<![CDATA[Miah Browne's Blog]]><![CDATA[How to Engage a Seller in Your Offer]]>There are still multiple offers on some properties. But by and large it is remains a buyer's market. If you want to make an offer on a seller's home but are concerned about being rejected there are some tips that can keep you moving closer to having your offer accepted. Here are my thoughts:

1.) Write a letter to the seller. Make it a kind, positive letter. I can tell you that as a listing agent when I get a letter with an offer that states the offer is low because of a laundry list of things the buyer perceives to be wrong with the house it is a complete turn-off to a seller. Often they just shut down and lose interest in the buyer on the spot. Though many sellers are interested in their bottom line, many are also sentimental about their homes.

Try writing a letter that explains that your finances/budget is limited, but that you love the house due to it's amazing condition, fabulous location for your and your family, great floor plan etc. Tell the seller why you like his or her home and tell them a little about yourself. You will get a lot farther with a personal approach than one that is seen as insulting.

2.) Have your buyer's agent find out what the seller is looking for in an offer. Does the seller need a quick closing or does he/she need time to find a home and move? Try to be flexible on your terms to make your offer more appealing.   

3.) Regarding home inspections, try to line one up before your offer is accepted. This shows you want to keep things moving along quickly. If you are handy, have your agent assure the sellers that you will agree to assume some repairs that come up that you might knit-pick at if you were paying a higher price.

4.) Speak to your mortgage broker if you are hung up $5,000 or $10,000 apart. A couple thousand dollars added onto your mortgage over 30 years could be just dollars a month. Chances are you can figure out how to skip that Starbucks coffee a couple times a month in order to live in a house you will enjoy. Try to keep focused on the big picture while obviously keeping an eye on finances.

5.) Save as much money as possible to increase your buying power. Sellers love cash buyers. It reduces the headaches of navigating the mortgage process today which can be tricky. If that is not realistic, try to put down 20 percent or more if possible. Remember more cash = more negotiating power.

6.) Use time to your advantage. Give the sellers a day or two to think about your offer and respond in a thoughtful, non-emotional way. Sometimes a seller who is able to "sleep on it" will come up with a counter offer that does not involve slamming the door in your face. If the seller does not counter at all, try resubmitting the offer at a later date if the home is still available.

7.) Even though it is a buyer's market, remember that successful negotiations are those that create win-win feelings. Try to figure out where your concessions will be and be tactful as no one feels good when they are bullied or insulted. Let your real estate agent be the buffer and approach buying a home in a professional, positive manner.



]]><![CDATA[Tips on How to Downsize]]>If you are considering downsizing and you are anything like my parents, you have kept a few too many mementos of happy times around the house - artwork from the kids' kindergarten, homemade holiday ornaments, family photos and so much more. One day it is time to downsize and you realize all of the "stuff" in your house has you paralyzed.

 

Whether you are in the process of downsizing or just want to declutter your home as part of Spring-cleaning, here are a few tips.

 

1.) Tackle all the items in your home by going through it one room at a time. Decide on a category for all of the items in each room. The categories may be “give away to family & friends,” “throw away,” “donate to charity,” “sell” or “keep for future use.”

 

2.) When you decide what is being given to family & friends, designate a day or weekend for them to come and get those items.

 

3.) If you feel overwhelmed by the amount in the "throw away" category, rent a dumpster by visiting www.dumpster.com. For shredding paper items, visit http://www.shredit.com/.

 

4.) In this economy it feels great to give things to charity. There are so many in need. Many charities will take clothing, furniture and other items.

 

Try the Salvation Army at http://www.use.salvationarmy.org/, Veterans of America at http://www.scheduleapickup.com/ or Big Brother Big Sister at www.bbbs.org/.

 

5.) If you are an avid reader like me and books are piled up in your home, visit http://www.gotbooks.com/ or http://www.surplusbooksforcharity.org/

 

There may be local stores where you can sell used books for a couple dollars each. For example, in Wellesley, the town where my local Raveis office is located, The Wellesley Booksmith has a used book saleroom. Visit http://www.wellesleybooksmith-shop.com/used-book-cellar for more information.

 

6.) For items in your "for sale" category, visit http://www.craigslist.com/, http://www.skinnerinc.com/ or www.ebay.com. 

 

Now that spring is upon us, yard sales are a great way of getting rid of items and making some money. You can also sell items at local consignment shops.

 

7.) Don't forget the power of free! Many people will pick up items you place outside with "free" signs or you can visit www.freecycle.org to post items that you would like to give away and people will arrange to come get them.

 

 

 

]]><![CDATA[Tips for First-Time Home Buyers]]>

Buying your first home is a very emotional experience.  A home represents security, accomplishment, a new place to create lasting memories with those you love and a sanctuary from the busy world.  Knowing a first home may meet your needs for a limited period of time, it is wise to shop with several resale factors in mind.  Looking for a home keeping in mind not only your needs, but also what will attract future buyers to your home, will ensure your success.  Here are a few of my thoughts and tips.

1.)  Take advantage of all that William Raveis has to offer (a bit of a shameless plug!) on our information-packed site, raveis.com.  If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you will enjoy the ease at which you can search for properties using Find A Home, look at sold property data and area information such as schools, and assess key comparables using our local housing data feature, updated in real-time.  In addition, enjoy our award-winning mortgage services and working with our skilled realtors! This will certainly give you an edge when you are buying that first, perfect home!

2.)  Buy with the schools in mind even if you don’t have children. You may have a choice of ten towns but purchasing in a town with a good school system is always a wise move. Read up on school rankings and test scores and talk to parents in the town you want to live in. There are many web sites to help as well, such as www.schooldigger.com.

3.)  Go for a neighborhood over a busy street or country road if possible. Buying in a great neighborhood will be a real asset when selling your home as neighborhoods appeal to a broader selection of buyers.

4.)  Consider the style of the home.  Classic Colonials and Capes tend to be appealing to a greater number of buyers than Ranches, Multi-levels or Split-level homes.

5.)  Check to see if there are factors that will impact the resale value of your home.  For example, due to all of the rain we had in 2010, more homes have been placed in flood zones.  It is not the end of the world to live in a flood zone, but the insurance can be costly and another buyer may not even look at your home because of it.  There are other factors like radon that can impact the resale value.  Having a great realtor who will help you navigate these issues is key.

6.)  Consider new trends that add value to a home.  For example, homes within walking distance of amenities such as schools, parks and shopping are worth more than homes that are located further away, according to some recent studies.  This is known as “walkability.”  You can check a home’s rating by visiting www.walkscore.com.

7.)  Speaking of trends, energy efficiency is another one to watch. Buying an energy efficient home (or even an Energy-Star home) can save you lots of money.  Future buyers enjoy saving on utility bills too. At the very least, when you move into a new home, have a free energy audit to determine cost-cutting measures.  Visit Energy Star’s Home Energy Audits site for more information.

8.)  Make sure your realtor recommends a very knowledgeable and skilled home inspector.  Buying a home with cosmetic issues that you can live with is ok. Buying a home with uncorrected structural issues is not

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