1. Keep it clean

A clean home will always be more enticing to buyers than a messy one. So, when you’re selling your home, it’s important to declutter and remove any excess furniture, family photos, and other personal items so that prospective buyers can envision their own family in your house. You want your home to look as big and as new as possible. It may also be a good idea to hire a cleaning service.

2. Stay available

You never know when a buyer may want to view your home. Ideally, you’ll have enough advance notice to prepare, but being able to accommodate a last-minute viewing could go a long way toward building goodwill with the buyer. Don’t leave dishes in the sink, keep your bathrooms clean, and make sure everything is dusted and well swept.

3. Don’t delay repairs

Anything that could deter a potential buyer from making an offer should be fixed before you start showing your home. Some repairs may seem minor, but these seemingly insignificant issues can really add up in the mind of a buyer, and in some cases, they may not see your home as worth the trouble of fixing all those little things. Don’t give them a reason not to make an offer. You can also leverage these repairs in the purchase price of your home! Making repairs builds equity, so you may be able to sell for a higher price that takes into account the value of the repairs.

Pro Tip: If you really don’t want to play handyman, you may be able to negotiate with the buyer to sell your home for a lower price, provided they take responsibility for any needed repairs.

4. Maintain a comfortable temperature

Now isn’t the time to worry about your energy bills. Make sure potential buyers are comfortable when they’re touring your home. If it’s cold outside, leave the heat on. If it’s hot, some refreshing AC will put them in a good mood as soon they walk in.

5. Keep it light (literally)

Not only do poorly-lit homes feel less inviting, but from a practical standpoint, they also make it harder for buyers to see what they’ll be paying for. Make sure you’ve got all your lights on and your blinds open to show your home at its best.

6. Keep your pets out of the way

Even if your buyers have pets, they don’t have your pets. In the spirit of making the home feel like a fresh start for buyers, keep your pets out of the way during showings if possible. For outside pets, an enclosed outside area should be fine. If your pets are strictly indoors, consider closing off an area of the home for them or leaving them with someone you trust for the day. And of course, make sure pet hair and waste are cleaned up before showing your home.

7. Be realistic about your price

Hear us out: Consider underpricing your home. Why? If you underprice your home, you’ll likely receive more offers from multiple buyers with multiple bids, even in the toughest markets. When you start fielding multiple offers, it could result in bidding up the price to well over what it’s worth. Plus, with rates being what they are in the current market, if you price your home too high you may get very few offers as most potential buyers are on a tight budget.

Bonus home-selling tip

The best home-selling tip we can give you is to stay flexible. You are, after all, selling your home to people, and people’s lives can get unpredictable. They may need to reschedule showings, negotiate on the price, or finalize the purchase later (or sooner) than you feel is ideal. Remember that you may be selling your home, but the buyer is the one who’ll be living in it for years to come. It’s normal for them to obsess over the details. And when it’s your turn to buy, we’re here to help with all of those details, too.

The best home-selling tip we can give you? Stay flexible.

The post 7 Simple Home-Selling Tips for Any Market appeared first on Cardinal Financial.

First impressions are everything, and a picture is worth a thousand words. These old adages ring especially true for home listings with professional real estate photos. In fact, studies show that purchasers actually care more about the pictures than any other part of the listing. 

According to the National Association of Realtors, 97% of buyers used the internet when searching for a home in 2020. Additionally, more than half of buyers found the homes they purchased on the internet, and 98% of respondents said photos were either “very useful” or “somewhat useful” in their search.

Studies show that not only is an online listing a powerful tool in selling a home, home shoppers actually care more about the photos than any other part of the listing.

The competitive advantage of professional real estate photos.

Since so many home shoppers either start their search online or use online listings, it’s important to catch their interest there first. What you show online should make them want to come see it in person. People have busy schedules, so make it worth their time. Think of it as if the online listing is the first date, and the tour or open house is the second date. A good first impression could lead to a second date. 

If you use technology to your advantage and hire a pro to get the job done right, it can be worth the investment. A professional real estate photographer can provide you with several options to help beef up your listing, including drone images and video or virtual tours.

It’s about quality.

If you want professional real estate photos, you have to do it right and hire a pro. A professional real estate photographer (or a professional photographer with real estate experience) will know how to get the job done right and fast. That’s because they have the tools, equipment, software, and most importantly, the experience necessary to do so. Plus, they’ll know how to stage the room, position the camera for the best angles, and edit for the best light. 

Poor quality photos will do more damage than you think. Even if you get them to come to your open house, they’ll think back on the first impression your listing photos left.

…And it’s about quantity.

If you think this is a quality-over-quantity thing, think again. When it comes to professional real estate photos, quality and quantity go hand in hand. Buyers want to get a feel for the home before determining if it’s worth their time to see it in person. A digital walkthrough, through either photography or virtual tour (or both), can help.

Having numerous high-quality, professional real estate photography shows that you were thorough. A handful of low-quality phone pictures? Yikes. Many buyers won’t even give your home a chance because you didn’t give them enough to pique their interest. A professional photographer knows this and can give you your money’s worth with a wide selection of top-notch listing photos. 

Bang meets buck.

Need more proof that professional real estate photos are worth your dollar? One Redfin study found that home listings that feature professional real estate photos sell faster and for more money. In fact, sellers who chose this route made an average of $3,400 more for their properties. That same study stated that professional photography helps homes sell faster than those without. 

Ready to get started?

Okay, so you’ve decided it’s time to bring in the pros. Is there anything you can do to help? Absolutely. To prepare for the photographer’s visit, clean up, simplify, and depersonalize your home. Home buyers want to picture themselves living there, so try to make your home as clean and neutral as possible. This will give the photographer a nice canvas to work with and should help the photography session go more smoothly. 

A professional real estate photographer can provide you with several options to help beef up your listing, including drone images and video or virtual tours

The post Sell Your Home Successfully with Professional Real Estate Photos appeared first on Cardinal Financial.

For home buyers and sellers, here are a few real estate tips that might win you points with your agent.

When it comes to what real estate agents wish their clients knew about home buying and selling, we’ve heard the pain points. This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, and every real estate agent will have different advice, but here are some helpful real estate tips your agent might tell you to help you have a more seamless experience.

Real estate tips for home buyers

1. Might want to get that starter home now

The market is highly competitive right now. And mortgage interest rates don’t seem to be getting lower anytime soon. To add to the mix, some homeowners are still waiting for the perfect home to float their way before they make the decision to buy.

Given the current state of home buying and selling, this isn’t the most practical mindset. In fact, it’s the kind of attitude that could keep people from homeownership entirely. If you’re serious about hitting your goal of buying a home, it might be wise to just get that starter home now. Then, you can either DIY and put in the sweat equity to turn it into the home of your dreams or sell it later in order to level up a house. Of course, this isn’t a decision to take lightly, so we recommend you consult your financial advisor before you think about buying a starter home.

2. The serious buyer gets pre-approved

Pre-approval is the part of the mortgage process where your lender checks your credit and verifies your income and assets with the intent of lending you a specific amount. This preliminary step gives you a clear picture of how much you can afford. A serious (and smart) home buyer will get pre-approved before they go on the hunt for a home—or before they enlist their real estate agent to do so for them. Pre-approval shows your agent that you’re serious about buying a home. And by knowing exactly how much you’re able to afford, it helps narrow down your agent’s search and saves both of you from wasting time looking at homes you can’t afford.

3. Be frugal well after pre-approval

Many home buyers start out with a very frugal mentality because they don’t know how much it’s really going to cost them to buy a home. They err on the side of expensive and pinch pennies. Up until they get pre-approved. Then, they find out how much they can afford, realize it’s not so bad, and go opening new lines of credit and making purchases for the house they don’t yet have.

We can’t tell you what to do, but it’s best to avoid taking on more credit card debt and opening new lines of credit until after you’ve closed on the home. For one thing, we know you’re excited to furnish your home, but such frivolous spending can get you into trouble later. For another thing, your mortgage lender will pull your credit again toward the end of the process. New debt will have to be worked into your debt-to-income ratio. If your ratio was already close to the maximum allowed by lending guidelines, it could potentially result in loan denial.

4. I can’t tell you everything about the neighborhood

Every home buyer wants to know about the neighborhood they’re buying into. It’s normal to ask questions about the neighborhood’s characteristics: crime rate, diversity, economic status, and so on. These are honest questions that every home buyer is bound to have. What your real estate agent will most likely tell you is that they can’t give out that information—that would violate the Fair Housing Act. But what they may tell you is that you can find out for yourself.

There are plenty of trusted websites with those kinds of statistics, or you can ask around and see what the neighbors have to say. Just know that, if you ask the neighbors, you’re going to get their personal perspective, not necessarily unbiased data. There are many ways you can find out neighborhood demographic information, but you’re not going to get it from your agent.

There are many ways you can find out neighborhood demographic information, but you’re not going to get it from your agent.

5. Ask about flood insurance

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the U.S. and, believe it or not, it affects every state. According to FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program, flooding isn’t just caused by excess rainfall. It’s also caused by “dams or levees breaking, new development changing how water flows above and below ground, snowmelt, and more.” And with the hurricanes and flooding we’ve had in the last decade, FEMA is making more flood map changes and expanding flood zones.

While this may be good and safe for homeowners, it’s also increasing flood insurance mandatories, adding an expense to homeownership. What might your agent say? Don’t be blindsided by flood insurance premiums. Asking about whether the property you’re interested in is in a flood zone should be as routine as asking how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has. The idea is to be prepared. If you know ahead of time that a home you like requires flood insurance, you have the chance to either prepare yourself mentally and financially for that added expense or pass up that house and find a different one to pursue.

Asking about whether the property you’re interested in is in a flood zone should be as routine as asking how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has.

6. It’s not over until it’s over

Read it again: it’s not over until it’s over. It’s not time to celebrate until final funding goes through. Even if you feel like everything is in your favor and you’re confident that this house is yours, anything can happen over the course of the buying process—even up to the day you sign. Stay nimble and don’t get your hopes up until everything is said and done. Your real estate agent will appreciate your level-headedness and you’ll be glad you didn’t pop open the champagne prematurely.

Real estate tips for home sellers

1. Make sure the price is right

When you’re selling your home, it’s tough to come up with the right dollar amount. You may get nostalgic and think about all the memories you’ve made there . . . and how can you put a price on that? When deciding on a fair price to put on your home, don’t trust websites to do it for you. Remember, those are just estimates. They can be helpful, but you shouldn’t take that to the bank.

Don’t get attached to the number those free online calculators spit out. Trust your real estate agent to help you come up with an accurate amount based on nearby comparable homes. How might your agent weigh in? Price it to sell quickly, especially in this competitive landscape. Although the memories you’ve made are priceless, the house you’ve made them in is not. It’s ultimately about finding that balance between competing in the market and getting the price you deserve.

It’s ultimately about finding that balance between competing in the market and getting the price you deserve.

2. Don’t skimp on staging

Among the other to-do list items you have to tackle when selling your house, staging is one of the most important. Though, mentally, it may fall by the wayside, don’t let it. Take staging seriously. There are a few key principles to remember here. For one: depersonalize and declutter. You want home shoppers to be able to picture themselves living there, not you. Make sure your house is bright and illuminated, whether by opening the curtains or turning on the lights, or both. Clean like crazy and make sure the place smells good. You want to appeal to all the senses, not just the eyes. Some say baking cookies a half hour before the viewers arrive adds to the experience because, not only does your house smell amazing, you get to give away an unexpected sweet treat that turns out to be a pleasant surprise.

3. Your open house actually gives me more business

Real estate agents get a lot of business via word of mouth. You’re not just attracting potential buyers who may be interested in your home when you hold an open house. You’re inviting people who could potentially become your agent’s clients. During your open house, your real estate agent will be networking hard, passing out business cards, and trying to make connections. You may be welcoming neighbors who might sell their home later or home shoppers who don’t yet have an agent. Either way, your agent has a chance to meet these people and possibly gain their business.

4. I’m not made of money

This real estate tip goes for home buyers too. It’s a common misconception in the real estate world that agents make tons of money. And with that misconception comes the idea that a real estate agent can just *poof* magically make things happen. The agent is an advocate, but they’re definitely not made of money. And while some home sellers (and buyers) may feel like they’re writing a big check to their real estate agent, the truth is that the agent is only pocketing a small percentage of that amount. After splitting that check with their brokerage, they’re then putting some of that money toward various expenses like the sign in front of your house and access to the MLS. At the end of the day, they’re really only profiting a small portion of what you’re paying them.

5. It may take longer than you think to sell

Just like when you were buying your home, keeping realistic expectations is key. It’s a competitive market out there, and even though in past years it may have been faster and easier for people to sell their home, it might not happen the same way for you. Do you have an ideal timeline in your mind? It might not to go your way. A good home seller is a patient and prepared home seller—and one that makes the real estate agent’s job a little bit easier.

6. Don’t let a low offer get you down

We know you’ve made memories in your home, and no price tag can do that justice. But think about where bidders are coming from. They’re not coming from a place of nostalgia. Their perspective is looking out for their best interest and trying to get the best deal possible. You might be tempted to think that bidders who give low offers are selfish, but remember your agenda when you bought the place. You too were looking out for your best interest and trying to get the best deal possible. Just like buyers, sellers have to be savvy and nimble. Don’t get offended if you get a low offer. Work with your agent to counter-offer or decide whether it’s a fair price to accept.

Did these real estate tips help you in your home purchase or sale? Share this article with your friends and family!

The post Real Estate Tips Your Agent Wishes You Knew appeared first on Cardinal Financial.