Tag: selling a home

How to Buy Real Estate, Made Simple

Posted on | by Cuselleration

You want a home to call your own, but when you set out to find one, you realize you don’t know how to buy real estate. It’s actually a pretty common problem; not everyone has been informed on how to find a place to call your own. Luckily The Kovacs Connection has got a bulletproof plan to get you the home of your dreams!

What Can You Afford?

Along with researching the styles of home that you like, neighborhoods that you would like to live in, and searching a bit to see what the market currently has to offer, you should decide what you can afford to spend.

It is often suggested that you look for homes no more than three to five times your annual household income, but that isn’t necessarily the best advice. Many people these days are starting their side projects, or even creating their businesses from the comfort of their home office.

This affords an opportunity for income growth, and often it is an exponential increase over time. Even those with a steady paycheck that are guaranteed to have future raises and promotions should also consider this fact when buying.

If you’re going to be in a much better position in the future than you are currently, you may not want to skimp on the home you purchase. This may be a little difficult to convince your bank when getting a loan, but that shouldn’t hinder you from trying.

This is also the time to figure out if you can get credit for a mortgage. Telling them of your situation, especially if there is a guarantee for future growth is important in getting approved. That being said, even a guarantee from you might not convince a bank seeing as things happen all the time.

Do not let this discourage you! You might have to go to several banks to get preapproved for credit for your mortgage, but these interactions are new lessons on how to buy real estate. You don’t take the first house you see, and you might not get the first bank to go to bat for you.

The process of purchasing a new home isn’t meant to be rushed especially for the first-time buyer. Our next tip, getting a mentor, will help you through the process.

Get A Realtor

Real estate agents should know how to buy real estate if you encounter one that doesn’t then kindly run the other direction! The seasoned realtor is like having your own personal mentor, at least for buying and selling homes.

When looking for a realtor, there are quite a few details to consider about them that will help you figure out if they’re the right man or woman for the job. Here are a few;

  1. They have some years of experience.
  2. Their clients speak highly of them.
  3. They are punctual in answering your calls/emails/and to meetings.
  4. They have a reliable professional network they use for buying and selling.
  5. You get along together.

They don’t have to have everything on the list, but we highly suggest that you find a realtor that has all five qualities because those that don’t aren’t going to be as successful as you want. On top of that, they will end up wasting your valuable time.

Get the House Checked Out by A Professional

Once you and your realtor find the home you see yourself in, it’s time to get it inspected and appraised. Anyone that skips these steps is in for a major headache down the road for two reasons.

First, you might be overpaying.

Second, you might be moving into an unsafe house.

The inspection will assure you that the home is safe. They will find out if the structure is sound, and in the event that they find it unfit, both you and the seller will know. This gives you the power to either negotiate the price or to have the seller fix repair the home before you close the sale.

If the inspection is passed, the appraisal will be your next best friend. It will be your last defense against overpaying for the property. The appraisal will give you and the seller a crystal clear idea of what the house is worth, and if you are paying a reasonable price, if the numbers are extremely off we suggest renegotiating the price.

If you don’t know how to buy real estate and want some help figuring out the system, please contact us calling us at 949-350-0146 or emailing us at Debrakovacs@cox.net or realestatebyrana@gmail.com and we can help you get started today!

Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Rawpixel.com

The Best Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Mission Viejo Home During the Fall Season

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Fall Can Be Your Friend

Typically, the best time to sell your home is during the summertime. But many people who are looking to buy in Mission Viejo look all-year long for the right house. So this fall, it’s important to showcase your home at its best, so you can get the best deal at the closing table. So our team has packed up a few home staging tips as a guideline to get the most looks at your property. Yes, we know it’s a lot of work, but you need to pack it up anyway, and this gives you a head start while increasing the value of your property

DECLUTTER the House

Need we say more? Yes! We can all become blind to the clutter around us.

  • Pack up your books, clothes and personal items and place them in the garage or storage unit.
  • Family photos, the kid’s artwork on the refrigerator, all of it has to go.
  • Clear out your closets! Donate what you don’t wear to charity.
  • Have a dim light? Exchange it for a brighter one.
  • Do your doors open easily? If you’re hearing creaking, fix it.
  • Hire a professional cleaning service to deep-clean your home before it’s listed.

Home Staging Tips Room by Room: Living Room

Potential homebuyers have likely seen several homes before yours. How do you make your property stand out above the rest? Space and cleanliness. The living room is usually the first room they see, so make sure it looks terrific.

  • If there is a dark corner, light it up with a lamp.
  • If the fireplace has seen better days, scrub it clean.
  • If the room looks cluttered, remove the furniture that isn’t necessary to make it look bigger.
  • Keep the room simple, with a splash of color here and there.

The Kitchen

Yes, we know this is the room you most dread to clean. But a kitchen can sell a home or kill a deal, so it’s worth your time to invest in this arduous task.

  • Box up all the dishes, flatware, cookware and glassware except one matching set.
  • Have your cabinets seen better days? Think about a fresh coat of paint or stain.
  • Honestly evaluate your appliances. Need a good cleaning? Need to be replaced with stainless steel?
  • Scrub grime from backsplashes and cabinets.
  • Clean out the pantry, leaving some empty space: makes it look bigger
  • All trash cans need to be emptied and put away

Bedroom

The bedroom is, by nature, a personal space. However, when you are putting your home on the market, it needs to be a place where potential homebuyers can visualize it as their personal space. So that means taking care of a few things:

  • Pack up all the clothes you can to make your closets look more spacious.
  • Get a set of matching hangers to create a sense of balance and order in the closet.
  • Take away the knick-knacks that scream male or female.
  • Put your jewelry and other valuables away
  • If you have a video game console in the bedroom, put it away to create some serenity

Bathroom

Just like the kitchen, bathrooms can get grimy, and you may not even notice it. But a potential homebuyer who walks in certainly will see it all. To get an offer on the table, consider these tasks to make your bathroom a happy place.

  • Pull on those rubber gloves and let’s get some elbow grease working to de-grime the area.
  • Re-caulk around the tile if needed
  • De-clutter (there’s that word again) your countertop, around the tub, inside the shower.
  • Throw away, pack up or store your personal products.
  • Create a luxury spa feel with soft towels, candles and plants
  • Make sure the toilets aren’t leaking or running
  • If you have hard water stains try using vinegar to remove them

Contact The Kovacs Connection to get with a realtor who can list your home, and get it from ‘Listed’ to ‘Sold!!’

Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Spiroview Inc