renting your home, and putting it back on the market later - particularly if you are selling a smaller "starter" home.

* You can eliminate both of these options by working with an agent who offers a GUARANTEE that your home will sell. The Glen Russell Team offers The 70 DAY GUARANTEE.

Failing to Get Preapproved For a Mortgage -

Preapproval is a very simple process that many home owners fail to take advantage of. It is free, and doesn't obligate you to anything. Preapproval gives you a significant advantage when you put an offer on the home you want to purchase, because you know exactly how much house you can afford, and you already have the green light from your financial institution.

With a preapproved mortgage, your offer will be viewed much more favorably by a seller - sometimes even if it is a little lower than another offer that's contingent on financing. **Don't fail to take this important step!

Getting Caught in Real Estate "Catch 22" -

Your biggest dilemma when buying and selling is deciding which to do first. One of the points above, advises you to sell first. HOWEVER!! Some agents, including the Glen Russell Team offer a "Guaranteed Sale "Trade Up" Program that acually takes that problem away from you entirely.

*** It guarantees the sale of your present home before you take possession of your next one. If you find a home you wish to purchase and have not sold your current home yet, we will buy your home from you ourselves so you can make your move free of stress and worry!

Last BUT NOT LEAST! - Failing to Coordinate Closings -

With 2 major transactions to coordinate together with all of the people involved, such as a mortgage loan officer, appraisers, lawyers, title company representatives, home inspectors or pest inspectors, the chances of mix-ups and miscommunication go up dramatically.

** To avoid a logistical nightmare ensure you work closely with your agent.

Make it an Awesome Day!!

Glen Russell 610.792.3000

http://www.glenrussell.com/

I'll just pick up right where we left off.

14. Deal Killer Odors - Must Go! -

• Odd smells such as food, pets, and smoking that you may not notice, can often times be deal breakers.
• If a potential buyer knows you have a pet or smoke, they may start being aware of odors and seeing stains that may not even exist.
• Don't leave any clues!

15. Be a Smart Seller - Disclose EVERYTHING -

• Smart sellers are proactive in disclosing all known defects to their buyers in writing.
• This can reduce liability and prevent lawsuits down the road.

16. It's Better With More Prospects -

• When you market your homes marketability, you will most likely attract more than 1 buyer.
• It's obviously much better to have several buyers because they will compete with each other, whereas with one buyer they usually end up competing with you.

17. Keep Emotions in Check During Negotiations -

• Let go of the emotion you've invested in your home.
• Be detached and use a business like manner in your negotiations.
• You will have an advantage over those who get caught up emotionally in the situation.

18. Learn Why The Buyer is Motivated -

• The better you know your buyer, the better you can use the negotiation process to your advantage.
• This allows you to control the pace and duration of the process.
• Knowing what motivates your buyers, such as having to move quickly, puts you in a much better position to bargain.

19. What The Buyer Can Really Pay -

• As soon as possible, try to find out what amount of mortgage the buyer is qualified to carry, and how much his or her down payment is.
• If their offer is low, ask their realtor about their ability to pay what your home is worth.

20. When The Buyer Would Like to Close -

• Quite often when the buyer would "like" to close is when the buyer "needs" to close.
• Knowledge of their deadlines for completing negotiations again creates an advantage for you.

21. Never Sign a Deal on Your Next Home until You Sell Your Current Home -

• You could easily becomes an "eager seller" if you close on your second home while your still making mortgage payments on your first home.
• This could even make you "desperate" for the first deal that comes along.

22. Moving Out Before You Sell Can Put You at a Disadvantage -

• It has been proven that it is more difficult to sell a home that is vacant because it becomes almost "sad" looking, or "forgotten about".
• Buyers start to get the message that you have another home and are probably motivated to sell.
• This could wind up costing you thousands of dollars.

23. Deadlines Create a Disadvantage -

• Never try to sell by a certain date.
• This always adds uneeded stress, and is a serious disadvantage in negotiations.

24. A Low Offer - Dont Take it Personally -

• Often times the initial offer is lower than what you and the buyer knows will acually be paid.
• Dont be upset, evaluate the offer objectively.
• Be sure it spells out : the offering price, sufficient deposit, amount of down payment, mortgage amount, a closing date, and any special requests.
• This can simply be a starting point from which you can begin to negotiate.

25. Turn That Low Offer Around -

• You can always counter a low offer or even an offer that is just under your asking price.
• This lets the buyer know that the first offer is not seen as a serious one.
• Now you'll only be negotiating with buyers with serious offers.

26. Maybe The Buyers Not Qualified -

• If you feel an offer is inadequate, now is the time to make sure the buyer is qualified to carry the size of mortgage the deal requires.
• Ask how they arrived at their figure, and suggest they compare your price to the prices of homes for sale in your neighborhood or area.

27. Ensure The Contract is Complete -

• To avoid problems, always ensure that all terms, costs and responsibilities are spelled out in the contract of sale.
• It should include such terms as : The date it was made, names of parties involved, address of property being sold, purchase price, where deposit monies will be held, date for loan approval, date and place of closing, type of deed, including any contingencies that remain to be settled and what personal property is included (or not included) in the sale.

28. Resist Deviating From The Contract -

• For example, if the buyer requests a move in prior to closing, JUST SAY NO.
• State that you have been "advised against it."
• Now is not the time to take any chances of the deal falling through.

I really hope these tips have helped shed some light. If you have any questions or comments, or for all of your real estate needs. Please never hesitate to call.

Make it an awesome Day!

Glen Russell 610.792.3000

WWW.GlenRussell.Com

Because you home may well be your largest asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life.

To better understand the home selling process, I have prepared a 27 tip guide to help you discover how to protect and capitalize on your most important investment, to reduce stress, and to be in control of your situation and make the most profit possible.

1. Understand Why You Are Selling Your Home -

• Your motivation to sell is the determining factor as to how you will approach the whole process.
• If your goal is a quick sale, this would determine one approach
• If you want to maximize your profit, the process might take longer, calling for a different approach

2. Keep The Reasons You Are Selling To Yourself -

• Your reasons may affect the way to negotiate your sale
• You don't want to hand ammunition to your buyers
• When asked, simply say "My Housing Needs Have Changed"

3. Before Setting a Price , Do Your Homework -

• The price you set is seen as the absolute maximun buyers must pay for your home.
• You want to get a selling price as close to the listing price as possible
• Pricing too high can make buyers and agents not take you seriously
• Pricing too low can make you lose rightful money

4. Setting Your Homes Sale Price -

• If You Live in a Subdivision - When your home is comprised of similar or identical floorplans, built in the same period, simply look at recent sales in your neighborhood to give you a good idea of what your home is worth.
• If You Live in an Older Neighborhood - As neighborhoods change over time, with remodels and such, you will most likely not be able to find homes comparable to yours. In this case, using a realtor would probably be your best bet.
• If You Decide To Sell Your Own Home - Look at homes that have sold within your area in the past 6 months, including those on the market now. This is also how buyers will prospect the price of your home. Also, a trip to city hall can provide you with home sale information in it's public records, for most communities.

5. Do Some "Home Shopping" Yourself -

• Checking out other open houses is the best way to learn about your competition. Particularly note, not only the asking prices, but what they are actually selling for.
• If your serious about getting your home sold fast, DONT price it higher than your neighbors.

6. When Getting an Appraisal is a Benefit -

• Sometimes a good appraisal can be a benefit in marketing your home.
• Letting prospective buyers know that your home can be financed is never a bad idea.
• However, an appraisal has a limited life, and theres no guarantee you will like the figure you get.

7. Tax Assessments - What They Really Mean -

• Some people think that tax assessments are a way of evaluating a home.
• The assessments are based on a number of criteria that may not be related to property values, so they may not necessarily reflect your home's true values.

8. Deciding Upon a Realtor -

• according to the National Association of Realtors - almost 2/3 of the people surveyed who sold their homes on their own, said they would NOT do it themselves again.
• Primary reasons included: setting a price, marketing handicaps, liability concerns, and time constraints.
• When looking for a realtor, consider two or three. Be as wary of quotes that are too low as those that are too high.
• All Realtors are not the same!!!!!
• A realtor knows the market and has information on past sales, current listings, a marketing plan, and will provide their backround and references.
• Evaluate each candidate carefully on the basis of their: experience, qualifications, enthusiasm & personality.
• Be sure you choose someone that you trust and feel confident that they will do a good job on your behalf.
• If you choose to sell your own home, you can still talk to a realtor. Many are more than willing to help do-it-yourselfers with paperwork, contracts etc. and should any problems come up, you now have someone you can readily call upon.

9. Ensure You Have Room to Negotiate -

• Before settling on your asking price, make sure you leave yourself enough room in which to bargain.
• For example, set your lowest and highest asking price. Then check your priorities to know if you'll price high to maximize your profit, or price closer to market value if you want to sell quickly.

10. Appearences DO Matter - Make Them Count -

• Appearance is so critical that it would be unwise to ignore this when selling your home.
• The "look and feel" of your home will generate a greater emotional response than any other factor.
• Prospective buyers react to what they see, hear, feel, and smell even though you may have priced your home correctly.

11. Invite The Honest Opinions of Others -

• The biggest mistake you can make at this point is to rely on ONLY your judgement.
• Don't be shy about seeking the say of others.
• You need to be objective about your homes good points as well as the bad.
• Fortunately, your realtor will be honest about what needs to be done to make your home more marketable.

12. Get it Spic n' Span - Even if it Seems Insignificant -

• Scrub, brush, tidy up, get rid of clutter, repair squeaks, the light switch that doesn't work, and the tiny crack in the bathroom mirror because these can be deal killers and you never know what may turn buyers off.
• Remember, you are not just competing with other resale homes, but brand new ones as well.

13. Allow Prospective Buyers to Visualize Themselves in Your Home -

• The last feeling you want to give buyers is that they are "intruding" into someone else's life.
• Avoid clutter such as too many knick knacks, decorate in neutral colors, and place a FEW carefully chosen items to add a small amount of warmth and character.
• You can embrace the attractiveness of your home with a well placed vase of flowers or potpourri in the bathroom.
• Home magazines are great for tips on decor!

That's it for now folks, I'll finish up a little later. Check out Part 2 when you get a chance.

Make it an awesome day!

Glen Russell 610.792.3000 (Call me anytime with questions or comments)

www.GlenRussell.Com