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Real Estate - Buying or Selling?
7 Quick Tips for
Picking a Real Estate Agent
When you’re picking a real estate agent, you obviously want
the best. But with agents presenting themselves through
yard signs, online ads, direct-mail postcards and even sponsored
public benches, how do you cut through the hype?
With real estate agents, “we don’t have the information that
we have about other service professionals,” says Stephen
Brobeck, executive director of the Consumer Federation of
America, in Washington, D.C. Still, there are methods for sizing
up an agent’s record — and potential. Whether you’re Buying or
Selling, keep in mind these basic tips:
1. Talk with recent clients.
2. Look up the licensing.
3. Pick a winner.
4. Select an agent with the right credentials.
5. Research how long the agent has been in business.
6. Look at their current listings.
7. Ask about other houses for sale nearby.
Steps to Take Before
an Appraiser’s Visit
Homeowners unfamiliar with the appraisal process might not
know if there is
anything they can do
to make the process
go more smoothly.
While certain variables
involved in the
appraisal process,
such as location of
the home and the
value of surrounding
homes, are beyond
homeowners’ control, the Appraisal Institute recommends
homeowners take the following steps before an appraiser visits
their home.
Clean the house. A dirty home that is full of clutter will not
make the best impression on appraisers. Dirty homes may be
vulnerable to insect infestations that can lead to structural
problems with the home. While a dirty home is not necessarily
an indicator of infestations or a reflection of a home’s value,
a clean home will create a stronger first impression with the
appraiser.
Make any necessary repairs ahead of the appointment. Homeowners
who have been putting off repairs should make them
before the appraiser arrives. Homes with repairs that still need
to be made will likely be valued less than similar homes with no
such repair issues. Though repairs can be costly, investing in
home repairs will likely increase both the appraisal and resale
value of the home.
Obtain all necessary documents before the appraiser arrives.
Homeowners who have certain documentation at the ready
can speed up the appraisal process. Such documentation may
include a survey of the house and property; a deed or title
report; a recent tax bill; if applicable, a list of items to be sold
with the house; purchase history of the home; and the original
plans and specifications of the home.
Inform the appraiser about recent improvements. Homeowners
can inform appraisers about any recent improvements to the
home and the cost of those improvements. The value of home
improvements with regard to a home’s appraisal value vary depending
on a host of variables, but having such information at
the ready can help appraisers make the most informed appraisal
possible.
813-682-9364
Communitymagazine1@gmail.com
Feb/Mar 2018 Community Magazine 13
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