Avoid These Common Home Selling Mistakes

Home selling is one of those things that you just don’t do very often. It’s understandable if you don’t know every nuance of the process, but there are a few common mistakes that you must avoid! If your agent gives you advice on any of these things, it’s a good idea to listen to them. See a quick list of mistakes below and listen to the show for valuable insights from Dave and Robert.

1. Your home sells funny and you refuse to believe it!

2. Your home has way too much personality. Really customized homes can turn off buyers that don’t have the same taste. Neutral colors and decorations apply to a wider range of buyers.

3. Setting up cameras to spy on buyers. If you don’t disclose that you are video recording to those entering the home you can get in big trouble!

4. Don’t hang out at your house during open houses or showings!

5. Pricing your home based on feelings rather than fair market value.

6. Avoid keeping all your belongings in your house while it’s on the market. Packing up some of your stuff will help you house show better.

7. Being reluctant to spruce your home up before listing it. Certain small tweaks cost only a little money and can bring in big returns.

8. Using lack luster listing photos.

9. Not spending time on your home’s curb appeal. First impressions have a big impact!

Should you hire a friend or family member as your Realtor?

Once word gets out that you're looking to buy or sell a home, it's almost guaranteed that you'll get bombarded by friends and family asking you to hire them for the job. While it might sound like a good idea to hire someone you know and trust, hiring friends or family can actually turn your home buying or selling experience into a stressful and dramatic experience. Check out the short list below for advice on why hiring friends or family is not the best option for buying or selling your home. Listen to the show for Dave and Robert's advice on the topic!

4 Reasons to Think Twice Before Hiring a Friend or Family Member as Your Real Estate Agent

1. Your friend or relative has a biased perspective. Sure you want someone who is looking out for your best interest, but you also want someone who isn't afraid to tell you the truth when it's hard to hear. Telling hard truths about your home buying budget or your home's list price will be difficult for your friend because it could create tension in your personal relationship. It's much easier for someone who has a solely professional relationship with you to tell it like it is. They will care more about selling your house for top dollar than whether or not they will hurt your feelings!
2. Your friend or relative might not be an expert agent. Your home is one of your biggest financial investments. You need an experienced professional to help you with home buying or selling so that you can make the most of your investment. If your friend or family member is an inexperienced agent, let them practice on someone else! You want someone who knows the ends and outs of negotiating offers, contracts, and inspections. You also want someone who knows about upcoming listings and other homes similar to yours on that have recently sold.
3. The home buying or selling process can be tense. Negotiating repairs and closing terms can get emotional for everyone involved. A lot of times it takes an unbiased viewpoint to find a solution. And what if things get so rough that you need to fire your friend or family member? That's going to lead to some awkward family get-togethers in the future!
4. You will be revealing A LOT about your personal financial portfolio. If you don't want your friends or family to know the intimate details of your bank accounts or debt to income ratios, think twice before hiring them as your agent!

The Ultimate Moving Checklist - 20 Things to Do Before Moving into a New Home

With all the excitement of a new home, it's easy to forget small tasks that need to be done before you move in. Be sure to check out this ultimate moving checklist to help you out! Putting in some extra preparation before the big day will make the process smooth and prevent undue stress. See the list below and listen to the show for extra details and tips from Dave and Robert.

1. Make a moving day schedule for your whole family (don't forget your pets!).
2. Plan and stick to a moving budget.
3. Hire the right moving company, or get the right people to help you.
4. Remember not to establish new lines of credit, like purchasing a car or all new furniture for your new home. This could interfere with your new home's financing and prevent closing!
5. Turn on the utilities ahead of time. Call and establish electricity, water, etc. in your name.
6. Be sure to set-up or transfer your internet and cable service ahead of time.
7. Order an energy audit on your new home to see if there is any room for savings once you move in.
8. Make sure to complete any needed repairs before you move, no matter how small!
9. Do a deep clean. It's never easier to do then when your new home is empty.
10. Replace the home's locks and put an extra key in a lockbox.
11. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
12. Plan and do any major renovations.
13. Consider purchasing a home warranty to cover future home repairs.
14. Buy a fire extinguisher for every level of the home, kitchen and garage. 
15. Create a fire escape plan with your family.
16. Get to know your new home, including where your circuit breaker and water main shut off is located.
17. Label your home's electrical panel. This will make things so much easier for you when you need to use it!
18. Childproof your new home before moving in!
19. Don't forget to update your address with the postal service and any online billing services you use.
20. Make sure to update friends and family with your new address!

Things to Know When Researching Your Home Value Online

Chances are you've researched your home value online, but there are some things you should beforehand to make sure you're coming up with an accurate number. It is essential to use a combination of a listing agent's expertise and guidance, plus online websites to help you find your home's value. Local market information is available online, but only a listing agent can help you value the small nuances of your home. 

Listen to today's show to learn everything you need to know about researching your home value online!

Tips for Selling a Home with Pets

Do you have a dog, cat, hamster, hedgehog, or any other pet? Then this show is for you! Robert and Dave talk about how to sell your home if you own a pet. See the short list below and listen to the show for all the details!

Image Credit: Well Pet Coach

Eliminate Pet Odors!

1. Throw open the windows and air your house out

2. Scrub the house down with odor neutralizing products

3. Wash drapes and upholstery--these tend to hold in smells

4. Have professionals clean your carpet and flooring

5. You might need to replace carpet if odors are still present after cleaning

Keep Your House Smelling Great!

1. Light a mild smelling candle before showings

2. Control reoccurring pet odors after you've cleaned--crate your dog or keep pets outdoors if it's warm

3. Make sure pet hair doesn't start accumulating again--vacuum and sweep often

5 Tips to Help Your Home Make an Astounding First Impression on Home Buyers

Grand Junction Real Estate Advice

We make up our minds about people within seconds of meeting them. It's no different when you're selling your home. Buyers are making a decision about your home the very first time they see it. On today's show, Robert and Dave have 5 tips to help your home create a great first impression on buyers.

See the short list of tips below and listen to the show for detailed advice.

1. Break up with your home! Cut emotional ties with your home so it's easier to follow staging and remodel advice from your agent.
2. Focus on curb appeal. The front of your home is the first photo people will see online. It's important that they are enticed enough to click and see more!
3. Ask yourself, "If I was buying this home right now, what would I want changed?" Then change those things! 
4. Clean the clutter! Open up the space in your home by clearing it of any clutter.
5. Depersonalize your space. Packing up family photos and momentos will allow others to visualize themselves in your home.

Post Inspection Repairs: What to Request & Not Request

When you find the home you want, it's important to pick your battles with repairs requested post home inspection. We've seen many deals go sideways post home inspection when they don't need to! While it's nice for sellers to fix every small detail before you move-in, there's only so much sellers are willing to do, especially if the market is in their favor.

The purpose of a home inspection is to find out if there are severe structural or mechanical defects that will have a negative impact on the way a buyer can use their home. It's 100% okay to request repairs on items that fall into that category. In regards to other repairs, keep the requests below off your list if you really want to close on the home you love! 

Be sure to listen to the show to hear Robert and Dave weigh in on this list!

1. Avoid requesting repairs to any minor cosmetic issues: a deck that needs stained, a small crack in one bathroom tile.
2. Skip requests that ask the home owner to fix cracks in concrete floors. Concrete naturally settles and cracks without structure ramifications. If you see cracks in the walls however, be sure to review the inspection report to see if they have significant structural impacts.
3. Don't request any repairs that cost under $100. This will just make you seem really nit picky!
4. Leave off requests for repairs on any failed window seals. Be aware of these items when you see the home and account for how much it will cost to make repairs yourself in the offer you present.
5. Skip requests for loose railings or fixtures that aren't significant issues.

Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays

The holiday season is here! See the short list of tips below and listen to the show for more detailed advice from Robert and Dave. Use the advantages of this season to get your home sold this winter!

1. Hire a reliable real estate agent who will work hard for you during this time of year!
2. Price your home to SELL instead of making gradual price reductions after your home hits the market.
3. Make your curb appeal a top priority!
4. Keep your home safe for buyers (and your family!) by clearing ice and snow from walkways.
5. Don't over decorate! Creating clutter with your decorations will make your home seem smaller and less spacious.
6. Use simple, neutral and tasteful décor to create a warm, cozy vibe in your home.
7. Your holiday decorations should compliment your home's color palette.
8. Tone down light displays and keep the inflatable snowman in storage this year. Only use lights and decorations to accentuate your home's features, not hide them!