Mary,
The ultimate scenario would be vacant and professionally staged. You have all the advantages of a vacant home, it can be shown on little or no notice. As professionally staged, you have the right pieces of furniture to "dress" the house in a way which to make it the most attractive and desireable.
The next best may be vacant with a few pieces of furnature well placed, then lived in but properly staged.
Whatever you do, follow the three D's. Declutter, Depersonalize and Dissassociate your self from it. I've written a blog post on the 3 D's you may find helpful.... more
Hello Mary Lan
The cost will vary depending on what county you are in and where you are trying to buy. Your agent and/or lender will submit to you a breakdown of estimated cost.
There are potential additional expense such as cleaning your home, making repairs, moving expenses etc.
Good luck and call me if you have any further questions.... more
12 Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Realtor
Make sure you choose a realtor who will provide top-notch service and meet your unique needs.
1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate — like many other professions — is mostly learned on the job.
2. What designations do you hold? Designations such as GRI and CRS, which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training, are held only by about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.
3. How many homes did you and your real estate brokerage sell last year? By asking this question, you’ll get a good idea of how much experience the practitioner has.
4. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market? The realtor you interview should have these facts on hand, and be able to present market statistics from the local MLS to provide a comparison.
5. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices? This is one indication of how skilled the realtor is at pricing homes and marketing to suitable buyers. Of course, other factors also may be at play, including an exceptionally hot or cool real estate market.
6. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? You don’t want someone who’s going to put a For Sale sign in the yard and hope for the best. Look for someone who has aggressive and innovative approaches, and knows how to market your property competitively on the Internet. Buyers today want information fast, so it’s important that your realtor is responsive.
7. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it’s important to understand where the practitioner’s obligations lie. Your realtor should explain his or her agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party.
8. Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, and help with other things I need done? Because realtors are immersed in the industry, they’re wonderful resources as you seek lenders, home improvement companies, and other home service providers. Practitioners should generally recommend more than one provider and let you know if they have any special relationship with or receive compensation from any of the providers.
9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? Having resources such as in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, and assistance with technology can help an agent sell your home.
10. What’s your business philosophy? While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the agent and determine how closely the agent’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.
11. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Again, this is not a question with a correct answer, but how you judge the response will reflect your own desires. Do you want updates twice a week or do you prefer not to be bothered unless there’s a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail, or a personal visit?
12. Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients? Ask recent clients if they would work with this realtor again. Find out whether they were pleased with the communication style, follow-up, and work ethic of the realtor.... more
Mary,
When you are interviewing real estate agents to help you with your real estate needs, you should ask for references. An agent’s past clients that are willing to share their positive experiences are a good indication the quality of services that can be expected. Also, ask your friends and family for references of real estate agents that they have had good experiences with.
Thanks,
Carol Perdew
Prudential California Realty
(209) 239-7979
Carol@PerdewHomes.com
DRE 985176... more
Dear Yabu,
The rental market is very strong right now Many people are opting to rent instead of continuing to pay their high mortgages. The townhomes in Fallsgrove that are now listed are from $3100-$4500. When you rent a home, and use a REALTOR to market it, you will pay 1 months rent that is split between both agents; the agent listing it, and the agent bringing the renter. The agent you select to list your home should have a strong on line marketing plan to bring the most interest. Further, be sure the agent you select uses a system to pull the applicants credit, and check his/her background. Are you going to manage it yourself month to month, or employ a property manager? I'm happy to discuss those options and more with you if you'd like to contact me directly. I cover the entire DC Metro area.
Regards,
Ariana Loucas,... more
Mary Lan, The state of MD says that a seller's agent (Listing Agent) can not represent both parties in a real estate transaction. If the Listing Agent has a written Buyer's Agency Agreement with a client whom is interested in seeing one if his/her listings, then he/she must dissolve the relationship of the client/buyer in order to "Assist" them. The state of MD does not allow an agent to represent the seller and buyer in the same transaction.
For a indepth explanation and presentation of Dual Agency for MD, please feel free to contact me directly. The state of MD requires all RealtorsÍ to discuss Agency ~ Understanding Whom Real Estate Agents Represent at the first substantial meeting.... more
Hi Mary,
I'd say hands down the experienced agent. You just can't learn the things you need to know in a class. There are issues that come up with home sales that you cannot learn in a classroom. Agents with experience know how to handle these complexities and see you through to settlement. Another thing to check for is the success in home sales in your area. Not just that they have a lot of them. Ask for a print out of their sales history that will show days on market and percentage of list price to sale price. Those are the numbers that are going to matter the most to you as a seller. Best of luck!... more
You can sell your home any time.It negotiable with buyers with tenant or no tenant.If the buyer needs mortgage you will get enough time to give your tenant notice of vacancy.
Hi. Sales data for properties in your home's price range and area will likely be considered by buyers and appraisers. I'd be happy to send you a list of recent activity for your area as well as the Long and Foster market minute report for your zip code. Thanks.... more
Hi Mary Lan,
Thanks for your question.
I’m sorry to hear that you are not satisfied with your agent. As mentioned earlier, there are a few things that you should consider. First, if you signed a buyer/listing agency agreement, technically you are bound until both parties agree in writing to dissolve the relationship. If the agreement between the two of you is beyond repair, I would suggest you notify the agent of your intentions to terminate the agreement verbally first, and then forward them your written notice. This is just as a courtesy, and so they are not completely caught off guard.
But before you proceed with canceling your agreement, have you discussed your issues with your agent? Have you identified your expectations, needs, and wants prior to deciding that they are performing unsatisfactory? If not, would you consider offering them the opportunity to rectify the situation. On the other hand, if you feel that you’ve exhausted all possible remedies, then proceed with terminating the agreement.
Should you decide to move on and hire a new agent, I would suggest that you go over expectations in an initial meeting (generally a buyer/listing consultation). This will allow you to express and set expectations so that it is a win-win situation for both parties involved.
Good luck!... more
Hi Nathan,
It certainly is possible to find a great agent without signing a contract. Just like any other service, you should be compatible with, enjoy the company of and trust the person working for you. How can you know that on a first meeting? It's OK to do some interviewing (AFTER you are pre-qualified for a mortgage) and see who is easily accessible by phone and e-mail, who you "click" with on the 1st conversation etc. Don't let anyone push you into any type of contract until you are ready. Have fun with your 1st time home buying experience!... more
No, not all mortgage brokers are approved with the same wholesale lenders. There are 100's of wholesale lenders across the U.S., some can be regional (like a few states, or the South East, etc.), some can just fund loans in 1 state, and some can even do loans in all 50 states or even random states that they choose. Each mortgage broker firm will determine what type of clients they usually work with, and which lenders they would like to be approved with to help out their clients.... more
There is high demand in King Farm. Look at the comparables, as there are plenty to review. Compare the home you are considering to what has sold and what is currently available.
By now, you probably placed your offer and it was accepted, countered or rejected. How did you do?... more
Unfortunately you cannot get your money back. An appraisal is an independent opinion of value ordered to protect the bank and ensure that the amount of the loan is not more than the value of the home. If that 3rd bathroom was in the basement (aka below grade) it may or may not be counted separately. It might just be included in the value of the finished basement. This might actually be a blessing in disguise. I recommend two courses of action (1) have your Realtor review again the comparable sales data on similar homes in the neighborhood. Did you perphaps over offer on this one? Or were you working with a Seller that overpriced their home? If NOT the you shouhld (2) request a review of the appraisal and have your Realtor and the listing Realtor review the data together to point out any errors that are noted. The bank will often send out a field appraiser for a second review. If the value is there you can fight it or request a second appraisal. If it isn't you don't want to overpay so look for another home! p.s. VA and FHA appraisals stay on file for 6 months so you'll have to do a formal appeal on those. Conventional loan appraisals do not and can be easily re-done. Best of luck.... more
I am sorry to hear you have not had a good experience to-date, this should be a fun and exciting time trying to find your home. Have you been using agents who know the area? Have you considered moving to Germantown or a little further out? Please feel free to call or email me with any questions or if you would like information about what is out there right now.
Here is a link to the HOC program website:
http://www.hocmc.org/
Good luck!
Melissa Barkalow
Realtor, ABR, e-pro
Licensed in DC, VA & MD
DC Real Estate
C: 202.285.9479
F: 703.542.3744
mbarkalow@comcast.net... more
B of A is still the same as a year ago...The Equator system is just as fast as it was a year ago, and if you stay on the negotiator (once assigned), you can have it done within 3 months, sometimes more depending on how many mortgages you have. It is all in who negotiates it for you. Get someone experienced and with a proven successful tract record.... more
Hello Gardner,
I would pose a different question for you? How much do you want to spend per month on your mortgage? i would suggest you contact a mortgage lender to see how much you can qualify for. I am not a loan officer so i would guessing how much you can afford and what type of loan would be available for you. if you need a reference for a loan officer. Feel free to contact me.
Happy home hunting!... more