1. Cultivate curb charisma. Some of the best buyers are the most impatient because they need to make a decision fast.  If the view of your house from the street turns them off, they might not even stop.  Shape up your front yard.
2. Take a critical look at your house’s front. If it’s weathered looking, if anything needs repair, or if anything needs to be hauled to the dump – eliminate these problems.  Don’t turn your buyers off outside before the inside can turn them on.
3. Never stay in your house with house hunters. Let the agent handle it, and remove yourself if you possibly can.  Remember, the agent has worked for many hours with these potential buyers, know what they’re looking for, and how to work with them.  Let him or her do the job without interference.  You may think the agent isn’t showing the important features of your house, but the agents knows buyers aren’t sold by details until they’ve become emotionally involved with the big picture of your house.  The presence of any member of the seller’s family can’t help, always unnerves possible buyers, and often prevents a sale.  Don’t put this obstacle in your path.  Leave when buyers are coming.
4. Give your dogs and cats a vacation. They need it and so does your pocketbook.  Having pets around (especially aggressive dogs) when you’re selling your home can be incredibly expensive.  Many people are acutely uncomfortable around some animals, and simply can’t think “buy” when their minds are on “bye”.
5. A few cans of paint and putty to brighten up your home’s interior are the best investment you can make when you’re selling your house.
6. Drips do more than run up your water bill. They focus the attention of possible buyers on your house’s entire plumbing system, and cause them to worry.  Fix these little problems before they cost you a sale.
7. Squeaking doors and creaking floors, torn or missing screens, cracked glass, and anything in need of repair dampens the house hunter’s enthusiasm.  Many buyers believe there will always be ten problems they haven’t noticed for every one that they see.
8. Hide (or neatly arrange) everything connected with work: lawnmowers, garden hoses, vacuum cleaners, and all the gear you used to fix up the house.  Accent everything connected with play and relaxation: sound systems, skis, toys in the kid’s rooms.
9. De-clutter. Repack compactly, dispose of unneeded items, or rent storage space and move out as much material as you can.  Your home’s storage space can’t look adequate to a buyer if you’ve got it jam-packed.
10. Turn up the shelter. If it’s hot, cool it; if it’s cold, light a crackling fire.
11. Harmonize the elements. Turn the music on softly and the TV off.  Turn on all lights, day or night.  Open the drapes in the daytime.
12. You can sell pride of ownership faster and for more money. It’s called cleanliness, and fresh cleanliness has more buyers than used dirt.  Put sparkle in your bathrooms and kitchen, and you’ll take lots more silver out.

Home sellers have one goal—to sell their home as quickly as possible near or at the listing price. A home in move-in condition makes meeting this ideal easier.

Many of today’s prospective homebuyers have busy lifestyles and are looking for properties that don’t require a lot of work. Homeowners should be proactive by making needed repairs before putting their homes on the market.

Inspect both inside and outside the home. Take inventory of practical and aesthetic repairs. You may want to apply a fresh coat of paint on the walls, doors, and shutters. Clean the carpet and buff and polish wooden floors. Tighten and polish hardware. Repair cracks in sidewalks and driveways, and clean any stains on them. Replace missing or warped roofing. Clean or re-grout kitchen and bathrooms. Repair dripping faucets and drains or plumbing fixtures that aren’t operating.

Fix sticking doors and replace old locks and doorknobs. Replace burned-out bulbs and broken electrical sockets. Replace cracked windows and torn screens. Repair broken fencing and reseal the deck. Clean up stains on the tiles and countertops.

Some experts also recommend hiring a certified home inspector to thoroughly and impartially evaluate the property. (For a list of inspectors in your area, visit the American Society of Home Inspectors website, www.ashi.com, or ask your real estate professional for recommendations.) A standard report will review the condition of the home’s heating system, central air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement and visible structure.

If the pre-inspection results in a checklist, have a real estate professional look over the report with you to help you prioritize the list of repairs.

Depending on your goals and budget, you may want to repair only items that could cause significant deterioration to the home, such as a leak. In addition, your local market conditions may dictate how extensive your repairs need to be. Let your budget and your real estate professional guide you.

However, be careful about fixing up too much. Sellers rarely recoup money on major remodeling projects, and you may want to save funds for your new home. Also, obtaining home improvement loans can adversely affect your ability to qualify for your next mortgage.

A home in good condition demonstrates pride of ownership. Taking the time to make small repairs to your home can go a long way in making sure that your home is presented to potential buyers in its best possible light. They also just might make the sale.

Follow these tips for pricing your home correctly in a competitive market

Imagine you want to buy a gallon of milk. You eye the dairy case, shelves stocked with dozens of choices, but they are really all the same. Milk is milk, and which one you select is really insignificant because they are all identical, and they are all priced the same.

But what if each identical offering was priced differently? Odds are you have set aside ample time for your shopping trip, and you will carefully check the price labels and go for the best deal. Or maybe you are drawn to the more attractive packaging.

When selling your home, attractive pricing and packaging are arguably the two most basic essentials. In our current real estate market, the buyers have a lot of choices. In many areas, the shelves are simply overstocked. And since no two homes are the same, making that distinction between your home and the dozens of others is key.

Where pricing is concerned, establishing that all important asking price is part science and part art, and there are several things you should consider.

• Study past sales. This is the starting point for any thoughtful and successful pricing strategy; think of it as the “science” part. Take the time to study past sale statistics for homes in your area and areas similar to yours. None will be identical, of course, but having a clear understanding of true market value is the first step in establishing your list price.
• Do not confuse active listings with past sales. Active listings have not sold. They are just your competition. It is important to be aware of your competition’s pricing, but this is often just an indication of what your home won’t sell for.
• Do not overprice because you have “time.” If the market is appreciating, this strategy may work, but if prices in your area are declining, you may quickly find yourself chasing a market and costing yourself money. And if the market is stable? Your home will just sit. Buyers pay in today’s dollars, and time is rarely on your side.
• Leave some room for negotiation, but don’t overreach. No seller wants to feel he left money on the table, and no buyer wants to overpay. Your price should give both parties room to maneuver, but if it is too high, you risk being perceived as unrealistic, and buyers will pass over your home.
• Think like a buyer. What are the things that you value in a home? Is it a large yard, an updated kitchen or a view? These are likely the same things that your buyer values as well. Talk to your agent about current buyer trends. Yesterday’s avocado green shag carpeting is today’s granite countertop. The property facing the interstate is going to be a tougher sell than the one with a mountain view. Your price should reflect how your home compares to the others offered for sale. Buyers will find objections to any home, as none is perfect, but it is curious how quickly objections disappear when the price is compelling.
• React swiftly and decisively. If your home is on the market and is not being shown or if you receive feedback that you are priced too aggressively, don’t hesitate to adjust your price. Bad news, like spoiled milk, doesn’t get better with time.

First impressions are everything when selling your home. Studies have shown that the first two weeks on the market are the most crucial to your success. During these initial days, your home will be exposed to all active buyers. If your price is perceived as too high, you will quickly lose this initial audience and find yourself relying only on the trickle of new buyers entering the market each day. Markets are dynamic, and your price has an expiration date. You have one chance to grab attention. Make sure your pricing helps you stand out on the shelf — in a positive way.

Kris Berg is designated broker with San Diego Castles Realty in San Diego, Calif. Visit her Web site atwww.SanDiegoCastles.com and read her blog at www.SanDiegoHomeBlog.com.

There are many scam artists out there, ready to pounce on you and take advantage of a bad situation.  Watch this video to know what to watch for!

Buying a home is a major decision for anyone whether they are a first-time homebuyer or someone who has purchased 10 homes before.

A Realtor spends many hours researching financing information, keeping abreast of the current market and market trends, and they also spend time in continuing education studies. This enables them to give you the best service to assure that you are investing your money wisely.

Your Realtor stands ready to help you locate and purchase the home best suited for your family’s needs and financial picture. They know the market and they know the many options of home financing.

You only need ONE Realtor to help you find the home that is right for you.  So, if you meet another Realtor at an Open House or Showing, you can avoid confusion if you indicate that you’re already working with an Realtor.  All Realtor have access to the same information via the MLS (Multiple Listing Service).

While searching for your new home, your Agent will:

• Keep you informed.
• Run frequent computer checks for new listings that meet your criteria.
• Stay up-to-the-minute on changing financial conditions that may affect the housing market.
• Be available to answer your questions or to offer assistance at any time.
• Discuss market trends and values relating to properties which may be of interest to you.
• Show you new homes as well as pre-owned homes, if you desire, including those listed with other companies.
• Introduce you to reliable lenders who can take care of your financial needs.

And once you have chosen a home and have made an accepted offer, your Realtor is there to make sure the loan process runs smoothly, the proper inspections are being done on the home, and that the closing takes place with as little effort from you as possible.  There is no need for that “nightmare” process when buying your home.

If you are looking for a Realtor to assist you, contact Michelle Fradella at Pinnacle Real Estate Services to find out what properties are available that meet your family and financial needs and to get started in the home-buying process.

#1 Mistake: Not listing your property with a Full-Time Realtor©

When selling your home there are no guarantees that the ultimate buyer of your home will have simply walked through the front door. In many cases you may have to bring your home to the buyer. Effective marketing will help ensure that your property receives maximum exposure to attract a ready, willing and able buyer in the shortest period of time. When you list your property, you need to ask some specific questions about how it will be marketed.
In this extremely competitive market, if the Realtor© you are talking to does not run their Real Estate business as a FULL TIME business, then you need to be looking elsewhere. And if their idea of running a real estate business is putting a sign in your yard, entering it in the local MLS, and then running an ad in the local home buyer magazine . . . . well, then they are not seriously up to date in technology, and are not going to get your property exposed to the largest number of buyers possible.
Ask your Realtor© to list for you all of the ways he/she intends to market your home and on what time-line. Also, be sure to ask about the home being advertised on the Internet, and how MANY sites your property will be listed on. At Pinnacle Real Estate Services, we take the marketing of a property very seriously. Our “Strategic Marketing” puts your home in front of more buyers than any other company in Pearl River County, MS.

#2 Mistake: Not Pricing Your Property Right for the Current Market

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of selling a home is listing it at the correct price. It’s one of several areas where the assistance of a skilled, Full-Time Realtor© can more than pay for itself. Listing the home too high can be as bad as too low. If the listing price is too high, you’ll miss out on a percentage of buyers looking in the price range where your home should be. This is the flaw in thinking that you’ll always have the opportunity to accept a lower offer. Chances are the offers won’t even come in, because the buyers who would be most interested in your home have been scared off by the price and aren’t even taking the time to look. By the time the price is corrected, you’ve already lost exposure to a large group of potential buyers.
Your over-priced listing will actually also be helping to sell other properties that are in direct competition with you. Since your price is higher, the lower-priced house will be a better buy for the consumer.
The listing price becomes even trickier to set when prices are quickly rising or falling. It’s critical to be aware of where and how fast the market is moving – both when setting the price and when negotiating an offer. Again, an experienced, well-trained Realtor© is always in touch with market trends – often even to a greater extent than appraisers, who typically focus on what a property is worth if sold as-is, right now.

#3 Mistake: Thinking you need to be in the home to explain things to a prospective buyer.

You will be better served if you allow your Realtor© to do their job without you there. Most potential buyers usually feel more comfortable if they can speak freely to the real estate professional without the owners being present.
Also, if people unaccompanied by an agent request to see your property, you should refer them to your Realtor© for an appointment. Don’t expose yourself, your family, and your property to non-qualified buyers. If they are serious about viewing your home, they will call your Realtor©.

#4 Mistake: Forgetting what you would want to see if you were the buyer of your home.

Remember that although people can be different in personality, they tend to be the same when it comes to expectations at someone else’s expense. In other words, a prospective buyer would probably like to see a perfect home from top to bottom, inside and out. They can envision themselves living in your home, if it’s clean, and problems are already taken care of. Try to do as many of the following items as possible to improve the likelihood of your home selling quickly.
On the outside
• Sweep front walkway.
• Remove newspapers, bikes and toys.
• Park extra cars away from the property.
• Trim back the shrubs.
• Apply fresh, clean paint throughout.
• Clean windows and window coverings throughout.
• Keep plumbing and all appliances in working order.
• Maintain all sealant (window, tub, shower, sink, etc.) in good condition.
• Make sure roof and gutters are clean and in good condition.
• Mow the lawn frequently and plant flowers.
• Keep pet areas clean.

On the inside
• The kitchen and bathroom should shine.
• Quick once-over with the vacuum; carpets should be clean.
• Place fresh flowers in the main rooms.
• Put dishes away, unless setting a formal display for decoration.
• Make all beds and put all clothes away.
• Open drapes and turn on lights for a brighter feel.
• Straighten closets.
• Put toys away.
• Turn off television.
• Play soft music on the radio/stereo.
• Keep pets out of the way and pet areas clean and odor-free.
• Secure jewelry, cash, prescription medication and other valuables.
• Enhance the spaciousness of each room.

The top 10 ways a seller can practically guarantee that their home listing will expire:

1. Not serious about selling. Actions speak louder than words in this market.  If you are not motivated to sell your home, then you should wait for a less competitive time to sell.  Not being willing to price your home where it needs to be to actually sell in this market tells Realtors and Buyers alike that you really are not motivated, and they really shouldn’t bother.
2. Improper pricing. A properly priced home is half sold.  It won’t matter how many open houses, realtor lunches, glossy flyers, home magazine ads, Goodyear Blimps, or Saint Joseph statues are used, the fact of the matter is that if your home is not priced competitively, it WILL NOT sell.
3. Not listening to your agent. A good full-time, seasoned Realtor is trained to know their market, know how to market homes, and how to motivate buyers.  If you question the ability of your agent to represent you, then you obviously have the wrong agent.  Don’t self-diagnose (your Doctor wouldn’t) – listen to the Professional!
4. Micro-manage the marketing. Having former “sales experience” yourself, doesn’t give you the license to second-guess your Realtor.  If you had a real estate license years ago – good for you, but I have to tell you times have changed, and what worked back in the old days WON’T work today!  Share your concerns and timelines, but leave the marketing details to the expert.
5. Don’t Stage the property. Oh sure, that brown variegated shag carpeting might be considered “retro” by some, or the whitewashed cabinets, Navajo white walls, and Southwest Décor might appeal to a small percentage of others – but if you really want to sell your home, you are going to have to make it appealing and competitive with newer homes on the market today.
6. Let Fido run free. Nothing is worse than going in to show a home, and you’re met at the door by frisky, overly enthusiastic dogs.  Worse yet, you’re barked to death by an aggressive one, and are not really sure if you should go in.  The other day I showed a house and the dog was inside.  He was quiet and reserved, but then proceeded to piddle on the floor because he was scared.  Not the way I want a buyer to remember a home!
7. Talk to the buyers. Being at home when a house is shown is certain death to a possible contract!  Sure, you think that you need to tell them all there is to tell about YOUR home, just in case the Realtor doesn’t.  Problem is that the buyers feel uncomfortable while you are there, so they can’t envision themselves “moving in” to the home.  9 times out of 10, the things that you tell them will give you a disadvantage when negotiating the price (if they do make an offer).  DON’T be at home when your house is shown!
8. Sell personal items. Buyers are looking to buy a home – they’re not thrift shopping at Hudson’s Treasure Chest!  Don’t try to push your used furniture on them.  If they want something, they will ask for it in the contract.
9. What’s that Smell? Oh sure, your house doesn’t smell of pet odors, baby diapers, cat litter boxes, fried fish, a dairy farm, or low tide.
10. Ignore Feedback. What do buyers know, anyway?  You can’t imagine why they don’t care for the groovy blue counter tops, the large scary snake in the aquarium, or the Elvis mural on the wall.  Why should these things make your home less than desirable?  Every comment from a buyer should be considered.  These may be things that are also turning other buyers off, and they just didn’t want to say.

If you are a serious Seller in the Pearl River County, MS, area and want your home to sell – take these words of advice.  Also, call Michelle Fradella at Pinnacle Real Estate Services to get your home on the fast track to a closing!

601-569-0075- www.prchomes.com

Before you begin working with any real estate agent, you should know who the agent represents in the transaction. Mississippi real estate licensees are required to disclose which party they represent in a transaction and to allow a party the right to choose or refuse among the various agency relationships. There are several types of relationships that are possible and you should understand these at the time a broker or agent provides specific assistance to you in a real estate transaction. The purpose of the Agency Disclosure is to document an acknowledgement that the consumer has been informed of various agency relationships which are available in a real estate transaction. For the purpose of this disclosure, the term seller and/or buyer will also include those other acts specified in Section 73-35-3(1), Mississippi Code.,”…list, sell, purchase, exchange, rent, lease, manage, or auction any real estate, or the improvements thereon including options;.”

SELLER’S AGENT

A seller can enter into a “listing agreement” with a real estate firm authorizing the firm and its agent(s) to represent the seller in finding a buyer for his property. A licensee who is engaged by and acts as the agent of the Seller only is known as a Seller’s Agent. A Seller’s Agent has the following duties and obligations: To the Seller: * The fiduciary duties of loyalty, confidentiality, obedience, disclosure, full accounting and the duty to use skill, care and diligence. To the Buyer and Seller: * A duty of honesty and fair dealing. * A duty to disclose all facts known to the Seller’s Agent materially affecting the value of the property which are not known to, or readily observable by, the parties in a transaction.

BUYER’S AGENT

Buyer’s Agreement A buyer may contract with an agent or firm to represent him. A licensee who is engaged by and acts as the agent of the Buyer only is known as the Buyer’s Agent. If a Buyer wants an agent to represent him in purchasing a property, the buyer can enter into a Buyer’s Agency Agreement with the agent. A Buyer’s Agent has the following duties and obligations: To the Buyer: * The fiduciary duties of loyalty, confidentiality, obedience, disclosure, full accounting and the duty to use skill, care and diligence. To the Seller and Buyer: * A duty of honesty and fair dealing.

DISCLOSED DUAL AGENT

A real estate agent or firm may represent more than one party in the same transaction. A Disclosed Dual Agent is a licensee who, with the informed written consent of the Seller and Buyer is engaged as an agent for both Seller and Buyer. As a disclosed dual agent, the licensee shall not represent the interests of one party to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of the other party. A disclosed dual agent has all the fiduciary duties to the Seller and Buyer that a Seller’s or Buyer’s Agent has except the duties of full disclosure and undivided loyalty.

A Disclosed Dual Agent may not disclose: (a) To the Buyer that the Seller will accept less than the asking or listed price, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the Seller. (b) To the Seller that the Buyer will pay a price greater than the price submitted in a written offer to the Seller, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the Buyer. (c) The motivation of any party for selling, buying, or leasing a property, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the respective party, or (d) That a Seller or Buyer will agree to financing terms other than those offered, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the respective party.

CUSTOMER

“Customer” shall mean that person not represented in a real estate transaction. It may be the buyer, seller, landlord or tenant. A Buyer may decide to work with a firm that is acting as agent for the Seller (a Seller”s Agent or Subagent). If a Buyer does not enter into a Buyer Agency Agreement with the firm that shows him properties, that firm and its agents may show the Buyer properties as an agent or subagent working on the Seller’s behalf. Such a firm represents the Seller, (not the Buyer) and must disclose that fact to the Buyer. When it comes to the price and terms of an offer, the Seller’s Agent will ask you to decide how much to offer for any property and upon what terms and conditions. They can explain your options to you, but the final decision is yours, as they cannot give you legal or financial advice. They will attempt to show you property in the price range and category you desire so that you will have information on which to base your decision.

The Seller’s Agent will present to the Seller any written offer that you ask them to present. You should keep to yourself any information that you do not want the Seller to know (i.e. the price you are willing to pay, other terms your are willing to accept, and your motivation for buying). The Seller’s agent is required to tell all such information to the Seller. You should not furnish the Seller’s agent anything you do not want the Seller to know. If you desire, you may obtain the representation of an attorney or another real estate agent, or both.

If you have any questions about these catagories, when looing for a home in Pearl River County, MS, please call Michelle Fradella at 601-799-1848, or email her at PRCHomes