Are you looking for some great content to read this weekend? Then be sure to check out the fantastic real estate articles below from top real estate bloggers across the country. You will find information about home buying mistakes, steps to take after the purchase of your new home, staging ideas to help to get your home sold and much more. In April 2019, there has been some tremendous advice which will benefit buyers and sellers in their real estate transaction. Check out the posts below.
Home Buying Mistakes
When searching for your new home, there are home buying mistakes you do not want to make! Kevin Vitali has put together an excellent article about mistakes to avoid during the buying process. Some of these mistakes include going to the listing agent directly. By utilizing the listing agent to represent the buyer, it is considered dual agency. The listing agent may not be objective, and keep in mind the listing agent has the fiduciary responsibility to the seller first. Other mistakes to avoid include not performing your proper due diligence. It is important for a buyer to perform their own due diligence and they should satisfy themselves with the condition of the home.
After the Purchase of Your New Home!
One of the first things you need to do when you purchase your new home is to change services into your own name. Those services include gas, electricity, water, and trash. Also, you need to take into account the internet and who provides the optimal service in your area. Paul Sian has shared an excellent post about the necessary steps needed after the purchase of a new home.
Paul discusses another important consideration that many new homeowners are doing is home security systems and cameras. Everything in today's time is wireless and it is so easy to access this data right from your smartphone. There are many great providers such as Ring and Nest.
Tips for Picking a Great Real Estate Agent
If you are considering selling, then it is imperative that a seller conduct their own research on how to find a real estate agent. Whether you are buying or selling, it is a big investment and you will want to have an agent who is experienced and will be able to negotiate the best deal for you. Glenn Shelhamer has written an excellent article to help you select the best real estate agent. He recommends interviewing Realtors and ask important questions such as how many homes have you sold this year, do you work in the area, and the importance of speaking with past clients.
Other very obvious forms of vetting include ensuring the real estate agent is licensed and has no disciplinary action on their license, this is public information a consumer is able to easily obtain.
Home Staging for Selling your Home
Are you considering selling, then there are some important considerations to take into account. Karen Holt Highland has written an excellent article about staging prior to selling and she describes information about the audience who may be purchasing. Millennials made up 36% of home buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). If you are selling, then there is a good chance a Millenial will be your home buyer.
When selling Karen reminds us that buyers want to fall in love with the home they are purchasing. Buyers want to have a living room with space for entertaining with their friends and family.
Consider your kitchen and if it is dated, it may be time for a minor kitchen remodel which can be attractive for new buyers!
Best Real Estate Blogs of 2019
The NAR® Real Estate in a Digital Age 2018 Report demonstrates that less than 15% of all Realtors have a real estate blog as going into 2019. Blogging and content marketing can be utilized for maximum exposure for personal brands, listing marketing, and utilizing social media marketing such as Instagram and Pinterest.
Joy Bender in San Diego, has curated the top 17 Real Estate blogs that have extensive real estate and mortgage information available for consumers to utilize with their real estate transaction.
Home Renovations that Have a Good ROI
It pays to have the knowledge of what of kind of return on investment your intended remodeling project will have. Whether you are considering changing the style of your home a dated Mediterranean style to an updated chic farmhouse style, it is important to consider the return on investment. Not all home remodeling projects yield the same financial result with respect to return on investment.
Sharon Paxson discusses ROI or returns on investment is the amount of money invested in a renovation project and the return is the gain or loss which is generated on the investment. It is important to not overspend on investments that you will not see the return later when you sell the property.
Going Green in Your New Home!
Going green means a homeowner is making a decision to be environmentally friendly with decisions which can help protect the environment and sustain the natural resources for our future generations. It is an important consideration and we all need to be mindful of our own carbon footprint. Bill Gassett shares an excellent article about going green in your own home. He provides tips on how to go green and building tips.
A hot topic of debate is whether or not a homeowner should be utilizing solar panels, and he discusses the benefits to a homeowner and the substantial energy savings as well as using solar panels.
How Much of a Down Payment Do You Need?
One of the biggest real estate myths is that home buyers need to put down at least 20% to 30% on their new home purchase. This is not always the case for a borrower. Michelle Gibson discusses financing options for home buyers. There are FHA loans, VA loans and Conventionals loans for home buyers in today's market.
A buyer is also responsible for closing costs so will need to have those additional funds in addition to whatever down payment they have.
Home buyers may utilize gift money, secure loans, assistance programs or even borrowing from their retirement or 401K plan. There are many options to purchasing a home, a buyer should discuss the options with their lender in order to obtain the optimal loan for the property they are purchasing.
Top Curb Appeal Tips for Selling
Curb appeal is hugely important when selling a home. From the photos that your online buyers are going to see or the buyers that pull up in front of your home, curb appeal is important! Petra Norris has written an excellent post about the top 10 curb appeal tips which will help you get your home sold! She discusses making the curb appeal inviting to a potential home buyer including adding a bench or other outdoor furnishings to enhance the exterior.
When you are addressing curb appeal, be sure to hide anything unsightly such as trash cans or even the HVAC units. Fresh exterior paint will always make a home stand out as well.
Adding a Mudroom?
What is a mudroom you might be asking? A mudroom is the entry space separating the outside of your home and the interior of your home. A mudroom will exist in areas where there is cold wet weather. Anita Clark has done an excellent job of defining what a mudroom is, and how to create an optimal mudroom environment.
The main thing when it comes to having a mudroom in your home is to make it as functional as possible and ensure the space is decluttered. Make sure space is organized, and continue to keep it organized. Making sure the floors are up to date will help to maintain an ideal mudroom!
Staging Tips for Your Deck!
Spring and summer are fabulous times to show off your deck or patio with staging in all areas. After a long winter, homeowners are ready to enjoy time outdoors. Kevin Vitali has written an excellent article about exterior staging! Decks provide for outdoor living space and definitely offer outdoor appeal to your home. An outdoor deck can be a great place to enjoy the outdoor space. Decks are great for cooking outdoors, dining, enjoying the outdoors and a beautiful garden. You can accessorize your outdoor space by colorful planters and even a water feature.
Utilizing lovely furnishings during the spring and summer months is always desirable. It is a great opportunity to enjoy gatherings with friends and family.
Takeaway
Hope you enjoyed this month's Best Real Estate Articles. The more information you have on what to anticipate with a real estate transaction, the more prepared you will be. If your home is prepared to sell, then the more likely it will result in an offer and subsequent closing.
About the Author
The above real estate article “Best Real Estate Articles of April 2019 on Realty Times” was written by Sharon Paxson a Top Newport Beach Realtor. With experience representing buyers, sellers, and landlords with their real estate transactions since 2005, we welcome the opportunity to share our expertise and guide you through the home buying or selling process.
We service the following Orange County CA areas: Corona del Mar, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, and more! If you are considering selling your home, we welcome the opportunity to speak with you.
