Before You Contact An Agent: Tips For Buyers And Sellers

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Just because you’re buying or selling a home doesn’t mean you should immediately contact a realtor. The following are the first steps in the home buying and selling process that you can complete before contacting a realtor, putting you ahead of the game. 

Home Buyers
 
As a buyer, there’s a lot you can do to make your realtor’s life easier. Homebuyers should know what their goals are including their budget and where they want to move. To start, sit down and get real with your budget. Add up the total income of everyone in your household, list all expenses, and determine the cost of homeownership (routine maintenance, repairs, HOA fees). Be sure to take into consideration that your budget may change as a result of marriage, children, or a new job. Once you’ve pinned down a budget, pinpoint a location you’d ideally like to live in. Remember, you can change a house, but you can’t change the location, so consider important factors such as crime rates, education system, public transportation, and real estate value (the median sales price for a home in Troy is around $175,000), to name just a few.
 
Unfortunately, a budget and location mean nothing if your poor credit prevents a lender from approving your mortgage. Your credit score might be one of those numbers you don’t often give much thought to, but it’s important in the buying process, and poor credit is a make or break in the eyes of a lender. You can’t completely revamp your credit in a day, but there are steps you can take to improve it. Make sure your bills are always paid on time, work on chipping away at any debts, and watch that credit card. Even if your credit is low, meet with your lender for helpful advice to get that pre-approval you are seeking.
 
Home Sellers
 
For sellers, it can feel as if there is a lot of pressure to please buyers, but you need to understand that you can’t please everyone. Each buyer has their own unique lists of needs and wants, so it is up to their realtor (and yours) to draw attention to your home’s selling points such as a spacious yard, open floor plan, unfinished basement, etc. However, you can still give your realtor a helping hand. Sellers should keep their home in good condition, which could mean spending a little bit of cash to up the resale value and meet buyer expectations. There are various home improvement projects that will recoup a majority of the cost such as a garage door replacement, deck addition, or even a small kitchen remodel, but make sure you run these ideas by your realtor first to avoid wasting time and money.
 
If you are wary of what to improve and what to leave alone, have your home inspected. Buyers will have your home inspected, and anything that pops up will lead them to either ask for a reduced price, credit, or a fix. Getting your home in tip-top shape before buyers come in to view it can speed up the process, as it gives you time to remedy the issue and/or price your home accordingly. The average cost to inspect a home in the Troy area ranges from between $375 and $484, but it is well worth it if you are able to find issues with your home before a buyer does. Plus, it can point out any deal breakers such as mold, water damage, roof issues, or leaks.
 
Working with a real estate agent is one of the best things you can do during the buying and selling process. However, you can make their life easier prior to bringing them on the team. Buyers should determine their budget, preferred location, and creditworthiness, and sellers should make their home showing-ready with home improvement projects and an inspection. Then, call in a realtor and let them help you achieve your goals.

Want to save yourself time, money, work and the stress of selling?  Contact us at Chris and Gina Buy Houses, we buy homes in any condition, can close on your timeline and in many cases can save you money.  Click here to visit out homepage and gives a call, text, or fill out a form to get a free consultation to see how we can help you today!