Buyers' Tip

Before you see a realtor, go see a lender! Preferably one with an in-house underwriter. They will want to see your tax returns from the last two years as well as your W-2s, bank statements from the past 2 months at least, a recent pay stub, and maybe a few other things. Are they prying into your business a bit much? Kind of. They need that info to make sure you can afford a loan. They'll also check your credit rating and if you do this before you even look for a house their might be some simple thing you can do to fix that credit report.

Your lender will also be able to tell you about the various loans you may qualify for and around how much money you can spend on a house. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING IN YOUR PRICE RANGE. (We'll discuss being house-poor in a future post.)

This visit to a lender is essential. Do it before you shop so you won't risk falling in love with a house you can't attain the funds to purchase. Besides most sellers require a letter from your lender, saying you can afford the house, before they will accept your offer. What's more it will help save time with the closing if your lender has all your info ready to go to all the channels it needs to go through before you can get the keys to your new home.

Good Luck,
Margie Maybe
Town Favorites Realty
Margie@townfavorites.com

Staging Tips for Your Home with Margie Maybe Sutcuoglu

Staging for the Senses

When you’re getting ready to sell your home…

Think of staging it for the potential buyers’ five senses.

Sense of Sight and Touch

This seems obvious. When the buyer walks through the doorway the house should look clean and when they go to touch doorknobs or counters they should also feel clean!

Going further into the things potential buyers see are your closets. That maybe your favorite place to stash stuff when company comes over but the buyer is not company and they will check in there. So please go through the closest as well as the whole house and get rid of all the extras. Think of it as pre-packing. Donate, sell, dump, or pack stuff you do not use on a regular basis. You are selling your home’s space. A buyer will understand a seller having neatly stacked boxes. They don’t understand an over-packed space is a sign the seller has out grown the house. To them it just looks like the house does not have enough storage for anyone.

Sense of Taste

We’ve all heard the tip about baking cookies for an open house to make potential buyers feel at home. Well that isn’t always true and rarely possible for regular showings. While having pre-made cookies at an open house to save off hunger pangs of a buyer that is on their sixth home showing is one thing. Those freshly baked tasty cookies can often be big distraction. “Ooh, I want cookies now but hmm, I’ve been so good on my diet…that reminds me I need to get healthy snacks packed for work tomorrow. I better leave.” Even worse is to have a crockpot at work reminding the potential buyer that they haven’t started their meal yet.

Sense of Sound

They used to say, “Leave some soothing music on to set the mood of a house.” Not sure where that theory started but it needs to end. Your mood is not necessarily the same as the buyers and that can be a real turn-off to their buying mood.

If you are leaving the music or a fountain on in hopes it will show how easy it is to drown out the busy street noise, think again. The buyer has just come from outside and is fully aware of the noise. They see the music or fountain noise as an effort to cover-up the noise. That gets them wondering what else the seller may be trying to hide. (Not good!)

Sense of Smell

Last but certainly not least. This may be the number one thing that can dissuade a buyer from even touring a house. I have had clients that have asked me to pre-tour homes to check for “cat smell” so they won’t have to waste any time at the house. There has never been a pet lover that has said, “Oh joy, this house already smells like it’s got animals living in it, let’s put an offer in.” Pay your neighbor or be good to your relatives so they will watch your pets while you sell your home. If you are selling your late great aunt’s empty house, that used to house her herd of cats, please remove the carpets and drapes. Even if you cannot afford to replace the flooring, if it gets rid of the smell that’s ok. A potential buyer can envision an easy solution to flooring. If you can’t afford to paint than at least try to clean the walls, this will help with former smoker’s remains, too. A lingering odor is a challenge a buyer is not certain they will be able to remedy. Uncertainty is a deal killer.

Good luck staging for the senses and if you have any questions or tips I would be happy to hear from you!  

George Clooney arrested, Gaga silenced, dinner with Chad, and more

Big news today is that George Clooney was arrested outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. He was taking part in a demonstration to draw attention to that country's president, Omar al-Bashir, who is committing violence against the people of the Sudan and is not allowing humanitarian aid in. Please excuse my moment of shallowness but, “Wow, George just keeps getting hotter being all committed to a cause!

Speaking of being committed…

Lady Gaga in an upcoming interview with Oprah is set to announce she will be taking a vow of silence. She says she won’t be talking to anyone after that interview. No word on for how long and if her twitter account will still be active.

Speaking of twitter stuff

It pays to be a fan of Chad Ochocinco. He might have been just trying to get the fans behind him as his future with the Patriots is now in question. But none the less he spent nearly $8,000 on dinner for 200 local fans that he just tweeted an invite to join him at some New York Restaurant for a free meal.

Speaking on needing some image work

Russell Brand has been named in a police report in New Orleans. Apparently a paparazzi guy claims the actor snatched his cell phone out of his hand and threw it through a window of a nearby building. TMZ is reporting that the camera guy immediately filed a report with police. No word on whether the building’s owners have done likewise.

Karashians being sued, Rush bombed, and the week review