Tiffany & Tonya - Sharkey/ Peek Group

Twelve tips to sell your home

There are few things more frustrating to a seller than a home that sits on the market. It's stressful to keep a house in showing condition, and not selling can cost you lots of money.

Use these tips as a quick guide to better your chances at selling your house in a timely fashion.

1. Sit down with your Texas REALTOR® and evaluate your listing price. Visit open houses in your neighborhood. Are similar homes priced lower? An overpriced home is destined to sit on the market too long.
2. Do whatever it takes to be away from your home during showings and open houses.
3. Ask your Texas REALTOR® for feedback on how your home shows, and ask him to solicit other agents' advice. Feedback from their clients can really help.
4. If you intend to hold an open house, consider doing so on a weeknight. Competition may be lower, and you'll attract the interest of buyers who may not be available on the weekend.
5. Help promote your property. Talk about your home to everyone you know. Look for other ways to get the word out, too, even if your agent is doing a lot to promote your house.
6. If you're really motivated, you can offer perks to buyers, such as a cash bonus or help with closing costs.
7. Neutralize your color scheme. Most buyers prefer neutral colors that make it easier to imagine a new home as their own.
8. Consider offering an increased commission or a bonus for your listing agent as extra incentive. If you do so, amend your listing contract to reflect the change, and be sure those details are added to the multiple listing service (MLS). Buyer agents will also be inspired to give your house extra attention.
9. If your REALTOR® has a video tour of the house, watch the tape as if you were a prospective buyer ... you may be surprised at what you see.
10. Fix lingering problems, such as the dripping faucet or the door that doesn't quite close right.
11. Clean and de-clutter-neat, organized houses sell faster than those that look too lived-in.
12. It's not about you. Buyers want to imagine their family in the house. If your house shows an abundance of your personality, it may dissuade the buyer.

There are many other things you can do to hasten the sale of your property, no matter the condition of the housing market. Make sure you consult with North Dallas Realtors TIFFANY SHARKEY AND TONYA PEEK 214-356-4472.

The right school

If you have young kids, buying a home near top schools is almost certainly a priority for you. But even if you don't have school-age kids, you may still want to make sure you buy a home in a neighborhood with good schools. Why? The resale value of your home may depend on it. The areas that we work Prosper, Frisco & McKinney have many schools that are rated exemplary.

There are several resources you can turn to for good information. You can find several online rankings by performing an Internet search. You can also access rating information online from the Texas Education Agency. Perhaps the best resource, though, is to talk with people who live in the area and pay personal visits to the schools in the neighborhood. Sit in on a few classes. Talk with teachers and administrators. Ask plenty of questions.

For additional information, contact the department of education in the city you are considering. You often can receive data on test scores, class size, and the percentage of children who go on to attend college. A Texas REALTORSTIFFANY SHARKEY AND TONYA PEEK AT 972-977-2254 who is knowledgeable about the area also can provide you with sources for learning more about the schools in the neighborhood you are considering.

Consider resale value when you buy

Are you thinking about buying in Prosper Texas, Frisco Texas, or McKinney, Texas? There are many things you should consider when buying a home, and resale value is an important one. It may seem strange to think about selling a home you haven't even purchased yet, but there's no better time to consider it. Most of us will not live in the same house our entire lives. Many first-time buyers expect to buy a bigger and better home later. Long-time homeowners often sell when they retire. So when purchasing that first home, keep in mind what factors contribute to the home's resale value, including location, features, neighborhood, size, and number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

Of course, you might think that what's desirable today may not be what's important to homebuyers five years from now, but they're good factors to consider when searching for a home. Remember, buying an attractive property not only will help resale value but also the time it takes to sell your home when it comes time to do so. Purchasing a home with good resale-value potential may take a bit more time and a little more effort on your part, but you'll enjoy the payback when you are ready to move on.CONTACT TIFFANY SHARKEY OR TONYA PEEK 214-356-4472 for more detailed info on resale value.

Making a good offer

When you've finally found your dream home in Prosper or Frisco Texas, making an offer is the next step. Make sure you're working with a buyer's agent, so you know you have someone looking out for your best interests. A buyer's agent will help get the best deal possible, assisting you with negotiations, paperwork, and the myriad other details involved buying your dream home.

When coming up with an offer amount, keep in mind that some sellers may get offended with an offer significantly lower than their asking price. Though their selling agent should counsel them not to let emotions get in the way, some people will see your low offer as a personal insult. That doesn't mean you shouldn't make an offer substantially lower than the asking price. Perhaps you think that's the fair value of the property. Just know that you may not hear back from the seller.

Many times a seller receives more than one offer at a time, and it's up to you and your buyer's agent to make your offer look as attractive as possible. After coming up with your offer price, you must also determine how much earnest money will accompany your offer. This money is used to show the seller that you are serious about purchasing the home and acts as a "good faith" deposit.

There are other ways to make your offer attractive. Talk with your Texas REALTORS TIFFANY SHARKEY AND TONYA PEEK 214-356-4472 for the best game plan for making your offer look at appealing as possible.

No major changes

When you're considering buying your first home, it's important that you don't make any major changes in your life, such as quitting your job, opening or closing bank accounts, or opening new accounts at retail stores. This could make it difficult for you to get approved for the best possible mortgage rate and could adversely affect your credit score.

You also need to realize that the amount of money that goes into this process is substantial. Many buyers' agents provide homebuyers with a cost breakout sheet to consider all items you will need to start paying immediately. This will help prevent bounced checks, since many buyers fail to move money from savings to checking accounts.

The cost breakout sheet typically includes the loan application fee, appraisal, option fee, earnest money, home inspection, termite inspection, and cost of a survey. Each item will have a place for a check number, date the check was written, and the date check cleared. There should also be a place to initial when you pay each fee. (If your REALTOR® doesn't provide a sheet like this, you can easily create one yourself with your Realtor's assistance.) Your Texas REALTORS TIFFANY SHARKEY AND TONYA PEEK 214-356-4472 can help provide you with more information about the homebuying process in Texas and determine how much money you will need upfront, so there will no surprises later.