3 Tips to Ensure a Quick Home Sale

Today I want to share three tips that will help your home sell as quickly as possible. 

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How can you sell your home as fast as possible in 2018?

While many factors that affect how long it takes to sell a home are beyond your control, there are some things you can do to speed up the sale.

1. Price your home competitively. Your home is going to sell much faster if you price on the lower end of the average prices in your area. Additionally, pricing your home competitively could spark a bidding war, ultimately driving up your sale prices.

2. Complete any repairs that need to be done. This is also going to help keep your home from sitting on the market too long. Sprucing up your home prior to putting it on the market is just as important as actually listing it. Finish up all those little projects you’ve been procrastinating on for years. Buyers are going to be able to tell if you let a few projects go unfinished.

Complete any repairs that need to be done prior to listing.

3. Make sure the home is staged and decluttered. On average, staged homes sell 88% faster and for more money than non-staged homes.

These are the three tips that you need to make sure get done before getting your home sold. The other tip I would add is giving us a call.

If you have any questions for us in the meantime or you’re looking to buy, sell, or invest in McAllen real estate, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

9 Silly Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Listing's Potential

There are nine crucial mistakes all sellers should avoid when putting their home on the market.

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Putting a home on the market is a complex ordeal. As such, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Today we would like to highlight nine silly things that can sabotage your home sale so that you can avoid making these mistakes when it comes time to sell, yourself:

1. Cords hanging from your mounted television. 

2. An unkept yard. Curb appeal is a real thing. This is why we encourage our buyers to drive by any home they’re interested in before we schedule a showing. If your yard is not mowed and is full of weeds, that can send a strong message to the buyer about the inside of the home.

3. A dingy front door. On average, it takes a Realtor about 30 seconds to retrieve the key and unlock the door to your home. During that time, the buyer is taking it all in. Painting your front door and adding a wreath, welcome mat, or pot of flowers can go a long way in sending a message to the buyers that you care.

4. Pet odor. Pet owners often become so used to the smell of their animal that they do not notice it at all. However, potential buyers will absolutely take note of any unpleasant odors that may persist in a home. If you have pets, make sure to clean your carpets and furniture before putting your property on the market.

When buyers enter a property for the first time, they need to be able to visualize the home’s potential.

5. Cobwebs around the home. 

6. Poorly arranged furniture. When buyers enter a property for the first time, they need to be able to visualize the home’s potential. They should be able to imagine what their furniture will look like within the space, and poorly arranged furniture will make this difficult.


7. Multiple junk drawers and crammed cabinets. Buyers love storage space. So while you can get away with one junk drawer, it is important to make sure that you are exhibiting your home’s storage potential to the fullest capacity. Buyers want to make sure there is enough room for their things


8. Overfilled closets. Once again, it is critical to make buyers feel as if your home has a lot of available storage. A packed, messy closet will do the opposite of this.


9. Cluttered countertops. You need to show all potential counter space that your home has to offer. The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house.

It’s the littlest things that make the biggest difference to homebuyers. This is why we give our clients a thorough consultation, information about staging, storage, and cleaning to help you get more money for your home. If you have any other questions or you’re interested in buying or selling a home yourself, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

The Ins and Outs of Counteroffers and the Option Period

Today I have everything that you need to know about counteroffers and negotiations whether you are a seller or a buyer. 

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You've put your house up for sale, potential buyers have come to look at it, and now you’ve received an offer. Congratulations! At this point you can do one of three things: accept it, deny it, or make a counteroffer and negotiate.

When making a counteroffer, you draft an offer with your agent that states you will sell your property to the buyer with the terms you have outlined. The two most commonly renegotiated points made in counteroffers are prices and dates.

In terms of the price, sellers always want to sell at a higher price while buyers always want to buy at a lower price. The key is to find a happy medium that satisfies both parties. As far as the dates go, the best way to resolve any issues is to have both parties' agents discuss the issue before any offer is written. Doing this can also determine if there are any other issues that need to be dealt with before a pen is put to the paper. The more information each side has, the simpler the transaction will be.

For example, the seller might need the funds from the sale to purchase their next property. Or, the buyer might have already sold their home and now they have a date in mind when they need to transfer the funds to purchase the property in question.

When making a counteroffer, you draft an offer with your agent that states you will sell your property to the buyer with the terms you have outlined.

You might also have to counteroffer what appliances or other attachments are included in the deal. If an agreement is reached, another renegotiation typically happens after the inspection. When an inspector has looked at the property, there may be issues with the home that the buyer was not aware of beforehand. They are still buying the property, but if they are fixing any of the repairs themselves, they want that reflected in the final sales price.

If the buyer is getting a mortgage loan to buy your house, the bank will also hire an appraiser to evaluate the property. If there is any discrepancy between the price you and the buyer agreed to and what the appraiser values the house at, there will be a renegotiation over how to bridge the gap between the two numbers.

During the counteroffer and renegotiation period, the key is to establish a baseline for what you are looking for. If you are a buyer, you do not want to spend all your money on the sale and have nothing left over for repairs or renovations. As for the seller, they have an idea of what they need to take away from the property. They will need to communicate that early and often with their Realtor. The more we know, the more we can help you.

If you have any questions about counteroffers or renegotiations that either my team or I can assist you with, please feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to your calls and emails.

Sell Your Home Quickly Using These 3 Tips

Today I want to share three tips that will help your home sell as quickly as possible.

Buying a home? Search all Greater McAllen Area homes for sale

Selling your Greater McAllen Area home? Get a free home value report

How can you sell your home as fast as possible in 2017?

While many factors that affect how long it takes to sell a home are beyond your control, there are some things you can do to speed up the sale.

One of the best things you can do in order to sell faster is price your home competitively. Your home is going to sell much faster if you price on the lower end of the average prices in your area. Additionally, pricing your home competitively could spark a bidding war, ultimately driving up your sales price.

Complete any repairs that need to be done prior to listing.

Completing any repairs that need to be done is also going to help keep your home from sitting on the market too long. Sprucing up your home prior to putting it on the market is just as important as actually listing it. Buyers are going to be able to tell if you let a few projects go unfinished.

Lastly, make sure the home is staged and decluttered. This last tip is incredibly important because staged homes sell 88% faster and for more money than non-staged homes.

If you're looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, feel free to give us a call. We'd be glad to help!

Why Are Professional Photos So Important in Today’s Market?

Professional photography is the most critical piece of your home’s marketing because professional photos sell homes. How? We’ll go over that today.

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Selling your Greater McAllen Area home? Get a free home value report

Professional photography is one of the most critical pieces of your home’s marketing and, ultimately, its sale. Why? 

In today’s market, 90% to 95% of buyers start their home search online. If they don’t like what they see, then you won’t get them in the door. In fact, a few bad pictures of your home might take your property totally off of a buyer’s radar. 

Today’s buyer wants to see your home in perfect condition online, which means that professional photographs will help you get the right buyer in the door and help you sell your home. 

Over 90% of today’s buyers start their home search online.

That is why we have a professional photographer and videographer on our team. We know that buyers love photos and videos and that professional photos and videos sell homes. 

If you have any questions about professional photography or about preparing your home for the market, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Using the Holidays to Your Advantage When Selling

If you’re selling your home and thinking about staging, you can use holiday decorations to your advantage. Here’s how.

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When it comes to home staging, holiday decor can actually help sell your house. 

The first thing to remember is that going overboard on decorations can actually keep your home from selling; you need to strike the right balance. The ‘less is more' mantra may tempt you to skip the decorations, but a few subtle touches like a pinecone centerpiece, an evergreen wreath, or a simmering pot of cider on the stove can all create a warm and festive feeling for buyers.

You want to avoid overly-religious flourishes because they could be off-putting to some buyers. You want to keep your walkways clean and clear, too, rather than having festive decorations turn into tripping hazards.

Don’t hide your home’s best assets, highlight them!

Remember not to hide your home’s best assets, either. For example, don’t cover every inch of your fireplace mantle. Instead, showcase it with a select few holiday items. Try to highlight key areas of your home with stylish fall decor, a tray of cookies, or a well-placed Christmas tree.

If you have any questions about decorating a home you’re selling or you’re just thinking about buying or selling a home in the McAllen market, give me a call or send me an email. I’d love to help!

The #1 Mistake Home Sellers Should Avoid

If you are preparing your home for the market, you have to declutter your property. Where do you start? I’ll give you a few tips today.

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The number one mistake most sellers make when putting their homes on the market is not decluttering their homes. Decluttering is a simple, easy thing to do, but not cleaning up can cost you thousands of dollars on your home sale. 

These days, 90% to 95% of buyers begin their home search online, which means that your first home showing is on the Internet. If your home is cluttered and not photographed properly, buyers will eliminate it from their wish list quickly.

So, how do you start? I recommend going through your home and looking for things you want to throw away and give away. Then, start packing the things you want to keep. Fill as many medium-sized boxes as you can and put them in storage before your home goes on the market. 

Get rid of things you don’t want anymore and pack the items you want to keep.

You should also clear off the counters and the fridge. Store extra furniture to make your home look more spacious. You should also pack away knick-knacks, books, and personal items to give your home a more neutral feel. That way, potential buyers can imagine themselves living in your home more easily.

Once your home is decluttered, you will be amazed at how great your home looks, and so will buyers. Decluttering helps you get the highest possible sales price in the shortest amount of time possible. 

If you have any questions about decluttering or you’re not sure where to start, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

2 Unique Opportunities for Sellers in the Fall

Sometimes it pays to go against the crowd. Don’t wait to list your home in the spring just because everyone else does; instead, consider these two great reasons to list this fall.

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Selling your Greater McAllen Area home? Get a free home value report

As you probably know, spring is the season when most people in the McAllen area put their homes on the market. As a result, summer is the time when most homes sell.

That said, there are two great reasons why you should put your house on the market this fall. Sometimes it pays to go against the crowd.

First of all, because so many people list during the spring, you will face less competition by listing in the fall.

Sometimes it pays to go against the crowd!

Secondly, buyers in the fall tend to be more motivated. These buyers have been looking for a home for several months and want to move in before the holidays. As a result, they are more willing to make a deal.

If you have any other questions about our current market or about preparing your home to sell this fall, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!