Month: May 2020

If you have a real estate agent to sell your home, he’ll do a comparative market analysis for your home. While this might seem pretty involved and something that only agents can do, that’s not true. You can do an analysis yourself. A comparative market analysis is simply a collection of information about your house. It takes into consideration all the selling points – such as the square footage of your house, the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and where the home is located. Then it looks at other homes that are like yours. This analysis looks at which homes sold and how long they were on the market. The purpose of having an analysis done is so that you can get an idea of the marketability of your home. 

You’ll see how well other homes like yours have fared. In this analysis, you’ll see what the owner asked as the selling price of the home and what it actually sold for. This lets you see what you can price your own home at and what you’ll most likely end up getting. You can get your own analysis from an online site that offers the information. While there are plenty of sites that will charge you for this information, it is available without cost. If you want a more in depth one that will do some of the work for you, then you can use a site that will compare your home to others that are sold in the area where you’re located. 

Be careful using an analysis on a site that lists homes for sale because these are not always accurate. You can look at what the appraisal was on your home when you originally bought it to get a starting ballpark figure. 

You can also have your home appraised as it currently is. Getting an analysis on your home can improve your ability to sell it because you’ll know what the market is like. You’ll know how to price your home to get the most bids. You’ll be able to price more competitively with an analysis than without one. You can search other places related to homes to help you get a good analysis as well. 

You can check with the FHA’s data on homes as well as check the tax records for your area. You can do this online and it’s a free resource. Just go to your county’s website. You want to do an analysis because it gives you more knowledge when it comes to selling your home. A seller who knows the true value of his home can end up making more money when he puts it on the market.

So you’ve found your dream house.  You’re ready to make an offer, negotiate a little if necessary, then close the deal and move in.  But what if there are problems with the home that you are unaware of?

A home inspection can alert you to trouble spots that you may not know about.  Most homebuyers simply do not have the extensive knowledge required to find hidden problems or areas of concern.  That is why it is important to have a professional home inspection done before going forward with your purchase.

Too often, buyers confuse a home inspection with a pest inspection.  The pest inspection is required by many lenders before they will lend you the money to buy the home.  But there are many more issues that should be addressed before you close the deal, and a home inspector has the experience and expertise to find most problems or potential problems.

A home inspection usually includes the necessary pest inspection, so you don’t have to hire two separate inspectors.  The inspector will also look for other issues that could affect the structure of the home, such as improper building materials and techniques.  He will check the roof for potential leaks or other problems, and the basement for signs of leakage or weakness.

The home inspector will also look for possible safety issues.  He will test for carbon monoxide and problems that could potentially cause leakage of the gas in the future.  Electrical systems will be checked for functionality and fire hazards.

The inspector will check the plumbing to make sure it works properly, and test the heating and cooling systems.  If there is a private well or septic system, those will also be inspected for proper capacity and functionality.

It is important to know about problems with these things before you consider buying a house.  Problems that are not readily apparent could turn into major nuisances, or even cause serious damage to your home, in a few months or years.  Safety issues might not show themselves until someone has been injured or had a close call.  Knowing about these things ahead of time gives you the opportunity to have them resolved before buying.

You can have a clause added to your purchase offer stating that closing is contingent upon the home passing inspection.   Some, but not all, real estate agents automatically include this.  Making sure it is there gives you the option of negotiating with the buyer to have repairs made or the price lowered, or backing out if necessary.

Having a home inspection done can help you avoid buying a home that needs a lot of work.  Even if you plan to purchase anyway and do the repairs yourself, the inspection can help you decide which repairs are the most important.  A home inspection can save you enough money and trouble to make it well worthwhile.

The process of looking for a new home for yourself and/or your family is sometimes excruciatingly emotional – and always tiring. After you sign on the dotted line and the house is yours, it’s time to be happy and feel settled, even if there are still boxes stacked to the ceiling. Even though you’re excited about the move to your new home, the first days and weeks may feel overwhelming and you may be a little disoriented. A few things that will make your house a home is planning a birthday party or decorating for and celebrating holidays. Memories you’ll create will make a difference.

Most home experts agree that the closets are where you should begin to make your house feel like a home. Kids may have school and you and your spouse may have to get up and go to work the day after you move in. If your closets are organized the future days will go much easier if you don’t have to rummage through boxes to get to your clothing and other necessities. Be sure to prioritize the kids’ rooms and make it their own as soon as possible. If old enough, let them unpack and organize things as they see fit.

One word of advice – wait to hang your artwork. Give yourself a chance to get to know the house before you decide where each piece belongs. Meanwhile, you can lean them against walls or other areas so you can see them while thinking about what you’re going to do.

Make yourself comfortable. Put clean bedding on the bed and be sure you include throws, pillows and anything else that will help you sleep soundly that first night in your new home.

Arrange the bathroom items. No one is comfortable in a shower without a curtain or a bath mat to step on when you emerge from the shower. Be sure there’s plenty of toilet paper and soap – and don’t forget the towels.

There’s nothing like familiarity of sounds and surroundings to make a house feel like a home. Clocks, chimes, favorite music and whatever else you can think of can take the newness off the home and promote feelings of comfort.

Pets are often ignored during a moving process, but they’ll feel and behave much better if you walk them around the neighborhood, set up their water and food bowls in a place they can easily access and set up the beds for them. Be sure to include their favorite blankets and toys too.

The stress of moving can be somewhat eliminated by sticking to your usual routine. If you have kids that come in from school and are used to hanging their coats on a rack as they enter the room, try to accommodate them with a coat rack in the new home. The routine doesn’t have to change along with the move.