What Not To Do When Selling Your Home

It goes without saying, that selling a home is a major financial transaction that will significantly impact your economic health for many years to come. Furthermore, regardless of why you decided to sell your house without an agent, there are a number of pitfalls you can easily fall into, making your home selling experience less than ideal. With so much money changing hands and so many legal as well as administrative processes to navigate, home selling can become an overwhelming experience, and this, unfortunately, can lead to costly mistakes.

Nonetheless, with a little know-how, you can avoid many of these pitfalls altogether. Read on to find out four things not to do when selling your house.

1. Pricing the property incorrectly- Overpricing or underpricing your home is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, errors you can make when selling your home. Furthermore, either scenario will negatively affect the outcome of your sale. Furthermore, pricing too high is likely to leave your listing on the real estate market for months longer than you desire, and pricing too low will prevent you from making the most lucrative sale possible.

2. Using low-quality photos- One of the common mistakes people make when selling their house is putting low-quality photos of the house online. If you are planning to sell your home via property listing sites or social media, it is always better to take pictures of your house and post them in the portals. Moreover, beautiful photos of your house can give the prospective home buyer an insight into the property.

3. Neglecting to declutter the home- When it comes to selling a house fast, nothing is more likely to put potential home buyers off than walking around a home full of clutter. Furthermore, make sure you properly declutter and clean the house before showing off your home to the potential home buyers.

4. Not listing your home in the right places- With the advent of the Internet, more and more people are searching for houses for sale online. It is therefore vitally important that you advertise your property on as many of the major property websites as possible. Furthermore, while listing your property online, make sure you provide relevant pictures of the interior as well as of your house. Furthermore, attractive display pictures and detailed description makes your chances better for a higher volume of relevant responses.

While these were some of the things not to do when selling your home, there are many others, such as hiding major problems, staging incorrectly among many others.

When Is The Best Time To Sell A House?

Timing can make a big difference in terms of selling your house quickly and for the most cash. Furthermore, figuring out the right time to sell your house can help you maximize the sale price of your home and take some stress out of the process. However, deciding on the best time of year to sell your home is not as easy as it sounds. That's because there are so many factors to consider when it comes to timing a sale appropriately, from the real estate market in your neighborhood to the market value of your home.

Furthermore, you can't just take one factor in isolation. It's vital to explore all the different facets of selling a property to ensure you are making the right choice for your unique needs and requirements. Whether you are thinking of listing for personal or financial reasons, here are four ways to know if it's a good time to sell your home.

1. You live in a coveted location- Are the houses in your neighborhood selling like hotcakes? If your street's home prices are on the rise and nearby commercial developments are the talk of the town, then it might be a good time to sell your house. Furthermore, chances are good that if your location has improved, then so has the appraisal value of your property.

2. By season- Generally, property sales slow down significantly during the winter due to weather conditions. Furthermore, families can grow anxious about the idea of driving large moving trucks through the snow or having to carry bulky furniture over ice-covered walks. Furthermore, they also tend to delay moving until the end of their children's school year. To entice more potential buyers, plan to list your house in the spring to gain the benefit of improving weather.

3. It's a seller's market- Are there more home buyers than houses for sale? If the housing supply in your area is limited and the demand for properties is high, then the housing market is technically a seller's market. if your area is a seller's market, then this is a key indicator that it's a very good time to list your house for sale. With more home buyers, it's more likely that your house will sell for more.

4. Don't forget to weigh personal factors- Last but certainly not the least, you don't want to forget to take your personal considerations into account. Furthermore, start by asking yourself what your main motivation is behind wanting to sell your house. Moreover, if you are moving because of a new job or a growing family, it may not be worth waiting until your area's peak selling season or until your house is in perfect shape.

While these were some of the ways to know if it's a good time to sell your home, there are many others, such as mortgage rates are low among many others.

How to Screen Tenants for a Rental Property

Whether you are trying to sell your home and you are not having any luck or are short on cash, renting out your home would be your best bet. Furthermore, renting out a house is not only easy compared to selling a house which is a much-complicated process, but also allows you to retain ownership of your home while making a profit out of it. With that said, while renting out your property can come with plenty of perks, it also comes with some pitfalls if you don't have the right tenants.

Furthermore, if you want to rent out your property, it's crucial to understand how to screen tenants so you can be sure your experience as a landlord will be a pleasant one. Read on to find out four tips for screening tenants.

1. Run a credit check- It goes without saying, that a tenant with a solid credit history is more likely to keep up with rent payments than someone whose credit history is shaky. This is the reason why it pays to run a credit check on each applicant who crosses your path. Furthermore, you can do so by obtaining a copy of their credit report and reviewing it for red flags. Specifically, you'll want to look at that person's payment history to see whether they pay bills on time. In addition, you should also look at the tenant's current debt, the more your applicant has, the harder it may be for them to pay rent on time.

2. Talk to the tenant's employer- Before allowing the tenant to sign a lease for your rental property, find out if they have a steady source of income. Furthermore, you could either ask for a recent pay slip or get in touch with their employer directly. Furthermore, while most employers might not be willing to share private information, they should at least be able to confirm if the renter is currently an employee of their company.

3. Criminal record search- A criminal search can be a good indication of what a tenant's behavior will be like while in your building. Besides, the extra cost of getting a criminal search is definitely worth the benefits. Furthermore, one of the main benefits is the peace of mind knowing your tenant does not have a history of theft, violence, or vandalism.

4. Meet your prospective tenants in person- In our busy world, many people are switching to digital communication and phone meeting. However, it is essential to take the time to actually meet face to face with your potential tenants. Furthermore, this will help you get an idea about their personalities, and goes a long way toward making a lasting relationship.

While these were some of the tips and tricks for screening tenants, there are many others, such as check out their social media profiles, contact two previous landlords among many others.