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Why Should You Own a Home?
Credit
Nothing helps you establish financial credibility like owning a home.
Independence
Owning the home you live in provides you with a sense of self-reliance and independence, plus a bit of privacy. You can knock out a wall, paint the front door, plant a garden, and keep pets. It's your home.
Investment
Unlike renting, each payment you make adds to how much of your home you own. Plus, every payment and improvement you make adds to its investment value.
Pride
Your home reflects your values and lifestyle. Owning the place where you spend time with your family can be a source of pride, enjoyment and satisfaction.
Security
A home can also protect you against inflation because the value of your home increases as prices go up.
Stability
Establishing yourself in your community gives you a sense of belonging, involvement and participation in your neighborhood.
Tax Advantages
Interest on your mortgage loan and your property taxes are deductible from your annual personal income tax.
How Do I Begin to Look for a Home?
Meet with a Real Estate Agent
Sit down with a Realty Trust agent to discuss everything, what you need in a home, what type of neighborhood you want to live in, what styles of home you like, anything that helps you achieve the vision of your future home. Your Realty Trust agent can help you by referencing a Listing Service that covers all properties for sale by area. You can then select the homes you would like to visit, make appointments and preview homes relatively quickly. Your Realty Trust agent will be happy to guide you through the entire process.
Newspaper Ads/Internet
Reading through the real estate classifieds in the newspaper or browsing the Web won't help you find all the homes that are currently available. They can be helpful, but your Realty Trust agent will have access to many more listings than the newspapers or the Web. New listings come on the market daily and your agent has many additional listing channels available to them.
Multiple Listing Service
Your Realty Trust agent should have access to the Multiple Listing Service if it is available in your area. The Multiple Listing Service directory provides your Realtor the following details about homes and properties for sale:
- Location
- Price
- Photos of the property
- Utilities
- Amenities
- Annual property taxes
- Current financing (when the mortgage is assumable)
- Number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.
- Listing company
When You Preview a Home
You may see many homes, so take notes as you preview homes so you can have a quick reference to discuss with your Realty Trust agent. Ask lots of questions.
- Ask about the community schools, shopping and transportation.
- Ask specific questions about the construction of the home. How are the electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling systems, etc?
- Remember to have fun. Relax and enjoy the process. Finding your new home can be a rewarding experience. You'll learn a lot about yourself, your likes and dislikes, as you look at homes. Have a good time.
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When preparing to sell your home, the key to increasing its value is to think like a buyer. There are likely many simple and cost-effective things you can do to make your house shine and ready for the market.
Getting Your Home Ready
Get the Buyer to Stop
The first impression of seeing a home is the key moment. Curb appeal will draw your buyers in, and the lack of it will drive them to the next house. Planting seasonal flowers and maintaining the lawn offer a cheery welcome and indicate that your house is well-kept. An inviting entryway will also make a buyer feel at home.
Make Your Home Look New
Faded walls and carpets can turn off buyers. Painting a room or installing new carpet gives your home a fresh look and will help you sell your home at an optimal price.
Let the Sun Shine
Open the drapes and blinds to let the sunshine in and make your home look bright and cheerful. Turn on the lights on a dreary day or in the evening to give your home a warm, inviting glow.
Fix the Little Things
Buyers worry that little problems may indicate larger hidden problems. Each leaky faucet and loose doorknob adds to the impression that the home has not been cared for. Tighten those loose handrails and doorknobs, fix sticky doors, repair any leaky plumbing, recaulk the tubs and showers. These small details can make a big difference when showing your home to perspective buyers.
Clean It Up
A clean, fresh, and tidy home is highly appealing. Straighten up the basement, garage and storage areas to display their full size. Brighten those basement walls by painting them a light color. Mop those floors and clean those mirrors.
During the Showing
Give Them Space
Leave your home when it's being showed to prospective buyers. When you're home, the potential buyer may feel like they're intruding and will hastily view your home. Remember, you want them to picture it as their home, not yours.
Keep It Quiet
Even though they may seem to provide ambience, turn off your radio or TV. Let the buyer and their sales agent talk without disturbances. Naturally, be courteous but don't force conversation with the potential buyers. They want to view your home, not pay a social call.
Trust Us
Let us discuss price, terms, possession and other sales factors with the customer. We are experts at negotiating, and it is our commitment to bring negotiations to a favorable conclusion.
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