Buying Tips

YOU ARE HUNTING – Load your gun early.

Having a pre-qualification LETTER in your hand is like a loaded GUN on a hunt for BIG game. You will be happy you got pre-qualified if you are making an offer at the same time the seller is looking at another offer from someone who really wants the home but has failed to bring a prequalification letter to the table. Look at it from the seller's perspective. If you had 2 offers on the table for your house, one from a fully prequalified buyer like you and the other from an unprepared buyer. What would you do, take the chance on the buyer that perhaps may not be qualified? It’s a no brainer and sometimes the seller takes the offer that is less because they are under a time constraint and cannot loose critical time in their move.

Our approach to real estate is to serve as a consulting friend not a pushy salesperson. We will listen to you throughout the purchase process. We will stay on top of the market daily until we get you your desired property. You will tell us what your want and we will make that our GOAL. When we tour the right home you will know it and there will be no selling needed from anyone.

There are three things you will need to know before you make an offer.

• 1. TOTAL INVESTMENT or sale price of property.
• 2. INTIAL INVESTMENT or upfront loan cost and down payment required if you are getting a loan.
• 3. MONTHLY INVESTMENT or the total payment of monthly principal loan balance, interest, insurance and property tax.

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH HOME YOU CAN AFFORD, but do you know how much a lender will loan you if you need to borrow part or the entire purchase price.

SAVE yourself frustration

Get Pre-Qualified

Who benefits from loan pre-qualification?

YOU - One of the most common questions we get from users of this site goes something along the lines of "Please let us know how much house we can afford." Frankly there are simply too many variables--credit history, income, debt, special mortgage programs and variations in qualifying guidelines between different mortgage types--to answer that question. The only sure way of getting the question answered is through prequalification. The mortgage prequalification step is relatively simple when using a reputable lender. This will EMPOWER YOU and gives you and your agent involved a clear sense of the direction while searching. Your agent can spend more time looking for houses that "fit" and less time pursuing dead ends.

Seller tips

According to Washington Association of Realtors 7 out of 10 home-buyers are using the internet as their main resource for finding the home they want to purchase. Gone are the days of traditional real estate marketing. 49AGENTS Marketing system is set up to maximize your homes exposure. We have a user friendly web site and a clear understanding of online marketing. We want to get as many potential buyers looking at your home at the same time as we can. We have to get your property on their screen and we make sure we have the sign that will turn heads when they drive down your street. We hand out the card that sends our buyers straight to this site. They can now see photos map and data of your property in the comfort of there home. Our agent on duty system insures that when they click or call they are talking to one of the TOP seven agents at 49Agents marketing system. We are ready to jump out there and show your home on short notice having so many agents to cover all the bases.

We love to sell each others listings. Several of the agents in our group are currently working with pre-qualified buyers that are hooked on this site. WE GET RESULTS

We stay ahead of the pack by implementing the best technology available. We have a cutting edge map integrated real estate search platform that buyers love to use.

Selling your home is a team effort. We will need your cooperation to get top market value for your home.

WE DO NOT GET PAID unless we sell your home.

Getting ready to sell - steps A through Z.

Just tell us when you want us to come over to take a close in person look at your property. When we are there we will carefully preview the entire property making notes of the attributes that will help us sell your property. Then we will leave you alone while we work on the review of the data we gathered and began the process of finding, reviewing current or most recent sales records. We will then began the process of comparing property to property adding and subtracting different property characteristic in the light of current market conditions to establish your properties MARKET VALUE. Then we will return to meet with you and deliver a complete breakdown of estimated cost and what you will be able to take to the bank. Then with your endorsement we will set the LIST PRICE: It is imperative to price your home at the current market value. If you attempt to price your property by leaving “negotiating room” in the list price, you may risk additional days on market or no sale at all.  With 1 buyer to every 5 sellers in the greater Spokane market. You must out price your competition. You want to be the one of 5 that gets the offer.

CONDITION:  It is imperative that your home out shines your competition!  If your home is in great condition, on top of being priced right—this is the best combination to get your home sold in a buyer’s market.

STAGING:  Get rid of clutter. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.  If you can remove 1-2 out of every 3 pieces of furniture.  This will make all spaces seem “roomier” and will allow a prospective buyer to envision their own furniture in those spaces.  Take all of your personal “knick knacks” and photos down.  Remove out dated wall paper and repaint in warm neutral colors.  Our agents are experienced w/interior design & staging and we can assist you through this entire process.  You do not need to hire an outside staging consultant.

REPAIRS:  Make those minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors & locks, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.  Complete all necessary sheet rock repairs and paint touch ups—do not skimp here!

WINDOWS:  Wash your windows and screens inside and out.

CLEAN:  Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates.  Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.  Professionally clean carpeting.

ODORS:  Get rid of any smells. Clean drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

LIGHTS:  Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Stay away from energy efficient bulbs when trying to sell.  Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

YARD:  Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

DRIVEWAY/SIDEWALK:  Patch holes in your driveway.  Fill cracks w/sand if driveway is sinking near the foundation.  If you are trying to sell your home in the winter, make sure your driveway and walk ways are free of snow and ice.

GUTTERS:  If you have them, clean them!

UPDATES/REMODELING:  Do NOT spend the time or money updating items (countertops, carpeting, tile) in your home, unless your realtor has recommended you make those updates.  In many cases you will not see a full return on your investment in a buyer’s market.

SHOWINGS:  Turn on all lights and make sure counter tops are clear to convey a spacious work area!

Z: Get some ZZzzees you are over the hard part. Get rested, you will need it for the coming move.

SOLD - SOLD - SOLD

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