Don't Try to Make the Hard Sell

           

Leaving your home during showings is the best way to help it sell

No one knows your home better than you, but that doesn't mean you should stick around to show it to buyers. Most experienced real estate agents advise sellers to leave their home when it's being shown to prospective buyers and during open houses.

Buyers need to critically examine a property before they can decide to buy it or not. It's difficult for most buyers to talk frankly with their agent about a listing if the seller is home. Showing off your "flea market find" cabinets probably won't get the house sold, and it could keep the buyers from looking at the qualities of the home that are particular to their need. An agent knows what their client is looking for and will highlight those features, so leave the showing to them.

There will be times when leaving the house is out of the question. In such cases, make yourself scarce. Walk your dog around the neighborhood, swing on the porch swing or work in your home office.
Even though you may enjoy entertaining, try to keep home life simple while your house is on the market. Don't plan big events and children's sleepovers at your home. Taking the family out for dinner can provide a nice break, especially if buyers want to see your house after work.

By FrontDoor.com

 

JoAnn Deville Smith REALTOR

 

First Time Homebuyer Specialist

318.451.2385

 

Search Homes For Sale in CENLA

 

Each Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Licensed in the State of Louisiana

 

5 steps to picking the right agent to sell your home in Pineville LA

                                      SO HOW DO I CHOOSE ??

How to choose an Agent to list your Pineville, LA House.

Interview more than one agent before you choose one — and be sure to ask the right questions.
If you're selling a home, a good real-estate agent will help you set the right price, market the home professionally, qualify the buyers and expertly negotiate and finalize the deal.
A great agent has long experience with recent sales and can walk a tightrope, balancing optimism with realism and diplomacy with brutal honesty.

1. Round up good prospectsTo identify prospective agents, you can ask for referrals from neighbors or friends.

2. Ask tough questionsYou want an agent who is "intimately and passionately" familiar with your neighborhood "  If a prospective agent has little constructive input about price and condition for you, be curious: Do they want to help you sell your house or do they just want to put a sign in your yard to bring in buyers?"

Each agent you interview should offer a comparative market analysis (a comparison of recent and pending sales of homes similar to yours) and know enough about the neighborhood and recent sales to explain why you should list your home for more or less than the neighbor down the street who sold last season. Don't fall for the agent who glibly promises the quickest sale for the highest price.

Choose an Agent you feel comfortable with, someone who listens to your wants and needs and takes that into account when marketing your home. Communication is key to a good working relationship.

 

JoAnn Deville Smith REALTOR

The Magic Number Is .. 318.451.2385

 

Find Out What Your Home is Worth Here

Each Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Licensed in the State of Louisiana

 

Shop around to avoid missing red flags or regretting your decision when buying your First Home in Pineville LA.

        Don't Fall for Love at First Sight


Buying the first house you look at it is kind of like marrying the first person you go on a date with -- not necessarily a good idea. The average homebuyer looks at least 10 homes over an eight-week search before making an offer. While you don't need to visit every home in the neighborhood, you should compare at least three homes before making a decision.

 

 

Here are the top 4 reasons to shop around:

You might find similar features in another home. When you go on your first showing, you have nothing to compare the home's pros and cons with. You might love the steam shower in the master bathroom, but another listing nearby might have a better -- with a lower asking price.
 
You'll learn more about each home's resale value. Shopping around can help you get a sense of the neighborhood, and can help you gauge which homes have been over-developed for the area. If you buy the nicest home on the block, your property won't appreciate at the same rate that the surrounding homes do, and you might have trouble selling when you choose to move on.

You'll catch red flags before you rush in. Rushing to the closing table can also cause you to miss serious maintenance issues. Finding "the surprise behind door number three" is only exciting on The Price is Right, so make sure you look in every room in the house. If any rooms are "off limits" during the showing, arrange to see them later and have your home inspector examine them carefully.
 
You won't wonder if "the grass is greener" across the street. Surveying your options will also help you avoid buyer's remorse. If you buy without looking at several homes, you could end up feeling as though you've made a mistake. If you still love the first house you saw after visiting a few more listings, you can be confident in your decision to make an offer.

Courtesy of frontdoor.com

 

JoAnn Deville Smith REALTOR

First Time Homebuyer Specialist

Call 318.451.2385

 

Each Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and operated

Licensed in The State of Louisiana

 

You Can Do it! Let Me Show You How

You Can Do it! Let Me Show You How

Do you dream of owning your first home? Tropical garden? Yard for dog? Room to grow your family? You can make your dream a reality. And the time has never been better to buy.

Buying your first home doesn’t have to be hard. With a simple roadmap and the help of a supportive agent, home-ownership is within your reach.JoAnn Deville Smith “First Time Homebuyer’s Specialist “ , is here to help you every step of the way. My experience and unique tools can put you in your dream home - with ease! Call me to find out more. The MAGIC NUMBER IS ... 318.451.2385

 

 

 

 

 

JoAnn Deville Smith " First Time Homebuyers  Specialist "

 

All Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Licensed in the State of Louisiana

 

 

 

Finding Your Way Home, Your Road Map to Buying a Home in Pineville LA

Finding Your Way Home

Your Roadmap to Home Ownership!

 

Looking for a new home can be an exciting and challenging experience. Having a real estate professional that takes the time to understand your unique needs and lifestyle is important.

 

I work hard to not only find the perfect home for you, but also to handle every last detail of the purchase process, from negotiating the terms of sale to recommending moving companies. I will be there every step of your journey to home ownership! Call me at 318.451.2385

 

To help you get started on buying your new home, take advantage of these valuable resources.

 

 

 

Step 1: Decide to Buy

The decision to purchase your first home is one of the biggest and best decisions you could ever make. After all, a home is the largest (and most emotional) investment most people will ever make. So, how do you know if it's the right time for you to buy your first home?

 

·         There is never a wrong time to buy the right home. The key is finding a good buy and taking the time to carefully evaluate your finances.

·         A home purchase is an important step in the path to long-term wealth. Purchasing your own home is a great investment that provides specific financial advantages, including equity buildup, value appreciation potential and tax benefits. It's also an automatic savings plan that you cannot get from renting!

·         Here's the most important rule for keeping your stress to a minimum: you don't have to know everything, I am here  to help you through every step of the process.

Step 2: Hire Your Agent

When you're looking for a real estate professional to help you, know that above all else, good agents put their clients first. This is your dream, and your agent is your advocate to help you make your dream come true.
A great real estate agent will:

1.     Educate you about the current conditions of the market.

2.     Analyze what you want and what you need in your next home.

3.     Guide you to homes that fit your criteria.

4.     Coordinate the work of other needed professionals throughout the process.

5.     Negotiate with the seller on your behalf.

6.     Check and double-check paperwork and deadlines.

Step 3: Secure Financing

Ultimately, your lender will pre-approve you for a certain amount, but YOU will decide what you're comfortable paying every month. Remember, your lender only sees your finances on paper. It's up to you to decide how much you're willing to stretch your budget in order to get into your dream home.
Be sure to follow these six steps to financing your home:

1.     Choose a loan officer.

2.     Make a loan application and get preapproved.

3.     Determine what you want to pay and select a loan option.

4.     Submit to the lender an accepted purchase offer contract.

5.     Get an appraisal and title commitment.

6.     Obtain funding at closing.

 

Step 4: Find Your Home

So you are preapproved and ready to begin your search. But how or where do you begin? There are a lot of homes out there and diving in without a guide can become overwhelming and confusing. A great agent will help you more accurately pinpoint homes that fit your criteria. The right home will meet all your important needs, and as many of your additional wants as possible.

 

·         What do I want my home to be close to?

·         How much space do I need and why?

·         Which is more critical: location or size?

·         Would I be interested in a fixer-upper?

·         How important is home value appreciation?

·         Is neighborhood stability a priority?

·         Would I be interested in a condo?

·         What features and amenities do I want? Which do I really need?

 

You'll learn as you look at homes, your priorities will probably adjust along the way.

 

Step 6: Perform Due Diligence

Just because you love a particular property doesn't mean that it's perfect. In fact, this is where reason has to trump emotion. You'll need to have a property inspection (which I  highly recommend you attend) that will expose hidden issues. This way you'll know what you are getting into before you sign closing papers.

 

 Step 7: Close

Once you've made your offer and have completed the inspection process, you're in the "home" stretch! But, in order to ensure that you don't put your closing date, or your mortgage at risk, you have a few pre-closing responsibilities that you'll need to be mindful of.

 

·         Staying in control of your credit and finances. If you are tempted to make any large purchases during this time, it's best to talk to your lender first.

·         Keeping in touch with your agent and lender, returning all phone calls and completing paperwork promptly.

·         Communicating with your agent at least once or twice a week, and verifying with your lender that all mortgage funding steps are completed.

·         Conducting a final walk-through of the home with your agent.

·         Confirming with your agent, home insurance professional, and lender that you have the settlement statement, certified funds, and evidence of insurance lined up prior to closing.

Step : Protect your Investment

Congratulations, and welcome home! The home-buying process is complete, but just like any big process, there's a maintenance plan! It's now your responsibility, and in your best financial interest, to protect your investment for years to come. Performing routine maintenance on your home's systems is always more affordable than having to fix big problems later. Be sure to watch for signs of leaks, damage, and wear.

And remember, just because the sale is complete, your relationship with your agent doesn't need to end! After closing, your agent can still help you - providing information for your tax returns, finding contractors and repair services, and even tracking your home's current market value.

 

 

CALL JoAnn Deville Smith, Your Dream Home Finder, The Magic Number Is, 318.451.2385

 

Each Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and Operated,

Licensed in the State of Louisiana.