Open House Sign

This is what our open house sign looks like. Here are some tips on holding an open house. 

Mortgage Checklist

Thinking of buying a new home? Review this mortgage checklist first:

1. What is your mortgage limit?

• List all your expenses in your current budget. 
• Estimate potential homeowner expenses and include them in your budget. 
• Estimate your monthly payments using an online mortgage calculator. 
• Calculate your debt to income ratio to determine your mortgage limit. 
• Decide on how much of a down payment you will make. 

2. Check your credit. 

3. Determine the type of loan that works best for you. 

4. Choose a lender. A lender is critical to the cost and success of your home purchase. 

5. Get pre-approved. Get a Good Faith Estimate of fees as a part of your pre-approval. You will have to supply the following:

• Paycheck stubs in the last 30 days
• W2 tax return 
• Recent credit card statements
• Bank statements in the last 90 days

6. Lock in your interest rates

7. Bring all documentation to closing

Ways To Add Curb Appeal

If your home's curb appeal makes a great first impression, everyone -- including potential homebuyers -- will want to see what's inside. Check out these simple, low-cost improvements that you can do in a day, a week, or a month.

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Home Selling Tip: End Your Listing Price in "000"

To make your home show up more often in search try ending your listing price in "000". For example if the price of your home is $375,000 a buyer may search in the $250-$375 range AND $375-$400. Just something to think about. Here are more tips on selling your home.

Organize your Laundry Room

Certain rooms of the house have more resell value than others do. Therefore, when it comes time to sell your home, you want to pay close attention to these rooms. You may not think much of your laundry room but it is a selling point, especially if it is clean, organized and has storage. 

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Easy Home Winterization Projects

Below is a list of easy projects to winterize your home.

• Seal the Draft- According to the Energy Department, drafts can waste 5% to 30% of your energy use.  Place a rolled bath towel under a drafty door, or you can purchase a draft guard to place on your door. 
• Change Furnace Filters- It is important to replace or clean your furnace filters once a month during the heating season. Dirty filters restrict air flow and increase energy demand. 
• Install Storm Windows- Installing a storm door can increase energy efficiency by 45%, by sealing drafts and reducing air flow.
• Water Heater- Turning your water heater down to 120 degrees or lower will reduce your water-heating costs by 6% to 10%.
• More Tips

Importance of Photos

Today more than ever, it's the photos that sell a home, as buyers spend evenings and weekends on their couches poring over slide shows on iPads or laptops. Your photos will make a difference making your home stand out over the rest. Take the time to declutter the your home to take photos. Right after snapping the photos place the items back in the room but at lest the photo will entice buyers. Here are a few more tips in selling your home.   Full Article