Is It Time To Sell Your Home? If One of These 7 Things Rings a Bell, It's Time!

Deciding to sell your home is a big decision and one that is often times emotion. Today Dave and Robert talk about how to figure out if it's time to sell your home. See the short list of signs it's time to sell below and listen to the show for all the details!

1. Your home is starting to feel cramped! Maybe your family is growing, your closets are crammed full, or you started a new job working from home. Whatever the reason, if you're feeling tight on space and remodeling isn't an option, it's a good sign you need to upgrade to a bigger home.
2. Your home has too much space! If the kids have moved out and you have way too many rooms, downsizing might be a great option for you.
3. You have a lot of equity on your side. An experienced agent can run a free value analysis on your home to figure out exactly how much equity you may have. If you have enough equity to cover a 20% down payment on your next home, you will not have to pay private mortgage insurance--which saves you money in the long run!
4. A strong overall real estate market. If you notice that the average days on market in your area is decreasing and the values are increasing, that's a good sign of a strong market and a great time to sell!
5. Ask yourself if you can afford to sell your home. It's not free to sell your home and move to a new one. Before you consider selling, make sure you have money to not only cover moving costs, but preparing your home to sell.
6. Your neighbors just made bank on their home. This is a good sign that you could make a lot of money on yours as well!
7. You're tired of your neighborhood. Maybe you just need a new area to call home! Listen to your gut!

You Received an Offer on Your Home! Now…to Accept it or Reject it?

It's a great day for you as a home seller when you receive an offer on your home, but what should you do next? On today's show, Dave and Robert talk about what you should consider before accepting or rejecting an offer. It's not all about what price they offer! See the short list below and listen to the show for all the details, plus input from guest James Pulsipher with Fidelity Mortgage.

When considering an offer, the offer price isn't the only factor to consider! You should also consider:

1. The amount of earnest money they will deposit. This is a good indication of how serious they are about their offer. A higher amount of earnest money, makes an offer stronger.
2. The total number of contingencies. Contracts that have fewer contingencies are more likely to close in a timely fashion.
3. The amount of the buyer's down payment. A higher down payment most likely means the buyer has the financial wherewithal to make it to the closing table if anything comes up along the way.
4. The closing date the buyer is requesting. The buyer might need to close sooner than you are ready to move. On the flip side, the buyer might not be able to close soon enough for your circumstances. Keep this in mind!

Home Renovations You've Been Dreaming About—Cost & ROI

On today's show Dave and Robert talk about those home renovation projects you've been dreaming about—what'll they'll cost you, plus what you'll get in return for them when you go to sell (return on investment—or ROI). See the short list below and listen to the show for all the details!

1. Adding a deck or patio
   • Cost: $6,000-$10,000
   • ROI: More than 100%!
      
2. Updating your garage door
   • Cost: $1,000
   • ROI: 85% when you hire it out and 235% ROI if you do it yourself
      
3. New vinyl windows
   • Cost: Average $550/window if you hire the project out
   • ROI: About 80% ROI, plus savings on energy costs
      
4. Hardwood flooring
   • Cost: About $5,000-$7,000 depending on the size of your home
   • ROI: 91% and a lifetime of beautiful floors
      
5. Full kitchen renovation
   • Cost: Average of about $65,000
   • ROI: You'll get about $45,000 back
      
6. Bathroom remodel
   • Cost: $35,000+
   • ROI: 50% and a bit more if you DIY the project
      
7. Landscaping upgrade
   • Cost: Varies depending on your landscaping plan
   • ROI: 100% or more
      
8. Basement conversion
   • Cost: $40,000-$50,000
   • ROI: 60% or more

How to Find the Best Real Estate Agent for You

Finding the right real estate agent for you is one of the most vital parts of the home buying or selling process. A great real estate agent will make the experience smooth, enjoyable and help you meet your real estate goals. Despite being one of the most important parts of the process, a lot of people don't put a lot of time or thought into choosing an agent. On today's show, Robert and Dave talk about how you can find the right agent for you and make sure you have an enjoyable experience! Read the short list below and listen to the show for more details.

1. Ask your friends and family for any suggestions.
2. Check online to verify that the agent has great reviews and at least 25 sales in the last year. Experience matters when it comes to problem solving during each unique home buying or selling experience.
3. Interview the agent in person to get a feel for their personality, work style and communication techniques. You won't be a personality match with every agent. Find one that you like and trust your gut!
4. Make sure the agent is responsive and quick to answer your questions. This will make a huge difference in how you experience the home buying or selling process.

Common Emotional Mistakes Home Buyers Make

Buying a home is an emotional process, but don't let emotions get in the way of making good decisions during the home buying process. Today on the show, Dave and Robert talk about the most common emotional mistakes home buyers make and how you can avoid them yourself! See the short list below and listen to the show for more details.

1. Falling in love with a house you can't afford!
2. Not looking into all your different mortgage options that will have long-term effects.
3. Assuming that there's not a better home out there for you. If there are snags with one home, chances are you can find a similar home with a better situation!
4. Becoming desperate during the home buying process.
5. Overlooking important flaws in a home you think you love. Some things are very difficult or almost impossible to change!
6. Overestimating your handyman skills.
7. Rushing to put in your offer before you are ready.

Grandma's Secret Tips for Household Savings - PART TWO

Dave and Robert continue last week's show with more of Grandma's Secret Tips for Household Savings. Read the short list below and listen to the show for more details! See the tips from last week's show HERE.

1. Research the problem before you hire someone to fix it. You might find out that it's super easy to fix on your own (and much more affordable!).
2. Stock up the refrigerator. A full refrigerator is more efficient and will save you on energy costs.
3. Get free stuff from your utility company! Give them a call and see if they have any energy rebates available or if they are giving away free LED bulbs, etc.
4. Watch your Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). Once your loan hits that 20% paid to owe ratio, you don't have to pay PMI anymore. Call your lender and make sure the insurance is taken off!
5. Resist the urge to file petty insurance claims. Think about how much you are willing to pay out of pocket before you file a claim. Filing a claim could make your insurance rate rise.
6. Shop around when hiring someone to do repairs. Make sure to get multiple quotes and choose the best price!
7. Make sure to set-up yearly meetings with your insurance agent. Over time your insurance coverage needs will change. You don't want to be paying for coverage you don't need.

Grandma's Secret Tips for Household Savings - PART ONE

Dave and Robert start today's show with a Grand Valley Real Estate Market recap for April 2018. Then they discuss a few of Grandma's secret tips for household savings, and James Pulsipher visits the show with ways to save on your mortgage. Check out the short list of tips below and listen to the show for all the details!

1. Rent out your extra rooms to earn a little extra cash! This is even easier than back in Grandma's day with VRBO and Airbnb.
2. Make an extra mortgage payment each year if you can. You'll pay off your mortgage about 6 1/2 years sooner plus save on interest.
3. Revisit your insurance. Make sure you're not paying for double coverage or coverage you don't need anymore.

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!