What Does Home Staging Do When Listing a Property For Sale?
Curious about home staging? The Chicago team just finished the renovation of a large home in Olympia Fields. In order to sell it faster, we decided to try staging the home.
What did home staging do?
Surprisingly, it made the home feel bigger. The furniture, artwork, and rugs helped define the space and give perspective. It also helped visitors imagine where furniture would go and what sort of decorations would fit well. Most importantly, it made visitors feel like it was a home that they could see themselves living in.
How did it look?
Right after they finished decorating, Jennie got a look at how it turned out. These videos offer you a picture of what home staging looks like before and after. Let’s go inside!
(click here to see the staged home video on your mobile device)
How did it look before?
If you’re curious what it looked like before, check out this initial final tour before the home was staged. The difference is remarkable.
(click here to see the before video of this home on your mobile device)
Buying a home can be confusing, difficult, and full of bumps along the way. We create our videos to help you make decisions, see what kind of homes are out there, and have some fun along the way. Hopefully you get some ideas.
If you have any questions about staging a home, homes in general, or buying a home, we’d love to help answer your questions. Just post a comment here on the blog or the Insider Show Facebook wall and we’ll help you out as best as we can or point you in the right direction. You can also contact us on Twitter.
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4 Steps Once Your Offer to Purchase a Home is Accepted
If you missed last week’s episode, Ryan had fun researching and proposing to “The One” home of his dreams.
So what now?
What should a person do once they find the right home, write an offer to purchase, and get it accepted? In today’s episode, Jennie and Pat get some help from Will Ferrell as they share four steps Ryan and other home buyers should take to get ready for the big day…the closing!
Let’s go inside!
(click here to watch the episode on your mobile device)
Here are four steps you should take after finding and committing to buy your dream home:
1. Schedule a home inspection – Home inspections let you know if there are any potential long-term issues that may arise after you buy the house.
2. Stay faithful – There are so many homes on the market and you may be tempted to have second thoughts about the home you chose. Don’t risk ruining your experience by wasting time with second guessing and buyer’s remorse. Trust your first instincts.
3. Make your loan officer your best friend – Your loan officer is the middle man between the bank and you. If you develop a good relationship with your loan officer, it can make the loan process much easier.
4. Stay Calm – Honestly, this may be the most stressful 45-60 days of your life. If you stay calm, the process won’t be nearly as grueling. Worrying doesn’t help anyone!
Stay tuned for next week when we talk more about the real estate market and what to look for when home shopping. If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, let us know. We’ll do a whole episode on it.
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3 Things Buyers Should Do When They Find the Right Home
Shopping for your dream house is like dating. After many failed attempts, hopefully you will find “The One” home that is perfect for you.
So what now? What is your next step?
In today’s episode, Jennie and Ryan do some research and tell you what to do after you find “The One”.
Let’s go inside!
(click here to watch the episode on your mobile device)
Here are three steps you should take after finding your dream home:
1. Meet with your Realtor – Realtors have access to information that the average person can’t obtain, such as what the seller paid for the property or if the home is in foreclosure. Based on this information, you may be able to make a lower offer on the house.
2. Meet with your loan officer – When you are first pre-approved by your loan officer, they don’t know what taxes and insurance will be on your new house. If you are pre-approved for a home but haven’t factored in property taxes yet, you may not be able to afford it. That would be a big disappointment, so make sure you give your loan officer all the information they need to give you an accurate pre-approval estimate.
3. Make an offer – This is the most important step! If you do not “propose” to “The One” you want, it could end up being “The One that Got Away”.
Stay tuned for next week when we talk more about the real estate market and what to look for when home shopping. If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, let us know. We’ll do a whole episode on it.
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5 Great Reasons to Buy a Home Right Now
With mortgage rates near historic lows and property prices holding steady at late 1990′s levels, it may be time to revisit the “Rent vs. Buy” debate.
In today’s episode, Jennie and Ryan have fun and list five important reasons why now could be the time to buy your next home. You’re not going to want to miss this one!
Let’s go inside!
(click here to watch the episode on your mobile device)
Here are five good reasons why it may be smart to buy your next home right now:
1) Low Interest Rates – Rates hit historic lows last week (Rates in Motion reported a 3.875% with no lender fees on a 30 Year Fixed Mortgage!). Locking into a low-interest mortgage can result in long-term savings for anyone buying now.
2) Low Prices on Homes – House prices have dropped substantially in the past few years. With plenty of homes for sale, it’s a buyer’s market! There’s no guarantee that they won’t go down a bit more; however, it is almost certain that they will go up in the next several years. If you plan on staying in your current city, this could be a smart way to save money and build equity.
3) Seller Incentives – Sellers are willing to provide incentives to entice buyers. Many are even willing to pay for closing costs, appraisal fees, or home warranties.
4) Remodeling Boom – Sellers are adding things like hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances to their homes to make them more appealing. As a result, buyers are getting more for their money! Even banks are remodeling foreclosed properties to nearly new condition.
5) Sense of Ownership – There is no better feeling than buying a home. It’s part of the American dream!
Stay tuned for next week when we talk more about the real estate market and what to look for when home shopping. If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, let us know. We’ll do a whole episode on it.
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5 Ways to Buy a Home Without a Downpayment
Would you like the benefits of home ownership, but don’t have a down payment? Since the financial crash, most 100% mortgage options are gone. However, there are at least 5 ways to still get a mortgage loan without a down payment.
Pat, Jennie, and Ryan talk about these five options:
- FHA – 3.5% down payment required, but gifts/grants allowed allowed from family
- Local Grants – Some states offer down payment help along with loan programs like FHA
- VA – 100% financing for veterans
- Rent to Own – Nice program if you have a reputable seller, be careful of scams
- USDA – 100% financing in rural areas
Learn more in today’s episode:
(click here to watch the episode on your mobile device)
Next week we’ll be covering another real estate topic. If you have a question, let us know. We’ll dedicate an entire episode to your question.
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3 Ways to Ruin Your Home Purchase Transaction (Episode 6)
Today Jennie and Pat discuss the top three ways that you can ruin your purchase transaction:
1) Lack of commitment: Before Realtors can be dedicated to you, they need to be certain that you are committed to buying a home.
2) Setting expectations too high: While home buyers may hear some “suburban legends” about amazing homes for low prices, they need to realize these bargains are quite rare. Real estate is about buyers and sellers working together to create a market, and if the buyer has unreasonable expectations, it is hard for both sides to reach an agreement.
3) Withholding information from your lender and Realtor: If you give your real estate agent misleading information, they are not able to provide you with a house that is within your needs, and everyone’s time is wasted. Entering into a loan with untrue information can also lead to being charged with loan fraud.
Here’s more!
(click here to watch the episode on your mobile device)
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