Jody Deeds

Understand How Much Financing You Can Afford. It's crucial that you speak with several lenders and discuss the many financing programs available. Each mortgage company sets its own limits for some items. Be sure to shop and compare at least 2, preferably 3 lenders to find the best deal. You Realtor can provide you with lender names and help you sift through the many options.

Do Your Homework Before You Shop. Knowing what you can afford before you go shopping for your next home, can save you time and aggravation. It's always best to speak with a lender and do some preliminary homework, so you can have a pre-approval letter in hand when you make an offer. The pre-approval letter will put you in a much better position to negotiate the price and terms. So, before you head out to look at homes, be sure you know your comfort level regarding the price and monthly payment, and have that letter.

Location. Remember, you make money when you BUY a home, not when you SELL. By selecting a home in an area that continues to increase in value, has good curb appeal, and has attracting features, you're setting yourself up to be in a good position later. Now, you don't want to buy the most expensive home in the neighborhood, but you don't necessarily want to buy the lowest priced one either. Be sure to take into account all of the factors that might hinder the sale of your new home down the road. Your Realtor can help you determine the pros and cons , by doing a market analysis before you make the offer. This will show you what homes have sold for, how long homes are on the market and other factors.

Timing. Consider the length of time you plan to live in your new home. It takes about 3 years to be in a position to make money from the sale of your home. Unless you purchased the home at a drastic under market value price, or had a large down payment, you'll either break even when you sell or you could possible lose money. So, be sure to consider your future plans and length of time you plan to stay in your new home.

For a FREE Buyer Consultation to help you position yourself to purchase your next home, give us a call today.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Seller:

Over the last couple of weeks, I've stalked the showing agent and even wrestled them to the ground for feedback and YES...I finally have some comments for you.

"The grass is a bit...well there isn't any"

"The neighbors dog can see over the privacy fence"

"We wanted a ranch home not a 2-story"

"Love the home, but it showed so well the buyer decided to wait until spring to buy"

Sincerely,

Your Realtor

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Yay! My sellers have several showings on their home after a seemingly slow time in the market. I was excited, the sellers were really excited and so we waited. And waited. And waited. And....nothing!

No offer. No call. No feedback.

As with all my listings I make a call to the showing agent and send repeated follow up emails until I get feedback about the home. It's common courtesy for agents to acknowledge they showed your clients home by providing feedback...you know...those remarks and comments about the home that we have to interpret the meaning of most of the time.

Anyway...back to my point. How many times is too many to send an email or call an agent asking about them to tell me about the best and worst parts of the home. I mean all the sellers and I want to know is what we can improve upon to get this home sold.

But...the showing agent provides NOTHING! No offer. No call. No feedback.

Let's face it. Much of the time, the feedback we receive is less than useful. Comments like "showed well but no further interest." OK...TELL ME WHY there is no further interest. It takes only another second or two. Anyway, feedback of any kind is better than the unknown for a seller.

Deciding whether to buy or sell first can be a difficult decision. Both have pros and cons depending on your particular situation. Here are some things to consider when making your next move.

Buying First and Then Selling

* Might create 2 mortgage payments, which most people aren't comfortable handling.

* Buying before you sell could end up costing you much more in the long run...you'll be more inclined to lower your price to get it sold and not lose out on your new home, plus the carrying costs to keep the old home maintained and the utilities on, can deplete your savings rather quickly.

* You may not qualify for a loan on your new home if you haven't sold the old one first.

Unless you have a plan of action in place that has taken into consideration these factors, buying before you sell might not be the best way to go.

Selling Before you Buy

This too can create some challenges. Some questions to ask are:

* Where will you live if your current home sells before you've found your new home?

* Are you prepared to pay the new owner rent until you can find a new place to live?

* Where will you store all of your belongings if you can't move everything into your temporary living space?

One advantage to putting your home on the market BEFORE you buy a new home is that you'll have a much better position in negotiating with the seller, than if you didn't have your home on the market yet.

Every situation is unique. Be sure to discuss all options with your Realtor and lender, and then decide the best position to take for your situation.

Preparing to sell your home takes some planning and expert advice, especially when it comes to setting the price.

You'll find everyone becomes an expert and wants to offer their opinion on the price...neighbors, family, co-workers, etc. And...while all of these individuals have good intentions and only want to help, it is crucial that you take into account all factors involved: market conditions, similar style homes that have sold in your area, your homes currently on the market, is it a buyer's market or seller's market, condition of your home, how fast homes are selling, terms and incentives, etc.

Avoid testing the market! Set a realistic price based on the facts involved. Pricing too high will only help sell competing homes in the area and you'll lose your initial rush of good qualified potential buyers. The longer a home stays on the market, the lower the offers and less negotiating power there will be for you.

How much you paid for the home and how much you want to profit, are important to you, these factors do not affect the market value of your home and what Buyer's are willing to pay.

For a personal pricing consultation, give us a call at 614-755-9566. You can also visit us on-line at www.sellyourhomecolumbus.com for helpful information.

Most Common Home Problems

Below are the most common home problems. Be sure to consult with your own licensed home inspector or energy star auditor for further explanations and solutions.

Mold, Mildew and Musty Odors

Water leaks are usually to blame for these issues. These leaks could be from leaky water pipes, toilets, showers, tubs, roof leaks and gutter problems. If you notice leaks for areas needing repair, it is extremely important to have those items remedied immediately to prevent structural damage and potential health issues.

High humidity caused by everyday tasks such as showers, cooking and drying clothes, can also be culprits. Indoor humidity levels should be maintained between 30%-50%.

High Energy Bills

High energy bills can usually be traced to windows, heating and cooling equipment, and insulation.

To reduce your energy costs, it's important to have your furnace and air conditioning units serviced regularly. If windows have condensation between the panes or have broken locks and seals, contact the manufacturer to see if they are still under warranty.

Damp Basement

Primary source of damp basements are water leaks and high humidity. Again, look for water pipe leaks, as well as basement wall cracks and areas where water may be penetrating. Have these issues repaired immediately.

Drafty Rooms

Common areas for cold air leaking in the home can be found around doors, windows, light fixtures, electrical outlets. The biggest leaks are usually in the attic and around recessed lighting.

Be sure to have your contractor check the air and furnace units to check for air leaks and to make sure there is a balanced airflow. In addition, caulking around window sills and door jambs will help prevent drafts.

Dust

Dust can penetrate your home through air leaks around windows, doors, and air ducts.

To reduce dust in your home change your furnace filter, and vacuum regularly. Furnace filters should be changed once a month. Be sure your clothes dryer is vented to the outside of your home. Leave shoes at the front door instead of wearing them throughout your home.

Moisture on Windows

Windows that get condensation on them, are usually a result of old windows, and single pane windows with aluminum frames.

Ignoring this issue could lead to deterioration and rotting of wooden trim, sills and framing, and could lead to mold and mildew.

Consider replacing with storm windows. If cost is an issue, you can use install a shrink film or polyethylene sheet. Window insulation kits can be purchased at your local hardware store.

Ice Dams

These usually occur after heavy snowfalls and freezing temperatures for several days. As temperatures warm, and the snow and ice begin to melt, water begins to drain along the roof under the snow. When this water reaches the overhang, it refreezes and creates the ice dam. This can cause roof damage and could lead to water leaks.

Fixing the roof leak will not prevent future ice dams. You'll need to seal the air leaks, in the attic, and add insulation Make sure there is adequate ventilation in the attic and be sure to keep gutters free from debris throughout the year.

I hope you found this information helpful. If you'd like more information or have general real estate questions, call me at 614-755-9566. You can also visit me on-line at www.buyahomecolumbus.com