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  • Accomplishing the Impossible: How to Sell Your Home in 10 Days!

    Accomplishing the Impossible: How to Sell Your Home in 10 Days!

    10 days huh? You really want to sell your home in just ten days? This is an insane idea and here’s why: based on recent statistics let’s take Colorado Springs which is one of the hottest real estate markets in the entire country even the top-selling agents average about a month and a half for a home sale.

    That’s about 45 days vs.10…Hmmm

    Now with that said, if you really need to sell your home in ten days, it’s not impossible. It’s NOT going to be easy, but with some good planning, a top-tier Realtor, as well as a lot of work, you could actually make this happen.

    After speaking with a top real estate agent we created this blueprint which lays out everything that must be done, in the proper order, to get your home ready to sell, on the market, and under contract in just ten days. Let’s take a look:

    • Find and Hire a Top Agent
    • Do Deep Research on Your Property
    • Discover Your Quick Fixes
    • Develop a Successful Marketing Plan
    • Stay Calm, Trust Your Agent and Be Flexible

    Let’s take a deeper look at each of these key points.

    1. Find and Hire a Top Real Estate Agent

    First things first, you must find and hire the best, most successful real estate agent you can find. These are the type agents with entire teams, contacts, and resources that will get your home listed and sold quickly. There are online tools like HomeLight that will help you find the agents who have sold the most homes in your region. So make some calls, and hire someone quickly.

    2. Deep Research Your Property

    Do you really know all there is to know about your house? How old is your washer and dryer? When was it painted last or when was the roof replaced if ever? What kind of shape is the foundation in?

    Tampa’s #1 single-family home seller Andrew Duncan says “Age and condition of major big ticket items are things the seller needs to know,” After having sold 742 homes last year Duncan knows a thing or two about the subject. He went on to say, “If you know those and can document as much of that as you can, that will save a lot of time for you and it also helps educate the agent on the condition for features they have to factor into pricing the home”

    3. Discover Your Quick Fixes

    Duncan goes on to explain, “Ten days isn’t enough time to get a contractor to do a whole lot. In our market, there’s a labor shortage.” Because most of the country is in one of the strongest seller’s markets ever this shortage is a reality almost everywhere. What that indicates is that any improvements for the appeal to buyers will need to be DIY.

    You have very limited choices given less than a week to the big day, that’s why its important pick the projects that will have the biggest impact. A few bags of mulch bring an old garden back to life and sodding up bare spots in the lawn will make it look great in just a few days.

    4. Develop a Successful Pricing and Marketing Plan

    The most important aspect of selling a home becomes even more vital when trying to sell quickly and that the price. A marketing and pricing strategy has got to be a vital part of your 10-day plan. For this, you will need to rely heavily on your agent to help to guide you thru this process.

    Andrew Duncan gives this advice, “Listen to your agent on pricing. It’s what agents do for a living.” Most homeowners often evaluate the home’s value in a way that doesn’t translate to the real marketplace.

    The marketing and pricing plan really show you the value of a top real estate agent. Always look for agents that are paying for premium features across multiple real estate platforms Duncan says, They know how to get your home the exposure it needs.

    5. Be Calm, Trust Your Agent and Stay Flexible

    To be quite honest even the most experienced Realtor in the world, could likely not sell a home in ten days without help. And unless you happen to be the most experienced realtor in the world you are going to need a lot of help.

    Duncan suggests “Be selective about the agent you meet with. Find somebody who has the marketing power to get it out there but also could buy it themselves potentially.”

    If you have taken the time to follow all the steps on this list you should be ready to sell really quickly. But let’s not forget the toll the stress can take during a quick sale like this. Plan out many long nights, late showings, and possibly a bidding war that way you won’t  be caught off guard. Make your plans for the worst and but keep your eyes on success!

    For an in-depth look at whether selling your home is a good strategy to solve other financial woes Click Here

    For troubleshooting tips and the biggest mistakes to avoid in selling your home, Click Here

    For an in-depth review of the pros and cons of paying cash for a new home, Click Here

  • Selling Your House Quickly for Fast Cash

    Selling Your House Quickly for Fast Cash

    Let’s face it, any time you put your house up for sale it’s very stressful. “Selling a home may, in fact, be harder on your emotions than major family issues or the passing of a relative.” was the statement made in a recent daily mail article.

    Things go from tough to highly stressful when your finances require you to sell the house quickly. It’s quite easy to end up second-guessing yourself and later realizing you sold for much less than the homes true value.

    The best way to quickly turn your house for a profit and with a strong resolve is to educate yourself on the marketplace and implement a few key strategies we will reveal in this article.
    So let’s dissect some of the options you have in making a quick sale of your home.

    To Use an Agent or Not

    While its true that over 86% of real estate sellers use an agent to handle their listing, the reason is that listings done by an agent sell for a higher profit than all the other options.

    Recently a “2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers” report recently in the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) reveals that homes represented by agents sold for 98% of the price listed and then the average equity was $43,100. How quickly you are looking to sell your home doesn’t matter, these numbers hold up says the report.

    If selling your home in just a few months is what you are looking for you may think that using an agent’s listing is out of the question but that’s simply not true.

    “Homes that sold recently done deals in an average time of four weeks or less” states the exact same 2016 NAR report. What this means is with an agent, you can more likely find a buyer that has a mortgage lender prepared for a quick closing and be willing to negotiate for a short escrow period. This speeds up your home sale to a month or less.

    When the seller has their own agent it means you have an advocate with your best interests at heart. Your agent can help you choose which offer to accept to make sure the transaction goes quickly and make sure you avoid time-wasting missteps during escrow.

    “The bottom line is for focusing on a quick sale, cash sales are the best, but they are normally lower priced offers. Making more works when you have a buyer that gets a loan and then makes a purchase in the next 2 or 3 weeks” says real estate expert Ambreen Faruqi, the #1 agent in homes sold in the Queens, New York.

    Listing with a well-respected agent is key to getting a quick sale and maximizing your take from the deal. Another report from NAR’s reveals that over 60% of sellers located their agent via a referral so start by asking your friends and family for recommendations. 

    Take the time to check your other agent’s statistics online and see how they look against other top agents in the area. You can use HomeLight’s own agent search for this process. You’re looking for an agent with a history of successfully selling homes like yours and others in the same area.
    So for the quickest way to sell your home would it be wise to list with an agent? The truth is no.
    Selling your house to an investor or at an auction would both be the fastest but you will forfeit nearly all of your equity to make this fast sale.

    Is FSBO The Best Way to Sell My Home Fast?

    One truth needs to be addressed and it’s this: Be prepared to offer your home for less than market value or accept a lower offer from an investor.

    Looking at this fact For Sale By Owner (FSBO) seems like the logical choice. Mostly because you can avoid a real estate agent’s commission which averages five to six percent of the home’s equity.

    Because we are currently in a buyers market a buyer should not be too challenging to find. Since the buyer usually already has an agent, is it important that you have one as well?

    The fact of the matter is if you are looking to make this sale quickly, yes.

    Let’s clarify what the agent for the buyer does. The buyer’s agent always steers the sale in the best interest of the buyer. Any specifics that are not a priority for the buyer, the agent will agent will focus on their client’s needs throughout and meaning your needs for a fast sale will be ignored.

    Aside from being your representative, your agent will be using all the important keys to ensure a fast sale from start to finish.

    In recent stats, from just homes sold in 2016, only 8% were FSBO sales. Out of those, only 54% wanted a fast sale. The majority of those fast sales came because they knew the buyer in some capacity.

    If you decide this is the route for you, you MUST become knowledgeable on all the important documents needed by you and your seller to complete a successful sale. You will also need an attorney and title company to help you complete the transaction.

    It’s nearly impossible to count on the sale to go quickly and smoothly without having a closing expert making sure all the intricacies of the transaction are done properly.

    Is a Short Sale the Answer?

    First things first, the truth about short sales is the reference made to “short” doesn’t mean time it means money. The definition of selling short is that your bank gave you the okay to sell your home for less than whats owed on it.

    Normally short sales take a lot longer to happen actually than a normal one.

    Ranking in the top nine percent of over 8,000 total agents from the PA area, master short sale agent Brad Wallace says, “It’s referred to as a short sale, however, the truth is those deals are about as far away from a short sale as you can get. In two years about 4 months was the quickest short sale I had, some of them even lasted well over two years.”

    On top of that fact, a majority of sellers are not even able to short sell their current home. Truth is financially you must be in real hot water for this type offer to work. And after all of that, your lender does not have even have to agree to a short sale.

    So as you can see a using a short sale is most likely not the way to go.

    Investors Buy Anything!

    By simply typing the phrase “how to quickly sell a house” into any search engine you will see literally hundreds even thousands of links trying to hook those looking for a quick sale into an investors net.

    This investor sale offers several advantages if the selling of your home is more important than the money. 7 days is all it takes to close for some investors according to a report in Forbes. Most are also willing to offer flexible payout options—including lump sum cash and buy your home regardless of the condition or how much repair it may need.

    If you decide to deal with an investor just know that you will not get the best price. You will likely sacrifice profit for speed.

    Many “We buy any home” places often offer only dimes on the dollar.

    In most cases, if your home is in good condition an investor will offer around 50 to 60% of the current market value according to a report in The Washington Post. The next step is usually to put a small amount of money into repairs and updates that will enable them to flip it and sell it for the current market value they would not pay you.

    That being said, there are a handful of investors across the country who strive for a fair shake in their dealings with clients and are not out simply to squeeze you to your bottom dollar. To contact one such investor please visit https://www.sellmyhousequickkc.org/contact-us-1/
    Operating this way your home will sell quickly, but the reality is you will see virtually no profit from the sale. If your house is a real disaster, however, this plan can be to your advantage as you can get rid of it fast without putting any money into repairs or additions that non-investors would likely request.

    The Overlooked Option of Home Auctions

    “I say I gotta buyer for this house going once, going twice, SOLD!”

    One of the biggest myths many people believe is that auctions are for underwater owners and lending institutions that are unloading foreclosure sites. Regardless of nearly all circumstances, any homeowner can have an auction for their home, and for many, it’s a great choice if you want to sell fast.

    The quick transaction is just one of the upsides of an auction sale:

    Yes, while knowing the exact day that the sale of your home will happen because of the auction, it still may not be as fast as you require. According to a recent report in Forbes, homes that are auctioned will turn on average 40 to 65 days after the listing. 

    The risky part comes down to you your lack of any real influence over the final sale price. You will be the one that decides on the minimum price you want to accept as the seller, which normally is set at 10-15% below what the homes market value is (auction experts say this generates more buyer interest), however after that you have to sit and wait and take whatever final bid you get. You could get lucky and have competing buyers causing the price to go over the market value. Or you could end up being with no option other than taking that low-end offer set at the start.
    The NAR advises that not every property is a good fit for auctions and that sellers should use a simple self-directed test for the market, as well as the home they want to sell and finances using the Two-Thirds Rule. This rule will reveal to you if the right way to go is an auction.

    When it comes to the auction option the more equity your home is carrying the better. Experts say as much as 25% is needed for cash to be produced this way. Too much below that and you risk having your home sell for a cheaper price than required to pay off your mortgage.

    Given this selection of sell fast options, it comes down to picking the one that is the best option for you. While turning a quick sale on your home is often scary you can successfully pull it off by with the right planning and help from an expert.

    For important keys to making a fast sale specifically in Kansas City, Click Here

  • Top 10 Secrets for Getting the Most Out of Selling Your Home.

    Top 10 Secrets for Getting the Most Out of Selling Your Home.

    Top Price Selling Secret #10: The right price

    This principle is very simple: Find the fair market value of your home, then take 15 to 20 percent off that price. In no time you’ll have a heard of potential buyers with multiple bids ready to bid up the price over what it’s worth. This works in any market, believe me. Though it’s still the best strategy to sell a home in today’s market most sellers don’t have the guts to do it…do you?

    Top Price Selling Secret #9: Keep those closets half empty

    If you take half the stuff out of your closets and neatly organize what’s left you’ll give buyers something they are always looking for – storage space. Also, keep all your closets and cabinets neat and clean.

    Top Price Selling Secret #8: Let there be light

    After the location of the home, good lighting is the one thing every buyer says they want in a new home. Lose the drapes, clean the windows, get new lampshades, get higher wattage light bulbs and make sure the bushes outside are cut to let in the sunshine.

    Top Price Selling Secret #7: Play the field

    Please, take your time in choosing the right agent for your home sale. Someone who is totally informed and well versed in the market is absolutely essential. One who will constantly monitor the multiple listing services (MLS), and know the properties in your neighborhood. A real tech-savvy agent can utilize numerous avenues to get the top price for your home.

    Top Price Selling Secret #6: Lose the pets – for now

    Truth is many people do not like pets in the home and the last thing you want to do is alienate half your potential buyers with a dog or cat. Walking into a home and seeing a dog food bowl full of food, the smell of a kitty litter box or seeing pet hair stuck to their clothes after sitting down is not a good impression. Have someone take your pets during a showing and clean well.

    Top Price Selling Secret #5: Do not overdo the fix-ups

    The truth is that quick fix-ups often pay off well in home sales but the large costly makeovers rarely do. If you engage in a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market it’s unlikely you’ll ever recoup the money you spent on the project. Your much better off to do smaller updates that in the long run will help you get the top dollar for your home. Covering the walls with a fresh coat of paint or replacing the curtains with some new inexpensive ones are examples of updates that cost little but can pay out a lot in the sale of your home.

    Top Price Selling Secret #4: A generic home sells better

    De-personalizing your home is one of the real keys to selling. Buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the home and too many personal items in the home clutter up their vision. Store at least a third of the stuff you have. Take down family photos, memorabilia collections, and all personal keepsakes. Another good idea is hiring what’s called a home stager who can help maximize the look of your home. They do this by arranging furniture in a way that best showcases the layout and maximizes the space.

    Top Price Selling Secret #3: First things first – the kitchen

    Think about it this way – you are really selling the kitchen, not the home. When it comes to selling your home remodeling your kitchen is key and you’ll likely get 80% of your money back. It could cost just a couple thousand dollars to replace countertops that a potential buyer would ask to take $10,000 off the asking price if it wasn’t done. Painting and new cabinet hardware are two of the easiest and least expensive kitchen improvements. To present buyers with a blank canvas so they can envision their own style paint with neutral colors.

    Top Price Selling Secret #2: The show must go on

    Be ready at all times to show your home because the right buyer could walk through the door at any moment. Your ‘show ready’ home simply must be available at any time they want to come to see the place and it must be in top condition. No dishes in the sink, empty dishwasher, bathrooms sparkling and no dust bunnies under the couch. Sure it’s inconvenient, but this strategy will sell your home.

    Top Price Selling Secret #1: You only have one chance to make a  first impression

    By the time potential buyers have gotten inside your home, they have already judged it from the exterior view. You got one shot at a good first impression. People need to feel warm, safe and welcome walking up to the house. Sprucing up with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers can typically get a 100-percent payback on the cash put into your home’s curb appeal. Use entryways as another welcoming station with a small bench, some fresh-cut flowers in a vase or even some cookies.

  • Would selling our house and using the equity to pay off personal debt qualify as a sound financial idea or a disaster waiting to happen?

    Would selling our house and using the equity to pay off personal debt qualify as a sound financial idea or a disaster waiting to happen?

    We recently spoke with a CPA and the author of many books as well as a Q&A online column dealing with issues involving credit and finance about selling a house to use the equity to pay off current debts. Her answer might surprise you. 

    This is a regular and interesting question that has come up many times before from homeowners who want to make the best moves they can for themselves financially.

    “Currently we have over $110,000 of equity in our home. Would selling it and using the equity to get rid of our $25,000 worth of debt be a smart move financially?”

    Selling your home to get rid of old debt is probably not your best solution, for at least three reasons:

    • The process simply costs too much
    • Buying another house will take time and money
    • The largest investment you have will take a major hit

    This example comes from a couple who had both gotten bad credit scores from the loss of job a couple of years ago. They kept afloat by leveraging other sources of debt until, eventually, they lost everything.

    Now that they have gotten back on their feet and established about $110,000 in equity in their current home and have a steady income they want to know if it would it be wise to sell their house to wipe out the $25,000 worth of debt? Also if they do that, what comes into play with their credit score and purchasing another home or would it be better to wait it out a while? 

    From the information provided, however, the expert stated that this plan of selling your home is probably not your best solution. Unless there are other reasons you want to get rid of the house, I strongly urge you to keep it.

    Why selling your home is not a cost-effective way to pay off old debt

    Selling your house will be cost-prohibitive. Have you ever seen the interest rates on a $30,000 credit card? You won’t believe your eyes when you see the costs related to selling a house. If the fair market value of your house is $400,000 once you pay the commissions to agents, the costs for the closing (some of the buyers costs are often passed along to the seller as well) and sales tax, if applicable, you can end up losing 8 to 10 percent of the sale off the top. It could easily cost you $40,000 to sell your house so you can pay off $25,000 in debt. This doesn’t include any fix-up costs for getting your house ready to sell or repairs you may be required to make after the inspection.

    Buying a new house takes a lot of time and money. It normally takes as much as 3 months and sometimes even longer to pack up, locate and purchase a new house and then get yourself situated again. A better idea would be for you to work overtime at your job or get a 2nd part-time job and with that money, you could pay down your debts. On top of all that your new house comes with, fees to originate the loan as well as other loan-related expenses, the costs for appraisal and closing costs. When you crunch the numbers you can easily spend up to 5 percent of the cost of your new home. For a $400,000 home, that would be $20,000. Now when you add in incidental expenses needed for getting into your new home, you can see that selling your house and using the equity to pay down your debts is not a cost-effective way to pay off a $25,000 debt.

    Your best investment takes a huge hit. Your best and most valuable investment is going to be your home. Once you get to retirement and beyond, it often becomes your only real investment. Pulling the equity out of your current home is a real pain in the butt and that’s a good thing because it makes it more likely you will leave it alone. Just focus on paying down the mortgage down and keep allowing the price to go up, and this single investment can take care of you when you are older.

    What about some of the other ways to pay off debt?

    So, forgetting about selling your home to fix this situation, what’s the best way to handle this debt? Taking bankruptcy, unless you are completely overwhelmed would not be a good plan long term or short term. 

    One great way to get a great start paying off your debts is to sell something of value and use the proceeds toward your debts. You could even use any larger sum proceeds to negotiate with your debtors. If you don’t know where to find something that you sell, your driveway might be the best first place to look. 

    Do you have more than one car? Are you making monthly payments on any of them? Becoming a one-car family for a while could make all the difference. Now you can begin to use what you’re saving from those monthly payments to pay more on your balances. Any questions you have about money, debt and finances, find a credit counselor in your area. 

    It’s quite likely you qualify to enter a debt management plan. Once you join, the credit counseling agency will work with you to create a plan to repay your debt and a strategy that can instantly stop collectors from calling you, helps reduce fees and you can begin to pay off your debt in a way that is manageable for you. Any agency that not for profit and affiliated with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or the Financial Counseling Association of America is good. They will be able to explain your best options given your situation and give you a plan to solve your debt issues, and you can keep your home if you want to.

  • How to Make the Most Profit Selling Your Home

    How to Make the Most Profit Selling Your Home

    Selling a house takes money plain and simple. To attract buyers you’ve got to do all the little fix-ups (or not so little) and freshen the place up. The closing costs, as well as moving expenses, are both chunks of money that will come out of your pocket as well.

    However, the biggest lump sum is going is going to be the real estate agents commission and that normally is around 5% to 6%. According to stats from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) the average For Sale by Owner (FSBO) home sold for $185,000 last year so that equals about $11,100. 

    So that begs the question is it worth it to try and sell your home on your own to make the most profit?

    What deal is better for you, saving $5,550 or making an extra $60,000?

    The biggest investment you’ll likely ever make is your home. You are going to want to make the most of it. Putting that commission the agent would make in your own pocket seems like an easy way to do that but is it? Truth is you may be leaving more money on the table by not using an agent.

    So how much more you ask?

    Recent stats in the NAR reveal that the average sale made by an agent last year fetched $245,000. Now that is an amazing $60,000 swing!

    And that’s not all…Just because you are selling your home on your own does not guarantee there will not be an agent involved. No matter what you will still have to pay the agent that represents the buyer and if they get 3%, you can reduce that $11,100 in savings by half, which now becomes just $5,550.

    Taking a look at those stats pretty much tells the tale but let’s look a little deeper into this picture.

    The Numbers have Power

    Just as a once famous bank robber once said when asked why he robbed banks stated, “Because that’s where the money is,” when you are selling your house you need to go where the buyers are. Stats taken from a recent report in the NAR reveal that 88.9% of buyers utilized the skills of an agent in 2016 to purchase a home.

    For Sale By Owner sellers utilized a bit more simple marketing system…A yard sign.

    Now, yard signs serve a purpose but they are hardly near the top of the list for the best marketing methods in selling your home. On any given day how many people drive past your house and see that yard sign ya think? Now compare that to the pool of ready buyers that any decent agent has at hand at any time. It’s not even worth comparing. 

    The only way to instantly gain access to thousands of possible buyers is via a Real Estate agent that utilizes the Multiple Listing Service or MLS. Any good agent already has a pre-set action plan designed to expose your home to as many potential buyers as possible meanwhile they will work with you to guarantee that great first impression your home must give.

    Experience Trumps Everything

    Ok, it’s time to stop playing around and get to the real point. Selling your home holds another unfortunate guarantee: mistakes will be made. You can take your chances that they will be small ones but the truth is some could cost you…a lot. But that doesn’t have to happen!
    Paperwork, listing price and general preparation for the sale have been tagged as the main problems FSBO sellers have as reflected in research taken from the NAR. One of the real values of a real estate agent is they will advise you on all these issues based on experience, not emotion.

    Some keys an agent can help with are:    

    • Selecting which if any home repairs or updates are needed
    • Using the latest market data to price your home
    • Bringing active potential buyers in touch with your home
    • Scheduling home showings with potential buyers
    • Using proven negotiating tactics to get the best price for you
    • Dealing with all the required paperwork to ensure no mistakes

    Here’s the best way to think about this: A solid real estate agent has sold more homes in the last week than you’ll sell in your lifetime. This is what they do – period. Doesn’t it just make sense that they can help you get the very best results for your the sale of your home?

    Only a Fool Gives Away a Ransom to Save Some Pocket Change

    Sure you can save money by selling your home on your own. And in the end, you could lose out on what you are trying to accomplish – making the most on the sale of your home. You might win the battle but lose the war. Finding a high-performance pro who knows what it takes to get top dollar for your home in the shortest time possible is really the only way to go.

    For a group of investors and agents who will work to get you the best deal the fastest please visit https://www.sellmyhousequickkc.org/contact-us-1/

  • Your Top 10 Super Cheap Fixes to Instantly Boost the Value of Your Home

    Your Top 10 Super Cheap Fixes to Instantly Boost the Value of Your Home

    If you are looking for ways to spruce up your home but you are on a limited budget we’ve got 10 good strategies that you should try.

    These winning techniques will work whether you’re wanting to sell your place or just inexpensively improve things for your families enjoyment.

    Depending on your home’s market value and current condition the payback on these fixers will vary, but they all will have value for you.

    If you want to tap your home equity to make improvements to your home? Find the lowest rates at www.Bankrate.com.

    Here’s the very simple upgrades can easily boost the value of your home by thousands of dollars:

    1. It’s getting hot in the kitchen.

    As you likely know the kitchen is normally considered the heart and soul of the home and potential buyers will flock to this room right away to make sure it is clean and up to date.

    You can easily replace the faucets, door handles on the cabinets and brighten up lighting fixtures with more energy-efficient ones for just a few hundred dollars.

    You can even order your own replacement cabinet doors and fronts from places like Lowe’s or The Home Depot and install them yourself.

    2. Give that kitchen a facelift.

    If your kitchen appliances don’t match, order new doors or panels to make them all match. Here’s a big secret about dishwashers: Many front panels for dishwashers are white on one side and black on the other.

    All you have to do is take out 2 screws and flip it over to reverse the color. It’s that simple.

    A more uniform-looking kitchen will make a big difference in the mind of potential buyers and in the bottom line of the sale price.

    3. Bathroom moves that work.

    Bathrooms are next in importance to the kitchen and it doesn’t take a lot of cash to improve then either. Really simple things like a new toilet seat or pedestal sink will make a big difference in the overall look of the bathroom.

    Replacing an old, discolored bathroom floor with easy-to-apply vinyl tiles can make a dramatic difference very cheaply. In many cases, you may just be able to lay the new tile over the old and get the job done quickly.

    An overall re-grouting of the tile as well as replacing old chipped tiles can also make a huge visual difference. You can use one of those prefabricated tubs and shower surrounds if you want a complete cover-up instead.

    4. Big storage = Big Dollars.

    Some houses, often older ones, have very little extra closet space. Adding do-it-yourself wire and laminate to closet systems in bedrooms, pantries and entry closets can expand the storage in ways that appeal to everyone.

    You can also measure and redesign your closets online if you like. Then you can get design details and parts for these systems most large home-improvement stores.

    If you can make your closets more functional while you are still living in the house this will make the home look more customized to potential buyers if you decide to sell.

    5. Add a room in a week or less.

    If you add a closet to a den you have instantly added another bedroom to your home. The perceived value of another bedroom over a den can be dramatic in the eyes of most potential buyers. Adding a custom closet system and drywall can easily be done for under $1,500.

    6. Important mechanic issues.

    It would be wise to hire a top electrician and plumber to come to look over your entire electrical system, take care of loose wires, check for bad outlets, as well as fix potential water leaks. These are the issues that will really affect the price you can get for the home overall.

    7. Cover your carpet.

    Another detail that can make a home look fresher is a new swath of carpet. Even just having a professional carpet cleaning is a very small investment that could make a dramatic difference if your rugs are in good shape but just dirty.

    You can also cover places of wear in your carpet with inexpensive, properly placed area rugs. It’s not really necessary to replace the carpet wall to wall as new homeowners often want to choose their own.

    8. Let the light shine in.

    From boring recessed lights in your dining room to dim overhead lights in the bedroom consider replacing these with higher wattage but energy saving bulbs or even go all out and add an eye-catching chandelier. You can find a wide range of inexpensive, but nice-looking, ceiling fixtures at most home improvement stores. For ceiling fan lights consider buying replacement fan blades to update the fixture’s look.

    9. Welcome to the entryway.

    Believe it or not but a nice big shiny doorknob that is firmly attached can make a huge first impression. Also, a wood front door has a calming, welcoming effect on most new buyers. If you’re stuck with a basic steel front door, try painting it or using a faux-finish for more eye appeal.

    You can use a burgundy base paint to give a nice cherry feel. After it dries, brush over the base coat with a cherry wood stain. That will make the door look amazing.

    10. It starts at the curb.

    The first impression is something you never get a second chance to make so simple things like a mowed lawn and well-trimmed hedges can make or break potential buyers before they even enter the home.

    Consider hiring a landscaper to design a viewer-friendly set up by installing some new sod, planting a few shrubs and organize the greenery in an eye-catching way. If you want to instantly change a potential buyers view of your home these simple changes can make a huge difference for very little out of pocket money.

  • Using Your Home Equity To Your Financial Advantage

    Using Your Home Equity To Your Financial Advantage

    In times of financial struggle its normal to look toward your home’s equity as a quick fix. There are certain financial situations that are well suited to using your homes equity and some that aren’t. Let’s take a look at 3 keys to help you use this source of funding to your best advantage. 

    Some home equity basics can help you begin to evaluate what’s best for you. Though home equity may sound complicated, all it means is the difference between what your home is currently worth on today’s market and how much money you currently owe on it. Let’s take a look at a simple example. If a home is worth $200,000 and still carries a $150,000 balance on the mortgage, then the house currently has $50,000 in equity.

    Unfortunately, with some of the large declines in real estate values in parts of the US, some home equity loans are tougher to get. A homeowner whose credit history is good and has some home equity should be able to use the equity in your home as collateral against a loan that contains two key benefits: 

    • Very low-interest rates. As a general, rule loans like these have interest rates that are normally much lower than things like credit cards or other non-collateral loans. 
    • Big tax breaks from Uncle Sam. When you file your taxes and get money back it lowers the cost of borrowing even more meaning in many cases you can deduct the interest on as much as $100,000 of the debt carried against your home’s equity. 

    There are basically 2 different ways you can borrow against the equity in your home: You can receive an instant advance of a single sum of money using a home equity loan. This type of loan will have required payments set up over a fixed period of time at a fixed rate of interest. 

    A home equity line of credit is like an open-ended loan similar to a credit card which you can borrow money as you need it, up to the lender approved amount. Often the rates are variable and then your payments will change because interest rate changes will vary as your balance changes. 
    It really depends on your personal needs as to which one will be best for you.

    A lump sum home equity loan will offer you the security of a fixed rate and fixed payment but you have to take all the money at once. A home equity line of credit offers more future flexibility and if not needed the money will be at the ready without having to make payments until such time as you need it. 

    In either case, you must use this money wisely. Lenders love home equity interest rates because of the fact that you are putting up your family’s home as collateral. But the truth is you can really put your well being at risk if you overspend and cannot make the payments. It stands to reason then that your first thoughts should be on WHY you need the money not on how much you can borrow.

    It’s important to remember that any debt you take on should be used to improve your financial position or to make a necessary purchase of something that will have lasting value – at least lasting as long as the term to pay back the loan. Using a home equity loan for a new wardrobe, a fancy getaway, lavish gifts, or spur of the moment purchases is not a wise use of this money. It doesn’t matter how low your after-tax cost of borrowing is.

    Let’s take a look at some wise uses of home equity debt: 

    Consolidation of current high-interest debt. Bundling multiple balances of different loans into one payment using a home equity loan, you can dramatically lower your interest rates across the board as well as making paying your bills much simpler. However, there is a caveat: You MUST have the discipline to make debt consolidation work. You can end up in considerably worse shape if you turn around and run up all your balances again. 

    Make improvements to your home. Before taking on any major upgrades to your home you need to think about things like how long you expect to stay in this home and reap the benefits of your investment. In all likelihood, this type of investment would make your home more valuable increasing your equity down the road but keep in mind that a failing market could take all of that away overnight. 

    Education costs. If college is on the horizon for you or your children then a home equity loan can offer a better alternative than many other sources of funding can. However, take time to look at all the federally sponsored options available today. Be sure to keep in mind you can deduct up to $2,500 in interest from student loans, depending of course on your income. Just be careful to balance that debt against your own needs for financial security or retirement.

    For more advice on home equity advantages go to https://www.sellmyhousequickkc.org

    For ways to get home equity loans with bad credit, Click Here

    For the top 10 best home equity loan providers for 2018, Click Here

    For everything you need to know about home equity loans, Click Here

  • We Buy Houses In Kansas City: What To Expect When Selling

    We Buy Houses In Kansas City: What To Expect When Selling

    Is your home a bit worse for wear? Do you still need to sell, but aren’t able to put in the time and money required to fix it up?

    Don’t worry! You still have options.

    If you’re in a position where you need to sell your home quickly, you might want to consider selling to a house flipping company — you know, the companies that post “we buy houses” signs all over town. 

    Keep reading to learn more about what to expect when selling your house to one of these companies. 

    Why Sell To A We Buy Houses Flipping Company?

    First, it’s important to understand why it might be in your best interest to go with a house flipping company. 

    There are lots of benefits that come with selling to a we buy houses company, including the following:

    The process is simplified

    When you sell a house through a regular real estate company, you face a lot of challenges, especially if your house is not in the best shape. 

    With a house flipping company, though, you get to rid yourself of the burden quickly and with very little effort on your part. 

    You’ll sell your home faster

    One of the main reasons people turn to house flipping companies is the fact that we move a lot faster than a traditional real estate company. We’ll have you out of your home and onto the next chapter of your life in no time.

    Most of the time, we close quickly — almost always within 30 days. Sometimes we can close in as little as one week!

    You don’t have to deal with a real estate agent

    Finding a real estate agent can be frustrating. Even if you go through the effort of finding a person that you feel comfortable with, you still might have differences later on that make selling your home difficult. 

    When you sell to a flipping company, there is no real estate agent to deal with, and you also don’t have to go through the frustrating process of trying to sell the home yourself. 

    You’re almost guaranteed to sell your home

    We buy houses in almost any condition — even if it is virtually uninhabitable. Because of this, you are almost guaranteed to make a sale on your house. 

    How Do House Flipping Companies Work?

    If you decide to sell your home to a house flipping company, the process if fairly simple. 

    First, you’ll contact the company and ask them to make an offer on your home. They’ll then show up to check out the home. After doing some appraisal work, you’ll receive an offer that you can either consider, accept, or reject. 

    You’re under no obligation to accept the offer if it’s not what you were hoping for. The final decision is always up to you!

    What kind of houses do these companies buy?

    We buy houses companies often emphasize their willingness to buy “ugly” houses. So what makes a house ugly?

    Rundown homes that are not visually appealing, have been damaged by water, termites or other pests, or have foundation issues are often deemed ugly.

    A home might also be considered ugly if it is in an inconvenient location or an undesirable neighborhood.

    House flipping companies also buy homes from people who are unable to refinance, are facing foreclosure, or have difficult renters. 

    How Much Money Will You Get?

    Some people avoid selling to flipping companies because they don’t want to settle for less money. Keep in mind, though, that taking a smaller sum can be worth it if you need to get out of your home quickly or don’t have the time to devote to improving and selling it through traditional channels. 

    When house flipping companies calculate how much they are going to offer for your home, they take many things into account. Some factors they consider include:

    • Current condition of your home
    • Cost and type of required renovations 
    • Time required to complete renovations
    • Cost to keep the property during the repair process
    • Estimated value of property after repairs are finished
    • Commissions required to sell the home after purchasing

    When all is said and done, you’ll usually receive between 60 and 80 percent of the house’s market value.

    In many cases, this is a pretty fair trade-off for not having to jump through any of the hoops that come with traditional real estate. 

    What Kinds Of Homes Do House Flipping Companies Buy?

    In addition to typical single-family homes, house flipping companies often buy and sell condos, townhouses, duplexes, multi-tenant properties, and some commercial properties. 

    Pretty much the only type of home we won’t buy are mobile homes. 

    Who Should Sell To A Flipping Company?

    While anyone can take advantage of the services house flipping companies offer, certain types of people typically sell their homes in this way.

    Those who benefit the most from flipping companies are often those who want to sell their home quickly. Included in this list are:

    • People who have inherited a property but don’t want to pay to maintain it
    • People who have a rental property with difficult tenants
    • People who need to relocate quickly
    • People who are going through a divorce and need to liquidate assets
    • People who are behind on mortgage payments
    • People who are facing foreclosure
    • People who don’t want to invest in repairs
    • People whose listings have expired
    • People who have declared bankruptcy

    As we said, anyone can sell to a house flipping company. However, if one of the above situations applies to you, this type of sale might be the best option. 

    Contact Us To Learn More

    If you want to know more about our company and why/how we buy houses, contact us today!

    Ask any question you want. We can give you information about house flipping in Kansas City, take you through our specific process, or even just prove that we’re a legitimate company. 

    We’ll always get back to you within 24 hours and will help you decide if selling to us is the right option for you!

  • Why Should I Sell My House For Cash In Kansas City?

    Why Should I Sell My House For Cash In Kansas City?

    Selling a house can be a long, tough process. 

    In Kansas City’s current market, which is forecast to be slow compared to the rest of the country, it might be even tougher. If you are among the many Kansas citizens looking to move this year, you should be thinking “how can I sell my house for cash?”

    Selling for cash has a number of advantages. The sale can be processed faster, and you save a ton on realtor fees.

    So how do you know if selling for cash is right for you? This article will break down the facts and make sure that you get the most bang for your buck, fast!

    Fast Money When I Sell My House For Cash

    The biggest advantage of selling your house for cash is the speed of the sale.

    Instead of weeks or even months of house showings and negotiations with buyers, selling your house for cash means you get your money fast.

    If you have got to move, or need cash quickly for any other reason, selling your home this way could mean getting your payment in as few as seven days instead of months of waiting.

    Avoid the Difficulties of Selling a Rundown House

    Does your home have some serious issues that would turn most buyers off?

    Issues with plumbing, electricity, mold, or even just ugly design can make it seem impossible to sell your home for a fair price. These issues can seriously impact the market value of your home, and make buyers wary. 

    People looking for a cheap fixer-upper or simply a property to demolish and rebuild on the lot won’t be willing to pay high prices. 

    Fixing your home up to prepare it for sale is time-consuming and costly. You need to think about buying materials such as paint and new light fixtures, or even hiring professional contractors. These expenses can add up fast!

    Plus, if you are inexperienced with home repairs, trying to flip a house — even your own — can cause you to lose much of the money you invest in repairs.

    The buyer will know exactly how to make the repairs and fix up the house cheaply, so they are willing to buy a less that perfect house. By choosing to sell for cash rather than trying to fix the problems yourself, you can pass all the renovation costs onto the buyer.

    Instead, selling your home for cash to a fair agency means you can get a good price without having to deal with all the added stress, work, and expense. 

    Deals Don’t Fall Through When I Sell My House for Cash

    One of the most frustrating parts of selling a house is when a sale falls through because the buyer couldn’t get a loan, or backed out at the last moment. 

    All the expense and time you put into staging the house and negotiating the sale have basically gone to waste. Plus, you might even have had to turn down other offers, only to be left right back at square one.

    When you decide “I want to sell my home for cash,” you will only be dealing with a buyer who already has the money to purchase your home up front. 

    This means that once you accept an offer, there is a far less likely chance that the deal will fall through. 

    Easier Negotiation Process with Cash Sales

    When you deal with a company that will buy your home for cash, you will typically have a much smoother negotiation process. This company has handled this process before, and the right company will want a fair outcome for both parties.

    This shared goal can make for a much smoother negotiation process than you might experience in a sale to regular buyers. Instead of the tricky, detailed negotiation between real estate agents, you can get a fair sale decided without a lot of back and forth.

    Leave Behind Costly Real Estate Commissions

    When you sell your home through a real estate agent, there will always be a large chunk of the sale price that goes to cover other expenses. This means that the full value of your home won’t be going into your own pockets. 

    Instead, a percentage of the sale price will go to paying your estate agent. Their commission is generally around 5.1% to 6%. As the seller, you’re usually responsible for paying all of it, half to your real estate agent and half to the buyer’s agent.

    So, if you’re selling your home for $400,000 and the commission is 5.1%, you will be paying $20,400.

    Add all the other costs associated with selling a home and any fees that might be charged for staging, photography, and advertising, going with a real estate agent can be costly. And, if your house doesn’t sell quickly, these costs will keep adding up. 

    If you decide to sell your house for cash, you can avoid all of these extra costs and problems throughout the process. In fact, we don’t charge any commission or costs. The only money that changes hands is when we pay for your house in cash.

    From the quote to the offer to the sale, you’ll know how much money you’ll have in your pocket at the end.

    Getting Help to Sell My House for Cash

    It is not surprising if these many benefits made you decide “I would like to sell my house for cash!”

    The next step is getting started with a quote. With a free quote, you can get a better idea of how much your home is worth and whether selling for cash is right for you.

    As experienced home buyers, we can help you through the process of selling your home for cash, fast. We will see what we can do to help you achieve your goals with a fair offer.  

    Do you have more questions about the process of selling your home for cash? Want to know more about our process, or any explanation of your quote? Contact us today to find out more.