What Causes a Home's Value to Decrease? (5 Mistakes to Avoid)

There are hundreds of customizations and adjustments homeowners might make to a house. Some changes add to the value of the house, but others can actually decrease it without the owner even realizing it. These are the most common mistakes homeowners make when changing their homes.

1. Cheap Repairs

It can be hard to shell out for constant repairs, but it's essential to keep your home in good condition. Opting for cheap workmanship, DIY repairs or, worse, ignoring the problem won't be cheaper in the long run as it devalues the property. 

Imagine viewing a home and seeing improperly cut tiling, obvious plaster patches in the wall or wonky fittings. These patchy features will set anyone…

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Home Inspection Checklist for Buyers: What You Need To Know Before Inspection Day

A home inspection is essential when purchasing a house. For a buyer, an inspection is a great way to save unnecessary costs. An inspection might seem daunting or stressful, but that doesn't have to be the case. This article will equip you with a checklist of what is important before the inspection. After checking the tips below, you'll be ready for inspection day.

Cost of a Home Inspection

Price differs depending on your location and the size and condition of the house. The Housing and Urban Development Department states that a home inspection ranges from $300 to $500. You might pay more in some instances.

It could help to know that specialty inspections aren't…

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What Are the Fees When Selling a House?

Selling your house can be an exciting and nerve-wrecking journey. You're about to embark on a new path, start new adventures and move on from one home to another. However, the process of selling your home stands in the way of beginning your new life. If you have a realtor, you're probably aware of closing costs and realtor fees. But did you know there are other fees associated with selling your house? Read on to learn more about fees you'll pay when putting your home up for sale. 

Home Improvement Fees

Many realtors suggest enhancing your home's curb appeal before listing it for sale so it's enticing from the moment it hits the market. This can mean anything from fixing a leaky faucet to resealing the deck.…

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8 Tips to Perfectly Stage Your Home to Sell

Selling your home doesn’t have to be complicated, but there are some steps you can take to make the process easier and more profitable. Here are eight staging tips to help sell your home, so you can quickly find your next place and move onto the next chapter of your life.

1. Remove Clutter

One of the most important things you can do when preparing your home for sale is to remove all clutter. Clutter makes a space feel smaller and can be off-putting to buyers. Plus, it's plain messy.

2. Add Color

One of the best ways to make your home feel fresh and new is by adding a pop of color. Color could be in the form of a bright-colored vase on the coffee table or a piece of art hung on a blank wall. A…

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12 Real Estate Tips for Making Every Buyer a Happy Customer

As of 2022, there are over 1.5 million individuals who are members of the National Association of Realtors. This shows just how much competition is out there. For this reason, as an agent, you need to go above and beyond for your customers to make them feel confident in your services and comfortable with you. These 12 tips can help you ensure each buyer is a happy customer!

Get to Know the Customer Personally

In real estate, you're looking to find people their dream homes. When you get to know them personally, you can better house shop for them. 

Make Them Feel Like Friends  

Home purchasing is a huge investment. People want to work with someone they can trust, which makes treating…

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How To Evaluate an Offer on Your House

Receiving offers from potential buyers is one of the most exciting parts of selling a home. Whether you get multiple offers or just a few, you should know how to evaluate them.

Evaluating an offer isn't very direct, and there are numerous terms and conditions you must take into account. And while there may be a very high offer, it might not be the best one for you. This article unpacks essential tips for evaluating offers.

Go for the Best Buyer

Price is important when selling your home. After all, you're aiming to make money from the sale. However, the largest offer isn't always the best offer.

Typically, the best buyer makes themselves known. A good buyer will have gone through the house several…

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5 Home Improvements to Increase Your Home's Value Before Selling

When selling a house, every homeowner wants the maximum value for their property. Determining which home improvement projects can help you get the desired price can be tricky. If you’re planning to sell your house soon or want to grow your home investment, read on for the top five home improvements that can help increase your home’s value.

1. Improve Energy Efficiency

Energy-efficient upgrades can help lower the utility bills of your house and offer an appealing feature to buyers. Upgrades such as installing a smart thermostat to control the home’s temperature regardless of where the homeowner is helps manage energy use from anywhere.

Old appliances, such as water heaters,…

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Real Estate Agent Versus Broker: What’s The Difference?

Are you looking to invest in or sell a home? As you carry out this business, you will most likely require the services of a real estate agent or broker. Both professionals will readily help you accomplish your sale or purchase effectively. However, before embarking on your search for one, here is a description of each profession and their variations.

Who Is A Real Estate Agent?

This is a professional with a license allowing them to facilitate the sale, purchase, or rent of real estate. They bring the buyer and seller together and are paid a commission (a percentage of the property’s selling price). You may also find them as real estate salespeople or real estate associates.

Different…

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The Difference Between a Buyer’s Market and a Seller’s Market

You have probably wondered when's the best time to buy or sell a house. You may think the time of the year significantly impacts fluctuation, but you might be mistaken. The changes have more to do with demand and supply than anything else.

Knowing what's happening in your local real estate market is essential to determine whether it is a buyer’s or a seller’s market. But what exactly do these terms mean? This guide will help you differentiate them.

Buyer’s Market

This market occurs when supply is more than the demand. There is high real estate inventory, and plenty of homes are for sale, but few interested buyers. This market's buyer has more leverage than the seller since higher…

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A State-by-State Guide to Down Payment Assistance

The home buying process is quite complicated, especially for first-time home buyers. Although a traditional mortgage usually requires you to have 20% down to qualify for the best rates, Federal Housing Administration and USDA Rural Housing Development loans, for instance, allow for lower down payments. 

Check your state's Down Payment Assistance Programs

While the homebuying process can be a stressful situation, most buyers tend to struggle with down payment requirements. Fortunately, many states offer down payment assistance programs (DAPs) to help prospective buyers. Here's a short list of some programs offered by a variety of states.

Alabama

A person may receive up to 4% of their loan…

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