Jeremy Walsh Real Estate

In house hunting, first impressions are important. After all, if you are going to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a property, you better love it. But aesthetics should only be a small part of what drives you to make an offer on a home.

Curb appeal brings you in, but there has to be more. So what should you consider when searching for a home? These tips may help…

1. House hunting begins with emotions (that first impression), but ends with facts: Buying a home is an emotional process. But the key to any successful home purchase is to balance your emotions with sound logic. So gather as many facts as you can so you can make an educated decision in the end.

2. Get to know the reputation of homebuilders: The area you are looking in probably has several homes built by the same company. Do some research on these homebuilders. What are their reputations like? Stay away from homes built by companies with less than stellar track records.

3. Look past the decorations:Don’t get caught up in aesthetics. Aesthetics are relatively inexpensive to fix – major construction is another matter.

4. Do the kitchens and bathrooms work properly? These are the most expensive rooms to renovate, so make sure these rooms are in good working condition.

5. Take an inventory of what needs fixing: Develop a list of things you like in each house you visit. But also remember to make a list of things that might need fixing.

6. Is there room for improvement? You may want to put an addition on your home in the future as your family grows. Does the house you are currently looking at have room to expand?

7. Leaky basement: A wet basement can wreak havoc on a home.

8. How does it look? Back to curb appeal. Does the house need to be painted or does siding need replacing? Improving the exterior of a home can be costly. So check the exterior walls carefully before putting in a bid.

9. Landscaping: Landscaping improvements can be costly. So how does the yard look? Take into consideration the softscape – grass, bushes and any gardens – as well as the hardscape – sidewalk, patio, deck, etc.

10. Zoning surprises: Before you put a bid on a house, go to the town hall, city hall, or county register of records and find out the zoning of all contiguous properties.

If you follow these simple suggestions, you will find house hunting a lot more enjoyable.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 410-729-7700 or click here today!

You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn as well!

Sources:

10 Tips for Successful House Hunting MarylandRealEstateCenter.com

Buying a home is by no means an exact science. But luckily for you, neither is selling a home. It is a string of trials and errors, offers and counteroffers. The trick to purchasing a home for the right price is to know how to make your lowball offer seem more appealing.

Most lowball offers get rejected because the seller is looking for a particular price or figure. But every now and then, you may get away with a low offer. How? As we mentioned before, it is all about presentation.

Here are a few tips to make your lowball offer more appealing:

• Put down a large amount of earnest money

• Make your earnest money non-refundable and immediately available to the seller

• Schedule the closing ASAP

• Eliminate contingencies, for example, eliminate the inspection contingency

• Don’t ask for any special favors, like a home warranty

• Show the seller that you will be able to financially close the transaction

• Take on the seller’s problem and do not demand that any repairs are made

• Pick and choose where to make your lowball offer. If a home has just gone onto the market, do not even waste your time and effort trying to lowball the seller. However, if a home has been on the market for quite some time, is vacant, or cannot be financed, your lowball offer will have a much higher likelihood of success.

However, the most important piece of advice I can give you is this; always be respectful. Sellers will be more willing to let their property go for less than they wanted if you treat them and their property with respect.

If you follow these simple tips, you will have a much greater chance of getting your new property at the best possible price.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 410-729-7700 or click here today!

You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn as well!

Sources:

How to Make a Low Ball Offer BaltimoreRealEstateInvestingBlog.com