Posts made by author 'Denny Brandt'

When you're in the real estate market, you may have an idea of the type of property that you're looking for in a specific area. Although most people want plenty of square footage or a stunning bathroom, there are particular home features that are often considered to be must-haves. Here are a few essential home features to look for when shopping around:

Laundry Room

Many people want to own a home that features a laundry room due to the convenience that it offers. Laundry rooms are increasing in...

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Found a Home Listing You Like? Watch Out for These Warning Signs

As the summer real estate season rolls on, true to form, more and more homes are listed and competition remains stiff. Another thing you can rely on – a seller and their agent are going to paint the home as beautifully as they can to secure a sale. But if you're looking to buy, you have to be careful you don't fall for such crafty salesmen tricks.

Pay attention when you visit a home and do your own careful inspections to look for any signs that the house you're walking around in isn't the home that's being promised by the Realtor. Here are four key warning signs to keep an eye out for that will tell you the home listing isn't all it's cracked up to be.

#1: Cracks in the Foundation

If you or your profess...

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Ready to purchase your first home? Though the process may seem overwhelming, knowing where to start is half the battle. Follow these five tips to help ease your stress and prepare for a smooth home buying experience.

Clean Up Your Credit Score

Having good credit is one of the most important factors when qualifying for a loan. Depending on where your score stands, it may take six months to a year to improve your credit. Although scoring requirements vary from lender to lender and there is no magic number that qualifies you to purchase a home, a low score could mean higher interest rates and fewer mortgage options. Check your credit early and make a financial plan to increase your number. A mortgage professional can pull your credit for you and create a plan to improve your score.

Evaluate Your Monthly Cash Flow

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Clean Up the Yard

Rake dead leaves and debris in your lawn. Don't let overgrown vegetation block the windows or path to the entrance. Cutting bushes and tree limbs will let the sun inside and showcase the exterior of your home. Cut away summer vines and cut down dead flowers. Make the most of the autumn weather in the fall real estate market.

Create Autumn Curb Appeal

The most popular autumn flowers are chrysanthemums (or mums), and they bloom for a long time. I am also partial to marigolds for fall. Both mums and marigolds are available in yellow, which is my number one home selling color.

Plant them in pots. Place pots on the steps and along the sidewalk. Accent w...

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 1. You're overconfident

Being in a seller's market might mean that your home will get snapped up for premium price, no matter its condition. But that isn't a strategy to count on. "Sometimes homeowners and agents get overconfident in a seller's market and get lazy about 'Home Selling 101,'" says Sep Niakan, broker and owner of HB Roswell Realty in Miami, FL.

Solution: Be realistic from day one. Although you may love your house, brace yourself for it to potentially sit on the market for quite some time. And no matter the market, it's still important to "position your home to sell well," says Niakan. "What does that mean? Staging, staging, and more staging."

2. The house is priced too high

Class...

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