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Whether it is a seller's market or you just have an appealing home, you could end up with multiple offers -- how can you decide which offer is best? Your agent is an excellent source of information and can help widdle through unqualified buyers, but if you still have to choose between multiple offers, here's what to consider.
Understand fair market value: You should know what to expect and what a fair offer looks like -- your agent can help you discover what the fair market value is for your home. If there are any mitigating factors (you have been relocated at work or you need to move quickly) they could impact the decision-making process more than price.
Preapprovals in place: If you have multiple offers, the buyer with a preapproval in place has an edge. This signals that not only is the buyer interested in the home, but they are able to pay for it. It also indicates that the closing can move swiftly, since this key element is in place. A higher offer without preapproval could end up falling through if the buyer is unable to secure a mortgage.
Payment method: In many cases, the type of mortgage the buyer is getting won't matter -- you'll get the funds at closing either way. If you are in a hurry, though, a cash buyer can move more swiftly than one with a conventional mortgage. Buyers using non-conventional mortgages like USDA loans may also encounter delays, as these can take more time to process.
Timeline: What do the buyers propose as a closing date? Too soon and you'll have to rush to get your own things moved out -- and may end up under pressure to move. Too late and you'll feel like you are waiting forever and living between two homes -- your next, new home and the one you need to sell.
Contingencies: A contingency for financing, appraisal or inspection is common, but too many contingencies or unusual requests could mean you're in for a problematic closing process. Consider any contingencies the buyer is demanding before deciding which offer is right for you to avoid surprises later in the process.
Special requests: Are there any unusual requests, or does one buyer want more than others? A buyer who wants you to leave kitchen appliances is reasonable (and most expect these to convey). One who wants your heirloom furniture or outdoor equipment may be asking for more than you want to sell. You should be aware of and consider any special requests when you review offers for your home.
Having to choose between more than one offer puts you in a great position, but it can still be nerve wracking. Working with an experienced seller's agent to vet the offers and determining which factors matter most to you can help you make the right decision for your home sale.
Although your home gym has helped you stay in shape for many years, packing your dumbbells, an elliptical and other exercise equipment prior to moving day may prove to be exhausting. Fortunately, we're here to help you take the guesswork out of packing your exercise equipment.
Now, let's take a look at three tips to help you prepare your exercise equipment for moving day.
1. Handle Your Weights with Care
Weights come in many shapes and sizes, and you should allocate plenty of time and resources to ensure your weights won't move while in transit.
For small weight plates and dumbbells, you can wrap these weights in packing paper and place them in a small box. However, you should try to avoid putting too many weights in a single box.
If you have heavy weights and barbells, you should wrap these weights in packing paper and place them directly on the floor of your moving day vehicle. Secure the weights with rope or straps, and you can keep the weights in place.
2. Take Photographs of Your Exercise Equipment
Let's face it – disassembling an elliptical, treadmill or other exercise equipment can be challenging. Perhaps even worse, putting your exercise equipment back together at your new home may be virtually impossible, particularly for those who struggle to stay organized.
Before you disassemble any exercise equipment, take a photograph of the equipment itself. Capture images of your exercise equipment from all angles, and you'll be better equipped than ever before to properly put this equipment back together once you reach your new address.
Also, keep all screws, bolts and other small exercise equipment parts in a plastic bag. You can attach this bag to the equipment itself to avoid the danger of losing these parts during your move.
Don't forget to keep track of the steps that you follow to disassemble exercise equipment too. That way, you'll know exactly what you'll need to do to quickly reassemble your exercise equipment.
3. Get Help from Family Members and Friends
Exercise equipment can be large, heavy and difficult to move on your own. Thus, you should not hesitate to reach out to family members and friends to help you safely pack and move your exercise equipment from Point A to Point B.
Furthermore, professional moving companies are available to help you transport exercise equipment to your new house. A moving company employs friendly, professionally trained staff members who are happy to help you simplify the process of moving your exercise equipment to any location, at any time.
If you need extra assistance prior to moving day, you may want to contact a real estate agent as well. In addition to helping you buy or sell a residence, a real estate agent can offer expert moving tips, put you in touch with top-rated moving companies in your area and much more.
Get your exercise equipment ready for your upcoming move – use the aforementioned tips, and you should have no trouble packing and moving your exercise equipment to your new house.
All house buyers have different pet peeves when it comes to evaluating homes, but there are a lot of easy fixes you can do to reduce the chances of losing a sale. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Squeaky doors: Lubricating squeaky hinges is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your chances of making a positive impression on prospective home buyers. A seemingly small thing like squeaky door hinges can make your house seem old, poorly maintained, and in disrepair. A squeaky door hinge is probably not going to make or break the sale of your house, but in combination with other little flaws that prospects might notice, it could have a major impact.
Weeds cropping up: Another clear signal to prospects that your property hasn't been properly maintained -- at least in their minds -- is the existence of weeds. Other than an overgrown lawn, nothing detracts from curb appeal more than weeds coming up everywhere, especially in driveway cracks, walkways, and front steps. If your home is on the market or you're considering selling it in the near future, getting rid of noticeable weeds will help improve your property's curb appeal and make a better impression on prospective buyers. If you hate the idea of handling or applying commercial weed killers, non-toxic household items like vinegar or salt have been known to nip the weed problem in the bud. Whether you use store-bought herbicides or natural remedies, make sure you don't damage any nearby plants that you want to protect. In some cases, manually pulling out weeds and carefully digging out the roots is the most risk-free approach, although it's also the most labor intensive!
Dust and cobwebs: No matter how thorough you think you've been in cleaning your house, you're probably going to miss a few spots that prospective buyers will notice. In small amounts, a little dust is not going to make or break your sale, but like squeaky door hinges, small problems add up! Areas that homeowners and house cleaners often overlook include baseboards, ceiling fans, and corners of ceilings.
Unpleasant odors: If your house smells like pets, mold, or mothballs, that sometimes can be a deal breaker. Bad odors are a major sensory turnoff that could easily sour people on the idea of making an offer on your house. Musty odors are often indicative of a larger problem, such as a damp basement, leaky pipes, water damage, or mold infestation. Eliminating odors prior to having your house shown can be as simple as doing a thorough cleaning, or as complex and expensive as hiring a mold remediation service.
The good news about preparing your home for sale is that a seasoned real estate agent can provide you with the advice, guidance, and help you need to maximize your chances for attracting offers and selling your property for its full market value.
If you want to buy a house, it helps to plan ahead as much as possible. That way, you can increase the likelihood of a fast, seamless homebuying journey.
Now, let's take a look at three tips to help you prepare to enter the housing market, and ultimately, ensure that you can enjoy a speedy homebuying experience.
1. Focus on Specific Cities and Towns
Consider what you want to find in your dream house. Then, you can fine-tune your dream home criteria and narrow your house search.
For example, if you prefer small town living to life in the big city, you may want to search for houses in various towns in your state of choice. Or, if you want to buy a house near your office in the city, you can browse residences in or near the city itself.
Differentiating your dream home must-haves and wants can make a world of difference too. Because if you know exactly what you want to find in your ideal residence, you can streamline your house search and accelerate the homebuying journey.
2. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
The process of filling out a mortgage application and getting approval from a bank or credit union can be long and arduous. And if you submit an offer a house without financing in hand, you may face a time crunch to get a mortgage as well.
When it comes to home financing, it pays to be proactive. If you start searching for a mortgage today, you may be able to save time down the line.
For instance, if you meet with a bank or credit union, you can learn about a variety of mortgage options. Next, you can select a mortgage that matches your needs, and this mortgage will allow you to enter the housing market with a budget. With this budget at your disposal, you can narrow your search to houses that fall within your price range.
3. Employ a Real Estate Agent
Let's face it – few homebuyers have the necessary time and resources to conduct a comprehensive home search. Luckily, real estate agents are available to help you discover your dream house in no time at all.
A real estate agent will learn about your homebuying goals and find out what you want from your dream house. With this information, a real estate agent can provide you with details about houses that fulfill your criteria.
Furthermore, a real estate agent is a housing market expert who will do everything possible to help you buy a high-quality residence. He or she will teach you about the housing market and provide extensive insights into real estate patterns and trends. Also, a real estate agent is happy to respond to your homebuying concerns and questions at any time.
For those who want to buy a house, there is no need to wait to enter the housing market. Instead, use the aforementioned tips, and you can reap the benefits of a quick, stress-free homebuying experience.
