Our local TV station went out and talked with 86 burglars and asked them what they look for when they broke into homes. The couple of take-away points that they said really deters burglars are: Leave the tv or radio on. Loud barking dogs. Leave a vehicle in the driveway. Make the front and back […]
Measuring square footage of a home is not as easy as it sounds. Do you measure the outside of the foundation and include it in the finished square footage? In this brief article, I'll cover some of the basics of the various methods of measuring, as well as definitions of how we use square footage […]
As a seller, showings can be very inconvenient. They are disruptive and can cause major schedule headaches. Below you will find a few thoughts on showings and how to help minimize your impact: Have the home in show condition before you leave in the morning. That way if there is a showing during the daytime […]
1. Bad Smells I have been in a number of houses that have big offensive odors. It is a huge turnoff for buyers. These smells can range from cooking odors (curry, or fish), to cat urine, to cigarettes. Sellers often can become immune to their own homes scents. To rid your house of smells may […]
Low water pressure can be annoying. It may make certain activities frustrating, like washing hands in the bathroom sink. Below you will find 4 main causes of low water pressure and solutions to each one of them. Debris or mineral buildup Debris in the water line is more common that you think. In Minneapolis, the water […]
How does pricing your home affect the buyers? Many sellers, such as yourself, may want to price the home higher so that you can try to get the most out of your home. How does this really affect your bottom line? Do you really get more for your home if you price it higher? I […]
You as the seller, need to make it easy for a buyer to buy your home. That means removing barriers that stop a buyer from buying the home. When there are barriers, buyers stop and give your home a second thought. It may be unconsciously but it is enough to give them a second thought. […]
Many sellers want to ask for the highest price possible. But is that in your best interest? Below I'll go over a couple scenarios that could ultimately net you a higher price. Start Higher, Lower Later Let's say that my analysis shows that your house should sell with a net sales price of about $300,000. If […]
When people are thinking of selling their homes, I always get this question asked: What are inexpensive ways I can increase the value of my home? In this brief post, I'll outline 5 inexpensive ways you can help the value of your home. Sometimes the value will be in immediate increase in price, or others may […]
Yesterday I was talking with a person that is looking to downsize and sell their 5 bedroom home and buy a 2 bedroom home. We talked about a lot of details, but as a South Minneapolis REALTOR, I asked him this question: Do you need to SELL your home in order to BUY a new […]
Many people are always wondering how people are financing homes in today's market. I took a look at some data and found that over the course of 2014, people were financing their home purchases as follows: 59% conventional financing 20% cash 16% FHA financing 3% VA financing 2% other financing
How much does it cost to sell a home? I have been asked this question many times by many sellers in the Twin Cities. If you are reading this article from another area, your numbers may be different. Real estate is local, and the cost to sell a home is also very local. I'll be […]
