How to Tell If Your Miami Home Is in Good Condition

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Today, we’ll discuss how to be objective about the condition of your home. Every seller thinks their property is the best one on the market, so how can you be objective?

First, ask a full-time Realtor about the condition of your property. Realtors work in the market day in and day out. In fact, we view hundreds of properties each week. We understand the trends. We know what buyers are looking for. Most importantly, we can determine how your home stacks up against buyer expectations, and we can tell you which improvements need to be made.

You can also visit other homes for sale in your area. Go to open houses and be frank with the Realtors. When they ask you why you’re visiting, explain that you’re putting your home on the market and you want to see the competition. The Realtor may be interested in getting your listing, and he or she will be more than happy to share more information with you. By being honest, you are respecting the Realtor’s time, and they will be respectful of yours.

Ask a friend to be brutally honest. You need someone willing to tell you the truth. Someone who will look at the kitchen you love so much and tell you that it actually sucks. Someone who will point out exactly what is wrong with your property. You should also choose someone who can tell you what they think without losing the friendship.

Finally, ask potential buyers what they honestly think. If you’re working with a Realtor, they will handle this for you. If you’re selling your home on your own, you need to be prepared and not take the criticism personally. You will need to do this with several buyers because one person’s opinions won’t help sell your home. Some buyers may not be comfortable being critical of your property, so you need to find the ones who will tell you the truth.

If you have any questions about today’s video or if you need a Realtor to come look at your property, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

How Important Is a Pre-Approval Letter in Miami?

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Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation

If you were a seller, would you accept an offer from someone who may not be able to pay for your home? My guess is that you would say, “Absolutely not!” You would be right to say this, and this is why a pre-approval letter is so important.

Before you begin looking for a home or even before you begin looking for a real estate agent, you need to speak with a lender to see if you can actually afford to purchase one. This should always be your first step when you are attempting to buy a home. If you don’t know what kind of home you can afford, then you better speak with a lender.

Not only is speaking with a lender better for determining your buying power, it can also help you to narrow down your home search. I hate to see my clients find a home they like and then discover that they cannot afford it. Don’t make that mistake - speak with a lender before doing anything else!

On the flip side of this, sellers love to see letters of pre-approval. Like I stated before, it proves that you have the funds to buy the home, and this gives the seller peace of mind. Often times, a seller will not even entertain an offer from a buyer who is not pre-approved. If you don’t have a letter of pre-approval, you won’t stand a chance in this market.

If you have any further questions about this market, please don’t hesitate to contact me!