Breaking down Closing Costs

Closing a loan is the most important part of the buying/selling process. 

Making sure that you have all of the paperwork to the Escrow closer and that it is all correct when you sit down to the table.

However, like most first time home buyer and seller, sometimes, no matter how many times it has been explained to you, the closing costs can be a bit confusing. 

Below is a graph explaining the break down of those Closing Costs, courtesy of modernfsbo.net

7 Open House Tips

In our "Selling Tip 1.0" we talked about Home Staging, and it's importance.

When we have an Open House to bring in potential buyers, Staging comes into play. So do some other important points.

1. Owners should not be present during an open house.
    Having a sentimental and attached person there will turn your prospects away. They do not want to     feel like they are intruding on your property. It's better to have a family friend or relative who can       be impartial, or better yet a Realtor. Someone who will work hard to acquire you a buyer.

2. Clean and de-clutter.
    That means carpet, window treatments, appliances and furniture. Closets should be relieved of  
    much of their contents, as they can be a deal breaker for many potential buyers. The same is true of     the kitchen. Remove hanging equipment or potential safety hazards. Towels should be put into    
    drawers, not hanging on the oven handle. Remove any evidence of pets: people will run from a  
    house that may have had a pet.

3. Not all smells are equal.
    Not everyone will like the fragrance that you think "spruces" up the place.
    Keep it simple, the deep clean you just did will give a welcome, clean scent that everyone will  
    enjoy.

4. Lightly decorate for the season.
    Nothing to heavy, a door arrangement, something for the mantle and maybe a dining table center  
    piece. This gives them the sense of home, with out them feeling like they're intruding on your
    home.

5. Year Round
     Have some pictures around of what the house looks like during the different seasons. The busiest        time of year to buy are warm months, but people want to know what the area looks like during the      fall, winter and spring months as well.

6. Paper Information
    Extra pamphlets about he house, MLS Listings for examples are great advertising. They can go  
    home with that information, pick it up at a later time and potentially buy that house from the
    physical reminder. School district information and a map of the local business district are also  
    great to have on hand. Don't forget your Realtor's business card and information.

7. Light snack.
    People are more open minded and attentive when they've been fed. But it's costly, not to mention
    messy and too much work to have a full lunch provided. Instead a simple dessert tray; cookies,  
    pastries and tarts go a long way!

Until next time.
Kristi Eskew

Winterize

Check out this article written by Elizabeth Eckhart about winterizing your home.

HOME WINTERIZATION: FIVE WAYS TO KEEP OUT THE COLD

Written by Elizabeth Eckhart on Wednesday, 05 November 2014 12:56 pm

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April may bring showers, but winter weather can bring all sorts of other unexpected and expensive damages to your home. Fall's cool temperatures are a reminder that winter days are on their way - take stock of what you may need to do to prepare your home beforehand, and you'll be ready for the onslaught of ice and snow. Here are several simple, cost-effective tasks you can do now to make the transition into the colder months easier.

1. Clean Out Your Gutters

Once the leaves are off the trees it's time to clean out your gutters. Poorly maintained gutters can damage the roof of your home as well the exterior. When snow and ice mix with clogged gutters, it's a recipe for disaster, inside and out. Leaves and debris will prevent moisture from running off the roof, resulting in ice dams and water leaks. Before flurries form make sure to clear out any waste that's accumulated, and also be sure to note any missing or broken pieces and have them repaired. Remove potentially hazardous branches, or structurally unsound trees that could pose problems under the weight of snow or in the midst of a dangerous windstorm.

2. Have Your Heating System Checked

You don't want to be the person waiting in the frigid cold for a repairman to come when your heater stops in the dead of winter. Instead, have an inspector come in and make sure that the system is well ventilated and running smoothly before the first cold snap hits. Inspections generally run between $70-$100. If you live in an area where winter storms consistently knock out both electricity and heat, consider investing in a small generator. Learn more about what you can do to ensure that your system is operating properly, and give yourself time to make any needed repairs before winter comes and the heating companies are overbooked.

3. Have a Snow Preparedness Kit

It's happened to all of us. Waking up to discover a solid two feet of fluffy white snow layering the ground, only to realize that we've just got one old, dull shovel to dig ourselves free. Before stores are bought out of the necessities, make sure you have everything you need in case of a blizzard:  a shovel, flashlights with extra batteries, one or two bags of road salt to coat the driveway, sidewalk, and walkways, and an ice scraper or two. Keep an emergency kit in a designated spot, and when you awake and find yourself trapped in a winter wonderland, you won't be stuck trying to come up with new and inventive ways of unearthing your car tires.

4. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans aren't only useful in the summer months. If your fan has a reverse switch, you can keep your home extra warm in the winter by reversing the cycle of the blades. Having the blades rotate in the opposite direction will create an updraft. Since heat rises, this pushes the hot air down and re-distributes it throughout your house. It's especially useful for homes that have high ceilings.

5. Caulk Doors and Windows

In the depths of winter the average home can lose nearly one third of its heat through drafty windows and doors. If the gap between your windows and doors is greater than the width of a nickel, it's time to reapply some exterior caulk to prevent this heat from escaping. Silicone caulk is highly recommended due to its non-shrinking quality and impermeability to the harsh elements. Block drafts from coming under doors with "draft dodger" door stoppers. You can easily make your own at home. Taking these extra steps will ensure that when the temperature drops, the cold and unforgiving air will stay outside where it belongs, and save you any money you'd be spending on additional heating.

Selling tip 1.0

Everyone wants to get the most $$$ out of the selling of their house. Some think that just taking pictures of the house "as is" is ok, people will see around your clutter and stuff to see the potential beauty and jump to buy.

The cold truth, it is unsightly and unpleasing to the eye. You may have an amazing house, but people will not be interested if the above is what you post in your MLS listing, or For Sale By Owner Listing. 

It doesn't take much to get your home ready, and more appealing to prospective buyers.

1. Remove personal items: Pictures, all but a few; toys, put in children's room neatly; pet gear.

2. Minimize Decor for maximum effect. Leave a few art pieces as shown above, enough to get the idea of home, without making the buyer feel like their intruding on someones else's life.

3. CLEAN. This means everything. Windows, no one wants to look outside and see grime; floor boards; and every surface. A dirty dusty house is no one's friend.

4. Put away all those kitchen extras, leaving things on your counters is distracting and takes away from the space of the kitchen, especially if it is a smaller one.

5. Add seating to rooms. This allows people to get comfortable and begin to envision themselves in your house.

6. The first thing someone sees when they come to look at your home is the front door. Make sure the paint is good, if not repaint. Clean and polish or if need be replace door handles and accessories.

7. Repaint colored walls to a neutral color: white, grey, tan, or beige. This makes the rooms look bigger and is pleasing to the eye. The prospective buyer can also envision what they may want to do with the home better this way also.

Well, these are just a few tips, there are plenty more. If you would like a more comprehensive list go to: http://www.forsalebyowner.com/sell-my-house/preparing/staging-101-declutter-room-room-outside-home 

Until next time.

Kristi Eskew

Eyes Wide Open

Buying or selling real estate can be and usually is one of the scariest things someone does with regards to purchases. Many people only buy or sell once in their life time. If you are a first time home buyer, unless you have gone through and researched the fine details of the happenings of the real estate world, it is a confusing whirl wind. the same could be said about selling.

Here are a few tips to make the experience a less confusing one and a more exciting one:

Find a Realtor who will work for you:

 "Well. don't they all?" you may ask.

No, some are just in there to find you a house and make some money.

There are many different types of Realtor's out there. Research a bit, check ratings on sites like

angieslist.com for user ratings and opinions. 

Ask your agent or broker for a Comp.:

Comparables (Comps) are lists of properties that are similar to yours, in value and area (seller), or

for the buyer to now if an interested home is with in a suitable price.

Get pre-approved for a home loan:

Usually your agent/broker will have a list of lenders they work with often, ask them for any   

suggestions. Check those lenders out on angieslist.com as well. Get with your chosen lender, find 

out of you are financially ready to purchase a home, if your credit is within the good limits for a 

home loan. If not, they can usually help you get where you need to be to get that dream home 

you've been longing for. 

Have a reasonable idea of what you want:

Know what you want in a home. But be REALISTIC! You may want that two story, brick with 

an attached two car garage and at least an acre of land, but do not think you are going to get that

house for a below market price. If you know your budget is under a certain amount, plan to get a 

that is worth that amount and be happily surprised if you find exactly what you wanted for the $$!

Understand the contract and how money is broken down:

NEVER be afraid to ask questions. This you your money, and a lot of it, if you are confused and 

do not ask questions, you are only hurting yourself.

You do not want to be at the closing table and be shelling out a lot of money and not know where

it's going or why you're paying it.

I hope this helps and will be adding more soon!

Kristi Eskew