Real estate agents make great brokers. Take the next step in your career with Allied's Real Estate Broker License Courses. Be prepared to assume a management role in a real estate office as you oversee the entire real estate process. Receive a high-level of knowledge that includes advanced real estate practice, law, finance, appraisal, economics, property management, escrow, and/or real estate office administration.

In some real estate markets, the number of active listings dramatically increases every week. As a seller, how do you plan on making your home stand out among the thousands of available properties? Don't fall into the category of stumped sellers whose properties linger on the market for months to come. Check out these 8 helpful tips and maybe even get the fair selling price you desire!

1. Complete that nagging "to do" list - Most sellers have a list of items that could use a little polishing, or perhaps, an entire overhaul. Take the time to replace a ripped window screen, add a fresh coat of paint or replant colorful flowers. Simple touches like these can add thousands of dollars to your bottom line.
2. Get inspected - Pre-sale inspections aren't extremely common, but what a way to show hesitate buyers that your home is in top form, especially if the report is made available during open houses. On the other hand, discovering potential problems ahead of time will allow you to handle them without scaring off your potential buyer.
3. Get rid of clutter - Does your front lawn come complete with ceramic garden gnomes or does your kitchen table look like scrap booking central? If so, this suggestion is for you! Potential buyers want to imagine themselves in your home, but if it’s cluttered with too much stuff, it's an instant turn-off. Pack it away!
4. Create a neutral palette - After getting rid of clutter, a seller must depersonalize their home. Items like family photos or personal collections should also be packed away. A seller can benefit by replacing strong wall colors, wallpapers and other decorative preferences with a neutral shade. For example, maybe that pink carpet called out to you at the time, but it could repel potential buyers not interested in making the extra investment to change it. Your agent can provide the best advice and suggest a staging expert if necessary.
5. Clean like never before - Remember, you want potential buyers to walk in and instantly imagine their new lives unfolding. However, if the baseboards are filthy, the stove reveals residue from last night's dinner or the smell of fluffy the cat lingers in the air, your home may drive buyers away. Create a thorough cleaning checklist and perform each duty no less than once a week. If it's within your budget, consider hiring a professional cleaning service.
6. First impressions - Are you losing potential buyers before they even get to your front door? These days, most buyers are beginning their home search on the web. Make sure your home stands out by posting quality photos. Those important photos will capture your hard work at removing clutter, depersonalizing and creating an inviting neutral space that will surely intrigue a buyer to inquire further information.
7. Pick the right licensed agent - Working with an agent? Choose wisely! Ask friends, family and coworkers if they have any references for top agents. Do your homework, visit websites and find out which agents know your community best. The agent you choose should not only present extensive market knowledge, but must also be honest and personable towards all parties involved.
8. Set a fair price - Do you know what the comparable home sales in your area are for the last six months? What about the average days-on-the-market? This kind of data is essential to pricing your home fairly and competitively. Check out sites like www.trulia.com for estimates or consult a licensed agent who has access to market software.

Labels: broker tip, how to sell your home, Real Estate Broker

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Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 10:39 AM • 0 comments

Have you ever considered purchasing a home at a foreclosure auction? Sure, there are some hot deals for the taking, but do you really know what you're buying? Before making that mortgage commitment, you must do a little investigative work first.

Once you locate a potential home, find out as much as possible about its overall condition and estimated value. Do this by talking with the lender or attorney who is handling the foreclosure, or even better, the owner who is foreclosing. If no one can confirm the home's condition, look for another candidate. Why risk purchasing a home that could be infested with termites, reconstructed without the required permits or resting on a cracked foundation? Additionally, some home owners who are facing foreclosure may strip the house of valuable appliances, hardware and more.

If the condition of your foreclosure of interest gets the thumbs up, your next step is to make sure the property is free of tax or mechanic liens. District websites can typically provide you with tax information. However, your safest course of action is to consult an attorney who can obtain a title search and confirm the foreclosure has no hidden problems that could prevent you from obtaining title to the property.

Even when you do your homework and have the foreclosure investigated for warning signs, there are other factors to consider.

"Buying any property at a foreclosure sale is risky," cautions Benny Kass, a practicing attorney in Washington, DC and a Yahoo! real estate expert. "At the last minute, the delinquent homeowner can file for bankruptcy relief, which would put a stop to the sale."

Labels: foreclosure home, real estate expert, sales broker, short sale

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Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 10:27 AM • 0 comments