Real Estate news

Before you actually list your home for sale. It would be beneficial to you to do a walk through of your home and look at it as if you yourself were thinking of buying. It would be even better if you could get someone else's personal opinion also.

   There are so many homes on the market that competition is so tight right now. That in order to have your home sell in a reasonable amount of time it needs to shine in it's best light.  In other words " Look it's Best".  You live in the home and you have grown accustom to the repairs that are needed and you may think nothing of them.  But to a buyer, they see everything and they are looking at what their dollar will buy them and they want the most for it. They do not wish to take on a new purchase that is in need of repairs when they already have to spend a big chunk of money, just getting moved in.

   If you as a seller will invest to get those tiny repairs taken care of before you actually list the home it would be of great benefit. First try walking around the outside of the home and inspect it thoroughly. How do the windows and screens look? Are the gutters or down spouts in need of repair? How does the wood trim and shutters look? Make a written note of everything you see wrong with the outside, and then look closely at the landscaping. Do the bushes need trimming, Does the privacy fence need some boards replaced, do the beds need fresh mulch? Look closely at the front door. Is it inviting? Could it use a fresh coat of paint? What does the mailbox say you? Are the numbers displayed clearly? Buyers will need to find you easily. And they need to like what they see, when they do pass by. They are judging the book by it's cover, as we all do. And many will not come in if they do not like what they see, they will just keep driving. Curb Appeal is everything. These are all things that need to be taken care of before the home is listed. Advertising that the repairs are in the process, Does not sell the home. It can cost you buyers. Buyers want to see a home that is move in ready.

   Next you need to inspect the inside of the home. Are all the Lights and fans working properly, are they dusted? Are all the plumbing fixtures and appliances spit shined and polished? How do the walls look? A fresh coat of paint can really sell a home. You do not want any loud colors. Your little girl may love that Hot Pink room, but your buyers will most likely not. They may not even have children. You have to stick to what appeals to the majority. Stick to colors that are neutral. I call it Realtor Tan. Because that is what we suggest to go with everyone's furniture. Buyers do not want to have to paint before they can move in. They may have never painted before.  Your home may not require paint, it may just need to have the marks cleaned from the walls, window seals and base boards. If your home has wall paper, what condition is it in? Is it pealing at the corners or seams? Most buyers do not even like wall paper, and they surely do not want to deal with the hassle of tearing it down. The design may not be appealing to them. Make sure all closet doors slide easily and are on the track. Replace any broken or torn blinds. Clean the curtains.  Have the carpets shampooed if needed. Don't just try to hide the stains, clean them. Buyers look under throw rugs, they want to see what is hidden. Make sure all windows and mirrors shine.

   Next you need to de-clutter the home. Get rid of everything that is not needed. Take down all personal photos. You do not want the potential buyers so busy studying who lives their rather than imagining their own selves living there. Clean out all closets. You should be able to open them and see the full width of the closet. Clean off shelves and organize. This includes the pantry and laundry room as well. Don't forget the linen closet. You do not want buyers to see that your home is busting out the seams with stuff. Make it look big and roomy. What is the first thing your eyes land on when you first enter a room? That is what they see. That is your focal point. Try to make it warm and inviting. What does the inside of your garage look like? Can you get your car in it? Well, you need to be able to. Organize that as well. You may need to rent a storage space to store your extra stuff in until you get the home sold. So you may need to consider comparing prices. But in the long run this will make your home sell faster, thus saving you expenses elsewhere, and bringing you the most profit from the sale.

   I know it is hard to look at your home as a buyer would, especially since you have lived there and become accustomed to everything around you.  I also know it is hard for friends or family to say what needs to be improved upon. They do not want to offend you. They care about you. But this is serious business. And it needs to be done and done right in order to make you a profit. It all depends on How much work you are willing to do, and how much you may be able to afford. But every home out their needs some work in order to make it more sellable. Yours is not the only one.

  I'll tell you what I'll do, and I will do it for free. If you live in Prattville, Millbrook or Montgomery, Call me. I can set up a time that is convenient for both of us and I will come out and take a look at your home. I will do a walk-thru with you and make notes of everything I see that needs to be done. And when I am through, you can take it or leave it, it will be strictly up to you. I am not going to hold back. I believe sellers need to know what a buyer is looking for, and their perception of things. Just call me on my cell #334-467-5727 and you will get an honest opinion.

  Think about this for a minute. If you were out looking to buy a used car, maybe for your daughter or best friend. Would you feel more comfortable taking a test drive in one that has the kids car seat, toys, last week mail, drink cups and trash all in the floor board? Or would you rather be in a freshly washed, waxed, vacuumed and detailed car? You see anytime that you have something big to sell that you need the most money from, It has got to be clean. And it has got to be done right.

How does this home sound? Just listed, Needs some TLC. Bedroom has a cracked window. Some Screens are missing, There is rotted wood at the bottom of the door frames and  outside trim. Bath room sink has a slow drip and the toilet runs. Needs paint and carpet. The home smells of pet odor.  only 150,000.

Or try this on for size: Lovely home in move in condition, freshly painted. Has great curb appeal. Well Maintained. Only 160,000.

Which one do you wish to see?

Thank you for visiting my blog, I hope you found it helpful. If you have a certain topic you would like to know more about just e-mail me and I will get the new blog on just as quick as I can. And if you like, I can even send you a reply when It is posted.  I am striving to be helpful to my readers. As always I welcome your comments.

Lynn Rawlinson; Realtor, CSP, ABR, Associate Broker

#334-467-5727 (cell)

#334-277-2411 (Office: Ask for Lynn)

fnd14u@aol.com   (E-mail)

  Are a lot of people bidding on Hud Homes, was the question I was asked this week. So lets talk about that today.

  Yes. Buyers are looking at Hud Homes for Various Reasons. Ordinary people like you and I with Jobs to go to everyday are looking at Hud Homes. Not to live in themselves, but to make an investment. They are thinking of fixing them up and renting them out in order to add to their monthly incomes. Companies like Aronov Realty and Century 21 and others handle Rental Properties thus relieving the owners of having to market, stress over lease agreements, collect rents, and just deal with renters personally. So this makes the job easier. You just find the property, one which would benefit you to fix up. And then hire a company to start the rental procedure. Then you sit back and collect your added income. And since it has become harder for people to get qualified for loans now, the rental market is booming.

The average person looking to buy a home to live in is looking at Hud Homes for the opportunity to have equity already in their purchase. Thus increasing the resale value. If they can find one in reasonable shape they have just made their buying dollars go further towards a home that is either bigger or newer or just has more of what they want. And they possibly know  people to make the repairs or do the updating for them at a deal. This giving them added value.

Hud Homes are selling. And the ones in good locations with relatively no major repairs are snapped up pretty quick. Wether you are thinking of purchasing for an investment or personal home there is plenty to choose from right now. You can search all Hud owned properties at www.hooksvanholm.com  and you can search all VA owned properties at www.ocwen.com if you are interested in any of them, just give me a call #467-5727 or send me an e-mail. I can answer any of your questions about the process.  I have the keys and I can show you any of the ones listed in the Tri-County area. I am an Approved Realtor by both of these Companies.That is something that must be, before you can place a bid.  If you are thinking about it, Call me, we will discuss it and see if this is for you. 

Please Keep sending the questions or any Subject you would like to hear more about. Anything that pertains to Real Estate, I will try to get it on-line for you as soon as I can. Thanks Again for Reading my Blog. I hope you found it informative. And if you have suggestions on ways to improve , I will gladly welcome those suggestions as well. Have a Great Week!

Lynn Rawlinson, Associate Broker, Realtor, ABR, CSP

Cell#334- 467-5727

E-Mail fnd14u@aol.com

Are you thinking of leaving the rental market behind and start building equity in a home? One that you can make your own and update as you see fit. Maybe Barbecue on your back patio, plant flowers in your yard? Now is a very good time. Rates are still low and there is Plenty of Inventory to choose from.

Buying a home can be an incredible big step for the first time buyer. Many of today's Buyers are very Internet Savvy. And are most likely get a lot of questions answered via the net.  But  as a first time buyer, most important, you need a Realtor that can answer all those questions and inform you of what's now and what's next. Your Realtor should really be able to take the time needed to inform you in such a way that you feel comfortable thru the entire buying process step by step.

Our Jobs as Realtors, are not to just open doors.  Not everyone will possess the patients needed in working with the first timers. Yes most qualified agents can get the home sold, but only a few have the availability to create a comfortable environment for you and make this an enjoyable process.

Not all area markets are the same. Most area's even within the  same state can differ drastically. So you will need to have local information. Do Not Rely on all the information you get from the Internet. For one example: We are not experiencing the same terrible housing slump that South Florida and California are experiencing. So it would be a major mistake to extremely Low Ball that first offer to purchase on that dream home you just found and you want real badly. That would most likely cost you that home. A Realtor can explain the Current Local Market condition to you and help you determine a more suitable offer. Information needed would be Days on Market, How long the home has been Vacant, Current area recent sold prices, amount of comparable properties available, and other info. to determine a more suitable offer price.

Rely on your Realtor. Inform them on what you need. And not just what you need in a home but your needs also as far as  financing and possession.  The more in tune your Realtor is about your needs the better they can help you. Believe me , no matter what it is, a good Realtor has dealt with it before. You will not have been the first.

The first step to take would be to contact a lender. See what you can be pre-approved for. Check and compare interest rates among a couple of different companies. See what types of loans they have to offer, find out which one will best suit your needs. If you need help with this ask a Realtor. They can point you in the right direction.

Once you have the pre-approval. You can then begin to separate the must haves from the wants to determine where to begin looking for that dream Home.  Your Realtor will try to find that home with everything you need. Price will determine if you get everything you want.

Try to look at your life from tomorrow prospective. Will anything change about your lifestyle in the next 2 - 5 years. Try to accommodate for that in your home selection. Maybe you do not need something right this moment but you may need it in the next couple of years. Plan for that now if possible. For one example: You may have toddlers now, but do you want them in a certain school district when they come of age? That is only in a couple of years. Or with the prices of gas rising, Do you need to be closer to your work? There is a lot to think about when deciding on a Home Purchase

While looking at properties, try to look at the major components that would be costly to repair or replace. Roof, Hot water heater, AC/Havc, Are there structural problems with the property? There are a lot of homes in the Montgomery Area that have structural issues. Do you know what to look for? Look for zigzagging cracks in the walls above or below windows and above doors. Do the doors close easily?? Check for major cracks in the outside brick work. In the older homes with wood flooring, is the floor seem level to you all the way through? Structural Repairs can mount into thousands of dollars. Do not be afraid to request a structural report should you see something out of the ordinary. Be sure to have this done if what you see, concerns you.

Check the landscape of the yard. Water Runs Down Hill. It is a good idea that when you find something you are interested in, to actually see it when it is raining, and again, just after a rain for water drainage issues. Then you will know what kind of water issues you may have to deal with before you buy. Look at the way a roof is designed, you may be able to determine if the home will need gutters. Where is the water pouring off the house at?  Not all instances will you get the chance to know this. But if you can and you have the time, Don't let a little rain damper your spirits in going out and looking at homes. That can be the best time to actually look.

Buying a Home for the first time is very exciting. But do not get so overwhelmed that you do not put enough thought into the process. Trust your biggest investment to a professional for all the help and incite they can give you in purchasing a home that you will be happy with.

 If you have a subject in particular, that you would like for me to discuss. Please feel free to call me at 334-467-5727 or e-mail at: fnd14u@aol.com

 or just comment below. I will get it on as soon as I can. Remember, if you want to know, others do too.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks ..............Lynn Rawlinson, Associate Broker

 Seller's have  came to me and said, " I have my home listed and it is not selling fast enough, Why?"

There is a reason for that. Let me ask you, "Is your home advertised sufficiently enough to bring a buyer? Is it made available to all potential buyers? Are you happy with the way it is marketed?

Can you find it in print in many local places? Do you have a sign? Is it noticeable? Is it  on the Web? How many sites are you on? I provide over 70 sites for my listings. How many is your home listed on?

Even if the home is advertised enough, and it still has not sold. It is what is commonly known as a Market Reject.  The Buyer's Market has rejected this home because it is simply more than they wish to pay for this particular property. Buyers know what a property is worth to them and they know when one is over priced.

It does not matter what an appraiser has appraised it for or what the home sold for down the street. It only matters at what price is a buyer willing to pay for your home.

If you can not or will not sell for less than your listing price, then you just need to take your home off the market and wait until property values have increased. And stop wasting all of your Realtors money and time on advertising something that is not going to sell.( At least no time soon)  Just a reminder, other sellers are in your shoes. And you will most likely be thinking of buying another one. So you will get a deal on that property. It will all wash in the end.

 Maybe  you could try putting it on the rental market, but remember you will have wear and tear to contend with, especially when the tenants have moved out and you will still assume any costly repairs needed as they arise.

If  you just Have to sell,  then you should know the drill. You have 2 options.

1. Lower the price drastically but not obscene, and it should sell quickly by gaining attention.  Or

2. Lower the price slowly and gradually until you get a buyer. This grasps every possibility of getting the highest and best dollar amount for your property. But this only works if you have the time or the money.

Either case will work. It is up to you to decide to pull the band aid off quickly or slowly hair by hair. It's your call.

This is the only way to sell it. It Hurts, but it is true.

If you are worried about loosing the home to foreclosure, That is another Issue. And Immediate Action needs to be taken. A Short sale may be possible to Help You. Talk to your Realtor. Nothing hurts your credit like a Foreclosure. And that needs to be avoided. You definitely do not want that to happen.

 If you have a subject in particular, that you would like for me to discuss. Please feel free to call me at 334-467-5727 or e-mail at: fnd14u@aol.com or just comment below. I will get it on as soon as I can. Remember, if you want to know, others do too.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks ..............Lynn Rawlinson