Dean Graziosi

Deciding to sell your home is one of the biggest decisions you can make.  Many buyers today are looking for homes that are move in ready.  If your home is need of some repairs, you may want to make then to ensure that your home doesn’t sit on the market for months.  The more appealing your home is to potential buyers the faster you will be able to sell it.  Below are some helpful tips that can help you sell your home quickly.

• Hire An Inspector – Hiring an inspector to perform a pre-sale inspection will show you any problem areas that can stop a sale down the road.  The inspector will provide you with a list of problems that you may want to fix before listing your home.  The inspection will also alert you to problems that a buyer’s inspector may find later, it is better to be proactive and take care of the problems now rather than later when it may cost you a sale.
• Get Estimates – If your inspection shows some problems that may be above your skill level to repair you should get estimates from contractors who can properly fix the problems.  If you decide to list your home for sale without making the repairs, the estimates you obtained can help the buyer determine if it is in their budget to make them in addition to purchasing your home.  During this time you should also locate instruction manuals, warranties and guarantees for any appliances that you are including in the sale as well as air conditioning units and furnaces.
• Fix The Minor Stuff – If your home is need of some minor repairs that will likely improve the chances of it selling you should make them.  It is recommended that you take care of as many minor problems as you can.  These can include fixing loose drain pipes, torn screens, doors that stick and leaky faucets. 
• Remove The Clutter – You should remove all of the clutter that is commonly found on countertops and tables.  You should also empty your closets of items that are not currently in use.  By providing buyers with a clutter free home it will be easier for them to imagine their belongings in the home.
• Clean The House – While this may seem like a natural thing to do when selling your home you would be surprised by how many people don’t do it.  Presenting a clean house will make a strong first impression that you have taken good care of your home.  This should include washing the windows, shampooing carpets and drapes, cleaning the light fixtures and baseboards.  You should also clean the floors well and go over all of the appliances. 

Buyers like to look at homes that are appealing; by performing some of these steps you will greatly increase the odds of your home selling quickly.

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Buying a home can be an expensive venture, and there is no doubt that anyone preparing to purchase their first home understands this fact. However, most first time home buyers are not aware of all of the up front costs of buying a home. They know there is a down payment and something called closing costs, but what those costs are and how much they might be are beyond them. In addition, there are other up front costs to buying a home that many first time home buyers are completely unaware of until they get involved in the process. It is important to understand all of the costs associated with this type of investment so you can be prepared and have enough funds on hand to cover all of the expenses.

Of course, the biggest up front cost you will have is your down payment. The down payment is usually a minimum of three to five percent. You can opt to make a larger down payment of ten or twenty percent to get a lower interest rate or better terms. So, if you are buying a home worth $200,000, your down payment will be around ten grand.

The next bit of costs that everyone seems to hear about but barely understand is closing costs. Closing costs are costs associated with getting the loan to buy the house. These fees vary depending on the lender and the terms of your loan. There is really no way to know exactly what fees will be associated with the closing costs until you are involved in the process. All of the closing costs will be disclosed to you before the finalization of the sale. Additionally, closing costs must be paid before the sale is final.

There are a few other fees that you should also be prepared for. You will have to get an appraisal, a home inspection, a credit check, and a title check. All of these services come with a fee. In addition, you have to get insurance on the home prior to the closing of the sale, which means more out of pocket funds.

Altogether, between these fees and the closing costs, the cost of buying a home can add up quickly and catch a new home buyer off guard. It is important to be prepared for all of these costs. To be prepared for closing costs and other fees, you should have about two to four percent of the purchase price of the house for closing costs and other up front costs. So if you are buying that $200,000 home, you will want at least four thousand dollars saved up for the other up front costs of the home purchase. 

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The android smart phone is ubiquitous. It seems everyone is upgrading their older model phones so they can carry the newest technology in their pocket. And people are getting smarter about how they use their smart phones. While games will always remain a hot product, eventually people have to get back to work and focus on the task at hand. And when that task includes buying a home, here are some suggestions for the top real-estate related apps.

Glossary Real Estate Terms: This application will be useful by anyone who is involved with a real estate transaction. It is a comprehensive dictionary of real estate terms that is easily accessible. (Cost: Free)

Housing Loan Calculator: Trying to figure out what payments on a mortgage will be is easier for people with this app. Users can check their estimated monthly mortgage rate at any point in the buying or negotiating process. Use this app to help you configure the cost of a home mortgage. (Cost: Free)

Realtor.com: With this app, users can quickly find available houses in their area. It is updated every 15 minutes if the user has an active data connection. Houses viewed on the app can be saved and viewed later on a computer. (Cost: Free)

Google Maps: A priceless app that does not cost a penny! For people who get lost easily this app can point you in the right direction quickly. The interface is simple to use, especially for users accustomed to using Google Maps online. (Cost: Free)

Craiglist: It might not seem an obvious app to be included on a real estate list, but since Craig’s List includes home listings, it is a perfect fit. Utilize this app for finding homes that are not on a real estate agents radar. And then, once the house has been bought, app users can search for appliances and furniture to fill the house. (Cost: Free)

Real Estate by Smarter Agent: At first glance this looks like just another app for finding homes for sale. However, this app is set apart by the ability to search for sold homes as well. It is helpful to know what the neighborhood’s average sold home price is before an offer is made. (Cost: Free)

USHud Property Search: A free listing of foreclosures that one can browse on the go. Sounds good! Find distressed or ROI properties that might be available for a quick sale or a short sale. (Cost: Free)

There are other free Android real estate apps available and just as consumer should be smart when they shop for a home, so should they be smart when they download apps. Always check the current ratings and optimizations for each app to be sure it will work with the intended phone.

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