Posts by : Tiffany Hereda

Fall is officially upon us. And while it’s important to take the time to enjoy the changing leaves, mild temperatures, and all-things-pumpkin-flavored, it’s also important to keep in mind that winter is right around the corner.

Fall is the perfect time to tackle the home maintenance tasks that will protect your home when the temperatures dip into freezing territory. According to a recent article from Realtor.com, there are six maintenance tasks homeowners should plan to tackle in the fall to prepare their homes for the winter, including:

• Properly store your yard equipment. You won’t be mowing your lawn in the snow—so before it gets too cold, make sure to properly store your lawn equip...

When you go to sell your house, there’s a good chance you’re not going to agree with what a real estate agent suggests for a list price.

It’s one of the most common issues real estate agents deal with, and help homeowners understand.

Problem is… many homeowners don’t necessarily see it as agents trying to help them, so much as convince them to do something they don’t want to do.

Naturally, you want as much as you can get for your home. And, you’ll certainly have your own opinion on the value of your home. You’re totally entitled to your opinion. And it’s totally your call to ignore the agent’s advice, and list your house for as much as you like… if the agent is still willing to work wi...

If you consider buying a new construction home, there’s a good chance you’ll question whether or not you even need to use a real estate agent.

You might even wonder if there’s an advantage to not using a real estate agent…perhaps thinking you can get a lower price, or more upgrades thrown in, if the builder isn’t paying a real estate agent their commission.

Or, you just might not give it any thought whatsoever, and stumble into buying your new construction home, without having your own real estate agent to represent you.

So, do you need to use a real estate agent when buying new construction?

Technically? No.

Should you? Yes.

Beyond Just Signing A Little Paperwork

One reason people...

Listing sites like Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, and Craigslist have become the go-to source for many buyers and sellers (particularly people attempting to buy or sell property on their own) to get information about the market, view properties, and connect with property owners.

But while most people believe these listing sites are a reliable source of information, there’s actually quite a bit of misinformation that can throw a wrench in your home search or sale.

Here are the three things real estate apps commonly get wrong (and how you can avoid them while selling or buying your home):

1. Not all postings are real

via GIPHY

One of the biggest problems on most real estate apps is that the...

Before you list your home, you want to feel confident in the market and the opportunity to sell your property at a competitive price. And in Q2 2019, it looks like that confidence is on the rise.

According to the most recent Homeownership Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) Survey from the National Association of REALTORS®, nearly ¾ of people—73 percent—believe that now is a good time to sell a home. That’s up from 65 percent last quarter (Q1 2019), a jump of 12 percent. The percentage of people who are strongly optimistic that now is a good time to sell is also on the rise, increasing from 37 percent to 46 percent.

The Takeaway

The jump in optimism points to favorable market co...

When homeowners are preparing to put their properties on the market, one aspect is usually foremost in their minds: money. Setting the asking price accurately can mean the difference between getting an offer quickly and having a house languish for months, drawing little interest.

With that in mind, it’s important that potential sellers block out a lot of the noise that often surrounds the intricate art and science of pricing. There are plenty of myths that may cause sellers to lose sleep at night as they attempt to separate fact from fiction.

The following are statements that can stand in the way of a successful sale.

1. ‘If we keep waiting, a better offer will come along!’

When sellers...

When you renovate your home, you want to get the most bang for your buck. Not only do you want to make your home a better place for you and your family to live, but you also want your renovations to add to your home’s resale value.

But what, exactly, are the features that will help your home sell faster?

According to recent data from Realtor.com (which analyzed more than 1 million single-family listings), the top three renovations that will help you sell your home quickly and at a prime price point are:

• A chef’s or gourmet kitchen
• A theater room
• A home gym.

These renovation projects were named the “most profitable home features for sellers banking on quick sales.”

Those three ...

When you hire a real estate agent to sell your home, there are obvious things you notice them doing to help your house sell. Things like: hosting open houses, bringing potential buyers on home tours, and marketing your property in multiple ways to make sure it gets enough exposure.

But when it comes to adding value to your home sale, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. A huge percentage of your agent’s job takes place behind-the-scenes, and they’re working around the clock to get your house sold — even when you’re not looking.

Here are 4 behind-the-scenes way your real estate agent is working to get your house sold:

1. Performing market research

When it comes to pricing your home, your ...

When you're looking to buy a home, you may wonder, "Does it matter if the property is listed with a real estate agent or the owners who are trying to sell it themselves?" Um, yes. It matters. A lot. The truth is: When it comes to signing contracts, handing over escrow money, and digging into the home's history, going it alone can end up costing homebuyers a bundle. The following are 6 reasons to avoid a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) home.

1. Are you sure it's legit?

via GIPHY

Unfortunately, scams abound and the real estate industry isn't immune. If you don't have an agent looking out for your best interests, it's easy to be duped. For example, would you know what a proper sales contract l...

Have you ever walked into an open house, or called a real estate agent about a listing, and within minutes, they’re asking you if you are “pre-approved” for a mortgage? If you haven’t, then you have never walked into an open house or called an agent. Or at least enough of them... Just wait. It’ll happen. And you’re going to feel like it’s pretty pushy for them to ask that.

It’s like a joke.

It makes you feel like telling real estate agents this knock-knock joke… You: Knock-knock. Real estate agent: Who’s there? You: Nunya. Real Estate Agent: Nunya who!? You: Nunya business if I’m pre-approved or not! Just show me the house, and I’ll get pre-approved if I even like the house. I can defin...

Thinking about listing and selling your home on your own? You might want to think again. According to the 2018 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from the National Association of Realtors, FSBOs (for sale by owners) only made up 7% of home sales in 2018. And for good reason! Not only can selling your home without the help of an agent cost you time, energy, and frustration throughout the process—but it can also cost you serious cash. In 2018, FSBO homes sold for a median of $200,000, a whopping $64,000 less than agent-sold homes.

The Takeaway

If you're thinking about selling your home on your own, you may want to reconsider. Working with an agent will make the process of selling your h...

Chances are, if you're looking for a new home, you're ready for a change of scenery. And while that might mean just a new property or a new neighborhood, for many potential homebuyers, that often means a new city. And if you're considering buying property in a city other than the one where you currently reside, you probably have a lot of questions about the process. Will you have to fly to your new city every weekend to look at properties? Will you miss out on hot properties? Is it even possible to buy without physically being in your city? Buying a home from a distance certainly presents its own set of unique challenges, but by no means is it impossible. Here are four tips for buying a ...