Friday, January 5, 2018

A Step-by-Step Look Into The Home Selling Process For Your Raleigh House

Selling your Raleigh home can be unnerving, especially because of the legal implications that come along with it. It requires that the whole process be foolproof so that you don’t start thinking of court cases thereafter, since there is provision for that. With this in mind, there are a lot of benefits you can enjoy when you are well prepared for the home selling process.

Different states have different legal requirements and in this post we shall focus on the process that can be applied in most states in America. Elizabeth Weintraub gives us a detailed procedure for the North Carolina home selling process :

1. Select a listing agent

This is the person that will be required by law to act in a manner that will be to your best interests.

Interview agents and meet with at least three neighborhood specialists.

Negotiate your listing agreement, including the length of time the home will be listed.  Via The Balance…

2. Determine Your Home’s Selling Price

It is usually a tricky thing to price your home since you want to get as much value for your property and also not lose out on potential customers.

Price your home in line with sold homes identified in a comparative market analysis report.

Consider whether your market is hot, cold or neutral, and price according to the market temperature.  Via The Balance…

tech gadgets

Image Courtesy of Flickr

3. Prepare the Home For Sale

There are lots of things you can do to prepare your home, but the bottom line is to make it as appealing as possible.

Hire a professional stager to stage your home, or ask your real estate agent for help with staging.

Protect your privacy while your home is on the market.  Via The Balance…

4. Advertising/ Marketing

This will require you and your agent to be very aggressive. Ensure you choose the best marketing method to capitalize on your home’s attractive features.

You or your agent should identify the sizzling selling points and choose advertising words to sell.

Approve your agent’s marketing campaign or figure out how to advertise your house for sale yourself. Tweak marketing to increase traffic and showings. Via The Balance…

5. Home Showing

This gives you the opportunity to make your potential buyers want to buy your house.

If you’re wondering about lockbox vs. appointments, you’ll get more showings if you let agents use a lockbox.

Your home will show better if you sell in spring than sell in winter.

Selling during the holidays will likely result in a lower sales price, regardless of what agents tell you.  Via The Balance…

negotiation

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

6. Properly handle purchase offers

Ensure that the right procedure is used here because this is where the legal stuff begins.

Consider making a counter offer contingent on buying a home, if market conditions warrant.

Don’t be afraid to make a full-price counter offer, if you are priced competitively.

If your home is priced right, prepare yourself for multiple offers.  Via The Balance…

7. Escrow and Title Matters

Your agent or transaction coordinator will open escrow and order a title policy.

Write down the contact information for the closing agent.

Select a date to close based on when the buyer’s loan will fund.

Ask for a receipt for the buyer’s earnest money deposit.  Via The Balance…

8. Get An Appraisal

This is done by the buyer and may have implications on your agreement as follows:

You are not entitled to receive a copy of the appraisal because you did not pay for it.

If the buyer decides to cancel the contract based on an appraisal, ask your agent or lawyer about your rights.  Via The Balance…

9. Home Inspection

You can ask your agent for a checklist to help you prepare adequately for the inspection.

10. Get Required Inspections Done

There are inspections that are required in your contract and you need to be careful about them because they can be made public. Get reliable professionals to do this for you.

11. Do Your Due Diligence In Disclosures

Make sure that you disclose any information about your home apart from those required by law.

All homes in the United States are subject to lead-based paint disclosure. Via The Balance…

shaking hands

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

12. Repair Matters

Buyers may request for repairs to be made and you may or may not accept to do them; whatever decision you make has implications on the agreement.

Ordinarily, sellers do not need to accept a buyer’s request for repair; however, buyers can also cancel the contract.

You are entitled to a copy of the home inspection report if the buyers request repairs.  Via The Balance…

13. Ask for Release Contingencies

In California, for example, contracts default to 17 days, at which time, the buyer must release contingencies. Via The Balance…

14. Sign Documents

In southern California, you will sign escrow documents shortly after opening escrow.

In northern California, you will sign escrow documents near closing.  Via The Balance…

15. Closing

Your property deed, reconveyance and deed of trust will record in the public records.

The title company will notify you and your agent when it records the deeds.

Depending on buyer’s possession rights specified in the contract, you may be required to move on the day the home closes. Via The Balance…

Featured Image: Image Credit

Summary

Selling your house can be a lot of work so if you’re thinking of selling it, you’re certainly not alone. But how do you price a NC house? These tips will guide you on how to price your home in Raleigh or Durham North Carolina  for sale.

Why not bypass all the work and cost of selling through an agent and instead get in touch with us today about selling your inherited property to us here at Mason Buys Houses? Just call us at 864-300-2110 or click here and enter your information in the form.

 

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by esther via Mason Buys Houses

Monday, December 25, 2017

How To Price Your Inherited Home In Greenville For Sale

If you’ve inherited a property and you’re planning to sell it, make sure you read this blog post for 3 tips about how to price your inherited home in Greenville for sale

Did you inherit a property that you’re now thinking about selling? While an inherited property can be a wonderful gift from a loved one who has passed on, it can also (quite frankly) be a costly burden. So selling it makes sense and allows you to use the gifted equity for some other purpose. But selling an inherited property may not come easy to you, especially if you haven’t sold a property in a while. So here’s how to price your inherited home in Greenville for sale…

Tip #1: Price Quick To Sell

Some people price their inherited property at an amount they think the market might pay for the house. However, there are many factors that go into this price and one of the biggest considerations is: how fast do you want to sell? Selling through an agent “on the market” can take months, and you’ll have to pay for the house and maintain the property the entire time. That can be costly and can eat into the higher price.

Many property owners quickly learn that they’re almost better off to price slightly lower for a faster sale… they might get less for the house but they also pay less on repairs, carrying costs, effort, and time, so it’s ultimately a trade-off that might turn out to be a total wash.

Tip #2: Avoid Pricing Based On Fond Memories Or Emotion

One of the biggest challenges that property owners of inherited property face when trying to price their property for sale is separating the happy memories from the true value of the house. The house might be worth a certain amount on the market but you may have such fond memories of growing up in the house or of happy times in the house that you accidentally use that emotion to increase the price. (This is VERY common.)

A better approach would be to work with a real estate company and find out what they can offer you, and recognize that the price might be lower than you were expecting… not because the house isn’t worth as much but because your wonderful memories have accidentally inflated the price!

Tip #3: Build In Discounts For Repairs

If you inherited the property from a loved one who had lived in the property for many years then you might find out that the property needs some repairs. You could choose to do this work yourself and then ask for a higher price but why do that when you could save yourself the time and effort (and what you’d have to pay for equipment, supplies, or a contractor) and instead just ask for less and give a “repair discount”. That way you avoid the hassle of the work, and you still come out the same financially.

Summary

An inherited house can be a lot of work so if you’re thinking of selling it, you’re certainly not alone. But how do you price an inherited house? These tips will guide you on how to price your inherited home in Greenville for sale.

Why not bypass all the work and cost of selling through an agent and instead get in touch with us today about selling your inherited property to us here at Mason Buys Houses? Just call us at 864-300-2110 or click here and enter your information in the form.

The post How To Price Your Inherited Home In Greenville For Sale appeared first on Mason Buys Houses.


by mason via Mason Buys Houses

Alternatives to Listing Your Home in Greenville: Explained

Do you want to sell your home in Greenville? If so, we want to share some possible alternatives to a listing. Many people aren’t aware of the options that are often available! Check out our latest post to learn more about what is available for you!

Selling your house can be a daunting task. The process of listing isn’t always as simple as is seems. There are repairs to make, cleaning to maintain, open houses, showings, bills and other hurdles to clear all while you are trying to move!

There are alternatives to a listing that can work much more efficiently in some situations. Consider some of these alternatives to listing when you are ready to sell your Greenville house!

Rent To Own

Setting up your house in a rent to own structure is a great way to get the property in front of many more potential buyers. It is also a way to guarantee you will get full retail value for the home, sometimes more. There are MANY people out there looking to buy a home, but they fail to qualify for a traditional mortgage because of a minor blemish on their credit from years ago, they are short on a down payment or they have another mortgage on a different property.

These are great people, who will be likely to pay a higher than average rent in exchange for the chance at home ownership. To get started, the buyer will pay you an agreed upon “lump-sum payment up-front. This acts as a deposit should you fail to hold up your end of the deal. The buyer will also pay you a higher than average rent, with a portion of the rent going toward their down-payment.

At the end of a year or two, the buyer must purchase the home outright. There are many ways you can set this up. Choose the terms that work for you!

Hold As a Rental Property

Have you ever pictured yourself as a landlord? In some situations, it can be a lot of work. While other times, and with careful screening, you can find great, low-maintenance tenants. Many people who aren’t able to sell the traditional way, will instead opt to rent their home out.

If it seems like too much work, you can always hire a property management company to help you with routine maintenance and rent collection. Many people find owning a rental property is an excellent way to secure extra income.

Selling to A Direct Buyer or Investor

When you choose to sell your home directly, you will likely save many out of pocket costs you encounter when listing. You won’t need to pay a listing agent, make repairs or clean up. With a direct sale to an investor, the process typically runs much more quickly. Direct buyers are often paying in cash, so they are able to close without relying on bank funding.

When you sell your house directly, make sure to read the fine print and that the terms are agreeable to you. When selling on your own, you will not have a professional to help guide you. Not all home buyers are the same!

Auction Services

Many people are turning to auction services to sell their [marlet_city] homes. Choose a site or person who will generate buzz about your property using excellent marketing. The goal here is to draw attention to your home and encourage buyers to outbid one another.

An auction is great for people who want to want to sell and have a definitive date. By selling quickly, you can potentially save thousands as opposed to listing your home.

Factor in your mortgage payment, homeowners insurance, property taxes, repairs and general depreciation, and you’ll see that holding on to a home, that isn’t income generating, is only costing you money.

Do you want to sell your house in Greenville? We can help you achieve your goals right now! Send us a message or give us a call to learn more! 864-300-2110

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by mason via Mason Buys Houses

Monday, December 18, 2017

Creative Holiday Themed Open House Ideas for Greenville

If you are trying to sell a Greenville house during the winter months, you might want to incorporate a few festive touches into your open house. We have put together some creative holiday themed open house ideas to help you sell your Greenville house fast!

Many people wait to list their houses until after the holiday season, however, when done correctly, it can actually be a great time to sell your Greenville house! Many people are looking to buy before year-end or relocate during winter break. Reaching these people is key to selling! And by offering a warm and welcoming open house, your property will stand out to these prospective buyers!

As with any open house or home showing, it is important to engage the prospective buyer’s senses. The holiday season is a wonderful time to incorporate elements that will do just that!

How to Host a Holiday Themed Open House in Greenville

Think Warm and Cozy

Your house should feel warm and welcoming. No matter the climate in which you’re selling, a house’s interior can embrace the coziness of the season. Stage the house to include warm blankets, fluffy pillows, and items that will make your prospective buyer want to curl up with cocoa and a good book. If you have a fireplace, now is the time to light it. Electric fireplaces can also give the comfy vibe and can be used without the heat in warm climates.

Really Think About The Lighting

Sometimes the natural light isn’t enough. Your house should be well lit, but not so well lit that you feel like you are at the doctor’s office. Keep lighting soft and warm. Try out different lighting options and you will see what a difference your lighting choices can make.

Incorporate Seasonal Smells

There aren’t many people who dislike the scent of freshly baked cookies or bread. Vanilla and pine are also popular, and universally liked choices. You can use oils or candles to add a light scent to the air. No matter how you choose to incorporate smell, keep it very mild. Some people are more sensitive to scents, and you don’t want your efforts to be offputting.

Offer Comfort Food

There are delicious snacks you can serve that will conjure up warm holiday memories. (Or just be delicious.) Get creative and offer pumpkin pie bites, gourmet cookies or biscotti. Keep food light and don’t serve anything that will be too messy. As far as refreshments, you can serve apple cider, cocoa or maybe it’s finally time to purchase that fancy coffee machine.

Sounds

Be careful playing the Holiday Hits on repeat. While some people absolutely love Christmas music, others avoid it at all costs. Keep things low-key. Instrumental versions are nice or choose to have light classical music playing in the background. It should never be played loudly. It should be almost unnoticeable.

Depersonalize The Decorations

Decorate with minimal seasonal items. Think of classic looks you might find gracing the pages of catalog ads. Traditional, wintery and clean. When you have people viewing your house, take down personal items such as stockings with names, decorations made by the kids and the “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament. Religious items shouldn’t be too overpowering, you want to create a warm and welcoming environment for as many people as possible, and you will want them to feel as if they are in their own home. You can always put your personal items back after the showing.

Hold Off On a Tree

A traditional tree can be large and cumbersome. Usually, furniture is moved around and rearranged, making spaces look cluttered and not as welcoming. Unless you have a wide open room with plenty of EXTRA space for a tree, you might want to consider a small, tabletop version instead.

Do you want to sell a house in Greenville? If so, we have creative solutions to help you! Send us a message, or give our team a call now!

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by mason via Mason Buys Houses

Selling Your House While Divorcing in Greenville

If you’re going through a difficult divorce and trying to figure out what to do about your unwanted real estate, then keep reading this blog post to give you our best suggestions about selling your house while divorcing in Greenville

Divorce can be challenging and emotional. Yet, in the midst of the difficult situation, you might be like other divorcing couples who own a house and are trying to figure out how to go about selling your house while divorcing in Greenville. Here are our best strategies and ideas to help you navigate the real estate portion of your divorce as carefully and efficiently as possible.

Houses In Divorce Can Be Complicated

During a divorce, the two parties seek to split their assets in half. For some assets are liquid (such as money), it’s very easy to do. For other assets, including real estate, it’s much harder to do because how do you split a house in half? It’s one asset that derives its value from being whole, and it’s usually a structure built on a plot of land, so it’s not going anywhere.

Since cutting the house down the middle isn’t an option, should one party get it or the other? And maybe in some divorces, one party might be invited to take the house only if they can pay for it (which is a massive expense a time that people rarely want to incur such expenses).

Here’s How To Split The Real Estate Asset

The best way to split the real estate asset is to sell it:

The property itself might have some expenses incurred during the sales process, or there might be outstanding bills, or there might still be a partial outstanding mortgage on the property. So the two divorcing parties should probably just sell the property and direct their attorneys to apply the money earned from the equity to any outstanding debts.

The remaining amount can then be split between each party, with each party getting an agreed-upon percentage (such as 50/50).

But this begs the question — how do you sell the property?

The Fastest Way To Sell A Divorce House

When it comes time to sell, most people think of selling through a real estate agent. Unfortunately there’s a few problems with this:

  • the agent will make the owners pay out-of-pocket to fix up the property first — but who pays for that?
  • the agent will then list the house, which can take 3-6 months to sell (sometimes longer) — can either party wait that long?
  • the agent will then involve both parties in the negotiation with the buyer and there is A LOT of paperwork to shuffle back and forth

This is a costly and time-consuming way to sell, and it can actually make the divorce proceedings so much worse.

Fortunately, there’s another way to sell and that’s to sell your house to a real estate buying firm (which is what we do here at Mason Buys Houses). The real estate buying firm will buy your house quickly, for cash, in as-is condition (and as a bonus, there are never any commissions or fees to pay). You don’t have to clean up or fix up the property and the sale can be completed in days, not months, with very little paperwork.

If you’re going through divorce and want to just be done with it and move on with your life, just reach out to us and tell us about the house you want to sell. We specialize in buying divorce houses and we can help you expedite your divorce by buying this house from you.

Click here to enter your information or call our office at to tell us about your property

 

 

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