What does the future hold?

When considering a property look into the future potential of the property.

Do keep in mind, it's impossible to predict the future, but by taking the time to ask the right questions, you will have the necessary information available to make the best decision for you and your family.  It pays to ask these questions before you buy.

How to Buy Your First Home....the Easy Way!
Avoid the 10 Most Common, Painful, Frustrating Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make

Buying a residence can be a hair raising experience. You will experience a roller coaster of emotions while finding the right place, securing the loan and finally moving in. For most of us, the first time home purchase is the largest investment we’ve ever considered. The emotions of purchasing something so expensive and personal can often cloud our business judgment.

Most home purchasers do little or no research before they invest their nest egg. Doesn’t it make sense to become as completely informed as possible before you buy your first home? This special report is designed to help you avoid 10 common and crucial mistakes. The right real estate professional can help you make good sound business decisions based on your personal situation.

· Imagine the Property Vacant - Your furnishings and decorations will be the ones filling this new residence. Don’t be swayed by beautiful furniture; it leaves with the owner.

· Income + Lifestyle = Mortgage Payment - Sit down with your professional real estate agent and honestly discuss your income level and living expenses. Take into account future considerations, children, add-ons, amenities, and fix-ups. Your dream home is certainly worth a sacrifice but don’t mortgage your entire future.

· View Several Homes - See at least 7-10 properties. Don’t move too slow but don’t move on the first property you see. With your agent’s help you should be able to view enough properties to get a good overall perspective of the home market. When you find the right property all the leg work will be worth it.

· Utilize Your Team - By aligning yourself with the right real estate professional you will have an entire team at your disposal. Utilize your lender, title rep and agent. Each of them should work hand in hand for your benefit. Explore all the options before you sign.

· Be Columbo - Check out all costs and expenses before you sign. Utilities, taxes, insurance, maintenance and home owner dues if applicable.  Ask lots of questions and be very detail conscious.

· Plan For Flexibility - Closing dates are not written in stone. Allow for contingencies and have a back-up plan. If you or the sellers need a little more time to conclude the final arrangements, don’t let these delays upset or frustrate you. These types of circumstances are not uncommon in a real estate transaction.

· If It's Not In Writing, It Doesn’t Exist - All promises and discussions should be in writing. Don’t make any assumptions or believe any assurances. Even the best intentions can be misinterpreted. Have your professional keep an ongoing log in writing of all discussions and get the seller’s written approval on all agreements.

· Loyalty Breeds Loyalty - Be open, honest and up front with your team. Hard feelings and disloyalty will cause head aches, delays or may even keep you from getting into the home you worked so hard to locate. Take the time to select the right team in the beginning and your first home purchase will be a pleasing and memorable experience.

Price

The most important is price. No matter how you may feel personally about your home, it is still only worth what someone else is willing to pay.  Try to keep this in mindwhen pricing your house.  If you overprice your home, most buyers won't even bother to look at it and it will not sell.

Buyers are taking the time to do more comparison shopping than in the past. This leads to more bargaining (this will vary depending on the neighborhood).

It's possible some properties may not qualify for bank financing, and seller financing could be something that would be beneficial to you and the buyer.  Ask your agent for details.

Exposure

If a property is well priced and not properly exposed to the buyers in the marketplace, it most likely will not sell.  Gerber Auction and Real Estate uses local flyers, local newspapers, and our very own world wide website found at www.gerberauction.com.  Cutting Edge exposure at no cost to you!

Preparing your Home for Sale

Do not forget the exterior of your home --   First impressions will make or break the sale of your house.  Make sure that the exterior is in good shape. This includes, doors, paint, siding, windows, shutters, fixtures, and landscaping.

• Ceilings? -- Before you start showing your home, clean the ceilings, fix any cracks or imperfections, and repaint if necessary. When looking at a home, buyers are more likely to look in places that they normaly do not. If a buyer sees a water stain, they will assume there is a problem with the roof, even if it has already been repaired.
• The Personal VS. Real Property Dilemma -- The distinction between personal property and real property can be the source of difficulties in a real estate transaction. A purchase contract is normally written to include all real property; that is, all aspects of the property that are fastened down or an integral part of the structure. For example, this would include light fixtures, drapery rods, attached mirrors, trees and shrubs in the ground. It would not include potted plants, free standing refrigerators, washer/dyers, microwaves, bookcases, swag lamps, etc. If there is any uncertainty whether an item is included in the sale or not, it is best to be sure that the particular item is mentioned in the purchase agreement as being included or excluded, or simply have it removed before showing the home.
• Last Run Through -- Each time someone is going to look at your home make a quick run through your home and think about anything that you might have neglected, just use common sense.

Showing your Home