Buying Tips:

1. Always seek a hard-working, knowledgeable Realtor.
2. When buying a home, it is very important to know your qualifications. Seek a reputable lender who offers competitive rates. Most of the time, they are right in your home town!
3. Be aware of closing costs. Your lender should give you a Good Faith Estimate that gives you an idea of the fees.
4. Location, Location, Location! Location is probably the most valuable asset of your property.
5. Define what you want to buy. Examples: What features are most important? How many bedrooms do you need? Bathrooms? Etc…
6. When buying land, be specific on what your intentions are for the farm. (Agriculture, Development, Recreation, Residential)
7. Make an offer by writing a contract. Be prepared to give an Earnest Money check as a deposit.
8. After a contract is accepted, work with your Realtor and your loan officer to coordinate appraisals, inspections, title work, closing times, etc…
9. Be prepared to obtain home owner’s insurance, coordinate a moving company, and transferring utilities.
10. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Buying real estate can be overwhelming at times. Your agent should alleviate your concerns.

Selling Tips:

1. Use a hardworking, knowledgeable Realtor.
2. Make a great first impression! A well-manicured yard, clean front porch and door are very appealing.
3. Keep repairs simple! Remember $100 in paint is worth $1000s in equity. Fixing leaky faucets, making sure all light bulbs are working, and painting go a long way. Most buyers would rather see how great your house really looks than hear how great it might look “with some work.” Make sure you stick to a neutral paint color.
4. Clean bathrooms and tidy bedrooms help sell a home.
5. Cleaning your carpets is always a good idea, especially if you have inside pets or are a smoker.
6. Let there be light! Open the curtains or blinds to brighten up your home.
7. Have a realistic and competitive sales price.
8. Inform your agent of how much notice you need before the house can be shown and of any inconvenient showing times for you and your family.
9. If you are present when the house is shown, just relax! Let your agent do the work. However, it is usually a good idea to leave when prospective buyers are looking.
10. Be patient. Ideally, it would be nice to have a firm contract the day after the For Sale sign goes up. However, it can take several months for a property to sell simply because of the time of year, the economy, or other factors.