SO WHEN DO BUYERS LOOK AT YOUR HOME?

So, you have decided to list your home for sale, congratulations! But, do you know how and when potential buyers are going to look at your home?  Do you just take some pictures, sign the listing agreement, and it's put in the Multiple Listing Service?  Most sellers think that if they do all of this, potential buyers are going to be scheduling appointments right and left to schedule appointments to see your home.  Let's take a step back for a moment, when you were preparing your home to sell, did your REALTOR tell you that your first showing is online, the second showing is when they actually drive by your home and look at the outside, and the third showing is when they actually schedule an appointment to see the inside of your home?  There is truth to this!  Now days, buyers are searching for their dream home online...and usually before they even call a REALTOR!  Because of this, your home must have professional photographs, all clutter must be cleared from the home, you must also have really great curb appeal!  You don't have to spend a lot of money to obtain a clutter free home with great curb appeal...you just need a little advice!  Since two of the showings are before the buyer ever sees the inside of your house in person, let's make sure everything is perfect for showings one and two....so we get showing number three!  Backus Real Estate Group offers FREE consultations and will give you FREE staging advice with all of our listings!  If you are ready to get YOUR home SOLD, call us today to schedule your listing consultation!

Tina Backus, REALTOR

325.513.6990

tina.backusrealtor@gmail.com

www.backusrealestategroup.com

Don’t think you need a buyer’s agent? Think again

03/04/2016 | Author: Summer Mandell

Whatever your reasons for not hiring a buyer’s agent, they probably aren’t good enough to forgo such an important homebuying resource. Here are three reasons why hiring a buyer’s agent can benefit you.

You’ll have someone on your side 
Hiring your own buyer’s agent will ensure you have someone working on your behalf with your best interests in mind. You’ll also have someone who will handle communication with the other party, and keep your transaction on track. And when you have questions during the process, you’ll have someone you can trust providing the answers.

You’ll probably save money 
There is usually no direct cost when you hire a buyer’s agent, since sellers typically cover the agents’ commissions. Plus, you’ll have an expert negotiator working for you. Even if you think you’re good at getting deals, a buyer’s agent has experience negotiating sale prices in your market, and has access to data that will help you create a more accurate offer price than what you’d come up with on your own.

You’ll reduce your chances of legal trouble
Are you comfortable with earnest money, option fees, and title insurance? Real estate transactions are complicated with continually changing laws and procedures. Unless you’re dedicated to keeping up with the latest industry news, you’re putting yourself at risk of losing money or winding up a party in a lawsuit. Buyer’s agents keep up with the laws and know ways to reduce your risk in a real estate transaction.

When you are ready to begin YOUR home buying process, give us a call and we will be happy to assist YOU in purchasing YOUR dream home!

Is now the right time to sell your home?

12/04/2015 | Author: Jaime Lee

Texas homes are in demand statewide this year, and even though the number of homes on the market is rising, it’s still relative low at only 4.0 months’ worth of housing inventory.

What this means for sellers
It’s estimated that a market with a monthly housing inventory between 6.0 and 6.5 months is balanced between supply and demand. An inventory of less than 6.0 months indicates a seller’s market because there are more buyers than there are homes for sale.

There may be increased competition among homebuyers in markets with fewer homes for sale, which means sellers could see multiple offers or offers above their asking price.  

Work with a local expert
Every market is different, so if selling is on your mind, contact Backus Real Estate Group,we can offer insight into your area’s activity, like how quickly properties are selling, and help you determine the best asking price.

Let our team help you with all of your real estate needs!

Tina Backus, REALTOR

tina.backusrealtor@gmail.com

325-513-6990

Megan Forsberg, REALTOR

megan@redapplerealtors.net

325-267-1088

MAKE YOUR HOUSE LOOK BIGGER WITHOUT REMOVING WALLS

10/23/2015 | Author: Ward Lowe

Instead of just asking me to help with his kitchen remodel, my friend made me an offer I couldn't refuse: Want to come over and knock down a wall?

While that's one way to make your house feel bigger, it's probably not the best option if you're putting your house on the market. Here are a few easier ways to add a sense of space.

Cut the clutter
Everyone knows they should do this, but few people go far enough. Don’t put books and magazines in neat piles—get rid of them. Put knickknacks in storage, and pare down your furniture. It’s better to have a few large pieces than several small ones.

Take a walk
Every house has natural paths, from the kitchen to the dining room or from the living room to the bathroom, and these walkways must be clear. You may not mind detouring around a large sectional to get from the TV room to the kitchen, but buyers will think your TV room isn’t big enough.

Look around
Related to clear walkways are clear views. Keep tall furniture like bookshelves away from doorways, and pull back the shower curtain to expose the entire bathroom. Don’t block any part of windows, sliding glass doors, or French doors.

Pick the right paint
If you plan to repaint some rooms, choose colors that feel cool, such as light blue or light green.

Add light
Not only will light colors create a sense of openness, actual light helps, too. Open curtains or blinds to let in sunlight, and consider adding a lamp to dark corners.

When you’re done with these changes, ask us for objective feedback. We know what buyers will focus on when they enter your house and which rooms might need more work.

Give us a call to get YOUR house SOLD!

Tina Backus, REALTOR

Megan Forsberg, REALTOR

325-513-6990

tina.backusrealtor@gmail.com

www.tinabackus.com

The Best Resource for Pricing Your Home

10/30/2015 | Author: Marty Kramer

You’re ready to sell your home, but you’re not sure what to ask for it. No problem … a neighbor just sold her home for $329,000, so you’ll just ask for the same amount.

Wait. That was what she asked for her home. You’re not sure what it actually sold for.

Oh, hey! Didn’t your coworker sell his home for $275,000 a few months ago? That’s solid information. Maybe you should ask for that. If the market hasn’t changed much since then.

Sure, the coworker’s house isn’t in your neighborhood, but it has the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms as your home. Or maybe you should go with the asking price to the neighbor’s house. She probably sold it for close to that number. The house isn’t as nice as yours, but it’s a little larger. And it has beautiful landscaping. That adds some value, but how much?

Putting those two homes aside for a bit, you go to a website that promises to tell you what your home is really worth. An actual number. Now you’re getting somewhere ... if the value isn't off by the 20% margin of error you read about in the site’s disclaimer.

If only there was a way to process all this … pull in more data … make sure it's accurate … account for differences in the properties ... factor in what's going on with real estate prices in your neighborhood. If you could just find some to do all that, analyze it, and guide you toward the highest price that will actually get an offer. Sounds to me like you're ready to work with Backus Real Estate Group!  Give us a call and we will schedule a time to look at your home so we can get it SOLD!

Tina Backus, REALTOR

Megan Forsberg, REALTOR

(325)513-6990

tina.backusrealtor@gmail.com

www.tinabackus.com

Low-cost Ways to Modernize Your Kitchen and Bath Before You Sell

05/15/2015 | Author: Bryn Huntpalmer, guest expert

Two of the biggest concerns for any homebuyer are a house’s kitchen and bathrooms. If you update those spaces before you list, potential buyers will feel that they won’t require a ton of work once they move in. Here are places to focus your updates to ensure that your house stands out.

Upgrade the lights
Lighting is a critical part of any good kitchen. One of the simplest upgrades is installing task lights, which are lights directed at parts of the kitchen where prep and cooking work take place. Placing task lights under cabinets or over the kitchen island will draw the attention of buyers and add a desirable design element to the room. Swapping out existing fixtures is easy to do, or you can install battery-operated LED lights—some of these have adhesives that stick to any surface.

Paint rather than replace tile
Hiring a contractor to tear out and replace old bathroom tile can be expensive. An alternative approach is to paint them yourself. Ceramic epoxy adhesive coverings are relatively cheap, look good,

Install a pedestal sink

Vanities and sink cabinets eat up a lot of space in smaller bathrooms. Free up some territory by replacing the existing sink with a pedestal sink. Not only will it create a sense of space, but it’s less boxy with artistic lines, adding visual appeal to a bathroom. You can get back lost storage space by adding a small cabinet over the toilet or replacing a mirror with a mirrored medicine cabinet.

Stain or paint kitchen cabinets
Don’t replace old kitchen cabinets—stain or paint them. The results will completely transform the space. This is a time-intensive but easy project for you to accomplish.

Revitalize your floors
Are your hardwood floors showing wear and tear? Restore them—it’s simpler than you think. Like refinishing cabinets, stripping and restoring hardwoods requires more time than anything else. Make sure you identify any compromised sections of flooring before starting the process, since restoration of bad wood will make the job look cheap.

If your home has carpet, consider tearing it up and staining the concrete underneath. This cost-effective way to modernize your living space attracts buyers who view carpet as an outdated flooring option.

CALL me TODAY to schedule a FREE consultation on listing YOUR home!

TINA BACKUS, REALTOR

Red Apple, REALTORS

(325)513-6990

tina.backusrealtor@gmail.com

www.tinabackus.com

3 ways to prepare for homeownership while renting

6/26/2015 | Author: Summer Mandell

You may not be quite ready to buy your first home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start preparing now. Here are three actions you can do while renting that will put you in a better position when you’re ready to buy.

Take a homeowner’s budget for a test drive. While you can’t predict all homeownership costs down to the last penny, you can come up with a rough estimate of how owning a home will impact your budget. A Texas REALTOR® can help you figure out how much home you can afford, the potential mortgage payment you’d make, your local property taxes, and repair costs you might want to consider as a homeowner.

Check your credit report. Before you apply for a loan, you should request a free credit report to find out what a lender would see. If your report has errors, you can correct them before they affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage loan. And if you find legitimate flaws, you might be able to take steps to improve your credit before purchasing a property. Your Texas REALTOR® may be able to help you find resources to repair your credit.

Create a realistic wish list. There’s probably not a home that will offer every single amenity you desire, but you should have a general idea of what you’re looking for. So while a home with fewer than two bathrooms may be non-negotiable, perhaps you’d see the potential in one with a smaller kitchen or a not-so-appealing exterior paint job.

If you would like more information about the home buying process or where to get pre-qualified, I would love to help you with both of these!

Tina Backus, REALTOR

Red Apple, REALTORS

(325)513-6990

tina.backusrealtor@gmail.com

www.tinabackus.com