How do I know my budget when searching for a home?

The first step in the home buying process is getting prequalified by a bank or your mortgage broker. They will review your financial information and let you know what you quality for a mortgage.

How do I know if a home is a good financial investment?

Typically, a buyer’s agent will guide you to understand a home’s value and if it is accurately priced, over-priced, or under-priced. There are some home features that make homes more or less desirable, therefore increasing or decreasing the value. Buyer’s agents can point out these negative and positive features and guide you towards understanding if the home would be a good investment.

How do I handle a bidding war? What happens if there are multiple offers on a home I make an offer on?

Real estate becomes challenging when homes have “bidding wars” (ie. multiple offers). Sometimes in a multiple offers situations, the home will sell for the asking price. Other times, the home will sell $100,000, or more, over the asking price. Therefore, it becomes very personal. As a homebuyer, you have to decide what that particular home’s value is to you, and offer that price.

If I am thinking of selling, when should I contact a realtor?

The sooner you contact a realtor, the better. Whether it be three months or two years before you plan to list, a realtor can give you advice on how your home should be presented and minor updates that will increase the value of your home. It is never too soon to contact a realtor.

What are the most important preparations/improvements I should make before I list my home for sale?

The most important step is decluttering your home and removing personal items. If the house has not been painted in many years, painting will give your home a fresh look and increase the property value.

Should I have my home staged?

Home staging sells homes quicker and for maximum value. As an agent, I provide a complimentary staging consultation for all of my sellers so they have step-by-step instructions on what to do to achieve maximum value – I truly believe staging is one of the best things you can do to improve the process of selling your home.

How should I prepare my home for a showing?

You should prepare your home for a showing as you prepare your house for company. Make sure everything is neat and clean – vacuum, clean the counters, put away stray toys and miscellanea, etc.

What is the best time to sell?

The Spring market is typically when a good number of homes go on the market and sell. Therefore, Springtime is a great time to sell your home. However, homes do list and sell every month. Some homeowners need to sell in “off-periods” – which does have one advantage: the competition is less!