TIPS TO MAKE YOUR HOME SHOW WELL

 

Real Estate Home Inspections and Appraisals in the new normal

Even during the COVID-19 outbreak, real estate transactions go on. Buyers and sellers still

need to move, and the industry is looking for new ways to accommodate both the needs of

the transaction and, of course, the safety of everyone.

Many traditional real estate activities can be performed virtually. While no one is 

suggesting that a buyer will be comfortable buying a home they have only seen during a 

Zoom visit, they  can minimize the number of homes they physically visit by pre-screening 

these homes ahead of time through virtual tours.  

There are a few vital pieces of the transaction that require in-person visits, however. Among

these are home inspections and appraisals. Both of these professionals need access to the

property to properly perform their duties, and it leaves some potential home sellers and

buyers wondering if it’s even possible to conclude a real estate transaction right now.

While everyone should cautiously move forward according to their personal sense of 

comfort, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself, your family, and the 

professionals while they are in your home. Before setting the appointments, thing through 

the parts of your home the inspector or appraiser will need to access and think though the 

process. 

Contact the home inspector and appraiser and work out a plan together to keep everyone

safe:

• Communicate with them about off-limit areas, and what parts of the home they can

access.

• Have a notepad in which they can communicate what parts of the home they came in

contact with, and offer hand sanitizer and wipes for them to use before and after

touching parts of the home.

• Finally, leave the home during the appointments, and clean properly once you return

home.

Life does move on – if you are trying to buy or sell a home during this challenging time, it

might take extra effort. However, working with your real estate team, you can conclude a

successful real estate transaction amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Kristi Fenton 

Illinois Licensed Real Estate Broker

Swick Realty 

812 Hampshire St

Quincy, IL. 62301

217-617-9083

www.searchquincyhomes.com

Tips To Pay Off Your Loan Faster

Tips to Pay off Your Loan Faster 

For generations, homeowners would buy a home for life. Working over the years to make the payments and celebrating the end of the 30-year mortgage were great milestones in the family. Today, few homebuyers expect to be in their homes for longer than 7 years on average. Paying off a 30-year mortgage seems like an impossible task. Fortunately, there are great ways to pay off your loan which do not involve time. Here are a few tips for paying off your mortgage loan faster. 

•  Biweekly Payments – Work with your lender to determine how they handle biweekly payments. If processed immediately, you can save 8 years of payments on a 30-year loan. 

• Extra Payments – By making just one extra payment each year, you can pay off your loan 11 years earlier. 

• Refinance to 15 years – There are great interest rates available for mortgage loans. Consider a 15-year mortgage. 

•  Principal Reduction – Watch for ways to add to your monthly payment a little at a time. 

When possible, increase the principal payment you make. Paying off your mortgage builds wealth. Consider your life goals, including retirement. A 30-year loan taken out at 37 years old will not be complete until 67 – retirement age. The loan needs to be part of the overall financial plan from the beginning and making a payoff a priority with a few simple steps can add up to huge savings in interest which can then be used for better investments.

Your Home - Your Neighborhood - My Priority

Tips for Selling in the Summer

Tips for Selling in the Summer

Summer has traditionally been the best time to sell a home. Not only do many families take advantage of moving when the kids are out of school, but in climates where winter weather is unpredictable or severe, the warmer months make it easier to be away for showings. With more homes on the market, how can you maximize your potential for a great offer among the options? Fortunately, you can take a few steps to ensure your home stands out from the crowd. 


Tips for Selling in Summer:

•  Control the Climate – The first thing a buyer will notice when they walk into a home is the temperature. If the weather is warm and humid, it’s critical you keep the home cool. A larger air conditioning bill is a small price to pay for a top dollar offer. 

•  Let in the Sun – It might be tempting to close the blinds to save money on air conditioning, but bright, sunny rooms are always more appealing; leave enough open to showcase natural light. 

•  Extend Outdoors – Today’s lifestyle includes the outdoor areas and more and more homes feature outdoor living and dining areas. Regardless of your home’s features, maximize the impact of your yard with furniture, BBQs and manicured landscaping. 

•  Spring Clean – A fresh, De-cluttered home with a lighter, seasonal color scheme will be visually appealing to your buyers. Replace dark pillows, linen and accents with softer colors which make the rooms seem larger. 

The summer selling season is here. Make sure your home is dressed for success. Welcoming outdoor spaces and bright sunny rooms combined with inviting an air conditioned rooms will ensure you get the best possible offer. 

Have more questions or needing assistance you can send an email to me to help! Kristibroker@gmail.com

What to Repair in your Home Before you List

What to Repair in your Home Before you List

A lot of money goes into buying a new house so it is understandable if a seller feels hesitant investing even more money to fix up their current house prior to selling. However, sellers may not realize that some of the issues they live with everyday and consider minor, such as the hallway light switch or the kitchen sink that has plumbing issues,  may actually be considered major to home buyers.  These issues may even  prevent buyers from making an offer on a home or making a lower offer.  It’s crucial to keep your house presentable and in good shape before you list it on the market. That being said, read on to find out what repairs you might want to consider before you list on your house on the market.

  Roof Problems
A roof is one of the most important components of a home, protecting all that is underneath.  Additionally, roofs are major expenses to replace. Therefore, it is imperative to keep the roof well maintained and free of damage and leaks. Issues like water and sun damage, clogged gutters, and rotting will lead to bigger issues if not fixed timely. Tending to these items immediately will help prevent further damage and help present the home well.  Poor Maintenance Minor issues such as damaged flooring, paint chipping, and old carpeting can be easily fixed to give your home a renovation. Your goal is to make your home appealing so start by replacing anything that is heavily worn and adding a fresh coat of paint.  And these minor upgrades can be inexpensive because you’ll most likely see a return on investment.

 Plumbing
 Plumbing problems can result in minor or major issues and it is very important to take care of these issues right away as they can lead to further problems. Bigger problems such as water damage can lead to mold and easy fixes to leaky faucets can be replaced inexpensively.

Wiring Electrical problems can cause a wide variety of problems. Smaller fixes such as faulty switches, missing wire nuts, or damaged junction boxes can be fixed with a good electrician. Replacing a circuit breaker might be needed if they don’t match the amperage of your home. Some repairs are obvious to see and others aren’t so it’s a good idea to run a pre-inspection of your house before listing. After, review it with an Agent like me because I can advise you on which ones are the first priority.

Every property is different and each  home presents it's own individual attention before placing it on the market. To get your homes true value call me today to get things started. 

7 Things Buyers Notice as Soon as they Walk In

Buyers notice everything – good and bad. From the moment they walk in the front door, they are trying to determine if this is the right home for them and their family. If you have your home listed for sale, paying attention to what the buyers notice can mean the difference between an offer and a missed opportunity.
7 Things Buyers Notice as Soon as they Walk In :

1. Light – A bright home is inviting. Make sure you fill your home with lots of natural light or a soft evening glow.

 2. Smell – Nothing is less inviting than a strong odor. Even candles and air fresheners can be overwhelming. Less is more and make sure nothing unpleasant is lingering.

 3. Space – Remove any unneeded furniture and offer a spacious home which flows. 

4. Ceilings – Of course you can’t make your ceilings higher, but make sure they are free from water stains because buyers will look up.

 5. Pictures and Personal Items – Remove personalization as much as possible so the buyers can imagine their family in the home.

 6. Outdated Furnishings and Fixtures – If your home is filled with hand-me-downs, consider a professional stager. Old wall paper or outdated paint colors should be replaced as well.

 7. Dirty, Grimy Rooms – Most important, clean everything thoroughly. Nothing is less appealing than a dirty home. 

Down Payment-How Much Will You Need?

DOWN PAYMENT-HOW MUCH WILL YOU NEED?

    Gone are the days when anyone could buy a home with just a promise and signature. No documentation loans allowed virtually anyone to buy a house with no money down with just a simple credit check. After the mortgage meltdown, this all changed. Lenders tightened guidelines and down payments were back. 

But how much do you actually need? Must you always find 20% down? The answer might surprise you; there are many ways to buy a home with less than 20% down payment.

  

 0% Down – There are still two loan programs which allow one to buy a home for no down payment; the VA loan and the USDA loan.

 -The VA loan requires the borrower to be a qualified service person or veteran and the USDA loan is for certain areas under the Department of Agriculture.  

 5% Down – Conventional loans with loan limits can allow one to buy a home with as little as 5% down. These loans do have PMI (Private mortgage insurance) which can be eliminated when the loan amount falls below the 20% threshold.  

3 ½ % Down – FHA offers first time home buyers a good home loan for only 3.5% down payment. Again these loans have loan limits and PMI but offer a faster entry into the housing market.  

It's important to know that if you are buying a home with less money down, know that your mortgage payment will be higher than if you put more money down. The three drivers that inflate a mortgage payment are:

1.Interest Rate

2.Larger Loan Size

3.Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

Buying a home doesn’t always mean 20% loan. Although many lenders like 20% down payments but most first-time buyers put down much less. Just keep your eye on the fees. The down payment is not the only upfront money you have to deal with. There are loan closing costs and earnest money to consider as well. (we will get into more detail about earnest money in next weeks blog post)

It is tempting to go with the lowest all-in upfront charges when trying to buy a home. But the key to building net worth is to buy smart, especially when it comes to such a large purchase as a house. 

Lenders are required to disclose all fees and it's always a good idea to shop around with multiple mortgage providers in your area to get your best deal. Plus, the more you explore your options, the more you'll learn about the process. 

 If you’re considering buying a new home, talk to myself or your lender about your options.