Why should a seller consider a home warranty? Today, Robbie Rivardo from 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty is here to discuss just that.
First off, what is a home warranty?A home warranty provides coverage for unexpected breakdowns. Having a home warranty means we will repair or replace systems or items that have broken in the home, saving you thousands of dollars.
How much does a home warranty cost for the seller?During the listing period, the home warranty is complimentary for the seller. You owe nothing. The home warranty then transfers to the buyer for a whole year, and that's when it's paid for. Since the home warranty is only paid for at closing, it's like getting two years of coverage for one price. A seller gets free coverage while the home is listed.
If a seller makes a claim on the warranty during the listing period and for some reason the warranty doesn't transfer to the buyer, will the seller have to pay for the warranty?No, the seller will not have to pay anything. The warranty will simply expire if it is not transferred.
Are there any other advantages to getting a home warranty as a seller?When you advertise that you have a home warranty, your property has an edge over the other homes on the market. Statistics show that homes sell 23 days faster with warranties, and they sell for more money than homes without warranties.
What should a seller consider when looking for a home warranty company?Look at the company's longevity in the market. Our company has been in business for 35 years. Look for a local company so you can build a relationship with them. Local home warranty companies will also be able to put you in touch with great local service providers. Also, having a good relationship with your home warranty provider can make the claim process easier.
If you have any questions for Robbie, you can contact her by phone at 336-324-9389, oremail herat rrivardo@2-10.com. As always, if you have any questions for me, give me a call or send me an email. We would be happy to help you!
Today we will be discussing a question we get all the time: “Why hire a buyer agent?” We are joined today by two of our team’s buyer specialists, Heather and Lisa, to answer the question. They are commonly asked why someone shouldn’t just hire the listing agent to help them buy the home, and they have a great answer to share. When you go to buy a home from a listing agent, you are dealing with someone who is there exclusively to help the seller get the best price and terms for the house they are selling. A buyer’s agent acts as an advocate for the buyer, and will work with the seller’s agent to get you the best price and terms for the home you want to purchase.
Another big advantage of hiring a buyer’s agent is the fact that traditionally, their commission is paid by the seller. In essence, there is no cost to the buyer to use a buyer agent, so why wouldn’t you?
If you are thinking at all about buying or selling, give us a call or send us a quick email. We would be happy to help you out!
Are you thinking of hiring a buyer's agent?If so, there are questions you should ask to ensure you hire somebody you can trust. Here are a few to keep in mind:
Are you a full-time agent?
Do you work exclusively with buyers?
Do you have a team behind you?
Do you have testimonials from past clients?
Do you do a comprehensive buyer consultation?
These are all very important questions you should know the answer to,especially the last one. A comprehensive buyer consultation is a very important part of the buying process because it provides an opportunity for the agent and client to go over the client's wants and needs, set expectations for the process, and answer any questions they might have.
If you have any questions about the buying process, or if you would like to talk to one of our great buyer's agents, don't hesitate to reach out to us for a free consultation. We're always available to give you a hand!
Today, we'll discuss the effect of interest rates on home purchasing. Lately, there has been a lot of talk about the Fed raising interest rates.Bad economic news and the stock market tumble led most experts to believe that the Fed would hold off on raising rates.
With the unemployment rate at the lowest it's been in 7 years, the Fed decided to hold steady on rates.However, they did say that they will raise the rates by the end of the year. What do higher rates mean for you?
Really, there are 3 factors that affect affordability: income, interest rates, and home prices.Consider this: a 1% increase in interest rates is the same as a 10% increase in the price of a home. A rise in rates will shrink the buyer pool, as they will not be able to afford as much home as they could now with the low rates.
So, take advantage of those low rates now.If you're a seller, this is a great idea particularly if you are moving up.You will net the most money. As a buyer, you will be able to afford a higher-priced home with these low rates.
If you have any questions about today's video or about real estate in general, give me a call or send me an email. We look forward to hearing from you!
Today, we want to share a video from HGTV to discuss how you can plan ahead when it comes to home renovations.Renovating your home can be an exciting process, but it's important that you don't get ahead of yourself.You can't just go willy-nilly into a major project and expect it to go perfectly.Planning properly for these types of projects can assure a smooth project, and one that may even cost less!
HGTV’s Amy Matthews recommends making a very detailed timeline of your project, including potential things that could go awry and making backup plans in order to prevent these things from happening.Putting your plan onto paper is a good way to start this process.
Another major step is choosing a good team of contractors that you can communicate with. If they don't know what you want done, they can't do it.
Just remember, there is no such thing as too much planning!If you plan on renovating your Greensboro home, please contact us. We know great contractors and could also give you advice on what projects will bring you the highest return on your investment.
In today's video, we sat down with Robbie Rivardo from 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty to discusswhy a buyer should consider getting a home warranty.
For instance, let's say you have a home warranty with Robbie's company.If there's a failure in the home, you simply call the number, they send someone out, and if it's eligible for repair, they make the repair or the replacement.There's no negotiating; they simply take care of it. It's that easy.
Typically when you buy a home, the seller will offer a home warranty. If the seller does not, then there is still an option to get a home warranty in the offer to purchase.Home warranties provide peace of mind and reduce the risks for everyone involved.
When buying a home, it's not so much a question of whether something will break;the real question is when will something break.With this protection, you the buyer will save money on future repairs.
To learn more about Robbie's company, go tohttp://www.2-10.com. If you have any questions on today's topic, or real estate in general, please give me a call or send me an email. We'd be happy to hear from you!
Hey everyone, today we are excited to discuss the current market conditions here in Greensboro. At the end of April, we sat down and took a look at the numbers, and compared them to the figures we saw at the end of April in 2014. Here is what we saw:
There are about 1,800 homes currently on the market for sale, which is significantly down from last year.
There were more closings than a year ago, with 216.
Inventory is down to 5.3 months, and dropping.
Interest rates are still near all-time lows below 4%.
Overall, we are seeing a great seller's market here in Greensboro. This means homes will be harder to find for buyers. However, those low interest rates will make any home you purchase more affordable in the long run.
If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Greensboro, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to speaking with you!
As the Greensboro market continues to heat up, multiple offers have become more common. Today, we want to discuss how this topic affects both buyers and sellers.
As a buyer, it's important to understand that cash isn't always king. You need to make sure your agent asks the seller or the seller's agent what terms or conditions could help sway the seller in the direction of your offer!
Writing a personal letter and sending a picture of your family may get the seller to emotionally connect with your offer. Additionally, having a pre-approval letter included with your offer will let the seller know you're a serious buyer. Remember, a pre-approval is not the same as a pre-qualification; a pre-approval is what you get when you turn in all of the documentation a lender needs to approve the loan, while a pre-qualification is the initial phone call to a lender.
What can you do as a seller to prepare for multiple offers? We recommend getting your home pre-appraised and pre-inspected to give you more time to deal with your home's potential defects and find a third-party to support your price. The buyer will be more confident and you as a seller will have more realistic expectations for the deal.
As a seller, you have to walk a fine line between accepting an offer too fast and waiting too long. Most often, our team sets a deadline for all parties to submit their offers and tells them to make it their highest and best. When selling, understand that the best offer isn't always the one that offers the most money. There are other terms that could be very important to you: closing date, type of financing, due diligence period, and the amount of deposits, among others. Does taking the offer with the most money cause more stress? If the answer is yes, you may want to look at another offer!
If you have any questions about this topic, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We're always available to make your life in real estate as smooth and stress-free as possible!
Today I'd like to speak about some of the more common mistakes that homeowners make when trying to buy a home.
One big mistake is not getting pre-approved right away. People will often get excited and start searching for homes that are way out of their price range. Narrowing your home search from the beginning is important, and speaking with a lender about what you can afford to buy will help you accomplish this.
Another mistake is not getting the proper inspections before you move into the home. Your home is likely your largest asset, so why wouldn't you want to protect that investment with a home inspection?
Buyers also sabotage their own sale sometimes by making offers that are much too low, or being nit-picky about repairs. My advice is to repair the things that are important to you, and let the rest go. A few hundred dollars is not something that you want to lose a home over.
I also suggest acting quickly in this market, because if you take too long to make an offer, the home may already be sold.
We can help you avoid many of these pitfalls by having a one on one buyer consultation, where we will walk you through the process of buying a home.
If you're thinking of buying or selling in Greensboro, please don't hesitate to give me a call!
