Got What It Takes To Sell Your Home? Here Are 6 Habits of Successful Home Sellers

Selling a home can be a complex and stressful process. Even in the best market conditions, whether you're a seasoned pro or a first-time home seller, reset your expectations and adjust your sales strategy accordingly to get your home sold for the price and terms you want.  This guide outlines six of the best habits of highly effective home sellers. However crazy the real estate market gets, you can adapt these practices—from being proactive in maintaining your home to having the right mindset—to help achieve your goals and sell your home at the best possible price. One of the best habits successful home sellers have in common? They hire a good, reputable realtor. Not only do real estate agents have the knowledge and experience necessary to help you with all the key points of the sale. They also have the network and tools to boost your home's marketability.   Even if you think you understand the complicated process of home-selling and have the talent to go the FSBO (For Sale By Owner) route, you must still be familiar with the laws and regulations of the real estate industry. Having a listing agent by your side to answer any questions, set the right price for your home, vet offers, avoid wire fraud, and negotiate deals on your behalf will ensure you avoid pitfalls and/or unexpected headaches. Successful sellers recognize what a realtor could bring to the table. You don’t go to war without wise guidance, after all. One of the biggest temptations when selling your home is to list it “as is,” which means the property is being listed in its current state without making any repairs. But putting your home in the market “as is” can seriously limit your pool of potential buyers. Aside from the fact that your home might not get the first good impression that is critical to a successful home sale, buyers might not be able to secure financing if the property is in poor condition.    While you might not want to invest a lot of time or money into your home, it's best to address essential repairs and prep it before selling. The cheapest thing you can do is to schedule a deep cleaning and decluttering. Then, take care of any necessary repairs and touch-ups, like fixing that hole in the screen door or refreshing your carpets. Be proactive in ensuring your home is in tip-top condition so you can present your home in the best light possible to attract offers, especially in a slow housing market. Setting a realistic price that aligns with the current market is crucial in securing a home sale. If the home is overpriced, you can lose out on a lot of potential buyers and lose precious momentum. The property then stays on the market for longer, and you will have to gradually slash the price. Buyers might think there's something wrong with the property and that you’re desperate, opening doors for them to present lowball offers.   Although pricing a home can be tricky, the key is to not let your emotions guide you in coming up with a pricing strategy. Instead, work closely with your real estate agent to perform a comparative market analysis on your home. They will look at recently sold properties in your area to give you a better idea of a fair price range for your home. When your home is priced right, you’ll attract serious buyers and increase your chances of a successful sale. When selling your home, it's in your best interest to stay open-minded throughout the whole process. Understand that the highest offer might not necessarily be the best, especially when there are other factors to consider. Broaden your perspective beyond the price tag and consider the buyer’s overall financial profile, the contingencies presented, and the closing timeline, among other things. Cash offers could also go sideways when there’s been a change of heart from an investor or a wealthy buyer. Keeping an open mind and a willingness to negotiate is the key to an effective sale. Flexibility is the name of the game for many successful home sellers. They plan for showings, making sure that their home is ready to accommodate prospective buyers and that they have somewhere to go during the house tour. They're also open to possible last-minute requests and are generally as flexible as possible, especially during showings in the evenings and on the weekends. This can help build trust and credibility among buyers. The more people can tour your home, the better your chances of receiving a strong offer, especially in slow real estate markets. For many people, pets are considered as part of the family. They probably have their favorite spots in the home, together with their bed and toys. But when it comes to home showings, it's best to not let them roam around the house. A potential buyer could be allergic to pet dander or just don’t like pets at all. Also, your pets could bolt for the door and escape while there’s an ongoing tour. The last thing you’d want is for the buyers to get distracted and not be able to focus on your home and its condition.    So take your pets with you when you schedule a showing. Since first impressions are critical, remove any signs of them and clean their areas. If you can’t take them with you, make sure to keep them in a comfortable spot in the home and give your agent the heads-up on what to expect.

Think Your House Is Haunted? Here's What’s Really Going On and How to Fix Those Spooky Problems

Something is creaking on the topmost floor, and yet you all know that no one's there. Why did your door slam shut seemingly by itself? Could ghosts be causing your lights to flicker? You love your home, but it seems to be producing a variety of creepy and unexplainable noises. Sometimes, experiencing only one or two things is enough to suspect your house might be haunted.   And since it's Halloween, it’s easier to think that there must be some supernatural connection to these eerie property issues. But before you get the jitters, chances are that a lot of these ‘hauntings’ and happenings have not-so-scary reasons as to why they occur. Here’s a look at some of the most common issues in your home that may be causing the hair on the back of your neck to rise, and a few simple fixes to ease your mind. Spooky problem #1: Flickering lights Are the lights in your home turning on and off at random times? It's easy to regard this as a paranormal phenomenon, especially if you’re home alone and need to go to the bathroom in the wee hours of the morning. But rather than ghosts or ghouls causing this unearthly scene, the flickering is most likely due to faulty wiring, loose bulbs, or fluctuating voltage.    In older houses, flickering lights were almost expected since electrical wiring wasn’t always up to modern standards.   The fix: There could be a dozen reasons why lights flicker, and many of them can be dangerous. You could do some minor fixes, such as making sure you installed the correct bulb with proper wattage or that the bulb is tightened properly. And instead of calling an exorcist, get a licensed electrician to inspect your property. Depending on the age of your home and whether there have been any electrical upgrades performed, you may have knob and tube wiring which can become loose or damaged over time, a defective switch, or an overloaded circuit — all of which should be handled only by a professional to ensure that your home is up to code. Spooky problem #2: Creaking floors It's the middle of the night and you’ve stopped whatever you’re doing to listen closely. It’s that creepy creaking noise! No wonder you’ve got goosebumps. But several potential factors could be the reason for your home’s creaking floors. The paranormal, fortunately, or unfortunately, isn’t one of them. Creaking spots are common on hardwood, laminate, vinyl, or even carpeted floors. The change in weather in regards to humidity and cold can cause your substructure to expand and contract seasonally.  Likewise, sounds that resemble footsteps can be due to the settling noises in the structure, which are common occurrences in homes with larger open spaces or attics. An improperly fastened subfloor can also cause creaks when you walk over areas where screws or nails may have loosened or possibly were not fastened correctly.   The fix: Hiring a handyman or a carpenter is your best bet to fix the problem. Since your floor joists can buckle and twist due to weather or settling, you may require joist bridging to help eliminate the twisting and causing further issues which result in more creaks. Spooky problem #3: Cold spots in certain areas Cold spots don't automatically mean there’s a ghost nearby or a spirit passing by. Cold spots are common, especially in older and multilevel homes. They may be due to insulation not being properly installed, is actually nonexistent, or was damaged in some way. Or it could be due to some gaps or cracks in windows or siding that are letting in more air, causing a cold spot or draft.    The fix: There are several ways to eliminate cold spots. You may add insulation and seal any gaps under doors and windows by using caulk or weatherstripping. If there’s an issue with your HVAC system itself, an expert will be able to offer solutions to fix it. Spooky problem #4: Doors that open or close on their own Whether or not you believe in the supernatural, doors that would slowly creak open on their own feel like a scene from any horror movie. Rest assured, it's only normal because as the house begins to settle over time, the door frames can become unlevel and out of plumb. This can cause the weight of the door to close or open on its own.   The fix: To stop being haunted by a door that’s opening and closing by itself, it’s better to bring in a qualified carpenter to align the hinge and fix the issue, especially if you can’t DIY. Spooky problem #5: Scratching inside the walls and/or in the basement Hearing scratching noises and scurrying at night? It can be terrifying, yes. But with the colder months just around the corner, the more plausible explanation is that there may be critters in your wall. Animals such as rats, squirrels, and even skunks and raccoons, can find their way into your home through openings in your crawl spaces and cause a variety of problems. Moreover, the bacteria from their wastes and/or carcasses can become airborne and cause toxic health hazards.   The fix: Unfortunately, calling Ghostbusters in this kind of situation isn't gonna help. Depending on what critter is involved, a pest- or animal-control service may be what you need. You can also mitigate the problem by investigating and sealing off possible entry points with a metal screen or wood. Clean your backyard and garage, keep your garbage cans clean and tidy, and make sure pet food and birdseed are stored in gnaw-proof containers.

5 Tips For An Easier Thanksgiving Cleanup If You're Hosting For the First Time

Thanksgiving is easily anyone's favorite holiday of the year. With each bite of the glorious roast turkey, spoonfuls of delicious mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce, and even a slice of pumpkin pie, we are transported closer to Christmas and the spirit of giving.    But with a great feast comes a huge cleanup, which many are not looking forward to. You may be all set and ready for the Thanksgiving dinner, especially if you’re hosting for the first time in your new home, but have you thought about the subsequent cleaning load?    Here are five easy and quick tips to make the Thanksgiving cleanup process easier and ensure the day’s more enjoyable for you and your loved ones.  

5 Things You Didn't Think You Need To Ask About Before Buying A House

Need to dig deeper into the home you're looking to buy? Asking the right questions — and not just the kind that randomly pops into your head — can help you get as much information as you need to put together a competitive offer. Likewise, you will be able to save time, money, and potential headaches if you hit all the necessary topics head-on. It’s part of your due diligence as a buyer, especially since this could be one of the biggest financial commitments you'll ever make.   If you're feeling stuck not knowing what else to know about the property, we’ve pulled together a list of some things that may not be so obvious to ask but can get you closer to finding a home that's a good match for your lifestyle and budget.     Utilities can vary depending on where you live and based on the systems and size of the property. Aside from your monthly mortgage payments, getting an estimate of your monthly maintenance and utility bills is just as important to ensure you can afford to comfortably live in the home.   Especially if you're a first-time home buyer, it’s best to learn how the home is being heated — by gas, electricity, solar power, or combination — and what the average monthly bill for each is. You’ll also want to inquire about water, waste removal, broadband, and any other applicable maintenance and utility costs. By breaking down information like this, you can have a general idea of how much you’ll spend and incorporate it into your monthly budget.             Have they overhauled the kitchen? Added another room? Broken down a wall? Installed a new HVAC? You'll also want to know what major renovations the owner has done since it will give you a ballpark idea of how much money they have spent, and what they hope to get out based on a project’s average return on investment. You can also check receipts from contractors to get a sense of what they paid for such upgrades.   But the most crucial reason is for you to guarantee that these additions follow local building codes. Any major improvements—structural additions, installing a new roof, any electrical and plumbing work, or installing/replacing the HVAC system—need to be done by a licensed contractor and be completed to code. Any sketchy renovations and/or mediocre construction can end up costing you money and your health. See whether the seller can produce a building permit for repairs and renovations that require one. If they don’t have the permits or if the work was done by a previous owner, you will need to double-check it with the local building department.         Owning a home means keeping up with its maintenance, which includes looking after each of its components. During showings, don't forget to ask about the age and condition of the home’s major systems, including HVAC, roof, water heater, and major appliances such as washers and dryers, stoves, and others.    Knowing these early in the process will help you factor in the cost of replacement when looking at the asking price. As a future homeowner, it’s a must to know if something needs to be repaired or replaced soon. Because the last thing you’d want is to find yourself in a situation where you need to shell out thousands of dollars to fix something that you thought was in pristine condition just a few months after moving in.   A roof, for instance, is a major component that’s also very costly to repair or replace. It’s critical to consider how much it will cost you on top of your down payment and closing costs if it’s old and needs repairs. If the roof has existing damage, the lender may require that it be repaired to approve your loan. So if the listing description doesn’t list the roof’s age, make sure to find out so you can avoid a costly disappointment later on. Additionally, you should ask the seller about the warranty information on appliances; requesting the original manufacturer warranties on any appliances or systems if possible. These will serve as documentation and will give you an idea of their remaining lifespan, as well as their potential replacement costs.       When choosing your first home, don't forget to check out the parking situation on the property. Will your car(s) fit in the garage? If you and your family have multiple cars, will there be room to park anywhere else on the property other than the driveway? Make sure you ask the rules about on-street parking to avoid fines or high insurance costs.    If you decide to throw a party, will guests need parking permits? How many permits are you allowed to get? Some streets may require a permit, which you may need to apply for. It would also be a good idea to visit the house after work hours and see how crowded the parking is on the street, especially if you live in a busy street which can be more difficult to navigate.         Are there rumors that the property is haunted? Had it been the scene of a crime? Is it located next to a cemetery? Did anyone famous ever live there? In many states, owners are legally bound to disclose if a death or major crime has occurred recently on the premises. You might not care if the house has a reputation or has any associated stories or rumors, but it's still a good idea to ask around.    There are what they call “stigmatized properties,” defined by the National Association of REALTORS® as any “property that has been psychologically impacted by an event which occurred, or was suspected to have occurred, on the property, such event being one that has no physical impact of any kind.” These conditions could give you room to negotiate a lower purchase price since a house that has some negative associations will often be harder to sell.