Selling in 2018? These 5 Tips Can Help

Have you been thinking of selling your home in 2018? If you have, think about utilizing these five tips.


Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report. 

Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale.

If you’re thinking of selling a property in the upcoming year, there are five tips you can use moving forward.

1. Declutter and simplify your house. Doing this is an amazing feeling. Getting rid of all the extra stuff you’ve accumulated is a great first step to selling your home.
2. Interview real estate agents. Before you make any major changes or move too far into the process, you should start talking to professionals. Also, all agents are not created equal. It’s important to find someone who truly knows what they’re doing.
3. Make repairs as suggested by your agent. There are a lot of projects sellers might assume would be a good idea, but some things simply won’t bring a good return. Many of the repairs your agent could suggest might be small details you hadn’t previously noticed.

Set your transaction up for success from the start by getting a pre-appraisal.

4. Stage your home. Homes that are staged professionally sell more quickly and for more money across the board.
5. Get a pre-appraisal. Rather than waiting to see whether or not the deal might fall through later down the line, get an appraisal done ahead of time so that you know you’re in the clear. Right now, one in four real estate transactions falls through due to appraisal issues. So, set your transaction up for success from the start by getting a pre-appraisal.

As a bonus tip: the presence of the colors red and yellow will subconsciously influence people to buy. Having red and yellow flowers in your yard, for example, can help you promote buyer interest.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

4 Unexpected Costs First-Time Homebuyers Should Watch out for

There are four costs that tend to sneak up on first-time homebuyers during the home purchase that you need to plan for.


Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report. 

Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale.

When buying a home for the first time, there are four unexpected costs you might not be aware of but must be prepared for.

The first is the home inspection cost. Paying for a home inspection is money well spent. The cost of one can depend on the size of the house, but you can expect to pay around $400, give or take. During the inspection, a professional home inspector will check the systems, appliances, and structure of your home thoroughly. This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the home you will possibly be owning.

The next cost is your earnest money deposit. This doesn’t represent any additional money you have to come up with—it can be credited to your down payment. However, it is due up front, so make sure you have that sum prepared once your offer’s been accepted. The size of your earnest money deposit depends on the value of the home, but $1,500 is a good amount to expect to pay.

Don’t forget about these costs when buying a home.

The third cost is potential moving costs. Depending on how far you’re moving, this cost can add up, especially if you’re using a U-haul vehicle or a moving company.

Finally, you have first-year surprise expenses. Within your first year of homeownership, there’s a very real likelihood you’ll have some surprise expenses pop up. This is why I recommend having an emergency fund in place just in case. Dave Ramsey—whom we’re endorsed by here in the greater Tacoma area—can serve as a great reference for how to set up an emergency fund and create financial stability in your life.

Additionally, while we’re on the topic of expenses, you should know that what’s even more expensive than any of these costs is paying your landlord’s mortgage. Locally, it’s more affordable to own a home than it is to rent one.

If you have any more questions about the unexpected costs of buying a home or you’re interested in buying a home in our area, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help set you on the path toward homeownership.