| Buyer suggestions: |
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Get pre-approved prior to looking
at homes |
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Understand the cost and details of
your mortgage program |
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See a range in properties in price
levels you can afford |
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Be open to different areas and
home styles |
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Unless you have not a fiber of
"handy" in your bones, keep an open mind to homes that need work!
Understand - granite & stainless steel are really not that
expensive to install - better to buy a solid home with a good
layout. |
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Better to have your home under
contract prior to making an offer |
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Do a thorough market analysis
prior to making an offer |
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Best to have agent representation
when purchasing rather than working directly with the seller’s
agent |
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Know your agent - are they
primarily a buyer’s broker or do they mainly represent sellers?
Have their buyers done well on their purchases? |
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Consider elements such as schools,
transportation, but don’t make them the only part of the
decision-making process |
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Look over all of the major
components to a home (not just asthetics) when viewing - plumbing
lines, electric, driveways, sump pumps |
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Find a truly reliable home
inspector (good to get a few names) |
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Know what you’re getting into
prior to making an offer (if you have the ability - get estimates
of work to be done during or prior to negotiations) |
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Determine how long you will most
likely live in the home. If there’s a possibility it’s fewer than
3 years, then be sure you’re making a financially sound purchase. |
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Always better to rent than to buy
- when in doubt, again, consult a mortgage & real estate
professional! |
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| Seller suggestions: |
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All kitchen countertops clear at
all times except for a display dish or vase of fresh flowers (no
strainer in sink either) |
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Rugs & carpets freshly shaken,
vacuumed for showings |
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Clean any black marks/ scuffs from
moldings (AJAX works) |
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Polish/ wax floors (at least keep
clean and shiny) |
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Have windows professionally
cleaned (if they cannot be tilted in for easy clean) |
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Make sure all mail/debris is
cleaned from outside/common areas |
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Minimize & de-clutter. When in
doubt, just move it to storage |
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Stage bath with - fresh paint,
shower curtain, rugs, accessories |
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Accent paint where necessary (for
whatever reason, people really dig a red dining room - warm hue) |
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Any fixtures that look dated, but
not in a vintage, cool way, could be easily changed for very
little $. |
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Bed always made, closets always
look organized, less is always more |
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Keep air freshener on hand (Febreze
is good) |
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Bleach toilets and sinks
occasionally if you don’t have time for a thorough cleaning. |
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Stage your home in a way you feel
people would love to see the space (table on deck, candles on
table, cute bedspreads out w/ accent pillows, flowers and plants
are good) |
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Aroma - fresh-baked goods,
fragranced candles, vanilla is good |
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ALWAYS, ALWAYS - lots of light
(even if there’s a bad view- better to have light) |
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Faucets are a good, cheap fix too
- and Ikea has cute ones |
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New towels for display too |
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Music on for showings (soft,
classical, or jazz) |
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Keep basement clean, organized,
and paint floor and ceiling if possible (porch and floor paint on
floor and any flat white on walls, ceilings are probably not
important) |
