Once you’ve found the home that you want to buy then it’s time to put in an offer. Hopefully, you’ve done your homework already and you’re ready to make that happen but some home buyers may not have done that yet. If you haven’t yet started on getting everything that you’ll need in order there’s some information below that you can use to help. Also, you should sign up for my weekly emails with home buyer tips and info at the bottom of this article so you’ll have all of the information you’ll need when the time comes.
I’ll talk about a couple of common scenarios that home buyers may find themselves in when they’ve found the home that they want to buy. The first is the home buyer who hasn’t seen the home in person and the second is for the home buyer who’s toured the home and is ready to make an offer.
Do you really need an Open House when selling your home? If we lived in a world without the internet then home buyers may have trouble finding homes for sale. They’d ask their friends and neighbors if they knew anyone who was selling a house, they’d go to a local real estate office and ask which homes are for sale, or they’d drive around on Sunday afternoons looking for “Open House” signs in hopes of finding a home that matched their needs and budget.
We don’t live in that world. Every potential home buyer is looking online for their next home. Most get automatic listing alerts from 2-3 sites like Zillow and Realtor.com. The most serious buyers are also getting updates of new listings from their real estate agent. It’s pretty much impossible to keep a home a secret.
There’s nothing more daunting than not knowing where to start, especially when it comes to big house projects… right before you plan to put your home on the market. Tackling the long to-do list of cleaning the house, purging the items you don’t need, and organizing the ones that you do can seem unmanageable, especially on top of the whole selling your home thing but it doesn’t have to be.
Take a deep breath (really, do it right now) and think about the end goal of selling your home. Then, grab a pen and paper (or use your phone) and start making a list of every task. The satisfaction that comes with crossing something off your list is like no other, and the more accomplished you feel, the more ready you’ll be to tackle the next item on the list.
Are you thinking about putting your home on the market but you’re not sure where to start? Here are inexpensive things that you can start on today to help you get your home ready to sell.
Make the Right Decisions
Deciding where to start when getting your home ready to sell can be overwhelming. And if you watch a lot of HGTV you might be under the impression that you’ll need to remodel your house from top to bottom to sell it. The reality is homes sell every day in every possible condition, from homes that look like they could be featured in Architectural Digest to homes that haven’t been updated in 40 years and everything in between.
When deciding what to do to get your home ready to sell you’ll need to make good financial decisions. You wouldn’t want to make a $5,000 upgrade to your home if it only increases the value by $2,000, for example. You’ll also need to factor in how much time you have to get your home ready and your budget. A short window to prepare may mean that you can only tackle the basics. If you only have a week to get your home ready to sell you may only be able to do a little bit of organizing and cleaning given the time restraints.
Searching for a home is exciting. There’s nothing quite like the zing of energy you get from finding out the exact type of home you’re looking for has gone on the market or opening up your email to find that there are four amazing open houses this weekend. After you’ve checked off the necessary boxes and determined you’re ready to buy a home, it’s time to begin your home search.
The search is, without a doubt, the most fun part of the home buying process. It can get a little overwhelming, especially when there are too many options, so narrowing your options down by your budget, neighborhoods, bedrooms and bathrooms, and size makes the pool a little bit smaller, and more focused on what you want and need.
To make the search process easy, painless, comprehensive, and fun, I’ve rounded up the best resources, tools and tips to help you find your dream home.
What originally brought you to Philadelphia? Whether you grew up here, went to college in the Philadelphia region and never left, or moved to the city for a job, you know this city is the best. You’ve fallen in love with Philadelphia and have decided to plant roots. It’s time to take the steps forward to owning your own home.
Where to Start
“Where do I start?” That’s the number one question I get from first-time home buyers, and it’s a valid one. Buying a home requires an immense amount of preparation. Interested in buying your first home in Philadelphia? Here are the five ways to know you’re ready:
Homeowners face a lot of unknowns when it’s time to sell their home so there are a lot of questions. You’ll need to know how much your home is worth, how much it will cost to sell your home, how to get your home ready to sell, how to reach buyers, what happens after a buyer’s offer is accepted, and whether you should list your home for sale first or find your next home first. Here you’ll find the answers to 9 of the most common questions that I hear from home sellers. This is Part I of a three part series.
This is Part II of a three part series. This section covers getting your home ready to sell, leaving negotiation room in the asking price, and whether or not you’ll need to have an Open House. Part I of this series covers determining your home’s value, online estimates, and the costs of selling a home. Read Part I. Part III of this series covers what to do if your house doesn’t sell, what happens after you’ve accepted a buyer’s offer, and what you’ll need to know if you’re planning on buying a new home at the same time that you’re selling your current home. Read Part III.
This is Part III of a three part series. This section covers what to do if your home doesn’t sell, what to expect after you’ve accepted a buyer’s offer, and timing the sale of your current home with the purchase of your next home.
1. You Don’t Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression
Photos will be the first thing potential buyers see. Since home buyers are shopping for homes online, and getting alerts of new listings that match their criteria, the first time any buyer or agent will get a glimpse of your home will be the listing photos. Most people are perusing listings while they’re doing other things like standing in line at the store, riding the train to work, or watching TV. People will typically make a decision about whether or not they like a house within just a few seconds, often after seeing only 3-5 photos. If the photos don’t catch their attention they’ll simply swipe the screen and move on to the next listing. A professional photographer who understands lighting, angles, and composition will ensure that your home looks it’s best in the photos.
