Things to remember in December and how to help your agent help you- 2 for 1 deal

Things to Remember In December

 

Things to Remember In December

Don’t panic, but we’re more than halfway through December! We hope you’re all done with your holiday shopping.
Don’t forget to take advantage of the fundraiser groups in malls who will wrap your presents for you. All they ask in return is a donation. And you get a completely wrapped present which you can safely bring in the house without someone trying to peak into the bag.
The weather has gotten quite cold as of late. If you use wood to stay warm, you should have gotten a large amount of hardwood laid in.
From Bob Villa’s blog post on What to do in December:

Nothing celebrates the colder weather like the distinct scent and sound of a crackling log in the fireplace. A steady supply of firewood can help offset your heating costs, and unlike oil and coal, wood is a resource that can be replanted for future fire-burning pleasure. Before you start using your fireplace, make sure that your wood is properly seasoned and the right type for your heating requirements. Hardwoods, like oak and maple, burn slowly and steadily. They must be seasoned for at least a year, or you’ll be making more smoke than heat. Softwoods, like pine and fir, season faster and grow faster. They’re easy to split and easy to start but watch out for sparking and creosote buildup in your chimney. Because most firewood is seasoned outdoors, it will contain insects, so you don’t want to store more than a day’s worth inside your home at a time. You also don’t want to stack great piles of it against the outside of your house. To store a year’s supply, you’ll need a woodshed or some other covered storage area set away from buildings.

Have you put out lights on your home? If all your neighbors do, maybe it’s time to jump on the bandwagon and be part of the neighborhood display. LED lights cost a lot less to run during the holiday season. Maybe your street will start showing up on websites touting the best places to see during December.
Do you live where you get snow and ice? If so, have you prepared your snow shovel or snow blower? Keeping your driveway clear of snow is the best way of preventing ice buildup.
Hopefully you’ve gotten your trees trimmed back already. If not, get a recommendation for a good tree trimmer and get them pruned up now.
And above all else, don’t over-schedule so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the holiday season without feeling like you have to rush through it!
What’s your favorite part of December?

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How to Help Your Real Estate Agent Part 2

 

How to Help Your Real Estate Agent Part 2

Last week, we looked at what you should know and do to help your real estate agent if you’re a seller.  This week, we’ll look at what you should know and do if you’re a buyer.

Please don’t turn into an all-knowing insta-expert just because you have an Internet connection.

Potential home buyers can see what they think is everything online. But those listings can leave a lot out, including whether the home is still for sale. There’s nothing wrong with looking, agents say. But try to understand how your agent’s job works. She has access to the same MLS listings, but with updated and additional information that has been filtered to weed out your duds.
So what should you do? Put that effort into hiring someone you trust. Then be comfortable relinquishing some control to the expert you’ve hired. If you tell them you want 2-3 bedrooms and 2-3 bathrooms with good schools, they should be able to find you a better place than you could since that’s what they do for a living.
And they can consult with other agents who are experts in other geographic areas to find out what a homeowner would need to know.

Read The Buyer’s Contract Carefully

This is just as important as if you’re a seller. Know exactly what you’re going into. Ask questions. And remember you can negotiate.

Prepare In Advance

If you’re buying this home with someone, sit down and have some long discussions about expectations. How many bedrooms? Do you want a living room or a dining room? Stairs? Bathtub? Shower curtains or doors? Do you need the home to be move-in ready or do you intend to do some remodeling?
If one of your dreams is to have a gourmet kitchen and the others is to have a farmhouse kitchen, you’re never going to find a house.
And you don’t want to find that out while you’re looking, because what’s more awkward then having a knock down, drag out argument in front of the agent? (and yes, it happens)
Rank how important the features are to you. This will also help the agent find you better homes to view. If you must have open beam ceilings, then the agent will research that ahead of time saving you all from the frustration of not seeing what you want.

Get Pre-Approved or Pre-Qualified

We’ve talked about this a few times. Pre-Qualified is not the same as Pre-Approved. Pre-qualification will let you know the range which you could be approved for but is not a guarantee. If you’re pre-approved, you will be able to move forward much more quickly when you find the right home, and could put you at the top of the list.
Your real estate agent is your partner and not your parent. Treat one another with respect and clear communication, and you’ll find the right place quickly.