Month: May 2018

It’s no exaggeration that selling your home keeps you busy. In the midst of staging, pricing, listing, and scheduling tours, it’s easy to overlook the details… like home security.

After all, while selling your home, you’re probably allowing dozens of strangers to come inside for tours.

And while most of them probably have good intentions, it might not be a bad idea to beef up your home’s security a little bit.

Here are a few ways to protect yourself and your belongings while still welcoming potential buyers into your home.

Showings by Appointment Only

When advertising your home for sale, be sure to use phrases like “appointment only” in your listing. Never allow anyone into your home unless they have a verified appointment with your Realtor.

It’s okay to be extra cautious during this time! We recommend being alert whenever you allow anyone new into your home.

Confirm Appointments and Oversee Tours

If you’re not working with a Realtor, you will need to personally request verification of potential homebuyers when they come for a tour.

When you work with a Realtor, however, you can trust that they know how to verify all potential buyers before any visitor walks through the door.

Remove All Valuables From Sight

Keep all valuables, including jewelry and collectibles, hidden in a secure safe or tucked away in a safety deposit box at your bank. Hide all personal information (bank statements, social security cards, etc.) in drawers or out of sight.

Don’t leave anything of value lying around or in plain sight. It’s part of staging your home to sell — you want to make sure your home looks as neutral as possible with zero personal effects.

Be Extra Cautious

It never hurts to be careful! This is where it helps to have an experienced Realtor on your side. They’ll know what to look for and how to supervise buyers in your home as they tour.

It’s also a great time to install a security system. Not only will this provide you with extra security as you sell your home, it may even increase your property’s resale value!

Work With a Trusted Realtor

With the right Realtor on your side, you won’t have to worry about keeping your home safe during the selling process. An experienced real estate agent will know exactly how to sell your home without jeopardizing its security.

That’s exactly what you get when you choose to work with us. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you sell your home.

Notice of Appraised Value for Property Tax Purposes. (2018)

Right about now, you will start getting your property value assessment. The property taxes that you pay annually are based on the value of this assessment. Your job is to try to keep that value as low as you possibly can by keeping an eye on the value each year as it comes out. This is not always easy or possible; but it is important to track it every year, and to protest the value if you think it is too high based on recent sales in your neighborhood.

The main reason is to reduce your tax bill, but also, when you sell your home, if your assessed value is over your market value, the buyer will have to pay those high taxes when the property is really worth less, making it less attractive.

There are two ways of protest your value; first, if you have good comparatives for recent sales and you can make a case proving your home assessment should be changed, you can do it yourself. Second, you can hire a company to do it for you. They usually charge a fee based on the amount they saved you with no money requirement up front.

Remember the deadline to submit the form to protest the assessed value in the state of Texas is May 31.

If you have any questions or would like more information please call me, text me or message. I will be happy to help.

Below are a few of the companies that will do this for you. I have personally used the first two options.

http://www.republicpropertytax.com/

https://www.poconnor.com/property-tax-protest-services/

http://www.propertytaxreduction.com/

 

Who doesn’t love online shopping? You get to sit back in the comfort of your own home and browse fun things for sale on the internet. However, with online shopping comes hundreds of options from which to choose — and not all of them will work for you.

The same goes for online shopping for a home. With so many options available on the Multiple Listing Service, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. But there are a few ways to make your search easier.

Instead of saving hundreds of different favorites, you can fast-track your search by prioritizing homes for sale with the features that are important to you.

If you feel like you keep seeing homes that aren’t a great fit, here are five easy tips for streamlining your online search and finding your dream home.

Create (and Stick With!) a List of Wants and Needs

What are the home features that you can’t live without? Do you have a price range in mind? Will it need to have a certain amount of acreage?

These requirements should be at the top of your list. Creating a wants and needs checklist like this will help you determine which homes are right for you, and which you shouldn’t even look at.

Must-Have Features

Will your home need at least two bathrooms? Do you need a large yard for your dogs? Does your home have to be close to the interstate? Come up with a list of features that you absolutely must have in a home.

These will also serve as your deal breakers. When you come across a home that doesn’t have these features, you’ll automatically know that it’s not the home for you, and it’s not worth taking the time to tour.

Set Your Budget

A great way to determine your budget is by getting pre-approved for a loan. You’ll sit down with a lending agent who will go over your current income, credit score, borrowing history, and outstanding debts. Then, they’ll let you know exactly how much the bank is willing to lend you.

Look, your budget is set! Having a predetermined budget means you can eliminate homes from your search that you know you can’t afford.

Use the Advanced Home Search Option

On our home search tool, there’s an option for an “advanced search.” Using an advanced search is especially advantageous as it allows you to filter results by important features, location, and price.

Use that list you just made to fill in the advanced search! You’re now one step closer to finding your dream home.

Sign Up to Receive New Listing Alerts

When you complete an advanced search, you have the option to receive email alerts. When you register for email alerts, we’ll send you notifications whenever any homes that fit your criteria hit the market.

That way, you stay one step ahead of the competition!

Schedule a Tour and Do a “Twice-Through”

Ready to see a home in person? Easily schedule an in-person tour on our home search tool. During your tour, we recommend going through the home twice.

First, breeze through the home to get a feel for living there. Does it smell pleasant? Is it easy to navigate? Will it be the right size for your furniture?

Then, go back to the front door and tour it again. This time, look at the details. Be meticulous. Is there enough storage space in the hall closet? Are the floors in need of refinishing? Do the windows let in plenty of natural sunlight?

On your second run-through, jot down your impressions. Take pictures and maybe even measure the rooms to see if your furniture will fit.

Work with a Professional Realtor

When you choose to work with a professional real estate agent, you’re enlisting the help of an area expert who will make your home buying experience even easier. You can even hand over your list of “must-haves” and let us do the rest! 

Give us a call today if you have any questions.