Rochester Real Estate | LOCAL Homes For Sale https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com Rochester Real Estate | LOCAL Homes For Sale | Homes for sale in Rochester, NY, LOCAL Rochester real estate listings, market data, REALTOR® info, and high quality content updated every 15 minutes! Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:50:30 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cropped-SITE-LOGO-512-x-512-1-32x32.png First Time Home Seller – 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home – Rochester Real Estate | LOCAL Homes For Sale https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com 32 32 June Home Maintenance Checklist: 40+ Must-Do Tasks to Prepare Your Home for Summer https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/june-home-maintenance-checklist-summer-prep/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20501 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
May Home Maintenance Checklist: 30 Essential Tasks to Prepare Your Home for Summer https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/may-home-maintenance-checklist/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20484 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
April Home Maintenance Checklist: How To Prepare Your Rochester NY Home For Spring https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/april-home-maintenance-checklist/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20364 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
March Home Maintenance Checklist: Get Your New York Home Ready for Spring https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/march-home-maintenance-checklist/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20338 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How to Buy a House in New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buy-a-house-in-new-york/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19906 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How to Sell a House in New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/sell-a-house-in-new-york/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19905 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Risks of Buying a Non-Warrantable Condo In New York: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/non-warrantable-condo/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19796 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What Builders Should Know About Spec Construction Loans In New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/builders-spec-construction-loans/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19795 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Moving To The Finger Lakes Region Of New York | Guide To Relocating To The Finger Lakes https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/moving-to-the-finger-lakes-region/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19875 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Navigating the Numbers: The Pros and Cons of Using Online Home Value Estimators For New York Real Estate https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pros-cons-online-home-value-estimators/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19794 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
The Role of Location in Home Valuation In New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/role-of-location-home-valuation/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19768 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Lowe’s vs U-Haul: A Review of Truck Rental Companies https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/lowes-vs-uhaul/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19758 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Understanding the Importance of a Seller’s Property Condition Disclosure https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/property-condition-disclosure-statement/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19632 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What are Delayed Showings and Negotiations in Real Estate In New York? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/delayed-showings-negotiations/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19547 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
8 Viable Tactics to Selling Your Home and Moving Out of State https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/selling-home-moving-out-of-state/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19542 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Unconventional Methods for Selling a House: Thinking Outside the Box https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/unconventional-methods-for-selling-a-house/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19519 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Should I Sell My House Off Market: Pros and Cons Explained https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/sell-house-off-market/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19503 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What is PITI and How Does It Affect Your Mortgage https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-is-piti/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19498 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How To Set A Home Renovation Budget https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-renovation-budget/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19490 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How Does A Co-Borrowers Credit Scores Affect A Home Purchase? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/co-borrower-credit-score/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19474 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
New Construction Final Walk-Through Checklist: Ensuring a Seamless Home Inspection https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/new-construction-final-walk-through/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19458 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Essential Tips for Pumping a Septic Tank: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pumping-a-septic-tank/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19450 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Can You Submit Multiple Offers On Homes At Once – A Legal And Ethical Analysis https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/multiple-offers-on-homes-at-once/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19414 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How to Get Your Home Photo Ready for Real Estate Listings https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-photo-ready/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19409 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What Does a Home Builder’s Warranty Cover? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-builders-warranty/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19394 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
July 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/july-2023-rochester-ny-real-estate-market-update/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19403 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Who Pays Real Estate Commission When You Buy or Sell a Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-commission/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19366 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Quitclaim Deeds: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/quitclaim-deeds/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19358 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What to Know About Selling a Home As Is for Cash https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/selling-home-as-is-cash/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19347 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How to Know if My House Has Paranormal Activity https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/is-my-house-haunted/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19342 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Why Find The History of a House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/find-history-house/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19316 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
June 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/june-2023-rochester-ny-area-real-estate-market-update/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19313 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-lawyer/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19181 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
May 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/may-2023-rochester-ny-area-real-estate-market-update/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19162 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What to Know About Buying a Home For The First Time https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buying-home-first-time/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19058 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
<strong>What Should a Buyer Look For at a Home Inspection?</strong> https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-look-for-home-inspection/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18983 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Companies That Buy Houses For Cash Reviewed https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/companies-buy-houses-for-cash/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18889 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Does Home Staging Work and What is The Cost? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/does-home-staging-work/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18814 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What to Avoid When Getting a Mortgage https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/avoid-when-getting-mortgage/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18797 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
<strong>5 Options For Replacing a Roof Reviewed</strong> https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/replacing-roof/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18771 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What Are Restrictive Covenants in Real Estate? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/restrictive-covenants/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18714 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Can The Court Force The Sale of Your House in Divorce? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/court-force-sale-divorce/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18693 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Real Estate Agent vs. Broker: What&#8217;s The Difference? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-agent-vs-broker/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18650 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How To Determine Square Feet In Your House For More Accurate Property Estimates https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/determine-square-feet/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18167 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
3 Things That Often Results in a Real Estate Agent Getting Sued https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-agent-sued/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18133 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
The Top 5 Types Of Home Inspections Buyers Should Consider https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-types-home-inspections/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18119 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
The Pros And Cons Of Rent To Own Homes: What You Need To Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pros-cons-rent-own-homes/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18104 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
5 Smart Things To Do Before Moving That Will Help Ease Your Transition https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-before-moving/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18084 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How to Become a Real Estate Agent https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/become-real-estate-agent/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18071 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Renting A House Or An Apartment: Which Is The Better Option https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/renting-house-apartment/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17871 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
The 5 Most Important Factors To Consider When Buying A House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-factors-buying-house/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17851 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What Buyers And Sellers Need To Know About An Appraisal Gap https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/appraisal-gap/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17827 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Pros And Cons Of Renting With Roommates – What You Need To Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/renting-with-roommates/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17794 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
6 Things You Should Know About Buying Land https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-know-buying-land/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17773 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How Long Should Home Sellers Wait To Respond To An Offer On Their Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-sellers-wait-respond-offer/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17745 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How To Buy A House With A Low Credit Score https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-buy-a-house-with-a-low-credit-score/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16819 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Things To Consider When Shipping A Car https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-to-consider-when-shipping-a-car/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16248 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Home Depot Truck Rentals: What to Know Including Pricing https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-depot-truck-rentals-what-to-know-including-pricing/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16156 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
16 Things To Do Before Listing Your Home For Sale https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/16-things-to-do-before-listing-your-home-for-sale/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16138 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
The Biggest Home Inspection Mistakes to Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/biggest-home-inspection-mistakes-to-avoid/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16112 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How Your Credit Score Impacts Your Ability To Buy A House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-credit-score-impacts-buying-house/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16086 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Top Winter Home Selling Mistakes | 7 Errors Made While Selling A House During The Winter https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-winter-home-selling-mistakes/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16051 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Top Winter Home Buying Mistakes | 11 Errors Made While Buying A House During The Winter https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/winter-home-buying-mistakes/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16013 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What Address Change Form Should I Use At The Post Office? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/address-change-form-post-office/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15981 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What Does Contingent Status Mean in Real Estate? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-does-contingent-status-mean-real-estate/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15956 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
DIY Renovation Ideas For Your Backyard https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/diy-renovation-ideas-backyard/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15937 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How to Rent Your First Apartment Guide https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-rent-an-apartment/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15931 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Tips For Selling A Home Virtually https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/tips-selling-a-home-virtually/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15907 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
The Complete Winter Storage Checklist For Your Belongings https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/winter-storage-checklist/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15885 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Should I Waive My Home Inspection When Buying A House? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/should-i-waive-my-home-inspection/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15870 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
The Biggest Self Storage Companies Reviewed https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/biggest-self-storage-companies/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15836 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Earnest Money and House Deposits Explained https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/earnest-money-house-deposits-explained/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15760 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Moving Mistakes To Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/moving-mistakes-to-avoid/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15568 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Top Mortgage Myths | Demystifying Common Home Loan Misconceptions https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-mortgage-myths/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15102 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes to Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/first-time-home-buyer-mistakes/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=14815 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
10 Tips For Adding Appeal To Your Home This Summer https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/10-tips-adding-appeal-to-home-this-summer/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=14237 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Exploring The Merits of Smart Home Technology When Selling a Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/smart-home-technology-selling-a-home/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13782 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Top Frequently Asked Questions From Home Sellers https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-frequently-asked-questions-home-sellers/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=2424 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
First Time Home Buyer Programs In Rochester NY &#8211; Updated January 2025 https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/first-time-home-buyer-programs/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock http://rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=580 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How New Doors &#038; Windows Can Boost Your Home Value https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-new-doors-windows-boost-your-home-value/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13643 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Top 5 Things To Know When Flipping Your First House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-things-to-know-when-flipping-your-first-house/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13574 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What Are The Best Mortgage Options for Self Employed Borrowers? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/mortgage-options-for-self-employed-borrowers/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13450 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Top 10 Best Places To See Christmas Lights In Rochester NY https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-10-best-places-see-christmas-lights-rochester-ny/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=10236 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What Are The PROs And CONs Of Multifamily Homes? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-multifamily-homes/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13219 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
What Low-Cost Home Improvements Should You Make Before Selling Your Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/low-cost-home-improvements-you-should-make-before-selling-your-home/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13114 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
15 Things Millennial Home Buyers Look At While Buying A House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/15-things-millennial-home-buyers-look-at-while-buying-a-house/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13028 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How Does A Fence Increase The Value Of Your Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-does-a-fence-increase-the-value-of-your-home/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12995 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
5 Simple &#038; Low Cost Fixes To Make Your Home More Appealing To Buyers https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-simple-and-low-cost-fixes-to-make-your-home-more-appealing-to-buyers/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12779 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How To Improve A Homes Curb Appeal In Rochester NY https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-improve-a-homes-curb-appeal-rochester-ny/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12665 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
7 Ways to Create an Energy-Efficient Home While Conserving Your Budget https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/7-ways-create-an-energy-efficient-home/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12633 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Hiring Movers Vs. Moving Yourself | The PROs &#038; CONs Of Each https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/hiring-movers-vs-moving-yourself/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12592 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Should You Pay Off Student Loans Before Purchasing a Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pay-off-student-loans-before-purchasing-a-home/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12531 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Should I Build A New Home Or Buy An Existing Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/should-i-build-a-new-home-or-buy-an-existing-home/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=2497 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
Buying A Condo Vs. Renting A Condo | What Are The PROs &#038; CONs? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buying-a-condo-vs-renting-a-condo/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12402 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
9 Money Saving Moving Tips | How To Cut Costs When Moving https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/9-money-saving-moving-tips/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12341 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
How to Create a Proper Home Maintenance Checklist https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-create-a-proper-home-maintenance-checklist/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12300 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
5 Tips For Tenant Screening | How To Weed Out Bad Tenant Applicants https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/tips-for-tenant-screening/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12291 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
The Best Social Media Blogs For Real Estate From 2017 https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-social-media-blogs-2017/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12045 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
The Best Home Improvement Blogs From 2017 | Advice For Home Remodeling https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-home-improvement-blogs-2017/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12044 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner

About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>
The Best Mortgage Blogs From 2017 | Advice For Home Financing https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-mortgage-blogs-2017/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:00:25 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12043 Helpful Advice For Selling A Home For The First Time [caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="450" class=" "]Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks Top Secret First Time Home Seller Tips And Tricks[/caption] When it comes to real estate tips and tricks, there are tons of great articles and content available for first time home buyers.  The same cannot be said about tips and tricks for first time home sellers. When the decision is made by a first time home seller to list their home for sale, there is often a period of confusion.  Most first time home sellers have no idea where or how to start the home selling process. It's very important that first time home sellers understand what the home sale process entails, what costs are associated with selling a home, and many other very important aspects of the home selling process. Before you sell your home for the first time, make sure you check out some of the most important first time home seller tips and tricks below.  By following these tips and tricks, you will put yourself in a much better position to sell your first home and will make the home selling process seem rather easy!

First Time Home Seller Tip #1: Prepare Your Home For The Market

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is that they do not know how to or understand how important it is to prepare a home for the open real estate market.  Before selling a home for the first time, it's important you realize how important it is to make sure your home is show-ready as soon as it's listed for sale. One of the biggest suggestions for any first time home seller is having a home inspection completed before the house is listed for sale.  The likelihood that a home buyer will decide to have a home inspection is very strong.  Today's home buyers are scared away from homes relatively easily and correcting problems that an inspector finds before listing your home for sale can greatly decrease the chance that a deal may fall apart due to a buyer getting scared off. Another excellent way for a first time home seller to prepare their home for the market is by making low-cost home improvements before listing the home for sale.  Just a few of the most popular low-cost home improvements to consider making before selling your home for the first time include;
  • Freshly painting rooms
  • Professionally cleaning floors and/or carpeting
  • Replacing outdated light fixtures
  • Replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry
It's important that first time home sellers understand the importance of making a great first impression on potential home buyers.  By not properly preparing a home for sale, a first time home seller could potentially be costing themselves thousands of dollars and also valuable time, in the event their home takes longer to sell.

First Time Home Seller Tip #2: Hire A Top Producing Listing Agent

[caption id="attachment_2847" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD! Hire A Top Realtor When Selling A Home For The First Time, Not A DUD![/caption] First time home sellers need to understand the importance of having a top producer representing them during the sale of their home.  Selling a home is not an easy task, so don't attempt to sell your home by owner.  For sale by owners, also known as FSBOs, have a failure rate of 85%-95%. In any given real estate market, there can be several hundred to several thousand real estate agents who have the ability to sell a home.  It's important that first time home sellers understand that not all real estate agents are the equal.  Even real estate agents within the same company are not equal.  Some real estate agents are part time real estate agents, some are primarily buyers agents, and other agents may only have had their real estate license for a month or two. How can a first time home seller ensure they hire a top producing listing agent?  It's actually a fairly simple answer, you know how to properly interview real estate agents.  A first time home seller who knows how to properly interview prospective real estate agents will have a much greater chance that they hire a top producer and not a dud. It's important that first time home sellers don't always assume that the real estate agent who sold them their home is capable of selling the home.  There are several things that home sellers should expect from their real estate agent when selling their home.  Some of the things a top producing listing agent will provide to a seller may not be able to be provided by the buyers agent who sold them their current home, such as a comprehensive marketing plan.

First Time Home Seller Tip #3: Understand Your Local Real Estate Market

Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.  First time home sellers need to understand what the current state is of their local real estate market.  Generally speaking there are three "states" of a real estate market, a sellers market, a buyers market, and a balanced market. Some real estate markets will vary depending on the time of the year, for example, typically during the spring months of April, May, and June, the Rochester, NY real estate market experiences a strong sellers market.  Since the spring months are typically stronger months to sell a home, many home owners have to decide whether they should list their home in the fall and winter months or wait until spring. Obviously a sellers market is preferred when selling a home for the first time.  A sellers market typically will lead to lots of demand for a property and the possibility of receiving multiple offers.  Before you decide to sell your home for the first time, it's important you ask a real estate professional their analysis relating to the current state of the local market!

First Time Home Seller Tip #4: Decide What Your Next Move Is

First time home sellers often neglect to figure out what their next move is after selling their current home.  Will you move into an apartment?  Will you be buying a new home?  Will you be building a new home?  It's important when selling a home for the first time, you have a strong game plan for your next move. If the game plan is to purchase another home, a first time home seller needs to determine whether they can get pre-approved for a mortgage without being contingent on the sale of their current home.  While it's uncommon in most cases that a buyer is able to purchase a home without selling their current home, it's extremely important to know.  Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be tricky and it's important that a game plan is in place if this your next move!

First Time Home Seller Tip #5: Price Your Home Correctly

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="450"]First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home! First Time Home Sellers Need To Understand The Importance Of Correctly Pricing Their Home![/caption] The number one reason a home doesn't sell in real estate is because the property is incorrectly priced.  There are lots of different reasons why home owners incorrectly price their home and it's important the first time home sellers don't make those common real estate pricing mistakes. First time home sellers often have no clue on how a listing price is determined in real estate.  There are many different ways a listing price can be determined and it's important that you understand the various ways.  The most common real estate pricing practice is a comparative market analysis that is completed by a real estate professional.  A comparative market analysis, also commonly referred to as a CMA, can be summarized as a review of local active homes for sale, past home sales, and also past expired listings.  A top producing real estate agent should be able to determine a probable sale price of a home by completing a detailed market analysis.  While a CMA is the most common way to determine the price of a home, another accurate way to produce a listing price of a home is by having an appraisal completed on the property. It's critical that first time home sellers avoid some of the inaccurate ways to price a home, such as using the homes assessed value or using an online home valuation estimate, such as Zillow's "Zestimates."  There is no possible way an online website based out of San Diego, CA can accurately determine the price of a home in Webster, NY.

First Time Home Seller Tip #6: Know What Your Closing Expenses Are When Selling Your Home

First time home sellers are often shocked when they learn about the seller expenses that they traditionally are responsible for.  One of the hardest pills to swallow for a first time home seller are brokerage fees.  First and foremost, real estate commissions are negotiable.  First time home sellers often forget that the previous owner of their current home paid the brokerage fees when they purchased their home.  Brokerage fees are normally the largest expense incurred by a home seller. Other home selling expenses that first time home sellers need to consider include the cost of an instrument survey, re-dating of an abstract, transfer taxes, and also the possibility of helping a buyer out by contributing a seller concession towards their closing expenses. When selling a home for the first time it's important to keep an updated mortgage pay-off balance handy, if applicable, so when a purchase offer is received you can determine what your closing expenses will be and there are no surprises a few days before closing.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home for the first time can be extremely stressful and exhausting.  A first time home seller who has a top producing agent in their corner will have a much greater chance of a smooth and successful home sale. The above tips and tricks are some of the most important for any first time home seller.  Make sure when selling your home for the first time you're mentally prepared for the possible upcoming home selling challenges that you may encounter.

Other First Time Home Seller Resources


Are you a first time home seller in Rochester, NY?  If so, make sure you take good note of the above tips and tricks.  By following the above tips and tricks, selling your first home will seem much easier and less stressful!  If you have no selected a top Rochester, NY Realtor to represent you in your home sale, contact me, and I'd love the opportunity to interview for the opportunity to get your home sold! 
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About the authors:  The above article "First Time Home Seller - 6 Tips And Tricks For Selling Your First Home" was provided by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 35 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.]]>