Residential REMAX real estate broker associate with expertise in luxury lake homes,lake homes,luxury homes, residential single family,condos, vacant land,foreclosures and investment properties. Serving the greater Milwaukee metro area including:Waukesha County, Lake Country, Jefferson,Dodge, Dane,Ozaukee Washington,Walworth,Milwaukee Counties. On-line markets, LISTING PACKAGE and FOR SALE by OWNER OPTIONS, MLS search access, buyer agency, Home Warranty, all with outstanding service!
Creating a home media center means you'll never have to put up with the annoying guy at the theater who talks through the whole movie (unless, of course, you're married to him). Here are a few tips to get you started.
Think about acoustics
Choose a room with limited windows and doors to seal in the sound. Keep in mind that valuted ceilings can be tough when it comes to adjusting your sound system.
Set up strategically
To find the optimum distance to sit from the screen, the general rule of thumb is to multiply the diagonal size of your TV in inches by two.
Popcorn, of course
Once you're nestled into your home theater seats, you're not going to want to walk all the way to the kitchen for more refreshments. Consider investing in an old-fashioned popcorn stand. A mini-fridge may come in handy, too.
Set the scene
Frame a few posters from your favorite flicks and hang them on the wall. Popcorn buckets and marquee lights can also add to the environment.
Is a home theater a must-have for your next home? Talk to an agent to find out what's available: Contact Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty Center
House Hasn’t Sold Yet? Take Another Look at the Price
simplifyFor Sellers, Pricing
The residential housing market has been hot. Home sales have bounced back solidly and are now at their second highest pace since February 2007. Demand remains strong going into the winter. Many real estate professionals are reporting that multiple offers are occurring regularly and listings are actually selling above listing price. What about your house?
If your house hasn’t sold, it is probably the price.
If your home is on the market and you are not receiving any offers, look at your price. Pricing your home just 10% above market value dramatically cuts the number of prospective buyers that will even see your house. (See Chart)
Bottom Line
The housing market is hot. If you are not seeing results you want, sit down with your agent and revisit the pricing conversation.
As the temperature continues to rise, buyers are coming out ready to purchase their dream home. Here are five reasons that you should list your house for sale now.
1. Strong Buyer Demand
Foot traffic refers to the number of people out actually physically looking at homes right now. The latest foot traffic numbers show that there are significantly more prospective purchasers currently looking at homes than at any point in the last two years!
These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase… and are in the market right now! Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.
2. There Is Less Competition Now
The National Association of Realtors reported last week that housing supply has slipped to a 5.0-month supply. This is still under the 6-month supply that is needed for a normal housing market.
This means, in most areas, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in that market. This is good news for home prices.
There is a pent-up desire for many homeowners to move as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners are now seeing a return to positive equity as real estate values have increased over the last two years. Many of these homes will be coming to the market in the near future.
The choices buyers have will continue to increase. Don’t wait until all this other inventory of homes comes to market before you sell.
3. Home Prices Are Skyrocketing
Daren Blomquist, President of RealtyTrac, recently shared insights into why “2015 is a Great Year to Sell” by saying:
"So far in 2015, [sellers] are realizing the biggest gains in home price appreciation since 2007. In June, sellers sold for above estimated market value on average for the first time in nearly two years."
One major factor driving prices up is the lack of inventory available for the amount of buyers in the market. Often buyers, who find a home that they would like to make an offer on, are met with the reality that they aren’t the only ones interested.
4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move-Up
If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now.
Prices are projected to appreciate by over 19.4% from now to 2019. If you are moving to a higher priced home, it will wind-up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. You can also lock-in your 30-year housing expense with an interest rate near 4% right now.
Rates are projected to increase by a full percentage point over the next year according to Freddie Mac.
5. It’s Time to Move On with Your Life
Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than your health? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should?
Only you know the answers to the questions above. You have the power to take back control of the situation by putting your home on the market. Perhaps, the time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.
That is what is truly important. Contact Jodi ToebeRE/MAX Realty Center to sell your home for the most amount of money in the quickest time possible!
For those days when even the snow angels are shivering, it’s good to have an emergency list of indoor boredom-busting activities for kids other than the TV. See if any of these activities might appeal to your little ones.
1. Hit the “lab”
Try a few experiments. You can build a classic sparkly volcano, with baking soda, vinegar and glitter in a vase, or write secret messages with invisible ink made from lemon juice. Many more ideas are available online.
2. Ready, set, go!
Incorporate furniture, cardboard boxes and jump ropes in obstacle courses kids can run against the clock.
3. Strike out
Hardwood floors are perfect for indoor bowling. Stack plastic cups in a pyramid and try to bowl them over with rolled up socks.
4. Go old school
Have kids create cards or write letters to out-of-town friends and relatives — or even public figures they admire!
5. Go hunting
Create a scavenger hunts for kids. You can find some ideas here.
6. DIY cooking/baking show
Kids love to get creative in the kitchen, especially with foods that can be extensively “decorated” such as pizzas and cupcakes. Add another level of fun by recording the process and splicing together a mini-cooking show for relatives.
7. Color me busy
There are a zillion types of coloring books available for kids. Lately, coloring books have also grown in popularity with stressed-out adults. Sit down with your kids and try to stay in the lines — or not!
8. Get up on the dance floor
Move the furniture and clear space for the kids to boogie down. Music services like Pandora can help you find just the right tunes to get kids moving.
Looking for a home with more room for your kids to play? Let a RE/MAX agent help. Start here: Contact Jodi Toebe Remax Realty Center.
Selling Your House? 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t For Sale By Owner
simplifyFor Sellers, FSBO's
In today's market, with homes selling quickly and prices rising, some homeowners might consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers.
Here are five of those reasons:
1. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With
Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to For Sale By Owner:
The buyer who wants the best deal possible
The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
The home inspection companies, which work for the buyer and will almost always, find some problems with the house
The appraiser if there is a question of value
2. Exposure to Prospective Purchasers
Recent studies have shown that 89% of buyers search online for a home. That is in comparison to only 20% looking at print newspaper ads. Most real estate agents have an internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you?
3. Results Come from the Internet
Where do buyers find the home they actually purchased?
44% on the internet
33% from a Real Estate Agent
9% from a yard sign
1% from newspaper
The days of selling your house by just putting up a sign and putting it in the paper are long gone. Having a strong internet strategy is crucial.
4. FSBOing has Become More and More Difficult
The paperwork involved in selling and buying a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 8% over the last 20+ years.
The 8% share represents the lowest recorded figure since NAR began collecting data in 1981.
5. You Net More Money when Using an Agent
Many homeowners believe that they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real estate agent’s commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save the commission.
Studies have shown that the typical house sold by the homeowner sells for $210,000 while the typical house sold by an agent sells for $249,000. This doesn’t mean that an agent can get $39,000 more for your home as studies have shown that people are more likely to FSBO in markets with lower price points. However, it does show that selling on your own might not make sense.
Bottom Line
Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, let's get together and discuss the many benefits of using a local real estate expert!
If you are looking to sell your home in Southeastern, WI call Jodi ToebeRE/MAX Realty Center for a FREE CMA /Market analysis of your home and to discuss what puts us above all others! Call 262-352-0484
Is this winter’s bout of cabin fever got you dreaming of more space in your home? Do you find yourself fantasizing about a separate room where you can cloister the kids when it’s too cold for them to play outside? Your solution may be right beneath your feet. Here are few things to keep in mind if you’re considering refinishing your basement.
1. Water, water, anywhere? Have a pro come in and investigate any evidence of water damage in your basement. You’ll need to resolve any moisture issues before you begin remodeling.
2. Know the code Before you design your dream basement, check the municipal code for any restrictions that may impact your project, such as the number of exits required or regulations about adding bathrooms and kitchens below the main floor of your home.
3. Kill the chill Check with a contractor to find out if there are ways to adjust your home’s current ventilation and heating configuration to efficiently heat your basement. Installing quality flooring can help with insulation.
4. Light up your (underground) life Avoid creating a well-decorated dungeon by installing adequate lighting, especially if there are no windows.
5. The right steps Don’t skimp on the stairway. Carpeting on the stairs, bright lights and handrails make access safer and more inviting.
6. Turn down the volume If you have plans for an entertainment center, consider installing sound insulation in the ceiling to help tone things down.
Not sure if turning your basement into an underground oasis is worth the investment? Talk to a local agent familiar with your particular market and find out which features buyers have been looking for.
Call Jodi Toebe RE/Max Realty Center
Whether you are buying or selling a home, it can be quite an adventurous journey. You need an experienced Real Estate Professional to lead you to your ultimate goal. In this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can For Sale by Owner or FSBO.
The 5 Reasons You NEED a Real Estate Professional in your corner haven’t changed, but have rather been strengthened due to the projections of higher mortgage interest rates & home prices as the market continues to recover.
1. What do you do with all this paperwork?
Each state has different regulations regarding the contracts required for a successful sale, and these regulations are constantly changing. A true Real Estate Professional is an expert in their market and can guide you through the stacks of paperwork necessary to make your dream a reality.
2. Ok, so you found your dream house, now what?
According to the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association, there are over 230 possible actions that need to take place during every successful real estate transaction. Don’t you want someone who has been there before, who knows what these actions are to make sure that you acquire your dream.
3. Are you a good negotiator?
So maybe you’re not convinced that you need an agent to sell your home. However, after looking at the list of parties that you need to be prepared to negotiate with, you’ll realize the value in selecting a Real Estate Professional. From the buyer (who wants the best deal possible), to the home inspection companies, to the appraiser, there are at least 11 different people that you will have to be knowledgeable with and answer to, during the process.
4. What is the home you’re buying/selling really worth?
It is important for your home to be priced correctly from the start to attract the right buyers and shorten the time that it’s on the market. You need someone who is not emotionally connected to your home to give you the truth as to your home’s value. According to the National Association of REALTORS, “the typical FSBO home sold for $210,000 compared to $245,000 among agent-assisted home sales.”
Get the most out of your transaction by hiring a professional.
5. Do you know what’s really going on in the market?
There is so much information out there on the news and the internet about home sales, prices, mortgage rates; how do you know what’s going on specifically in your area? Who do you turn to in order to competitively price your home correctly at the beginning of the selling process? How do you know what to offer on your dream home without paying too much, or offending the seller with a low-ball offer?
Dave Ramsey, the financial guru advises:
“When getting help with money, whether it’s insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman.”
Hiring an agent who has their finger on the pulse of the market will make your buying/selling experience an educated one. You need someone who is going to tell you the truth, not just what they think you want to hear.
Bottom Line
You wouldn’t replace the engine in your car without a trusted mechanic. Why would you make one of your most important financial decisions of your life without hiring a Real Estate Professional?
Are You Wondering What It Takes To Buy Your First Home?
simplify First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Millennials
There are many people sitting on the sidelines trying to decide if they should purchase a home or sign a rental lease. Some might wonder if it makes sense to purchase a house before they are married and have a family. Others may think they are too young. And still others might think their current income would never enable them to qualify for a mortgage.
We want to share what the typical first time homebuyer actually looks like based on the National Association of REALTORS most recent Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers. Here are some interesting revelations on the first time buyer:
Bottom Line
You may not be much different than many people who have already purchased their first home. Let's get together to figure out if your dream home is already within your grasp.
To find out if your dream home is in your grasp contact Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty Center.
You packed everything perfectly, including that dining room chandelier, the big-screen TV, the vintage ’70s “Dukes of Hazzard” T-shirt collection. You even got your dog’s medical records from the vet. But something’s keeping you awake at night as your move draws nigh. You know you forgot something.
Don’t worry, keep packing. We assembled this handy checklist of things people often forget to do—or don’t even realize they should take care of—so you can make sure you’re covered and can move and settle down in your new digs with ease.
1 month before: Cancel recurring charges
Taking care of a gym membership or other subscription services may fall by the wayside during the madness leading up to moving day. Worse, those recurring charges will keep mounting on your credit card while you’re in the throes of unpacking. Get a jump on canceling these at least a month before your last expected day of use, especially since many gyms require a 30-day notice.
Please, Mr. Postman
Can’t get out of your contract or transfer your gym membership to a facility by your new home? Sell it through online classifieds such as GymTransfer (yes, most gyms allow this!). Don’t forget to unload any prepaid class cards, too.
On the flip side, important recurring charges on your credit card—such as mail-order medications—might be canceled if your address change hasn’t caught up with billing information. So compile a list of charges and make the effort to call these companies and give them a heads up to avoid disruption in service.
2 weeks before: Call your car insurance company
The Department of Motor Vehicles advises people in the process of moving to closely manage their car insurance during the transition, as states have varying levels of required coverage. Even if you’re staying in the same city, rates can differ from neighborhood to neighborhood. So call your insurer well before the move to find out the parameters and deadlines for updating coverage at your new address.
2 weeks before: Change your address early
Most people know the U.S. Postal Service offers an online form to quickly change an address for all of your mail, but that doesn’t mean you should wait until the last minute to fill it out.
“To make sure mail arrives at your new home in time for your life there, complete the form about two weeks before your move,” says Desmond Lim, founder of QuikForce, an on-demand website that links people with professional movers. That way “you should see the first of your forwarded mail by the time of move-in.”
1 week before: Organize your finances
Important financial tasks are often forgotten in the whirlwind of moving, says consumer finance expert Kevin Gallegos, vice president of Phoenix operations for Freedom Financial Network. Since losing track of bills among piles of boxes is all too easy, Gallegos recommends setting up systems before a move that can easily transition from old home to new. For monthly bills such as phone, rent, or mortgage, it can really help to set them up for autopay, which you can typically do through your bank or the billing company.
“This can help ensure on-time payment during a hectic time,” he says. Whatever system you choose, decide which household member will be responsible for paying which bills. And as moving often incurs unexpected costs, be sure that you’ll have enough money in designated accounts at time of payment.
1 day before: Snap pictures of your electronics
Those cables in the back of your TV and modem that keep your life wired? They don’t make sense now and will make even less sense when they are tangled in a box. A simple solution is to snap a picture of the setup before you take your electronics apart—and coil the cords and label them with masking tape, for good measure.
1 day before: Pack your plants
Do you have a special plant (maybe that hydrangea you planted for your child’s birth or your mom’s prized azaleas)? To make sure you aren’t forced to leave it behind in your rush, make a list of what plants you want to take with you and put a plant plan in place. Don’t put your shovels into the moving van until the last minute—you’ll need them to carefully dig up root balls. Buy large buckets beforehand and use them to transport each plant.
1 day before: Stock a go-to box
Jen Sandlin, an agent with Cornerstone Real Estate in Boston, reminds movers to “set aside one box for the first 24 hours” in your new home. “Pack paper towels, cleaning supplies, clean sheets, towels, paper plates and silverware, toilet paper, and maybe even a bottle of bubbly to celebrate all your hard work, picnic-style.”
To help Guide you throught the moving process contact Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty Center.
4 Things Agents Consider When Setting Listing Prices
Mon, January 4, 2016
There’s no online calculator for setting the perfect listing price for your home. It takes experience, market savvy, and even a bit of psychology. A strong listing agent can help you set the right, most competitive price for your home. Here are a few things they might look at:
1. The competition Your agent will look at the prices of similar homes in your area that either are currently listed or sold during the past few months. They’ll take into account how many days the properties were on the market, and how the listing prices for those homes differed from the final sale prices.
2. Market trends What’s affecting the market in your neighborhood, and your region? Your agent will consider national factors that shape the real estate market, such as possible rising interest rates, as well as local factors, like whether the average home price in your neighborhood has been rising or falling. They’ll also think about things such as new companies moving to the area in the near future, or plans for improving local amenities, like parks and shopping districts. All can increase the value of your home to a buyer.
3. Your neighbors Although a home the same size and age recently sold for a high price, your own place might not fetch the exact same fortune if, say, junky cars continue to proliferate in your neighbor’s driveway. On the flipside, if the grass is in fact greener on the other side of the fence, your home’s value may be higher due to your neighbors’ curb appeal.
4. The Goldilocks price Listing your home at a price that’s “just right” from the start is critical to selling it quickly, for the best price. Overpricing your home, and then dropping the price a few times while it sits on the market, could lead to a lower final sales price than if the home was priced appropriately from the beginning. And, of course, setting a price that’s too low leaves money on the table.
Wondering how much your home might be worth in today’s market? Find a local RE/MAX agent who can explain how these and other considerations could factor into a pricing strategy for your home.
Contact Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty Center to List your home!
At the end of December, in every region of the country, hundreds of homeowners have a tough decision to make. The ‘listing for sale agreement’ on their house is about to expire and they now must decide to either take their house off the market (OTM), For Sale by Owner (FSBO) or list it again with the same agent or a different agent.
Let’s assume you or someone you know is in this situation and take a closer look at each possibility:
Taking Your Home off the Market
In all probability, after putting your house on the market and seeing it not sell, you’re going to be upset. You may be thinking that no one in the marketplace thought the house was worthy of the sales price.
Because you are upset, you may start to rationalize that selling wasn’t that important after all and say,
“Well, we didn’t really want to sell the house anyway. This idea of making a move right now probably doesn’t make sense.”
Don’t rationalize your dreams away. Instead, consider the reasons you decided to sell in the first place. Ask your family this simple question:
“What made us originally put our home up for sale?”
If that reason made sense a few months ago when you originally listed the house, chances are it still makes sense now. Don’t give up on what your family hoped to accomplish or on goals your family hoped to attain.
Just because the house didn’t sell during the last listing contract doesn’t mean the house will never sell or that it shouldn’t be sold.
Re-Listing with your Existing Agent
For whatever reason, your house did not sell. Perhaps you now realize how difficult selling a house may be or that the listing price was too high, or perhaps you’re now acknowledging that you didn’t exactly listen to your agent’s advice.
If that is the case, you may want to give your existing agent a second chance. That’s a perfectly okay thing to do.
However, if your agent didn’t perform to the standard they promised when they listed your home you may want to either FSBO or try a different agent.
For Sale by Owner
You may now believe that listing your house with an agent is useless because your original agent didn’t accomplish the goal of selling the house. Trying to sell the house on your own this time may be alluring. You may think you will be in control and save on the commission.
But, is that true? Will you be able to negotiate each of the elements that make up a real estate transaction? Are you capable of putting together a comprehensive marketing plan? Do people who FSBO actually ‘net’ more money?
If you are thinking about FSBOing, take the time to first read: 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t For Sale by Owner.
List with a New Agent
After failing to sell your home, you may no longer trust your agent or what they say. However, don’t paint all real estate professionals with that same brush. Have you ever gotten a bad haircut before? Of course! Did you stop getting your hair cut or did you simply change hair stylists?
There is good and bad in every profession—good and bad hair stylists, agents, teachers, lawyers, doctors, police officers, etc. And just because there are good and bad in every line of work doesn’t mean you don’t call on others for the products and services you need. You still get your haircut, see a doctor, talk to a lawyer, send your kids to school, etc.
Bottom Line
You initially believed that using an agent made sense. It probably still does. Contact a local real estate professional and discuss the possibilities. Contact Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty Center Serving All of Southeastern Wisconsin!
Why Did Home Sales Drop So Dramatically Last Month?
simplifyUncategorized
Yesterday, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their latest Existing Home Sales Reportwhich covered sales in November. The report revealed that sales:
“…fell 10.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.76 million in November (lowest since April 2014 at 4.75 million)…”
That revelation gave birth to a series of industry articles, some of which quoted pundits questioning whether the housing market was slowing. In actuality, there is one rather simple explanation to much of the falloff in sales last month. It is likely the implementation of the “Know Before You Owe” mortgage rule, commonly known as the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule, which went into effect on October 3. These regulations caused house closings to be delayed by an extra three days in November as shown in the graph below.
Three days might sound like a minimal difference. However, since there are only approximately 20 days in a month that a closing would normally take place (Mondays through Fridays), losing three days constitutes well over 10% of all closings. These sales are not lost. They are just moved into the next month’s numbers. In a DS Newsarticle on the subject yesterday, Auction.com EVP Rick Sharga explained:
“The most likely cause for the weak sales numbers is a delay in processing loans due to the new TRID mortgage requirements imposed by the CFPB. This is the biggest change in mortgage document processing in many years, and there have been numerous reports within the industry of problems implementing the process and the new documentation that comes with it.”
So how is the housing market actually doing?
A better way to look at how well the housing market is doing is to look at the Foot Traffic Report from NAR which quantifies the number of prospective buyers that are actively looking for a home at the current time:
We can see immediately that demand to buy single family homes is increasing over the last few months - not decreasing.
Bottom Line
No matter what last month’s sales numbers show, the housing market is still doing well as demand remains strong.
Contact Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty Center if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Southeastern Wisconsin!
New roof: mtreasure/iStock; vinyl siding: James Brey/iStock Wood flooring: frentusha/iStock; garage door: KatarzynaBialasiewicz/iStock
By Judy Dutton
Realtors Reveal the Renovations That Really Pay Off at Sale Time
While homeowners may dream of pulling off some nifty renovations in their kitchen, putting in a hot tub or maybe pulling together an awesome entertainment center, a new report by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) finds that homeowners’ money would be better spent on other features.
For NAR’s 2015 Remodeling Impact Report, Realtors ranked home improvement projects based on expected value at resale (without accounting for project price). Results revealed that the interior project predicted to yield the biggest bang for your buck is right under your feet: your floors. Refinishing hardwood floors will essentially pay for itself—an estimated 100% return on investment, according to Realtors.
Other renovations that rank high on ROI include insulation upgrades (95% recovered), new wood flooring (91% recovered), and converting a basement to a living area (69% recovered).
The report also found that renovations on a home’s exterior can also pay off in spades. According to Realtors, home buyers love a new roof, which will reap 105% of your costs at resale, followed by a new garage door (87%), new vinyl siding (83%), and new vinyl windows (80%).
But renovations aren’t just about resale; homeowner also improve their homes so they can enjoy these upgrades themselves. To that end, the NAR report found that 64% of home buyers surveyed say they’ve experienced increased enjoyment in their home after completing a remodeling project. As for their main motives, 38% of homeowners said they wanted to upgrade worn-out surfaces, finishes and materials, while 17% wanted to add features and improve livability.
Thirteen percent merely believed it was time for a change.
“Realtorsknow that certain home upgrades and remodels can be beneficial to get more buyer eyes on a property, potentially bring in more offers or gain more equity from a home,” said NAR President Tom Salomone, broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Coral Springs, FL. “But remodeling projects are just as valuable to homeowners who simply want to get more joy out of their dwellings.”
If that isn’t reason enough to break out your tool kit, what is?
Call Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty Center Oconomowoc, WI 262-352-0484 To help you guide you through how to sell your home quick for the best price!
7 Ways to Reduce Stress When Buying or Selling a Home
Sat, October 3, 2015
Research has shown that buying or selling a home can be one of life’s most stressful events — right up there with filing for bankruptcy or getting a divorce. Preparation is the key to reducing anxiety. Here are a few tips:
1. Choose your agent carefully An experienced pro will be prepared for every twist in the road, minimizing stress for you.
2. Home buyers: List before looking Create and prioritize a list of “wants” and “needs” of home features before you begin touring properties. Waiting to think about what you’re truly looking for in a home until the showing will put you on the spot, creating anxiety.
3. Home buyers: Get mortgage preapproval Having your finances ready eliminates white-knuckled waiting periods, or unpleasant surprises from lenders after you’ve found your dream home.
4. Don’t take things personally It’s not you, it’s them. Or the market. Or the lender. Try not to take it personally if buyers value your home for less than what you’re asking, or if a seller rejects what you believe is a perfectly reasonable offer.
5. Keep things in perspective Consider the worst-case scenario. Will you have to forage for food? Will you need to sell a kidney? Probably not. Other buyers will eventually materialize. Or you’ll find another home you love just as much as the one that got away.
6. Focus on something else Give yourself a break and indulge in an activity that requires the undivided attention of your body and mind. Yoga lessons, anyone?
7. Find a four-legged friend Petting and playing with animals is clinically proven to lower your blood pressure. And they won’t interrupt if you need to vent.
Talking things through with your Realtor is another way to de-stress. Call Jodi Toebe REMAX 262-352-0484 to help you take the stress out of your transaction.
It’s the season for celebrating all that's scary. Creepy costumes, eerie tunes, haunted houses. They can be downright frightening. But don’t let these common myths about selling your home terrify you.
1. Scary myth: You should sell your home in the spring or summer. Truth: There’s no need to wait until you see the first buds on trees to sell your home. People need to buy homes and move during all times of the year – and for all sorts of reasons. It's true that families with kids often plan around the school year when they're looking to move. But there are so many more factors you’ll need to consider when planning to sell. And there are so many more types of homebuyers – young professionals, retirees, investors. So sell your home when you're ready
2. Scary myth: Online estimates for pricing a home are accurate.
Truth: If only it were so easy to determine the best price for your home with the mere click of a button. But estimated sale prices online take only so many factors into consideration. What can be overlooked are local factors, such as growth and demand. An agent who's familiar with your area really is best suited to help you put the online estimate in perspective and determine the most competitive list price for your home.
3. Scary myth: List your home high to leave room for negotiating. Truth: Listing high may scare off buyers who are searching for properties at your home's actual market value. And pricing high may delay the final sale and leave your home sitting on the market much longer than it would be if it was priced correctly. Also, an unusually long period on the market and multiple price reductions can give buyers the wrong impression that your home might not be selling because it has major flaws.
4. Scary myth: The outside’s not as important as the inside. Truth: Curb appeal is critical. How will buyers ever appreciate your home’s spectacular interior if they’re so turned off by the shabby exterior that they drive right on by? A great first impression starts outside.
5. Scary myth: You don’t need a Realtor. Truth: Trying to sell your home on your own can turn into a true horror show. There's a lot at stake between the money you risk leaving on the table by listing at the wrong price, ineffective negotiations, the pitfalls of incomplete or inaccurate paperwork, and legal issues involved in a home sale.
Find a local RE/MAX agent who can help you keep the horror out of selling your home. Call Jodi Toebe RE/MAX 262-352-0484.
Moving to a new home, a new neighborhood and a new school can be tough for kids. Luckily, a variety of children’s books are out there to help parents explain things, add some fun and hopefully alleviate fears.
Here are a few classics – and you can post your favorite children's book titles about moving in the comments section below:
1. “Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move” by Judith Viorst Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1995 Poor Alexander. First, the kid had a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Now, his family is moving! Just like your kids, Alexander has to say goodbye to some special places and people, but with the help of his parents he learns to make the most of the situation. 2. “The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day” by Stan and Jan Berenstain Random House Books for Young Readers, 1981 Little Brother Bear’s pretty worried about moving, and more than a little scared. Kids can relate to his apprehension, and hopefully his positive change of view as moving day gets closer. 3. “A House for Hermit Crab” by Eric Carle Aladdin Paperbacks, 1987 A little hermit crab has outgrown his shell and needs to find a bigger one – and new friends to help decorate it. This book will reassure kids that it will be easy to make new friends in their new town. 4. “Tigger’s Moving Day” by Kathleen W. Zoehfeld Disney, 1999 Tigger needs a place with more bouncing room! His friends aren’t as close to his new house, but they still come and visit. A story to help kids understand they’ll still be able to hold on to old connections. 5. “Goodbye House” by Frank Asch Moonbear Books, 1989 This book is a terrific way to talk about moving with preschoolers. After the moving van is packed, a little bear returns to say farewell to his old house, saying goodbye to everything, except, of course, the memories.
Other favorites include: “Big Dan’s Moving Van,” by Leslie McGuire, “Neville,” by Norton Juster, “The Moving House” by Mark Siegel, “I’m Not Moving, Mama” by Nancy White Carlstrom, and “The Leaving Morning,” by Angela Johnston.
Looking to a move to a neighborhood that’s great for kids (and parents)? Find a local RE/MAX agent who can help.
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