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 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A 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/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20501 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> May Home Maintenance Checklist: 30 Essential Tasks to Prepare Your Home for Summer https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/may-home-maintenance-checklist/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20484 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> April Home Maintenance Checklist: How To Prepare Your Rochester NY Home For Spring https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/april-home-maintenance-checklist/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20364 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> March Home Maintenance Checklist: Get Your New York Home Ready for Spring https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/march-home-maintenance-checklist/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20338 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Buy a House in New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buy-a-house-in-new-york/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19906 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Sell a House in New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/sell-a-house-in-new-york/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19905 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Risks of Buying a Non-Warrantable Condo In New York: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/non-warrantable-condo/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19796 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Builders Should Know About Spec Construction Loans In New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/builders-spec-construction-loans/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19795 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 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/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19875 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 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/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19794 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Role of Location in Home Valuation In New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/role-of-location-home-valuation/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19768 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Lowe’s vs U-Haul: A Review of Truck Rental Companies https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/lowes-vs-uhaul/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19758 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Understanding the Importance of a Seller’s Property Condition Disclosure https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/property-condition-disclosure-statement/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19632 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What are Delayed Showings and Negotiations in Real Estate In New York? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/delayed-showings-negotiations/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19547 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 8 Viable Tactics to Selling Your Home and Moving Out of State https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/selling-home-moving-out-of-state/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19542 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Unconventional Methods for Selling a House: Thinking Outside the Box https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/unconventional-methods-for-selling-a-house/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19519 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Should I Sell My House Off Market: Pros and Cons Explained https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/sell-house-off-market/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19503 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What is PITI and How Does It Affect Your Mortgage https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-is-piti/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19498 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How To Set A Home Renovation Budget https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-renovation-budget/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19490 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How Does A Co-Borrowers Credit Scores Affect A Home Purchase? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/co-borrower-credit-score/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19474 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> New Construction Final Walk-Through Checklist: Ensuring a Seamless Home Inspection https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/new-construction-final-walk-through/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19458 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Essential Tips for Pumping a Septic Tank: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pumping-a-septic-tank/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19450 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Can You Submit Multiple Offers On Homes At Once – A Legal And Ethical Analysis https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/multiple-offers-on-homes-at-once/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19414 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Get Your Home Photo Ready for Real Estate Listings https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-photo-ready/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19409 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Does a Home Builder’s Warranty Cover? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-builders-warranty/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19394 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> July 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/july-2023-rochester-ny-real-estate-market-update/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19403 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Who Pays Real Estate Commission When You Buy or Sell a Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-commission/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19366 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Quitclaim Deeds: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/quitclaim-deeds/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19358 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What to Know About Selling a Home As Is for Cash https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/selling-home-as-is-cash/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19347 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Know if My House Has Paranormal Activity https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/is-my-house-haunted/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19342 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Why Find The History of a House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/find-history-house/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19316 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> June 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/june-2023-rochester-ny-area-real-estate-market-update/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19313 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-lawyer/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19181 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> May 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/may-2023-rochester-ny-area-real-estate-market-update/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19162 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What to Know About Buying a Home For The First Time https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buying-home-first-time/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19058 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> <strong>What Should a Buyer Look For at a Home Inspection?</strong> https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-look-for-home-inspection/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18983 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Companies That Buy Houses For Cash Reviewed https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/companies-buy-houses-for-cash/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18889 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Does Home Staging Work and What is The Cost? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/does-home-staging-work/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18814 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What to Avoid When Getting a Mortgage https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/avoid-when-getting-mortgage/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18797 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> <strong>5 Options For Replacing a Roof Reviewed</strong> https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/replacing-roof/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18771 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Are Restrictive Covenants in Real Estate? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/restrictive-covenants/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18714 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Can The Court Force The Sale of Your House in Divorce? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/court-force-sale-divorce/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18693 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Real Estate Agent vs. Broker: What&#8217;s The Difference? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-agent-vs-broker/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18650 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How To Determine Square Feet In Your House For More Accurate Property Estimates https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/determine-square-feet/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18167 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 3 Things That Often Results in a Real Estate Agent Getting Sued https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-agent-sued/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18133 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Top 5 Types Of Home Inspections Buyers Should Consider https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-types-home-inspections/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18119 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Pros And Cons Of Rent To Own Homes: What You Need To Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pros-cons-rent-own-homes/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18104 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 5 Smart Things To Do Before Moving That Will Help Ease Your Transition https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-before-moving/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18084 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Become a Real Estate Agent https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/become-real-estate-agent/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18071 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Renting A House Or An Apartment: Which Is The Better Option https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/renting-house-apartment/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17871 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The 5 Most Important Factors To Consider When Buying A House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-factors-buying-house/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17851 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Buyers And Sellers Need To Know About An Appraisal Gap https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/appraisal-gap/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17827 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Pros And Cons Of Renting With Roommates – What You Need To Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/renting-with-roommates/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17794 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 6 Things You Should Know About Buying Land https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-know-buying-land/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17773 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How Long Should Home Sellers Wait To Respond To An Offer On Their Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-sellers-wait-respond-offer/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17745 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How To Buy A House With A Low Credit Score https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-buy-a-house-with-a-low-credit-score/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16819 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Things To Consider When Shipping A Car https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-to-consider-when-shipping-a-car/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16248 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Home Depot Truck Rentals: What to Know Including Pricing https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-depot-truck-rentals-what-to-know-including-pricing/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16156 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 16 Things To Do Before Listing Your Home For Sale https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/16-things-to-do-before-listing-your-home-for-sale/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16138 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Biggest Home Inspection Mistakes to Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/biggest-home-inspection-mistakes-to-avoid/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16112 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How Your Credit Score Impacts Your Ability To Buy A House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-credit-score-impacts-buying-house/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16086 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top Winter Home Selling Mistakes | 7 Errors Made While Selling A House During The Winter https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-winter-home-selling-mistakes/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16051 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top Winter Home Buying Mistakes | 11 Errors Made While Buying A House During The Winter https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/winter-home-buying-mistakes/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16013 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Address Change Form Should I Use At The Post Office? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/address-change-form-post-office/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15981 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Does Contingent Status Mean in Real Estate? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-does-contingent-status-mean-real-estate/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15956 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> DIY Renovation Ideas For Your Backyard https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/diy-renovation-ideas-backyard/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15937 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Rent Your First Apartment Guide https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-rent-an-apartment/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15931 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Tips For Selling A Home Virtually https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/tips-selling-a-home-virtually/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15907 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Complete Winter Storage Checklist For Your Belongings https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/winter-storage-checklist/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15885 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Should I Waive My Home Inspection When Buying A House? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/should-i-waive-my-home-inspection/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15870 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Biggest Self Storage Companies Reviewed https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/biggest-self-storage-companies/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15836 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Earnest Money and House Deposits Explained https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/earnest-money-house-deposits-explained/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15760 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Moving Mistakes To Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/moving-mistakes-to-avoid/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15568 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top Mortgage Myths | Demystifying Common Home Loan Misconceptions https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-mortgage-myths/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15102 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes to Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/first-time-home-buyer-mistakes/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=14815 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 10 Tips For Adding Appeal To Your Home This Summer https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/10-tips-adding-appeal-to-home-this-summer/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=14237 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Exploring The Merits of Smart Home Technology When Selling a Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/smart-home-technology-selling-a-home/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13782 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top Frequently Asked Questions From Home Sellers https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-frequently-asked-questions-home-sellers/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=2424 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> First Time Home Buyer Programs In Rochester NY &#8211; Updated January 2025 https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/first-time-home-buyer-programs/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock http://rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=580 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How New Doors &#038; Windows Can Boost Your Home Value https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-new-doors-windows-boost-your-home-value/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13643 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top 5 Things To Know When Flipping Your First House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-things-to-know-when-flipping-your-first-house/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13574 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Are The Best Mortgage Options for Self Employed Borrowers? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/mortgage-options-for-self-employed-borrowers/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13450 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top 10 Best Places To See Christmas Lights In Rochester NY https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-10-best-places-see-christmas-lights-rochester-ny/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=10236 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Are The PROs And CONs Of Multifamily Homes? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-multifamily-homes/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13219 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 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/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13114 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 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/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13028 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How Does A Fence Increase The Value Of Your Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-does-a-fence-increase-the-value-of-your-home/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12995 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 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/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12779 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How To Improve A Homes Curb Appeal In Rochester NY https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-improve-a-homes-curb-appeal-rochester-ny/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12665 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 7 Ways to Create an Energy-Efficient Home While Conserving Your Budget https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/7-ways-create-an-energy-efficient-home/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12633 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Hiring Movers Vs. Moving Yourself | The PROs &#038; CONs Of Each https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/hiring-movers-vs-moving-yourself/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12592 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Should You Pay Off Student Loans Before Purchasing a Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pay-off-student-loans-before-purchasing-a-home/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12531 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 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/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=2497 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Buying A Condo Vs. Renting A Condo | What Are The PROs &#038; CONs? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buying-a-condo-vs-renting-a-condo/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12402 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 9 Money Saving Moving Tips | How To Cut Costs When Moving https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/9-money-saving-moving-tips/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12341 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Create a Proper Home Maintenance Checklist https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-create-a-proper-home-maintenance-checklist/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12300 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 5 Tips For Tenant Screening | How To Weed Out Bad Tenant Applicants https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/tips-for-tenant-screening/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12291 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Best Social Media Blogs For Real Estate From 2017 https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-social-media-blogs-2017/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12045 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Best Home Improvement Blogs From 2017 | Advice For Home Remodeling https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-home-improvement-blogs-2017/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12044 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Best Mortgage Blogs From 2017 | Advice For Home Financing https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-mortgage-blogs-2017/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:17 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12043 Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home[/caption] Whether you've sold your home ten times or you're going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  There are many sellers who think the home selling process is very easy and doesn't take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases. Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a fun filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be an inconvenience, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can however be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well crafted decisions are made along the way. So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top 10 things to know before selling a home. Hiring A Great Realtor Is Extremely Important Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren't all real estate agents the same?  The answer is absolutely not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent who you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line. How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the greatest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the right answers, is important. Gather Information, Paperwork, and Documents A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the information of the house they're selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been done to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to just place a sign in the front of your home and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline. What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and documents you should gather before selling a home.
  • Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
  • Furnace age & any instruction manuals
  • Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
  • Hot water heater age & any instruction manuals
  • Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
  • Dates of any home improvement projects, such as, kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, window installation, carpet installation, etc...
  • Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc...
  • Outstanding mortgage balance (if applicable) & pay-off balance
  • Instrument survey
Choosing When To Sell Is Different For Everyone Every real estate market is different.  There are great times to sell and other times that may not be the most ideal.  Generally speaking, the spring months (March, April, & May) are the months that a seller will receive top dollar for their home.  If you have no immediate rush to sell your home and you discuss with a Realtor in December about timing and they insist now is best time to sell to get you top dollar, you may want to reconsider hiring that Realtor.  Certainly selling a home in the winter is possible, but in most cases, the spring months will yield the highest offers, for many reasons. When selling a home, it's important that you choose to sell your home when it's most convenient for your individual situation.  The spring months may not always be the best time to sell for everyone.  There are several reasons why selling a home during the fall and winter months may actually be a better time to sell than waiting until spring. It's important that you evaluate all the pro's and con's of each selling time frame.  A great Realtor should be able to give you both the positives and negatives of each time frame. [caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea! Inspecting A Home Before Selling Is A Good Idea![/caption] A Pre-Listing Inspection Is A Good Idea Before putting your home on the market, it can be a good idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection on your home.  It's preferred that the inspector you hire to perform the inspection is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NIBI (National Institute of Building Inspectors).  Whether a buyer is purchasing their first home or their fifth, it's extremely likely they will make their offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.  A home inspector should find at least some issues with the home they are inspecting, even in new construction.  If they don't find at least some small issues, they maybe inexperienced or not a very reputable home inspector. By completing this pre-listing inspection, you can address the issues that the home inspector may note during his inspection.  Make sure that the home inspector who does the pre-listing inspection will provide you with a detailed report and also pictures relating to anything they note in their report. There are other inspections to consider before selling a home as well.  Here are several other inspections that a buyer could possibly make their offer contingent upon and to consider performing prior to selling a home.
  • Radon
  • Pest
  • Chimney
  • Septic
  • Well Water
Preparing Your Home For Sale Is Crucial Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  There are several things that should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired.  Items such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low cost preparations that can be made, prior to selling a home. The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, you'll be glad you did. Pricing The Home Right From The Beginning Can Be The Difference The most important factor to whether a home sells or doesn't, relates to pricing.  If you price your home too high from the start, it can actually cost you lots of money in the future.  The price a home enters the market at will do the majority of the marketing of the home.  It's important to understand today's buyers and know they are very educated and have tons of information at their fingertips.  Buyer's often will know a home is overpriced and will choose not to even look at it. Sellers make the same pricing mistakes, over and over again, and it's important that you know what they are before selling a home.  Mistakes such as hiring a Realtor because they suggest the highest price or because they offer the lowest commission can be a huge mistake, so it's important to educate yourself and avoid common real estate pricing mistakes. Decide Whether Or Not To Offer A Home Warranty Home warranties can be a great idea for some when selling a home and will make no difference for others when selling a home.  Sellers commonly ask and wonder if offering a home warranty to a buyer is worth it. In most cases, home warranties are a nice bonus to offer to a potential buyer and also a nice marketing tool for a Realtor to use when selling a home, assuming they know how to use the "tool."  Before selling your home, decide whether or not you will offer a home warranty or not.  Once you hire your Realtor, ask them their opinion as to whether they feel the cost of the warranty is worth it or not. Staging Can Help Sell Your Home But Not The Only Reason It Sells First and foremost, a real estate agent who tells you that the staging of your home will sell it, is not being truthful.  Staging is not the only reason a home sells, period.  There are many real estate agents who say their listings sell faster and for more money because they stage them but fail to mention the fact that price, location, condition, and several other things play apart in the sale. Homes that are staged will normally show better, which can lead to a quicker sale.  There are many simple staging tips that you can follow to help get the home sold quicker.  Many of these tips do not require a real estate agent with a certification for staging, so do not hire a real estate agent solely because they have the certification.  An experienced real estate agent, certification or not, can suggest many staging tips that will help your home show better and sell faster. [caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience Preparing Your Home For Showings Can Be An Inconvenience[/caption] Preparing Your Home For Showings When selling a home, you want to make your home appealing for potential buyers.  What do you think the a potential buyer who walks through a home that has piles of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or  dirty pots and pans in the sink would think?  Most buyers would be either distracted or disgusted, possibly leading to them not being interest in that home. Preparing your home for showings can be a job in itself and an inconvenience.  Making sure the clutter is minimized, pet odors are eliminated, and that the curb appeal is attractive are just a few tips that can help prepare your home for showings.  It's possible that a home that is well prepared for showings will sell before an unprepared home just because the image that it portrays to potential buyers walking through the door. Evaluate Whether Open Houses Are Worth It Or Not This is a very controversial topic in the real estate industry.  Some real estate agents will swear that open houses are worth it and others will swear they are a huge waste of time.  Ultimately, the decision whether they are worth it or not is the home owners. The fact of the matter is that there are potentially some major drawbacks of open houses.  While there is a very small possibility that a home will sell as a result from an open house, you should determine whether you would like your home to be open, before selling it.  Ask the real estate agent who will be selling your home what their thoughts on open houses are.  They should provide both pro's and con's about open houses. The above 10 things need to be known before selling.  Selling a home is likely to bring added stress, anxiety, and unwanted uncertainty.  These feelings though will be greatly reduced if the proper preparation is taken, before selling your home.  Understanding the importance of these things and how to make the proper decisions can make the difference of your home selling experience being a disaster or a success. Other Home Selling Resources If you're thinking of selling a home in the Greater Rochester, NY or surrounding areas, be sure to read the above things before selling your home.  We'd be happy to discuss in detail and share our knowledge on these topics and give you our honest evaluation of your individual situation.  Contact us and we'd love to show you why we are one of the top real estate teams in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas.
About the authors:  The above article "Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Selling A Home" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 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. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>