When you are ready to sell your home, there are a number of steps to getting everything taken care of. One of the last steps in the process should be the cancellation of your homeowner’s insurance. Even if you have already moved out of the home, you need that insurance in place for a variety of reasons. Liability Risks While Selling When you are selling your home, you have a number of people entering the home and walking around the property. If one of them is injured, you remain responsible for that injury even if you no longer live there. As long as you are the homeowner of the property, you remain the person who is liable for anything that happens there. Having a lot of people coming and going can increase the odds of something going wrong, and you could find yourself facing a lawsuit or claim against you. Keep that homeowner’s policy in force throughout the selling process to ensure you are protected. Keep Contents Protection With strangers coming and going from your home, your valuables are at risk. Although you hope that everyone who enters your home will respect your property, it might not always be the […]
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If you are selling your home and are motivated to get the deal done quickly, you may be tempted to accept a low bid. Whether you need to sell because you are being relocated or need to downsize to save your financial investment, there are several things you should consider before accepting a bid that is below your asking price. Here are a few tips on making that decision a bit easier. How Motivated Are You? The decision to accept a low bid should always be influenced by your actual financial position rather than simply wanting a quick sale. If you are in a situation in which you may lose your home due to foreclosure, accepting a low bid may be your only option. If, on the other hand, you are simply tempted to take a low bid because it is more than you originally paid for the home, you may want to reconsider. For most people, the motivation will lie somewhere in the middle, and balancing your motivation to sell and the potential financial loss of accepting a low bid should be carefully evaluated. Avoid Becoming A Motivated Seller The best way to sidestep having to take a low […]
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Every homeowner must set an asking price when listing their home on the market, but what happens when you don’t receive any offers? Just as it’s important to know when it’s time to sell, it’s important to recognize the right time to reduce the price. Supply & Demand If a lot of homes are currently listed on the market or your home is overpriced, it may be time to consider a price reduction if you hope to stay competitive. If five different stores sold your favorite soda, what would motivate you to buy from one over the others? If you are like most, the cost would be a leading factor. The same is true with home buyers, who are looking to get the best value for their dollar. Hurry Up & Wait If your home has been listed on the market for what is considered to be a lengthy time for your area, it may be time to consider a price reduction. This is especially true if you are in a hurry to sell, which may be the case if you are planning to purchase another house upon selling yours. In some cases, a homeowner will make an offer on […]
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Showings are the main method by which homes are sold; people who take time out of their day to schedule and attend a showing are generally serious buyers. To make the most of each showing, you want your house to be clean and neat—but there are also a few other things to consider. Here are a few things you will want to remove from your home to ensure it shows at its best. Pets And Pet Items Yes, it is hard to get pets out of your home every time someone wants to see it, but it’s an important step to make sure the showing experience is pleasant for buyers. Take dogs, cats, and any other pet that moves freely about the house with you when you leave during a showing. Fish tanks are fine, but if you have an unusual pet like a snake or a spider, you may want to remove them as well, as buyers may be squeamish about such creatures. Along with your pet, remove any pet accessories that you can. This means the dog’s bed, cat toys, and other items that may be lying around. If possible, move cat litter boxes to an outdoor, hidden […]
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So you are ready to sell your house, but you look out the window and see several feet of snow on the ground. Should you bother putting your house on the market in the winter, or should you wait until spring? Is there a better season in which to sell your home? The answers to these questions depend on a few basic factors. Where You Live In a place where the climate is very cold in the winter, it can be wise to wait until spring to sell, because fewer buyers will be venturing out to look at homes. In an area where the sun shines year round, weather is not a concern, and people will have no trouble coming out to see your house. This doesn’t mean, however, that season doesn’t matter in a warm climate! It can still affect how many potential buyers will come out and the odds of selling. Watch Out For The Holiday Slump People are usually too busy from Thanksgiving through Christmas to spend much time house hunting, and in January they are often recovering financially from holiday over-spending. Most experts will recommend that you avoid listing your home until after the worst of […]
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When a homeowner lists their house with a REALTOR®, they may choose to store their house keys in the lockbox for easy access for the REALTOR® showing the home. In fact, these handy accessories have all but replaced the need to keep a key under the mat. And not to mention, they are a lot more effective and secure. Why REALTORS® Use A Lockbox It’s no surprise that REALTORS® like to sell houses, but they wouldn’t be in business for long if the homes they show were to be vandalized or illegally accessed by an unlawful individual. A lockbox works to prevent anyone, other than approved REALTORS®, from being granted access into the home. Not only does it allow the REALTOR® to be more effective in showing homes, but it also gives the owner some added peace of mind in knowing that their home is being protected. The Cost Lockboxes vary in price according to the unit itself. For instance, some lockboxes use a standard key to open while the more modern approach is a combination lock. In some cases, the seller may be required to purchase a unit if they prefer a REALTOR® use it when showing their home […]
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