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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…

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…

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…

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

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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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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What If My House Won’t Sell During A Divorce in Greenville?

If you’re going through a divorce and you’re trying to sell a house, you might be wondering, “what if my house won’t sell during a divorce in Greenville?” That’s a good question to ask so be sure to read this blog post and we’ll share our best answer with you…

A divorce can be a challenging situation: it’s complicated, it’s expensive, it’s time-consuming, and emotions are running high. And in all that effort you also need to sell your house so that you can split the value of any equity in the house and put it all behind you. But what if your house doesn’t sell? If you’re going through a divorce and wondering, “what if my house won’t sell during a divorce in Greenville?” then here’s what to do…

What Are The Reasons Your House Doesn’t Sell?

Unfortunately, there are many reasons your house might not sell. Some of the reasons are related to the normal market conditions (and they might be present even if you weren’t going through a divorce). But there might be additional reasons that your house doesn’t sell — for example, maybe you have a complicated divorce or there’s a lot of conflict between each party in the divorce and this makes it too difficult for the buyer to negotiate on the sale of the property.

This Delay Adds To The Problem!

If the house is not selling as quickly as you’d like, this just adds to the problem and it ultimately ends up costing you more — in bills and taxes and mortgage payments, as well as in additional attorneys fees.

Simply put, you might be hoping to get a high price for your house but your divorce could actually be scaring people away and costing you money.

Fortunately there’s another option…

Strategy For Divorce Houses: Sell To A House-Buying Company

Here’s an effective strategy for people who are trying to sell their divorce house — instead of listing the house with an agent, sell the house directly to a real estate buying firm like us here at Mason Buys Houses. As real estate buyers, we may not always be able to pay the market price for a house… but many divorcing people realize that holding out for a higher price can actually be a costly strategy once you factor in the cost of repairing the property, the carrying costs while you wait months for an agent to find a buyer, and then the agent’s commission (sometimes thousands of dollars).

If you’re wondering, “what if my house won’t sell during a divorce in Greenville?” and if you want to sell your house fast, a real estate buying firm like ours is the fastest and simplest choice to get the property out from the middle of your divorce, give you money for it, and allow you to wrap up this portion of the divorce proceedings.

To learn more about our real estate buying program and how we might be able to help you out in this challenging situation, click here and fill out the short form or give our team a call at .

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Tax Tips For Selling Your Greenville House!

It’s almost that time of year… yes, tax season is almost upon us! If you are selling a house in Greenville, you will love these tax tips for selling your home! This article is for informational purposes only!

For specific questions, contact a trusted tax professional, or the IRS! 

Not All Profits Are Taxable

You will be able to exclude a high portion of your profits so long as certain conditions are met. Typically, you will be able to exclude $250,000 from your tax return, and up to $500,000 if filing a joint return. (However, if you sell for a loss, you won’t be able to take a deduction for that amount.)

The deduction is only available when selling your primary residence, and can only be used once every two years. To qualify for the deduction, you must have lived in the residence for at least two of the past five years.

It is important that whenever you move, your address is updated with the IRS.

Other Exclusions

If you do not meet the requirements above, you might still be able to exclude a portion of your profits from your income tax. There are many special conditions you can meet in order to receive a prorated, tax-free gain. If you need to sell because of a change in your health, a job change or other unforeseen circumstances, you will be able to write-off a portion of the profit.

Reporting the Sale

You will need to report the sale if you receive a 1099-S form from the closing agent. This form provides the IRS with information regarding the proceeds from real estate transactions. To avoid reporting, make sure that you are able to exclude all profits. Let the agent know at the time of closing that the form will not need to be issued. Even if you are able to deduct all profits, if the form is issued, you will still need to file it with the IRS… even if no money is owed.

Capital Gains Taxes

If you are selling an investment property or house you have only owned briefly, you will likely be subject to the capital gains tax. Capital Gains taxes are dependent on how much you make. If you have a lower income, you will pay no capital gains taxes. People in higher tax brackets can pay upwards of 20%. Short-term assets are typically taxed the same as ordinary income.

First-Time Homebuyer Credit

Depending on the dates you bought and sold, you might have to pay back all or part of the credit you received. Typically if you move within 36 months of purchasing the home, the credit must be paid back upon the sale of the home. Special rules apply and can be found in Publication 523 from the IRS.

Deduct Selling Costs

When selling your Greenville house, you will be able to deduct any reasonable cost when selling your home. This includes the closing costs, improvements made in order to sell the house, assessments, marketing costs, agent fees and so on. Keep track of every cent you spend in an effort to sell your home. Come tax time, this can amount to major deductions!

No matter what time of the year you sell, it is always important to seek the counsel of professionals. Consult your agent, accountant, and attorney to make sure you have set up the best terms for yourself.

Don’t stress too much about taxes when putting your house up for sale in Greenville. Odds are Uncle Sam won’t be getting his hands on your profits.

Do you want to sell your house in Greenville? We can help! Send us a message or give our office a call today!

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Financing Options For Greenville Home Owners In Different Situations

Any homeowner may at some point need to sell or buy a new home. While it is obvious that buyers are the ones that need to know what their financing options are, even sellers need to know the financial arrangements their potential buyers come up with.

A home is an investment that is not only expensive but is also worthwhile and therefore needs to be adequately prepared for. Starting from a general point of view, the following post describes the financing options that are available for a person involved in the real estate business:

TOP #5 REAL ESTATE FINANCING OPTIONS

Investments in real estate usually involve large amounts of money which ranges from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars. Most investors do not have the financial capacity to out rightly cover most of their real estate investment; hence most properties are purchased with leverage. Real estates can be financed in various ways depending on whether you want to finance a commercial property or residential property.

In this article, we will narrow our options to financing residential real estate properties.

The best time for buying any real estate property still remains in an up trending market. However, if you don’t have a good credit rating or enough liquid assets, purchasing real estate in the present market could be a pain in the neck. Read more at LinkedIn…

Image Courtesy of PicServer

You do not need to get stuck when venturing into real estate because of money. There are several good financing options for residential properties as described in the post above.

In addition, with all the competition going on in the market, you can secure yourself a pocket-friendly loan. The following post gives you the kind of options available for you:

4 Niche Loan Options That Are Helping New Home Buyers

Mortgage Guidelines Now More Flexible

When you buy a home, learning about the array of available mortgage types can pay off. Your real estate agent or lender might tell you about common 20 percent down conventional loans or low-downpayment FHA loans.

But as a proactive home buyer, you can research niche loan types that may help you achieve homeownership faster and at better terms.

With that knowledge in hand, you’ll come at home buying from a different angle. You will be better equipped and educated to choose the right loan for your situation. Read more at The Mortgage Reports…

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

The loan options described in the post above are readily available. As such, you can capitalize on them so you can get the cash you need at the best rate available in the market.

Financing options are not limited to when you are only selling or buying, there are some that are available for transitional times. These include when you need to sell and buy another home. The following post discusses more details:

Financing Options to Bridge the Gap between Selling and Buying

The home-buying and -selling process can sometimes be a precarious thing as most sellers need to sell their house before having the money to buy a new space. But what happens if you stumble upon your dream house before coming to contract for a sale?

If you find yourself in this situation, you’ll want to explore gap financing options, which will allow you get the money for a new home, without having to rush into a sale of your own. Read more at C21 Affiliated…

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

You have so many ways to cater for the different needs you may have at any point of your home ownership process. Always be on the lookout for options that are tailor made just for you.

For more professional help, home selling advice, or to sell your Greenville home for a favorable cash offer, call Mason Buys Houses today!

Featured Image: Image Credit

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3 Things You Can Do In Greenville to Prepare Your Inherited House For The Sale

If you inherited a property that you intend to sell, make sure you read this blog post all the way through to know the 3 things you can do in Greenville to prepare your inherited house for the sale…

When a loved one passes, it can be a difficult time for everyone. And although inheriting a house might seem like a wonderful way for a loved one to pass something of value on to you, it can also be a burden. Houses take a lot of work to maintain, keep clean, and keep up-to-date. If you’re thinking about selling an inherited house, or if you are still exploring your options, here are 3 things you can do in Greenville to prepare your inherited house for the sale…

Preparing Your Inherited House For Sale — Tip #1

Perhaps the most important thing to do is to save the memories for yourself. It’s easy to discover that you have many mixed emotions about the property, and that can actually keep people from selling an inherited property. Instead, they just pay to hold onto the property but never really enjoy the property. The best step here is to understand that you are experiencing emotions about the memories and about the person who lived here. The house itself is just the structure.

So if you’re thinking of selling but want to preserve the memories, do something special in the house — take pictures, gather some of the furniture and photographs and other mementos that you will cherish. You’ll have a few things that represent your memories and you’ll still be able to sell the house to keep it from becoming a burden.

Preparing Your Inherited House For Sale — Tip #2

Chances are, you inherited the house from someone who lived there for a while. When this happens, you’ll find out that the person who lived there may have taken very good care of the house but after living in the same house for a while there might be areas of the house that they didn’t use very much, or perhaps areas of the house that they used for storage. The best way to help your inherited house sell is to clear the house out, clean it up thoroughly, and present a beautiful empty house to buyers.

Preparing Your Inherited House For Sale — Tip #3

Last, you should think about giving your house a paint job. If you inherited the house from someone who lived in it a while, they may have cared for the house but the wall colors may have faded. A paint job is affordable for you and it’s an easy way to help a house feel fresh and lived-in, even if you choose not to make any other updates or renovations to the house.

Summary

When your loved one passed the house on to you, they did so because they wanted to give you this gift. But selling the inherited house may make the most sense. So you’ve just read 3 things you can do in Greenville to prepare your inherited house for the sale.

Wondering how to sell your house quickly and easily without any hassle or dealing with an agent? That’s where we can help. We are professional house buyers and we’ll make you a no-obligation cash offer for your house. Click here to enter your information or call our office at to learn more.

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How To Sell Your House in Greenville During the Holidays – A Guide for Sellers

Do you want to sell your house in Greenville but have felt reluctant because of the holiday season? We can help you sell your home now with our great tips for selling your home during the holidays!

The holidays can be an excellent time to sell! With fewer homes on the market, your house will stand out to potential buyers. People moving during this time will usually have a reason why. You will often find many people who are ready to purchase ASAP! This post will help you use the time of year to your advantage. Read on to learn more!

Think: Warm, Inviting & Homey

No matter who you are or where you live, people love to feel a cozy vibe when walking in the door. During showings or open houses, you can offer seasonal snacks such as cookies, biscotti or brie. Offer espresso, hot cocoa or apple cider. If you have a fireplace, light it. In warmer climates, you can use an electric fireplace, with the heat setting turned off.

Seasonal scents can help create the atmosphere you are looking for. Gingerbread, pine, and freshly baked bread can all make people feel right at home… just not all at the same time! You want to keep it cozy… never cluttered or distracting.

Hire a Professional

Hiring a professional to decorate your house doesn’t just happen in the movies. Look for a professional home stager or interior designer who can help you turn your house into something right out of a movie set. A professional will have an impartial eye and can help you rein it in when need be.

Working with a designer will likely require you to purchase decor outright, however, there are staging companies who can bring chic pieces right to your door. The items are returned after the showing or sale.

Don’t Put Out Every Decoration You Own

Even the most beautiful holiday decorations can appear cluttered if not used sparingly. Many of us have mismatched boxes of ornaments, collected over time and stored in a holiday hodgepodge. If you are selling your house during the holiday season, show some restraint with the items you put out. Rudolph with the missing nose should stay in his box this year.

In addition, personalized items can make prospective buyers feel as if they are intruding. When you are showing the house, put away stockings with names and decorations made by the kids. Of course, you can put them back out the minute your guests have left.

Don’t Forget Curb Appeal

Your front yard is the first thing people will see when viewing your house. Including simple and tasteful decorations can be a huge factor in making people feel welcome. Don’t go overboard, but a few seasonal items will help foster the warm and inviting environment you wish to create. Lighting can be a wonderful addition to evening showings. Keep pace with your neighbors. You don’t need to light up the whole neighborhood, however, you don’t want to be the only dark house on the street either.

Seek Out The Right People

Think about who might be moving during the holiday season. Families might be moving during the Chrismas break. Investors might be looking to purchase before the end of the year. Students and staff might also choose year-end to relocate. Make sure your home is advertised where it can reach these demographics. Advertise near a school, showcase your listing in a local business journal or place an ad in a University newspaper.

Stay optimistic and implore some “out of the box” techniques to find your ideal buyer! And if you don’t find a buyer during the holidays… relax. January is only a few days away!

Do you want to sell your house in Greenville? No matter what time of the year, we can help! Send us a message, or give our office a call today!

The post How To Sell Your House in Greenville During the Holidays – A Guide for Sellers appeared first on Mason Buys Houses.

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4 Things You Need to Expect When Selling With an Agent

Are you working with a local Greenville agent to sell your house? Or maybe you’re thinking about it? If so, we’ve collected the top 4 things you need to expect when selling with an agent — to help you navigate this process easily!

There are many ways to sell your house and many people choose to work with an agent to help them during that process. Do you plan to work with an agent? If so, here are 4 things you need to expect when selling with an agent in Greenville…

4 things you need to expect when selling with an agent

 

#1. Money

A real estate agent is a professional who performs a service for your benefit. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, and yet many people are surprised when they learn that the agent charges a commission for their service… and this commission can be thousands of dollars in some situations! For some people, that’s okay because they want the benefits that an agent provides, but it can be a costly surprise if you’re not prepared.

#2. Time

You probably want to sell your house as quickly as possible. An agent wants that too. However, an agent is at the mercy of what buyers want… and agents will work hard to find a buyer for your house but they can’t always guarantee that your house will be sold within a certain timeframe. (Note: if you need to sell in a certain timeframe, the fastest way to sell is to skip an agent and just let us buy your house directly. Call us at to learn more about this service).

#3. Showing

For an agent to find a buyer who wants to buy your house, they have to show it to people. Buyers will obviously want to walk through the house and decide for themselves if it’s the right house for them. Therefore, if you work with an agent, you should expect the agent to arrange showings with buyers – which means you may need to leave your house while buyers walk through it.

#4. Unknowns

Agents provide a great service but the truth is – agents can’t control the process. There are many unknowns that will influence the sale of your house. These unknowns include: the number of other sellers selling similar houses, the number of buyers who want to buy, the number of banks willing to lend money for mortgages, the state of the economy in the city, within the state of South Carolina, and in the country as a whole. Therefore, you may want to sell right now at a certain price, and the agent will do their best but you may be forced to sell later at a lower price.

Summary

Selling your house can seem daunting, which is why many people choose to work with a real estate agent. If that’s how you want to sell your house, make sure you know these 4 things you need to expect when selling with an agent in Greenville.

At Mason Buys Houses, we also buy houses! If you still want an offer from us, or if you want to meet an agent that we recommend, click here now and fill out the form or call our team at

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Should You List With an Agent, Sell FSBO, or Sell to an Investor? (Info For [market_zip] Zip Code Sellers)

Agent? Sell on your own? Sell to an investor? These are the big questions that every seller asks themselves first. In this blog post, we’ll share our thoughts on the question, Should you list with an agent, sell FSBO, or sell to an investor?

Thinking about selling your house? You might be exploring your options and wondering, Should you list with an agent, sell FSBO, or sell to an investor? The good news is, you can get a great answer right here and be on the path to selling your house very quickly.

Should You List With An Agent?

Selling to an agent gives you a few advantages:

First, it’s very hands-off so you can go about your regular life and just sign papers or talk to your agent while they do all the legwork.

Second, you can money and time versus selling FSBO (see the next point) because you won’t have to market your property or pay for marketing materials.

Third, an agent often has a list of potential buyers (or access to a list) so they can quickly find people to buy for you quickly.

Fourth, agents have many tricks up their sleeve to help you sell – from special signs to open houses, etc.

Fifth, you don’t have to negotiate with any potential buyers, since many people do not like the negotiation process.

Sixth, you don’t have to be an expert at the contracts and agreements involved in the house-selling process. Your real estate agent is the expert and they’ll walk you through what you need to know but you don’t have to be the expert.

Seventh, you don’t have to be an expert in the laws of selling a house, financing, etc., which can be quite complicated. The agent will either take care of that for you or guide you appropriately.

Eighth, you don’t have to worry about knowing the right steps to take or when to take them. The agent already knows what you need to do and they’ll just tell you when you need to do it!

Or, Sell FSBO?

FSBO means “For Sale By Owner” and it means that you sell on the market (the same place an agent would sell) but you don’t use an agent; you represent yourself. The biggest advantages to selling this way is that you can name your own price, decide who to sell to, negotiate on your own behalf (if you like to do that), and not have to pay the real estate agent’s commission at the end.

Don’t Forget – You Can Sell To An Investor

For those who want to sell fast and not pay any fees, or who may have a house in “as-is” condition that they don’t want to pay to fix and clean first, you might want to sell to an investor or professional house buyer (which is what we do here at Mason Buys Houses.)

Summary

Thinking about selling your house? It’s smart to be exploring your options and wondering, Should you list with an agent, sell FSBO, or sell to an investor? The good news is, you can get a great answer right here and be on the path to selling your house very quickly.

At Mason Buys Houses, we also buy houses! If you still want an offer from us, or if you want to meet an agent that we recommend, click here now and fill out the form or call our team at

The post Should You List With an Agent, Sell FSBO, or Sell to an Investor? (Info For [market_zip] Zip Code Sellers) appeared first on Mason Buys Houses.

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How to Find the Right Real Estate Agent that Fits Your Needs in Greenville

Are you thinking about selling your Greenville house with the help of an agent? There are so many agents out there that it’s hard to know which one’s the right one. That’s why we’re sharing this blog post about how to find the right real estate agent that fits your needs in Greenville.

Selling your house can seem like a daunting task, which is why many people turn to a real estate agent to help them. After all, a real estate agent’s job is to work on your behalf to help you sell your house! But there are so many agents out there and they all claim to be the very best! How can you decide which is the right agent for you?

Here’s our recommendation about how to find the right real estate agent that fits your needs in Greenville.

How to Find the Right Real Estate Agent that Fits Your Needs in Greenville

Ask Around

Ask around to your friends, family, and other trusted people to find out which agents are worth working with. Some people will tell you not to work with one agent, while others will have great things to say about another agent. Ask everyone you know (and hey, you can even reach out to us at and ask for a recommendation from us!) Make a short list of agents.

Look Up The Agents

Go online and look up the real estate agents. Do they have a website? Do they have a Facebook page? Search their name in Google.

Check Out Their Credentials

Look at their website and Facebook pages. What does each say about them? What kind of ratings do they have? What testimonials are there? What awards have they won? How many transactions have they completed?

Review And Narrow

Review your findings and narrow down these agents to just a couple who look like they will be able to help you the best.

Book An Appointment

Call your shortlist of agents to book an appointment and ask how they’d help you sell your house.

Make A Choice

Finally, choose the agent who will help you the most based on all of this information… and then you can start the process of selling your house!

Note: this is a great way to find an agent but it can also take some time. You can always ask us for an agent referral to sidestep all of these steps; or, if you’d like to sell your house faster, why not give us a call at and we’ll see if we can buy your house from you.

Summary

If selling seems like more trouble than you want to deal with yourself, an agent is there to help. But finding the right agent might also seem overwhelming. That’s why you should read this blog post again if you’re wondering how to find the right real estate agent that fits your needs in Greenville.

At Mason Buys Houses, we also buy houses! If you still want an offer from us, or if you want to meet an agent that we recommend, click here now and fill out the form or call our team at

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4 Reasons You Might Want to Hire Real Estate Agent to Help You Sell Your Home in Greenville

Are you thinking about selling your Greenville house? Then you might be weighing the possibility of working with an agent to sell. That’s why we’ve written this blog post… to share 4 reasons you might want to hire real estate agent to help you sell your home in Greenville.

Selling a house can seem very complicated, which is why many people trust a real estate to help them. But admittedly, there are other options to sell your house (and many prefer to sell on their own or sell directly to a house-buying company like us here at Mason Buys Houses.) But, if you’re thinking about selling your house and maybe getting the help of a real estate agent, then here are 4 reasons you might want to hire real estate agent to help you sell your home in Greenville.

4 Reasons You Might Want To Hire Real Estate Agent To Help You Sell Your Home In Greenville

Reason #1. Simple

Selling a house can be complicated. You’ve got to deal buyers, banks, and attorneys; there are contracts and clauses and negotiations; and, sometimes it’s hard to know what order to do things in. An agent can help simplify the process because that’s what they do! They help people buy and sell houses for a living. They have the contracts and agreements and know their way around them. It just makes things so much simpler.

Reason #2. Hands-off

Some folks who choose to sell their house themselves (called “For Sale By Owner” or FSBO) find out pretty quickly that selling this way can be very busy. You’ll end up scheduling buyers to walk through the house, you’ll be busy marketing your house all over town, and you’ll be learning on the fly and negotiating on the fly… all while trying to juggle your regular life. A real estate agent makes it simple and hands-off for you.

Reason #3. Potentially Higher Price

One of the biggest reasons why people choose to sell with the help of an agent (versus selling on their own) is the potential for a higher price. In theory, agents are expert negotiators who can figure out the best price to sell the house for and then can negotiate on your behalf to get the buyer to pay as much as possible. Selling other ways may not result in as much money (however, there are other reasons why people may not use an agent.)

Reason #4. Sell To A Homeowner

Maybe you want to sell and you don’t like the thought of your home being renovated and rented out, or torn down. After all, you have a lot of emotions attached to this house. Some people don’t care what happens to a house after they sell it but if you’d prefer to sell to a homeowner (versus an investor) then selling to an agent will increase the likelihood of that happening.

Summary

There are many ways to sell a house – sometimes with an agent and sometimes without. However if selling your house seems too complicated than these are 4 reasons you might want to hire real estate agent to help you sell your home in Greenville. It’s not right for everyone… but it’s at least worth looking into before you decide one way or the other.

At Mason Buys Houses, we also buy houses! If you still want an offer from us, or if you want to meet an agent that we recommend, click here now and fill out the form or call our team at

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Learn How To Determine And Boost The Market Value Of Your Miami Home

As a homeowner in Miami FL, you should always be aware of your home’s market value. Why? Because you will know what’s happening in the market and can also look for opportunities to enhance that value whenever possible. You will also be able to plan ahead so that when you list your home, it will immediately appeal to buyers.

The determination of your home’s market value is a process that calls for accuracy and attention to detail. There are so many ways you can do this. Find out more on the popular and not-so-popular ways of doing this in the following post by a real estate expert:

How To Determine The Market Value Of A Home

As a homeowner, regardless if you’re thinking of selling your home or not, you should always be concerned about the market value of your home.  Certainly when you’re thinking about selling your home you will be more interested in how much your home is worth than if you’re not thinking about selling.

Over the past 5 years as one of the top Realtors in Rochester NY, I’ve been approached by many homeowners who are wondering how they can determine the market value of their home.  There are several methods of determining market value of homes that should be avoided like a disease and others that are great for determining the market value of a home. Read more at Rochester Real Estate Blog…

Image Courtesy of Tecnologia Domotica

As explained, some methods used today are completely untrustworthy and it will do you well to avoid them. Instead, get an accredited person to do the job for you to be on the safe side.

Taking good care of your home will be of benefit in adding value to your property. Have you ever wondered how else you can add value to your home? The following post gives the findings of a research carried out on the subject:

Study finds solar power systems increase market value of homes

Findings from a team of real estate appraisal experts and a researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory suggest that adding a photovoltaic solar power system to a home increases the home’s value across six states.

The market value of photovoltaic systems, or PV systems, has been unclear, leaving appraisers, homeowners and developers in the dark about whether they would increase home value. PV systems produce electricity from sunlight using semiconductor materials.

The study brought together a team of seven appraisal experts and Ben Hoen, a staff research associate at the Berkeley Lab and co-author of the report. The team observed that PV systems increase the market value of a home in markets in California, Oregon, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Read more at DailyCal.org…

Image Courtesy of Junk Mail

A solar system will not only increase your home’s value, it also will reduce your utility bills and is therefore a worthwhile investment.

With the increased awareness about the environment, a lot has also changed in the real estate industry. The following post explains this further:

Green home features now increase value and marketability of homes

Consumers in today’s real estate market are ready and willing to pay more for environmentally friendly, high performance features. Whether for the environmental advantages, the cost savings, or just for the sake of keeping up with trends, people are embracing green home features more than ever before.

Homes with these green features tend to be more marketable and sell for a greater market value. With green features being so popular, competitive real estate professionals need to stay educated on both the features themselves, and ways to market them. Read more at The Real Daily…

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

These tips will go a long way in helping you determine and increase the market value of your home. On the other hand, if the market value of your Miami FL home is not as good as you’d like but you don’t have the money to fix it, you might consider selling it to a cash-buyer. Call us today for more information on how to sell your home for cash fast.

Featured Image: Image Credit

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6 Owner Financing Tips For Sellers In Greenville

If you’re thinking of selling your house using owner financing, make sure you read this blog post to learn the 6 owner financing tips for sellers in Greenville…

There are many ways to sell your house. You could list it on the market and see what sellers will pay. You could work with a real estate buying company (like what we do here at Mason Buys Houses) and get a fair all-cash offer, or you can consider owner financing and “be the bank” to sell your house to a buyer and collect payments over time.

Owner financing is a valuable but under-used strategy to sell your house. It’s where you offer terms to the buyer to pay you regular payments (just like a mortgage). Here are 6 owner financing tips for sellers in Greenville…

Owner Financing Tip #1: Don’t Focus Only On Price

Price is just one component. Of course, you’ll want to find a price that is fair for both of you but there are other considerations as well (which could benefit you more than the asking price).

Owner Financing Tip #2: Timeline

Think about the timeline you want to be paid in. Banks might offer 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25-year mortgages. Do you want to accept payments over that period of time? Your buyer will want to find a timeline that works for them, too: they might not want to be paying you 25 years down the road!

Owner Financing Tip #3: Terms

The terms of the deal are one of the most important yet most overlooked parts of the deal. The terms might include things like how much down payment you want if there’s an early repayment penalty or a late payment penalty, and most important – how much interest you charge.

Owner Financing Tip #4: Protect Yourself

Even if you enter into an agreement with someone who is completely trustworthy, things could still go wrong – so make sure you protect yourself. For example, make sure you have insurance and the other person does as well for the various situations that could occur. And consider including a clause that retains the ownership of the house in your name until the house is fully paid.

Owner Financing Tip #5: Build Contingencies

Most of your owner financing agreement will be built around the “ideal plan” – of what would happen if everything goes perfectly. But sometimes things happen outside of our control, so building contingencies allow you to make better decisions if the unexpected happens. For example, what if the buyer no longer wants the house, or can longer pay, or wants to pay early, or wants to use the house in a different way than expected? Or what if your circumstances change and you no longer want to sell or you need to sell even faster? Agree to the contingencies with your buyer ahead of time and the arrangement will be so much smoother.

Owner Financing Tip #6: Get An Attorney

No matter how you ultimately structure your owner financing deal, make sure you work closely with an attorney who can help you. A poorly worded agreement could end up hurting you; an attorney can help.

Are you thinking about selling your house?

If you’re thinking of selling and are exploring your options, consider selling directly to us. If you don’t want to go through the hassle and headache of selling to the market then we might be able to help. Call our team at 864-300-2110 or click here now and fill out the form and we’ll give you a fair all-cash offer on your house.

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Would An Investor Buy My House In Greenville For Close To Asking Price?

Are you looking to sell a house in Greenville, the [market_zipcode} zipcode, or anywhere in South Carolina? Then this blog post will answer the question, “Would an investor buy my house in Greenville for close to asking price?” Keep reading to find out the answer…

When it comes to selling your house, you have a couple of options:

• You can sell it on the market by stating your asking price and then working with an agent to try and find a buyer (or trying to find a buyer yourself).
• You can skip the “sell-on-the-market” process and just work with a buyer directly (like what we do here at Mason Buys Houses) who can offer you a price for your house.

If you’re wondering, “Would an investor buy my house  in Greenville for close to asking price?” then here’s what you need to know:

Why Investors Invest

An investor invests in real estate because they hope to buy at a lower price and either sell at a higher price or rent out the property. Therefore, investors are motivated to find houses that are priced affordably for them to buy.

Before you set your asking price, think about what benefit an investor provides…

Understanding The Asking Price

Your asking price is a starting point for the negotiation. Even if you sell to someone on the market (through the help of a real estate agent), your asking price will be the starting point and the buyer will usually try to negotiate a lower price.

But here’s what most people don’t realize: the asking price has other factors built in… for example, it assumes that you have fixed up and cleaned up your property so it’s in pristine shape and ready for buyers. And, don’t forget that you have to pay bills, insurance, and taxes on your property the whole time an agent tries to find a buyer (which can take months). And then you’ll have to pay the agent a commission, which might be thousands of dollars.

So your asking price has all of these things “built into it”.

An Investor Skips All This

When you work with an investor, you actually skip all of this. You don’t have to fix up or clean up your house so you can save thousands of dollars there. And, you don’t have to pay bills, taxes, and insurance for months while you wait for a buyer to be found, so you save thousands of dollars there. And, you don’t have to pay a commission because no agent was used, so you save thousands of dollars there.

Add it all up: you save thousands of dollars by selling TO an investor instead of selling THROUGH an agent.

Summary

Selling to an investor allows you to sell faster and avoid all those expenses. That’s why an investor might not be able to buy a house near your asking your price. However, the discount you might provide them is money you wouldn’t see anyway while you wait months and “gamble” to sell your house on the open market.

Do you want to sell your house fast in Greenville?

If you’re looking to sell fast, get a fair all-cash offer from us. Just click here now to fill out the form or call our office at 864-300-2110.

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Can Appraisals Affect The Selling Price On A House In Greenville?

If you’re thinking about selling your house then you are probably trying to figure out what your selling price might be. Part of that process is getting an appraisal (or valuation) on your home. So, if you’re wondering, “Can appraisals affect the selling price on a house in Greenville?” then keep reading…

When selling your house, you’ll be juggling a lot of numbers!

• There’s the asking price – the price you WANT to sell your house for
• There’s the appraisal or valuation – the price that a real estate professional thinks you should try to sell your house for
• There’s the selling price – the price that someone will ultimately pay for your house.

Can Appraisals Affect The Selling Price On A House?

Here’s the answer:

An appraisal should probably affect your asking price but it won’t affect the selling the price. Here’s why…

An appraisal is an educated guess. When you want an appraisal, the professional who gives you the appraisal will usually find the number based on what other comparable houses in the area have sold for recently.

They’ll look at several factors (including, but not limited to the number of bedrooms or bathrooms, whether the basement is finished or not, etc.). Of course, it’s just an educated guess based on research, and there are other factors that may influence the price beyond the appraisal.

The appraisal will highlight things you want to be aware of. It will show you what other people are willing to pay for a house and often what they consider to be important factors in the area.

The appraisal will then help you select an asking price that potential buyers seem willing to pay. For example, you might choose an asking price that is higher than the appraisal because your house is a better house, or you might choose an asking price that is lower than the appraisal because your house needs some work.

The Bottom Line

The appraisal is a guide; an educated guess. But you should also be aware that the appraisal is not always correct. There are many factors that determine the sale price of a house and an appraisal is only a starting point. Therefore, it won’t likely influence the selling price.

Are you thinking about selling your house?

Why bother with an appraisal at all? Why bother with showing your house to a bunch of strangers, and waiting month while they decide whether or not they want to buy. You can get a fair all-cash offer from us to buy your house fast… and then you don’t have to worry about getting an appraisal, or listing the house, or showing your house, or negotiating. Just pick up the phone and give our team a call at 864-300-2110 or click here now and enter your information into the form.

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