Category Archives: MR NO HASSLE

Pricing Right to Sell Your Home

Pricing your home for sale can be tricky. Here are some tips for getting the most money when you are ready sell your home.

 

  • Study past sales. This is the starting point for any thoughtful and successful pricing strategy; think of it as the “science” part. Take the time to study past sale statistics for homes in your area and areas similar to yours. None will be identical, of course, but having a clear understanding of true market value is the first step in establishing your list price.
  • Do not confuse active listings with past sales. Active listings have not sold. They are just your competition. It is important to be aware of your competition’s pricing, but this is often just an indication of what your home won’t sell for.
  • Do not overprice because you have “time.” If the market is appreciating, this strategy may work, but if prices in your area are declining, you may quickly find yourself chasing a market and costing yourself money. And if the market is stable? Your home will just sit. Buyers pay in today’s dollars, and time is rarely on your side.
  • Leave some room for negotiation, but don’t overreach. No seller wants to feel he left money on the table, and no buyer wants to overpay. Your price should give both parties room to maneuver, but if it is too high, you risk being perceived as unrealistic, and buyers will pass over your home.
  • Think like a buyer. What are the things that you value in a home? Is it a large yard, an updated kitchen or a view? These are likely the same things that your buyer values as well. Talk to your agent about current buyer trends. Yesterday’s avocado green shag carpeting is today’s granite countertop. The property facing the interstate is going to be a tougher sell than the one with a mountain view. Your price should reflect how your home compares to the others offered for sale. Buyers will find objections to any home, as none is perfect, but it is curious how quickly objections disappear when the price is compelling.
  • React swiftly and decisively. If your home is on the market and is not being shown or if you receive feedback that you are priced too aggressively, don’t hesitate to adjust your price. Bad news, like spoiled milk, doesn’t get better with time.

Give me a call and we can discuss your individual needs.

Jon Heaton, Mr. No Hassle

Keller Williams Realty Boise

(208) 941-5629

 

New Years Resolution: Be Happy in your career!

Are you happy in your career? If not, maybe you should consider joining me at the only real estate company to make the list of the happiest companies in America!
I seriously wish I had been brave enough to venture into real estate long before I finally did. If you have been thinking of a career in real estate, please know that I am happy to share my experience and passion with you by answering your questions.
If you are already in real estate and are not experiencing the sheer joy of being plugged in to the company you are working for, we need to talk!

Jon Heaton

Mr. No Hassle

Keller Williams Realty Boise

(208) 941-5629

CareerBliss 50 Happiest Companies in America for 2016
Forbes

Lets talk about bugs and other pesky creatures

When you have a pest control problem, it is always a good idea to seek help from a exterminator. Local companies understand local pest control problems and have worked hard for a number of years to build a solid reputation you can trust. Many local exterminators go through years of specialized training before they can become certified. Most pest control technicians are bonded and certified by the state and have years of experience. Therefore, they have proven they are extremely knowledgeable and ready to tackle any pest control problem you might throw their way.

Ants and Earwigs and Mice oh my

Too often, ants, earwigs and mice are simply viewed as an inconvenience by many homeowners rather than the real threat they truly are. If not eliminated immediately, these pests will reproduce and build up forces very quickly. They will imbed themselves into every nook and cranny in your home and before you realize it they will take over your home. If you have an pest problem, contact a pest control company immediately. Local exterminators have the experience necessary to eliminate pests quickly and effectively. Don’t live with pests anymore. Call Ryan Oakeson with Snake River Pest Control.  His number is 208-571-3904. I personally use his service to rid my home of bugs.  He is professional and does a excellent job.  Tell him Jon Heaton sent you.

If you are ready to buy or sell real estate, or know someone that is.

Give me a call, we can chat about it.

Jon Heaton, Mr. No Hassle

Keller Williams Realty Boise

(208) 941-5629

Spring Clean Up Time

Spring cleaning is a tradition, but there are some other chores that should be part of your springtime routine, too. Most of them take only a few minutes, so get started!

1. Check your air-conditioning and heating equipment before the beginning of a new season.

2. Check and replace your furnace and air-conditioning filters every month. There are several types from which to choose, depending on your needs. Fiberglass filters last only one month, while the filters typically last three to four months. HEPA filters last up to six months and can be cleaned with a vacuum nozzle.

3. Most air conditioners have a drainage hole on the base of the cabinet, beneath the evaporator fins. This hole needs to be kept clear in order for the air conditioner to work properly. It’s a good idea each spring to use a paper clip or wire to poke through the hole and clear it.

4. To keep a dehumidifier working properly, remove its housing and let the unit dry completely. Vacuum every accessible surface and crevice.

5. Clean your bathroom fans once a year. Take the cover off, wash it in soapy water and clean dirt off the fan blades with a toothbrush. Be sure the power is off when you do this!

6. Check the flappers on your toilets at least once a year. If they are showing their age, replace them before they start leaking and wasting water.

7. Remove all faucet handles and clean their insides to keep the screws from corroding. Use a rust remover if necessary.

8. Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors twice a year: when the time changes to daylight savings time and then back to standard time. While you’re at it, dust or vacuum the detectors to keep them working at peak performance.

9. Make sure you have a fully charged fire extinguisher that you can reach quickly and easily.

10. Inspect and, if necessary, caulk around your home’s windows and doors annually. That will help keep out heat and humidity in the summer and cold drafts in the winter—and save money on your utility bills all year round.

11. Open and close all windows. Do they all open easily, yet close tightly? If not, check the weather stripping. There are a number of different types to consider.

12. The best time to caulk a joint outdoors is during the spring or fall. That’s when the width of the joint is halfway between its seasonal extremes. A plastic drinking straw or a length of plastic tubing makes a handy extension tube for caulking hard-to-reach places. Secure the extender with duct tape.

13. To really clear and clean screens for springtime, rub them with kerosene on both sides, then rinse with soap and water. Kerosene fumes are dangerous, so make sure to do this outside or in a well-ventilated area.

14. To fix a small hole in a window or door screen, dab clear household cement over the hole with a toothpick. If the screens are plastic, test the cement on a scrap to make sure it won’t melt the material.

15. Use the same technique to repair screen tears. Pull the two halves of the tear together and hold them in place with masking tape on one side. Apply the household cement to the tear, then smooth with a putty knife. When it’s dry, gently remove the tape and apply cement to the other side.

16. Clean out the gutters of winter debris and check them for damage from ice. Install gutter screens or protectors to help keep debris out of the gutters.

17. If a roof gutter is sagging, pitch it back to a level position by tightening its strap with pliers. The tighter the strap is twisted, the more the gutter will rise.

18. Be sure the gutters slope properly toward the down-spouts.

19. To prevent basement flooding, make sure there is at least three feet between the side of the house and the down-spout’s outlet. Use one of the following methods to reach that distance:

  • Add an elbow for pipe and extension, although that often leaves the outlet still too close to the house.
  • Use a splash guard that stretches about three feet.
  • Attach a flexible extension hose to the end of the down-spout and bend it in away from the house.

20. To prevent foundation erosion as well as basement flooding, build up soil around the house and slope it away from the foundation.

If you are ready to buy or sell real estate in Idaho.  Please keep me in mind.

Jon Heaton, Mr. No Hassle

Keller Williams Realty Boise

208-941-5629

Ready to Sell before Summer hits?

My job as your agent is not just to market your home and bring buyers in the door. Many sellers who want to sell their own home forget about all of the steps beyond showings. I also help negotiate offers, navigate the inspection process and negotiate repairs, give advice on hiring trustworthy and competent contractors, and I stay in continuous contact with the buyer’s loan officer and closing company. A sale can come with many hurdles: unexpected problems with the inspection, appraisal, or title work can all put me to work with problem solving. I also play an important role in protecting you from liabilities that may arise by not following proper disclosure requirements.

Here Are Some Common Steps in the Home Selling Process

Pricing it Right

When I set the price your home, l take the following characteristics into consideration:

  • How many bathrooms, bedrooms, and total and finished square footage
  • The overall condition of your home and property
  • What homes have sold in the area and for what price, as well as what homes have not sold and why
  • The overall market in which you are selling
  • How quickly you need to sell
  • How much you stand to make after transfer taxes, survey fees, commissions, and repairs are considered

Most importantly, I give my professional, objective opinion to help you arrive at a price that will attract buyers and bids without undervaluing the home in the home selling process.

A too high asking price can make buyers feel as if you’re unrealistic or unmotivated, and this may steer them away from even coming to look at your house. If your home is priced too high from the start and sells for more than it is worth, this could pose problems with the appraisal.

Disclose, Disclose, Disclose

Disclosures are a document filled out at listing time during the home selling process that tell buyers about any defects with the home that could affect their use and enjoyment. I cannot fill these out for you, but I can thoroughly explain them so that you understand what must be disclosed to avoid expensive lawsuits in the future.

If you have any doubts, I am always there for you. There is no question too small.

Negotiating Offers

There’s more to a good offer than price. I will also help you consider the following factors affecting the home selling process:

  • The closing date.  Is it a realistic time period for the bank and closing companies to get things in order? Is it too far out?
  • Strength of the buyer (20% down buyer vs. 5% down buyer)
  • Contingent vs. non-contingent offers
  • Inspection details and time frame
  • Type of loan and what it requires of sellers
  • Personal property
  • Closing costs and lender processing fees

I will guide you through the offer, pointing out the pros and cons of the terms to help you negotiate a counteroffer, or multiple counteroffers, if needed.

The Inspection

Most buyers will want to have a home inspection performed before following through with the purchase. They have a limited amount of time to have this inspection performed, and likewise, the seller has a limited amount of time to respond.This is very, very common. The buyer will come in with their  agent and an inspector of their choice to perform the inspection–without the seller present. Afterward, they will likely present a list of items that they would like to have repaired at the seller’s expense.

I will help you negotiate with the buyer on what items will be repaired at your cost, and what items the buyer will have to accept as-is. Repair items can add up to thousands of dollars quickly. Having a savvy listing agent to negotiate and minimize these repairs, yet keep the sale together, is key. I may suggest bringing in additional contractors for bids or second opinions before agreeing to the repairs.

Getting to Closing

The buyer’s loan officer and title company, as well as the seller’s closing company, are working in the background the whole way through the home selling process. Issues may arise at either of these stops and require the agent’s attention to save the deal. Your title company will need paperwork from the time an offer is accepted to the day it reaches the closing table in order to legally transfer ownership and make sure that the property can transfer cleanly. While some things will have to come from you directly, I can handle quite a bit of the work to make it less stressful.

If you are in the market to buy or sell anywhere in Idaho.  Give me a call and we can discuss your situation.

Jon Heaton, Mr. No Hassle

Keller Williams Realty Boise

208-941-5629

2015 is the year of the “Move-Up Buyer”

I received a thank you note from a happy family that was a “move-up buyer”.

With the economy starting to pick up speed and prices rolling up as well, it’s the move-up buyer who is now the star of the show, so to speak.

Is 2015 the year of the move up buyer?

Makes sense to me. In fact, 2015 is likely to be an even bigger year for move-up buyers, as long as prices keep rising as they have.

Higher prices mean move-up buyers are able to use their equity to buy that larger house they have been thinking of, but haven’t been able to afford.

In fact, there is a lot of pent up demand right now – the biggest obstacle may be the death of listings on the market, with inventory skidding along.

No one wants to sell what they have only to find out they can’t find another, better home to move on up into.

Now is the time to put your home on the market and move up.

If you are considering moving up and have questions about how to make it a smooth process,  I would be happy to talk with you.  I can be reached by phone (208) 941-5629.

Jon Heaton, Mr. No Hassle

Keller Williams Realty Boise

http://boiserealestate.fastvaluations.org/

DSCF4933DSCF4940facbook-square-image (2)