How Can You Get Top Dollar for Your Home?

Selling your home for top dollar doesn’t have to be hard. Following these tips will give you a good head start.

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We are excited to answer a common question today that we’ve been getting a lot lately. The question is, “How do I get top dollar for my home?” It’s a great question because your home is often your biggest asset, so of course you want to sell for as much money as possible. Here are some great tips our team uses in order to get the job done:

1. Plan, plan, plan. It’s so important to plan ahead of time because it allows you to do more things to the home like decluttering, having inspections, and making minor repairs. We also have a professional photographer and a professional home stager on staff to ensure a great presentation of your home.

2. Work with an agent who understands the market. The agent you work with needs to understand everything about your specific market, including identifying specific trends or timing strategies.

You need an agent who understands the market.

3. Work with an agent who knows how to make an entrance. Do not allow your agent to just come out, take some pictures, slap a sign in the yard, and cross their fingers that it sells online. You have to create and build awareness of a home to get it to sell for top dollar. It’s important that your home is filled with potential buyers while it’s on the market to create a sense of urgency among them.

4. Price the home correctly. Although it only takes one buyer to buy a home, to get top dollar on your home, you need every possible buyer to see it. You don’t get a second chance at a first impression, so if you want to sell for top dollar, you’ve got to create that good impression by pricing properly.

If you have any questions for us or you are looking to buy or sell, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

10 Most Common Home Buyer Questions

We all know that there is always a multitude of concerns for anyone in the process of buying a home, but today we’re going to touch on the 10 most common ones and give you some answers:

1. What is the first step in the home buying process? First and foremost, get pre-approved. Talking with a lender before looking at homes can help you understand what you can afford and what costs to expect.
2. How long does it take to buy a house? Typically, it takes around 30-45 calendar days.
3. What does a Realtor really do? To be honest, pretty much everything. We’re your most valuable asset when buying a home. If you need a detailed list, please contact us and we’d be happy to go over it with you.
4. How much do I have to pay for a buyer’s agent? Nothing! The seller pays the commission, so buying a home is free.
5. What’s the best advice for first-time home buyers? Trust a professional. Keep in mind that not all Realtors are the same. You need one that will be up to date on anything and everything that could affect your deal.




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We’re your most valuable asset when buying a home.


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6. What kind of credit score do you need? You need to have a score higher than 580, but preferably 620 and above. Again, you should speak with a lender to find out what products are available.
7. Are there any special loan programs you should know about? Absolutely. Did you know that there are programs available that can get you into a house with no money down? A lender can help you learn what options are available.
8. How much is needed for a down payment? It depends on your loan type and credit score, but usually, it’s 5% to 20% down.  
9. Are there any other fees besides a down payment? There are mainly just loan origination and closing costs.
10. When do I get the keys? At closing. Once the loan has been funded and the title is recorded, you get the keys and the home is all yours.

This is just a quick overview, so if you have any other questions about the home buying process, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you.

Creating Web Appeal With Professional Photos

Buying a home?  Search all Phoenix area homes for sale 

Selling your Phoenix home? Get a free home value report 

You can't underestimate the importance of using a professional photographer to showcase your Phoenix home when selling it. Did you know that the majority of buyers today start their home search online?

Professional photos are a great way to separate yourself from the rest of the competition. As a homeowner, you help with the curb appeal of the home, but as an agent, it's our responsibility to give the home web appeal.

To get clicks on your house online, clients first look at the price, followed by the pictures. Photos help buyers decide if they would even want to see your home in person at all. With photos, a listing only has about 20 seconds to make an impression on a buyer - and just two seconds without them. You only get one chance to make that good first impression.

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You have just seconds to make an impression with buyers online.

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A good impression of a home encourages positive energy toward it, and emotion is the number one trigger for buyers. Additionally, professional photos make a home sell faster, and will earn you approximately $19,000 more.

Keep this info in mind when you're listing your home for sale. If you're thinking about selling, give me a call for a free consultation. I'd love to work with you!

We Are at a Turning Point in the Market

Buying a home?  Search all Phoenix area homes for sale 

Selling your Phoenix home? Get a free home value report 

I believe we are at a turning point in the real estate market. We are successfully transitioning from a recovery process to an expansion. The number of homes being sold has gone up, and so has appreciation. We usually like to see an appreciation rate of around 3.5%, but for 2016 we are projecting a 7% increase.

Some people might get nervous about this number, but you shouldn’t. There aren’t a bunch of crazy loans being handed out, or people buying homes they can’t afford. It’s simply a matter of supply and demand. There are not enough homes for sale on the market to meet the increased buyer demand from lowered interest rates.

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We are in expansion mode.

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From 2001 to 2007, a homeowner stayed in their home for an average of right around six years before selling. In 2007, we started to see that number increase. It peaked at 10 years in 2014. However, since last year, we’ve been seeing that number drop again. A lot of people had stayed in their homes longer because their value had dropped too much, they had too many job insecurities, or didn’t feel secure enough with the real estate market.

I think over the next 18 months, you’re going to start to see the supply match that demand. We are projecting to see the mean appreciation decrease back to normal levels as well.

This is great news for buyers and sellers. For sellers, you’re going to have less competition and higher offers. For buyers, you’re still going to see a steady increase in home values for years to come. If you have any questions for me or if you’re thinking about buying or selling, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.