Ron Martin Team

In South Carolina as in most states, the "Offer to Purchase" gives the buyer the right to conduct home inspections, termite inspections, etc. This is a time for the buyers to have total access to the property to determine its condition.

Most buyers hire a professional Home Inspector. Professional Home Inspectors are knowledgeable, experienced, and thorough. These inspections take 3 - 4 hours to conduct and in the course of the inspection they will go into the attic, crawl under the house, run the appliances, open every door, turn on every faucet, etc.

The point I'm trying to make is that they were hired by the buyers to inspect the property. As a seller you agreed to this condition. Therefore, you should give them the time and space they need to do what they need to do.

When interviewing a home inspector, ask the inspector what type of report format he or she provides. There are many styles of reports used by property inspectors, including the checklist, computer generated reports, and the narrative style.

Some reports are delivered on site and some may take as long as 4 - 6 days for delivery. All reporting systems have pros and cons.

Every day, more and more agents/Mortgage Brokers are throwing in the towels to find other ways to make ends meet. Some are finding it difficult to stay above water.

What is it that is keeping me in this business? For one, it is because we are passionate about what we do and we are determined to succeed in what we do. We pay attention to the changing market and we do not wait on analysis to tell me what's wrong with my market. We make necessary changes as we see fit. The end result is getting the listing but we do not make that our biggest focus, we focus right now in keeping busy in this business and not give up. Our past customers do keep in touch with us and we do likewise, referral's is also a part of our business and we sincerely appreciate the relationships that we have formed with others.

What is it that will keep everyone in this business? Why is it that you have not thrown in the towel yet? Are you about to break? Everyone's circumstance varies and naturally you must do what will benefit you and your family. If you have a can do and a want too attitude, then you will survive in this business.

1. Good Faith Estimate (GFE) - This will break down all of the closing costs of the loan. These numbers are very difficult to get exact but the loan officer should never be off more than a couple hundred dollars.

2. Truth in Lending Statement (TIL) - This document will disclose several important numbers but most importantly the Annual Percentage Rate, and whether the loan has a prepayment penalty or not.

3. Financing Agreement - This document right here is gold and you should have a financing agreement early on whether the rate is locked or floating. The loan officer should issue this to you not only for your protection, but also for his since it lays out whether the rate is locked or if it is floating, the loan type, rate and any points being charged.

1. Proper Pricing - No matter the size of your home, pricing will determine how long your home sits on the market. Don't be afraid to drop the listing price to gain more interest. The chances are the money you lose here will be substantially less than if you priced your home high and brought down.

2. Hiring a Realtor - A good Realtor adds enough value to your home (or generates a good offer) to cover the commission you will pay out. An important factor in choosing your Realtor is to make sure they're familiar with the neighborhood. Knowledge is priceless when it comes to a Realtor selling your home. Also, how do they plan on marketing your home? Hiring a team of agents can assure you will have the proper representation.

3. Quick Fixes - Investing money in a huge remodel is not usually going to pay off. Unless there is a great need for a fix like a leaky roof, stick with easy inexpensive fixes like painting and landscaping.

4. Web Brokers - Using a service like HomeZill.com will reduce your overhead costs and allow you to sell your home paying a reduced commission. 95% of home buyer's use the web when searching for homes so unlike in the past, it is important to have a tech-savvy Realtor with a large online market presence.

5. Staging - Hiring a staging company to fill your home with nice furniture and professional decorations will make your home more attractive to potential buyers. The offers that you will receive often will make up for cost of the staging.

6. Incentives - Think about it... The cost of giving away a plasma TV, paying for hardwoods, or a credit for new appliances is worth it. These incentives are not going to get someone to buy your home, but they definitely get people in the door.