These seven improvements will have the biggest impact on your home sale. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportWhat are some simple and fairly inexpensive ways you can increase your home’s appeal so that it performs well online and woos buyers when they come to visit in person? Here are seven things that buyers respond to well:1. Neutral paint. It will give your home a fresh, crisp look at a low cost.2. Updated appliances. If yours are mismatched or getting up there in age, it’s a great idea to choose either a new matching black or stainless steel set for your kitchen.3. Fresh landscaping. Adding fresh flowers and mulch, removing dead plants, and neatly trimming bushes will give your home tremendous curb appeal.4. Updated kitchen and bathrooms. This, too, can easily be achieved with fresh paint and new knobs or handles.5. Power washed exterior. Get all of the cobwebs off and clear away any mystery grime on the siding.6. Replaced front door. Now, depending on the condition of the door, you may be able to grab buyers’ attention by simply painting it. If you don’t replace the door itself, then replace the other hardware and consider hanging a seasonal wreath for a nice touch.7. Stain and paint your deck or patio. After you power wash it, put some sealant on it for a polished look.I hope you found these tips helpful. If you have any questions about these quick and easy projects, or real estate in general, please feel free to reach out via phone or email. We’re happy to hear from you and be of assistance.

Tru Advantage Realty Podcast

What Home Improvements Matter Most to Buyers?

Don’t let a completely resolvable issue sink your home sale or purchase. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportThe No. 1 reason why deals fall through: Not having the right agent and contacts. Here’s one of the most important things you should ask any agent you’re interviewing: “If we have a problem with our home during the inspection or appraisal process, do you have reliable contacts on standby?”For example, I have a client who’s buying here in York, Pennsylvania, and selling her home three hours away in a whole different county. It was discovered she had a problem with her home’s septic system, but the agent did not have a contact for her. Instead, the agent told her to reach out to anybody she can think of to help fix her septic system. Three weeks later, the problem still hasn’t been fixed, and no guidance has been given to the client (I wasn’t even made aware of the situation until recently). We were set to close two days from the recording of this video, but now that won’t happen—all because an agent did not have a contact.“ If you don't have go-to options for your home maintenance needs, you have to make sure you ask your agent if they do.”Unfortunately, situations like this are why hard-working and knowledgeable agents get a bad reputation. You have to build a relationship with contractors and maintain a list of people you can call on to address issues in your home. If you don't have go-to options for your home maintenance needs, you have to make sure you ask your agent if they do. If you have further questions on this topic or are gearing up to sell your home soon, reach out to me directly via phone or email.

Quick Tip of the Day: How to Keep Your Deal From Falling Through

If you find a home on the market you love, jump on it as soon as possible. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportSuppose you found a house that you loved and could see yourself living in. However, before you made an offer, you told your agent that you wanted to think about it. What if you woke up the next morning and found that someone else already submitted an offer? Would you be mad?If you love a house, make an offer on it quickly. I understand that you might want to sleep on certain big decisions before you make them, but doing so in real estate could mean missing your chance.“ If you love a house, make anoffer on it quickly.”Our market is hot right now, so be sure to put in your highest and best offer on a home you love as soon as possible. Once you do, your real estate agent can help you negotiate the rest on your behalf.If you’d like to learn more about making an offer on your dream home, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you.

When to Submit an Offer on a Home You Love

I’m sharing the three basic things buyers need to do to be successful. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportAt TruAdvantage Realty, we know what it’s like to be a buyer in a competitive marketplace. We’ve helped plenty of buyer clients get into the home of their dreams. Unfortunately, we also see plenty of buyers who fail to prepare and end up leaving the market (or lingering around on it for longer than they’d like) with a sour taste in their mouths. Here are three tips for buyers that we’ve observed to be indispensable:1. Be available for showings. Right now, the market is red hot and homes are selling lightning quick. You need an agent who can get inside a home the same day—or, at the very latest, the day after—you stumble upon it.2. Get an agent who wins multiple-offer situations. Even if yours is one of the lower offers on a home, an agent with a proven track record of success will still be able to provide you with enough leverage to win out against the other buyers. We’re happy to have a conversation with you detailing all of the methods we employ to make our buyers’ offers as attractive as possible. We’ll even show you successful past examples of our strategy.3. Be able to communicate with your agent in a timely manner. Whether it’s an evening, weekend, or early morning, you need to be able to get a hold of your agent. Working with an accessible and timely agent is absolutely essential.As always, if you have questions about this or any other real estate-related topic, reach out to us by phone or email. We’re here to help and look forward to hearing from you!

What 3 Home Buying Tips Are Essential?

If you’re in the market to buy (or even sell) a home,here’s why you’ll want to get a home warranty. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportIf you’re a homeowner or are planning to be, you’ll want to educate yourself about home warranties. Not homeowners insurance—that’s completely different. Today I’ll share a few key points you need to know about what home warranties are and how they’ll protect your investment once you buy a home.How do they work? Well, if something that your warranty covers breaks down, you simply contact your home warranty provider to have them send someone out to fix it.Most of my first-time home buying clients get a home warranty because they’re so used to having to call a maintenance technician to take care of their repairs. Home warranties cover the costs of repairs for things like appliances, electrical, plumbing, and in some cases, the roof. Some home warranties will allow you to pick your own contractor to come and do your repairs.“ Sellers can purchase warranties for their homesto cover the property for the time that the home is listed.”Bear in mind that warranties are optional. You pay a set amount each year that can be paid monthly or annually, and you do have a deductible for each time you call them and for each item you have repaired.Home warranties aren’t just for buyers—sellers can purchase warranties for their homes to cover the property for the time that the home is listed.If you’d like to learn more about home warranties, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you.

What Do You Need to Know About Home Warranties?

Here’s how to compete as a buyer in our pandemic-affected market. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportFor all you potential homebuyers out there, I know what some of you may be experiencing; you’re seeing all these new listings pop up, only to be sold in a matter of days. You're thinking, “How can this be possible in the middle of a pandemic? My agent told me we can’t go look at properties right now!”Understand that these properties are being sold to buyers who are absolutely committed to buying by going under contract and leveraging contingencies. There are protocols in place to protect buyers so that you can still have a physical walk-through once our restrictions are lifted.

How Are Homes Still Selling Amid Quarantine Restrictions?

I’m explaining the differences between a home inspection and an appraisal. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportThis is a question I hear a lot: Is a home inspection the same as an appraisal? The quick answer is no, you’ll need both of these appointments.A home inspection is a complete inspection of the house. They’ll check the electrical, plumbing, roof, crawl spaces, appliances, and more. That home inspector works for you. You pay the inspector to do a thorough analysis, you’re there, you’ll learn a bit about your new property, and they’ll write a list of things that could improve your home.“ The appraiser works for the bank,even though you pay them.”You also have to get an appraisal. The appraiser works for the bank, even though you pay them. The appraisal is to determine value, not the condition of the house. The inspection and appraisal are two completely separate things.If you have further questions about this or real estate in general, give me a call or send an email. I would love to hear from you.

The Difference Between Home Inspections and Appraisals

Here’s why potential buyers should think twice before counting themselves out. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportThe two most common home buying myths are that you need to have 20% down and a credit score of 750 or higher. The truth is, you don’t even need a credit score of 700, and there are a ton of financing options available to you, some requiring as little as 3% down (others require nothing down, so long as you meet certain criteria).I have plenty of clients who have less-than-perfect credit; we work with you and do what it takes to help you achieve homeownership. I would love to connect you with all of the resources you need to truly understand your capabilities as a homebuyer. If you have questions about down payments, credit scores, or whatever else is involved in the home buying process, feel free to reach out to me at any time.

2 Common Home Buying Myths

I’m sharing an example of a recent client’s purchase to illustratejust what, exactly, low rates mean for a buyer today. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportRight now, you’re probably seeing mortgage lenders talk about low interest rates and that now is the time to buy.For you, as a buyer, what does this actually mean? You don’t want an interest rate, you want a house; in a sense, these guys are selling you on the drill, but you just want the hole.A low interest rate means that you’ll have a much lower monthly payment. For instance, I had a buyer yesterday get pre-approved for a USDA zero-down home loan, and their interest rate was 2.88%. The house was purchased for $150,000, so the payment, with a zero down loan, was $1,023. You can buy a home for $150,000 and pay less than what you’re paying in rent.Those who have been in the military can qualify for a VA loan and get a rate that will probably be very similar, and your payment will likely be less than $1,000 on that same $150,000 house.“ A lower interest rate means that you’ll havea much lower monthly payment.”So when you hear all this hype about interest rates, understand that it’s important for you to talk to a lender. If you guys need help with this, we have the best lenders in town, and we can connect you. They give you a free one-year home warranty and loads of knowledge; you won’t regret talking to Freedmont Mortgage.Buyers care about the down payment and the monthly payment. Interest rates are great, but only because they allow you to afford more home for your money. Quick disclaimer: I’m not a lender, and I can’t give you numbers on paper, but I can encourage you to start the financing process just so you’re able to see where you stand.If you have additional questions about this or any other real estate topic, you can reach out to me directly via phone or email. I’m always happy to help.

Why Should You Care About Low Rates?

I’m answering the question of whether you should get ahome inspection done before you list your home. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportShould you get a home inspection before you list? Many clients have asked me this in the past. The truth is, there’s no right or wrong answer to that question. However, there are definite benefits to having a home inspection done before you put your house on the market.If you get a home inspection done first, it alerts you to some of the things you may not have known needed to be fixed. Then you have an opportunity to mend those issues before the buyer comes along with their own inspection. (Yes, they should do a home inspection even if they know you’ve already had one done.) Then, when you’ve repaired things from your home inspection, the buyer’s inspection will be pretty good. However, another home inspector could find something the first one didn’t.If you’d like to discuss home inspections further or have any other questions, call, text, or email me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Should You Get a Home Inspection Before You List?

I’m sharing why in 2020 buyers need to be interviewing real estate agents before hiring them. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportWe’re coming up on spring, and soon more homes will be for sale—the market will be booming. However, there will still be more buyers in the market than sellers. This means, as a buyer, you’ll be competing with all the others.Buyers: You need to be interviewing different agents before you hire one. You need to see with whom you work best and feel most comfortable. The main question you need to be asking the real estate agents as you interview them is: In a competitive buyer’s market, how do you help me compete in a multiple-offer situation? If they answer that you need to raise the price on your offer or need to do fewer inspections, that’s a generic answer most of them give.“ You need to be interviewing differentagents before you hire one.”You need to find an agent who can think outside the box. Last week I was able to help a buyer save $20,000 on a house by thinking outside the box when we weren’t the highest offer on the table. No matter when you’re buying a home in 2020, you’ll be competing with multiple offers. Make sure you have the right agent on your side who can think outside the norm and get you the property of your dreams.If you want to know exactly how I make offers in a multiple-offer situation or have any other questions, reach out via phone or email.

How to Handle Multiple Offers

Here’s what we expect from our 2020 market. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportWhere’s our real estate market headed in 2020?In 2019, one out of every 10 offers was part of a multiple-offer situation. Next year, experts predict that ratio to increase to one out of every four offers. That is a huge difference, and it also demonstrates why it’s important for anyone buying a home next year to hire an agent who can handle multiple-offer situations and help you come out on top. If you plan on buying in 2020, you also need to prepare for more competition. Interest rates are expected to hover around 3.8%, which means more buyers will enter the market to take advantage of these low rates. “    We’re looking at a nationwide home price increaseof 6% over the first half of the year.”Inventory is expected to be low too, which means we’re looking at a nationwide home price increase of 6% over the first half of the year. Once this happens, more homeowners will want to list their properties, and more builders will want to start building. With this increase in sellers, we expect conditions to balance out toward the end of 2020.My team and I are experts when it comes to multiple-offer situations, and we’d love to help you achieve all of your real estate goals in 2020. If you have any more questions about our future market, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you. 

What Buyers & Sellers Should Know About the 2020 Market

Is it better to sell right now or wait until spring?Want to Buy a Home? Search All HomesWant to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportIf you’re thinking of selling, but aren’t sure whether you should wait for the spring or summer to do so, this message is for you. Though more homes, statistically, sell during this time of year, that doesn’t necessarily make these seasons the best time to do so. People are always looking for homes to buy, and the winter market offers several advantages.For one thing, competition is low, which means the demand for your home is high. Many serious buyers enter the market at this time of year, and this gives winter sellers the chance to capture a great deal. Why wait to sell when everyone else is doing so, too? If you’re ready to sell now, then it’s time to get off the fence and put your home on the market.If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Should You Sell Now or Wait?

As you prepare to sell your home, it’s crucial that youinterview multiple agents before partnering with one.Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportIf you’re getting ready to put your home on the market, you’re going to need an agent to help you do so. So how do you choose the right one?Well, first of all, don’t just pick the first agent you meet without considering other options. You should always interview multiple agents before making a decision. Even if the first agent you encounter turns out to be the best fit, it’s important that you meet with at least two more. You never know what another agent could offer you until you meet with them.For one thing, the list price different agents recommend often varies by tens of thousands of dollars. But, contrary to what you might assume, you shouldn’t always choose the agent who recommends the highest price. Rather, it’s best to work with an agent who is honest—someone who will use real market data to determine your home’s fair market value and who will help you earn top dollar accordingly.“You should always interview multiple agentsbefore making a decision.”The bottom line is that meeting with multiple agents will help you select a professional who is honest, knowledgeable, and experienced enough to bring you the best possible results for your home sale.If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Don’t Just Settle for the 1st Agent You Meet

If your lease is expiring at the end of this yearand you have plans to buy a home, what are you waiting for?Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportSo imagine you’re a renter and your lease expires at the end of the year. That begs the question: When should you start looking to purchase a home?The answer, of course, is right now! Our team will be happy to connect you with a lender who will work with you to gather basic information about your situation and determine how much you’ll be required to put down. Some buyers are even qualifying for zero-down financing right now!You might be wondering, “If my lease isn’t up until December 31, why start the process now?” Well, it could take you weeks or even months to find the home that’s right for you, and when you do find that home, it’ll be at least a month before you’re able to close on it. Not to mention that our current market’s inventory remains low, which might also add more time to your home search.“Now’s the time to jump into the market as rentscontinue to rise and interest rates continue to fall.”Plus, if you buy a house in, say, October, your first payment won’t be due until December. If you’re a renter whose lease will soon expire, now’s the time to jump into the market as rents continue to rise and interest rates continue to fall.If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. You can contact me directly at (717) 654-3937 or by email at Zak@YorkHomeSale.com. Talk to you soon.

When Should You Start Looking to Buy?

If you are looking to buy or sell a home, get all the information and the latest updates, tips, and tricks from Tru Advantage Realty - your professional Real Estate Agents.

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Tru Advantage Realty Podcast

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