by Ashley Hammons | Feb 24, 2016 | Real Estate Agent
Do you have the right agent?
Choosing the right real estate agent can be detrimental to the sale of your home.In this market, there are A LOT of agents who sell real estate. Some of them are smart, efficient, focused, versatile and willing to go the extra mile. And some of them aren’t. How do you know who is the right real estate agent to sell YOUR home? An agent who is local is usually an area expert, but are they motivated to sell YOUR home?
Here are some questions to ask:
MARKETING
The days of agents just putting a For Sale sign in the yard and hoping for the best are gone. Look for an agent who does aggressive and innovative marketing, especially on the Internet. All MLS systems syndicate with 1000’s of websites BUT how is your agent going to make your house stick out, what creative marketing are they going to do to get buyers to look at your home?
- What is your marketing strategy?
- How do you go above and beyond for me?
- How is your marketing different from other agents?
- Do you use social networking sites to promote your listings?
NUMBERS
Numbers are important when selecting the right agent. Do you want a new agent, who only has your home listed and is very motivated for their first sale? Do you want a seasoned agent who already has a clientele built up, and can sell a home with their eyes closed?
- How long have you been an agent?
- How many homes did you sell last year?
- What is your ratio of sales price vs. asking price?
COMMUNICATION
Communication is vital when working with a real estate agent. If you want weekly updates, don’t choose an agent who plans to contact you only if there’s an offer. You want an agent who answers their phone or promptly returns phone calls. If you can’t get ahold of your agent, how do you think buyers can?
- Does the agent use text messaging or email communication?
- If you miss a call from me how quickly do you respond?
- Do you have a backup if you are unavailable?
- Do you have someone who can still help answer questions?
REFERENCES
Last but not least, CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH REFERENCES? Look on trulia.com, Realtor.com, or other real estate websites for reviews. Ask around, ask your friends who they would recommend. When speaking to an agent ask them if they have any references or any reference letters?
Feel free to ask any of our real estate agents detailed questions about their experience and skills to help you with any home buying or home selling needs.
References:
http://members.houselogic.com/articles/find-best-real-estate-agent-sell-your-house/preview/#ixzz3C5CRQZTI
http://www.frontdoor.com/real-estate/how-to-choose-a-great-listing-agent
by Ashley Hammons | Feb 24, 2016 | Buying a Home
REO or real estate owned is when a foreclosed home does not sell at auction, the property turns into a real estate owned property. Then it is placed back on the market for resale to the public. Real estate owned or REO is a term used to describe a class of property owned by a lender. Which is typically a bank, government agency, or government loan insurer.
Give REO Properties a Chance
For a number of reasons, real estate owned properties are a better option for homebuyers or investors than foreclosed homes. Just like foreclosed homes, REO properties are in poor condition. However, unlike foreclosures, REO properties are maintained until the sale of the home. Maintenance like basic yard-work, locking up the property, and repairing leaky roofs are common. Along with general maintenance, homebuyers are also allowed to tour the property. You also have the chance to hire a professional appraisal performed before making an offer. Taking advantage of the appraisal option will also help with the negotiation process between your real estate agent and the bank. If these benefits weren’t enough to persuade you to purchase an REO property, then consider this, they are often cheaper than market value because the banks want them off of their books as soon as possible.
If you think you might be interested in an REO property, contact the agents at, AT Home Texas Real Estate.
Real estate owned properties are priced to sell! Anyone can purchase an REO property. The difficulty comes when trying to contact the person at the bank who is responsible for selling the lender-owned home. The professionals at, AT Home Texas Real Estate, are eager to help you find the right home. If you are excited about the opportunity to take a home that is in rough shape and turn it into your dream home for a fraction of the price, call us today!
by Ashley Hammons | Nov 12, 2015 | Selling your home
Putting your home on the market can be extremely stressful. You are opening your home to strangers hoping one of them will love your home as much as you have. Preparing to sell your home is overwhelming and it is hard to know where to start, so we have created a list of 7 affordable steps to help you sell your home.
1. Replace Burnt out light bulbs
Maximize the lighting in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer says that they want in a home. Take down the dark, heavy drapes, clean the windows, increase the wattage of your light bulbs, replace light bulbs that have burned out and open the blinds. Replace any dated light fixtures ASAP. How can you tell if it has to go? If it’s over 15 years old and looks it vintage (yet it isn’t a vintage, 50-75 years old or antique piece), it should probably go. Local home improvement stores or even yard sales usually have cheap updated lighting fixtures. Do these necessary steps to make your house feel more bright and cheery; it will make a huge difference in your home’s ability to sell.
2. De-clutter
One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. When a buyer sees your family pictures hanging on the wall, it is harder for them to imagine their family in your home. The more personal items in your house, the less potential buyers can see themselves living there. Get rid of at least one-third of your stuff, put it in storage if you must. De-personalizing includes family photos, memorabilia collections, and personal keepsakes.
3. Empty Your Closets
Storage is something every buyer has on their wish list. So they will be looking in closets and cabinets making sure their stuff will fit, be sure to keep them clean and tidy. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what’s left in there. Pare your wardrobes down to what you’re actually wearing this season, pack away the rest or donate it to a local charity.
4. Display Important Documents
Buyers are always curious as to how much the utility bills are in a house, to better calculate their monthly expenses. A floor plan and house plan will also give buyers valuable information about your home and will set you apart from the competition. Place Manuals or information about any recent appliance purchases next to the items. For example: if you recently replaced your dishwasher, put that information right next to your dishwasher. For buyers, it’s comforting to know that it has a 5-year warranty and it was replaced only a few months ago.
5. Conceal the animals
You might think a cute cuddly dog would help warm the hearts of potential buyers, but you’d be wrong. Not everybody is an animal lover. Buyers don’t want to walk into your home and smell an animal or litter box. If they see a bowl full of dog food or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes, it will give buyers the impression that your house is unclean. If you can’t take animals with you, be sure to put them outside or in kennels. Buyers don’t want animals jumping on them or rubbing up against them.
6. Always be ready to show
Don’t leave dishes in the sink or dirty clothes in a pile, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies or cob-webs in the corners. Your house needs to be “show-ready” at all times – you never know when THAT buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to have the home available whenever a buyer wants to see the place, and it has to be in tip-top shape. Being prepared at all times is a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold quicker.
7. Put up mirrors
Make small rooms appear bigger and dark rooms seem brighter by adding an attractive wall mirror. Mirrors give depth and make a room look bigger. They reflect natural and artificial light, making a room brighter during the day and night. Placing a mirror near a window to reflect the outdoors is especially useful, it will bring in the outside light.
