Real Estate Information Archive

- Make sure the front and back yards are neat and free of debris. Check fencing, steps, and walkways for any damaged places and make any necessary repairs. 

- As close to the appraisal appointment as possible, put down fresh mulch, colorful potted plants, and mow the grass. 

- The exterior siding should not have peeling paint, broken or missing vinyl siding, or rotting wood. 

- Make certain windows are in good working order, with no rotting sills, cracked glass, or peeling paint. 

- Decking and porches should be in safe condition. 

- From a distance, look at the roof for missing shingles or bad spots. Have any recent roof repair paperwork ready for the appraiser. 

- Flooring that is worn, soft, cracked, scratched or stained will deduct from the home’s value. Clean the carpets, and make repairs to any hardwood, tile, or linoleum. Use an enzyme odor remover where pet odors are present. 

- The appraiser will check the water pressure by turning on all faucets and will flush toilets, too. 

- Kitchen cabinets should not have sagging doors, and all should close completely. 

- If the odor of mold is present, it will be cause for further inspection. Clean the usual bathroom mold before the appraisal, but if mold is present anywhere else in the house, it is best to be straightforward with the problem and have it professionally eliminated. 

One major factor to consider is when you know the move is not permanent.  If you know you will be returning in a few years, and it may be a good idea to lease while you are away so you will not have to house hunt upon your return. 
 

Take a close look at the financial aspects of renting your house: 

- Landlord’s insurance premiums may cost more than a homeowner’s policy. Talk to your insurance agent about the differences in cost. 

- If you have equity in your house, or the money a sale will generate will allow for a nice deposit on another, you really should consider a sale. 

- Do the math--if you have a loss after all your expenses (insurance, repairs, property taxes, etc.) are deducted from the rental payments, it would be a better idea to sell. 
 

Take into consideration that in larger areas, there may be times of a vacancy.  Can you handle your current mortgage and rent or mortgage payment in the new place?  If not, put the house on the market. 
 

Renting may be a good choice if the house needs repairs or improvements to bring a good sale price, and the cost of those fixes all at once is out of your budget. 
 

Consider the occasional tenant that will not care for the property as you do. Landlord insurance will not cover normal wear-and-tear, nor intentional damage. 
 

Things can happen, and even good tenants are suddenly unable to pay rent on time--or worse, stop paying rent--and you will be stuck with the mortgage payment, not to mention the possibility of the costs of going through the eviction process.  
 

If you live in an area that attracts visitors or tourists, consider short-term leasing with an online booking company. Be sure you are within your city’s regulations for short-term rentals and consider the frequent cleaning costs and other risks taken when renting to tenants that you have little means to check into before they enter your house. 

- Every prospective property seller will receive a disclosures form from their listing agent.  This form should be filled out truthfully and to the best of the seller’s knowledge. 
 

- Most states want these items disclosed to the buyer:  lead paint or asbestos, previous repairs or additions, mold or water damage, pest issues, drainage problems, foundation cracks, problems with HVAC and other appliances, and roof condition/age. 
 

- The listing agent will be aware of all government disclosure requirements--federal, state, and local.  Transparency from the seller is a must at this point of the property sale. 
 

- “Better safe than sorry,” should be the homeowner’s motto when it comes to disclosures.  For instance, if there is a possibility that mold is an issue under the house, an inspector should have a look. 
 

- Disclose minor things that you have learned to live with.  Items a seller considers small--such as a rattling window on a windy day, or a repair made many years past--can be big things to the buyer. 

The disclosure should be ready before the seller accepts an offer--for their protection. 

- Once a potential buyer receives the disclosure statement, they should read it over carefully and without distraction. Any questions should be marked or written down and questions presented before the disclosure form is signed. 
 

- The added expense of having a home inspection is vital to this part of the sale.  When the buyer meets the inspector, the disclosure form should be in hand so each item can be checked out thoroughly. 
 

- Check local government building permit and zoning information to make sure any additions were performed legally by licensed people. 
 

- If negotiations about any disclosure’s issues break down, it may be best for the buyer to walk away from the sale. 
 

- In the end, doing due diligence is the best way for a buyer to find problems that will be a major issue after the sale. 
 

As soon as possible, secure the house:  check all doors and windows and be sure any valuables are safely stored away, preferably in a safe deposit box. Valuables now include anything that connects to the internet:  smartphones, tablets, and computers. 
 

Security is a must, and that could simply mean adding timers to lamps in different parts of the house to make the home look inhabited. Cancel newspaper and other regular deliveries, and have mail forwarded or check the mailbox daily.  Make sure the neighbors are aware of the death and ask them to look out for the empty home.  
 

Cleaning out the house may be difficult, and some want to start immediately after the funeral, while others may want to take their time.  In the case of larger families, set a date to begin, and have a plan in place so it is easier on everyone. 
 

Many families decide to have an in-house sale for items they will not be keeping. Set everything up in categories, and mark prices clearly; price them to sell!  If there is any speculation of something being valuable, have it appraised before you make a sale.   
 

If the house will need to be sold, contact Robbins Real Estate to help you get the house ready for the market.  Updates may be necessary for the best price, so be prepared to make changes to the home. 
 

On the other hand, some people have lived in the same house for fifty years, and never changed so much as the carpeting.  If you decide to sell as-is, your agent will know how to set the asking price.  While there are buyers who are specifically searching for a time capsule, they are not as common as those who want a turnkey house. 
 

One indication that you are running out of space is clutter. Totes of stored seasonal clothing stacked in the bedroom corner, or maybe you no longer invite friends over because the clutter is embarrassing. It is either time to declutter or move! 
 

Another sign to look for is furniture that is crammed into any available spot. 
 

If it is hard to walk through the maze of pieces you have acquired over the years, they need to be displayed or set up properly so you can enjoy them. 
 

Probably the most aggravating thing about living in a house that is too small is having to wait for a bathroom! Even a bath-and-a-half may not be enough.  It may be time to find a house with two or more full bathrooms. 
 

If you are one of the millions that are working from home now more than ever, your home office has probably taken over previously public space in the house. A house with square footage for a home office will allow everyone to get back in their own room!  
 

In today’s world, it may be necessary for the grown and flown children to come back to the nest. Have you changed their bedroom into a craft room or knocked the wall out to enlarge another space? Other than putting the wall back up, find a new home with room for everyone. 
 

On the other side of the coin, do your parents need to move in? That will mean giving up your own space so they can have some independence and privacy.  Purchasing a larger home with an in-law suite would be a better solution. 

Use what you have first. If you are already anticipating the move, hold on to any packaging your deliveries have come in. Stack them out of sight if your house is still on the market, or go ahead and pack non-necessities in them and hide them under the bed or storage area. 
 

Other items you have on hand to use: suitcases, duffel bags, trash cans, and reusable grocery bags can all be utilized to cut back on cardboard boxes. 
 

Produce boxes make great moving containers! They are very sturdy and some come with lids so you will not have to use so much tape to close them. Ask for them at local grocery stores and produce stands. 
 

Towels, sheets, and pillows can be used in place of packing material, and towels and sheets can be used for wrapping fragile items as well. Using them is a double win because you will have one less thing to pack! 
 

If it is within the budget, consider using an eco-friendly moving company. 
 

Already contracted with a mover? Ask them about any green options they have in place for your move. 
 

It only takes a quick search online to find a company that rents clean and ready-to-pack storage containers. Many of them will deliver them to your door, then pick them up at the new house when the containers are empty! 
 

Another option is ordering a moving kit or just the boxes from UsedCardboardBoxes. The company “rescues” misprinted or in-almost-perfect-condition used cardboard boxes that are headed for a landfill, and ships them directly to you. 

The typical amount of time before a showing is 24 hours, so take advantage of that time to make certain everything is spotless and neat. Cleaning and keeping the house clutter-free should be part of your daily routine, so a quick-clean should not take long. 
 

Making your house smell great can easily be overdone.  Appeal to the masses with light citrus or herbal scents. The more natural, the better. 
 

All valuables should be in a secure location:  lockbox, safe, or locked file cabinet.  Include personal mail, medications, and anything else you do not want prying eyes to see.  Some potential buyers look at everything, and you do not want your privacy compromised. 
 

Spot sweep obvious dirt on hard floor surfaces, and quick-vacuum carpeted rooms, working from the farthest point of the room to the door, and do not walk on the carpet after you have finished. 

Make sure the temperature in the house is comfortable.  Your family may like a cool home, but 70° is perfect for most people. 
 

If you are leaving just before the showing, turn lights on in each room, and open the blinds.  This not only keeps your agent from having to do it, but it shows the buyers each space in its best light. 

Will you be at work when the showing is scheduled? Go over everything the night before and plan on taking twenty to thirty minutes the next morning to make sure everything is perfect before you walk out the door. 

A home warranty covers what homeowner’s insurance does not. When one of your home’s systems or major appliances breaks down or is damaged from normal wear and tear, a home warranty will help you with the costs. 
 

Homeowners pay a monthly fee, on average $300-$600 per year, according to Consumer Affairs. Most service calls through the company will require the homeowner to pay a set service fee to the technician when making a claim. 
 

A home warranty can be purchased at any time, which is great for someone who is selling their home.  Sellers can spend a good amount of money prepping the house for sale, and a warranty will help considerably if something breaks down during the selling process. Warranties can be transferred to the buyer, as well! 
 

A newer home may not necessarily need a home warranty, so stash an amount equal to a monthly warranty payment into your savings account!  You can build emergency savings and have the funds for unexpected repairs. 
 

Research home warranties for prices and coverage available. Your Realtor® will be able to direct you to companies they are familiar with, and you can trust you are working with a reputable home warranty company. 
 

Current homeowners who do not have a home warranty can find a company that is registered with the Service Contract Industry Council. Scroll to the “Home Service Contract Companies” for a complete contact list. 

- Being pre-approved before you start house hunting is best, and a buyer agent will recommend a lender that will help you begin.  Once you have a mortgage amount, you will know how much home you can afford. 

- Realtors® have thousands of property listings at their fingertips! Once you let them know what you are looking for, they comb through those listings and find homes that fit your needs and wants. 

- Do you have any idea how to do the research for writing a successful offer on a house or negotiate counter offers you might receive? Your buyer agent certainly does and can save a lot of stress on your part, especially in the case of a bidding battle.   

- Your agent will schedule and attend an inspection of the house and will help handle negotiations with the seller to have the necessary repairs performed, have the seller reduce the sale price, or make concessions at closing. 

- As exciting as the closing is, it can cause some anxiety, but your Realtor® will have prepared you for what is to come and make sure all of your necessary paperwork and other applicable things are ready. 

- A listing agent will spend a good deal of time making sure your home is priced comparably to homes in your area by analyzing recent sales of similar homes.  Setting either too high or low can deter potential buyers. 

- Not only does the agent prepare and post the property on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), they will create a page on their website specifically for your listing, video or 3D tours, and market your home to reach as many house hunters as possible. 

- Your Realtor® will work diligently to get the best price for your home. Many agents will even go so far as to attend the appraisal and the inspection, warding off any misunderstandings about the findings in each. 

- During any repair requests, your agent will be able to discern what is your responsibility, and what is an unnecessary request by the buyer.  Knowing the difference could save the seller thousands of dollars. 

- While your house is on the market, you need to know everything that happens behind the scenes, and a reputable agent will stay connected to you, whether it be by phone or in person. Communication is vital to your home’s sale.