Should you talk with neighbors before buying a home? Although they may attempt to not be nosy, you can bet that most of them know almost everything that you need to know about the home you are looking at purchasing as well as the neighborhood.

I once went to look at some land to list and also had an appointment to list a house in the neighborhood as well. The lady who had the land to list started telling me all about the neighborhood. Seems that the police had arrested a young man who had made meth in the home I was going to look at listing. After some checking turns out it was true. Needless to say I would not have touched that house with a ten foot pole! Well that is why unsuspecting buyers have continue to purchase homes that they should stay away from! It seems to me that speaking to the neighbors can really help a person out. I know a lot of Realtors sure do not want you to do that. I highly suggest it though.

So here is the game plan on talking to the neighbors...

Once you have decided on the home that you want to purchase, make sure that you visit the neighbors to get all of the scoop. Ask whatever question that comes to your mind. Here are some serious questions you may want to ask. I would suggest asking a couple neighbors. You may find one crazy out there.

1. How is the neighborhood association if there is one? strict, crazy or great?

2. Do you know of any assessments coming in the future?

3. How is the construction on the homes in the neighborhood? Have you had any issues?

4. Is there any crime in the neighborhood? Do you feel its safe?

5. Is the neighborhood social?

6. Why are the neighbors (house you are looking at) moving?

7. Have they had any issues with the house that you are looking at?

9. Is there anything that would prevent you from buying your own home again?

10. Anything they would have wanted to know when they purchased their home? 

If you are buying or selling Real Estate feel free to contact me for more info or assistance.

You're About To Learn How We Sell Homes...

Dear Seller,

If saving money makes you happy...
If you want to sell your home and move on...
If you would like to be empowered to assist your agent...
If you want selling your home to be fun and easy...



Then sit back and read on because you are about to find exactly what you've been searching for... "A Better Choice" for selling in today's world.

It seems as though sellers are more and more frustrated with traditional real estate than ever. Some sellers say they see their agent to put a sign in the yard, put their home in the MLS, run an ad in the real estate magazine and hope another agent sells it for them. Well, that maybe fine but to charge you so much money to do that? What if I told you with Choice Real Estate you can work hand in hand with us to sell your home and save anywhere from 2% to 5% Commission!



Here's how it works....

We are offering you the most efficient, least expensive and proven method of marketing to sell your home.

We have created a listing program that will save you thousands of dollars when you sell your home. We will personally come out to your home and sit down with you and go over a detailed, yet easy to understand listing package with you. All you need is $500 to get your home listed TODAY. Then, at closing you will pay us just 1/2 of 1%. And, we list your home till it's sold. That is all you will need to pay. You will have a few Optional Marketing Services to choose from like a lockbox, which most of our sellers choose and the #1 marketing choice of our sellers, our visual tour. But, that is totally up to you. It's that simple and inexpensive and your home will go directly on the Multiple Listing Service and on Realtor.com!

HOW MUCH MONEY WE CAN SAVE YOU...

Let's use a $250,000 home for our example. We will list your home you will pay us a $500 FLAT FEE. That fee is basically our marketing fee to place your home in the MLS, on Realtor.com, and on our company website. At closing you just pay us 1/2 of 1% of the sales price. If you sell your home without the assistance of a buyer's agent, the total amount of commission you will pay is $1,750. THAT'S IT! If another realtor sells your home, you will have to pay a commission to the selling agent that you choose, 2.5%, 3% or 4%. That is your choice too. This is all about giving you choices and better choices!

Now, if you list your home with a traditional real estate firm and their commission is 6% of the sales price, the total amount of commission paid at closing is $15,000.

Let Do The Figures: 15,000 - 1,750 = 13,250 SAVINGS TO YOU!

We think $13,250 is a lot of equity to be able to deposit in your bank account especially in today's economy. This is how great our way of selling homes works. We think you will agree that once you sell a home using our program, you'll never want to sell a home any other way again.


Just Because Your Paying Less Money - That Does Not Mean Less Service

Some people have the notion that if you pay less money you will get less service. We are a full service real estate company. We offer you the latest innovative techniques and technology to market your home. In most cases, we offer more marketing than most full service companies do. Don't be fooled by the old saying you get what you pay for... the question is not how little we charge, but why do others charge so much with so little results. According to the National Association of Realtors, the average agent sells only two houses a year. With our Flat Fee Listing, we can concentrate on our areas of expertise and work with more sellers. The more time I have to work with more buyers & sellers, the more money you save. Did you know that most of the time buyers & sellers are only 2% away from a binding agreement in their negotiations! That two percent could be the commission you save by listing with us.

Anyone Can Use Our Service - No Extra Time Is Necessary With Us Versus a Traditional Listing.

We have created a no fail system that lets you as the seller invest as much time into selling your home as you want to. What do we mean by that? Because with Choice Real Estate, you can sell your home yourself and not have to pay a selling commission. You will want to tell your friends, co-workers and acquaintances about your home and help sell your home.
So if you talk to someone at the grocery store and they buy your home without using a real estate agent, YOU WILL SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. Or if you choose to let us do all the work, you STILL REAP THE BENEFITS by saving money. And, saving money makes us happy!

Out of Town Sellers & Vacant Homes Are No Problem

All we do is rent you an Electronic Memory Key Box and your all set. We are available to show your home to any buyer at anytime. We have expert buyer's agents who will show your home and we are REALLY GOOD AT IT! You simply give us permission to show your home for you and it's done. This system is so easy, that a first time seller or a seasoned seller can do it without obstacles. You will never want to sell another home any other way once you do it our way!



No Agent Will Do More Advertising For You

Because we have studied the internet seriously, we know that 3 out of 4 home buyers are online searching for their next property before they ever leave their home, we have implemented some of the most Superior Internet Marketing Exposure you will find from any agent. We hear from many homeowners that they want to list with someone who will "push" their home. Since today's buyers are on the internet searching for their next home, in most cases the buyers are telling the agent what homes they want to see. Again, that is why you must have a company that will expose your home to as many buyers as possible for the least amount of expense to you! Our listings are seen in over 50 websites. They are also see on other real estate companies websites because of our handshake agreements with them. It makes so much sense, doesn't it?




Some Of the Other Benefits You'll Enjoy With Our Service

1. You'll feel empowered and in control of selling your home.

2. You'll feel confident with us holding your hand every step of the way.

3. You'll be learning about real estate as we work together to sell your home.

4. You'll save between 2% and 5% of the sales price of your home.

5. You'll enjoy working with us in a fun & easy program designed to turn you into a advocate of our service and you'll gladly accept the praises of your friends and family.

Remember - This Is Full Service Real Estate and you're the one making the Choices!

(Commission is negotiable... 6% is a traditional example

Why Do You Need Title Insurance?

Title Insurance.

It's a term we hear and see frequently -- we see reference to it in the Sunday real estate section, in advertisements and in conversations with real estate brokers. If you've purchased a home before, you're probably familiar with the benefits and procedures of title insurance. But if this is your first home, you may wonder, "Why do I need another insurance policy? It's just one more bill to pay."

The answer is simple: The purchase of a home is most likely one of the most expensive and important purchases you will ever make. You, and your mortgage lender, want to make sure that the property is indeed yours -- lock, stock and barrel -- and that no individual or government entity has any right, lien, claim to your property.

Title insurance companies are in business to make sure your rights and interests to the property are clear, that transfer of title takes place efficiently and correctly and that your interests as a homebuyer are protected to the maximum degree.

Title insurance companies provide services to buyers, sellers, real estate developers, builders, mortgage lenders and others who have an interest in a real estate transfer. Title companies routinely issue two types of policies -- "owner's," which cover you, the homebuyer; and "lender's," which covers the bank, savings and loan or other lending institution over the life of the loan. Both are issued at the time of purchase for a modest, one-time premium.

Before issuing a policy, however, the title company performs an extensive search of relevant public records to determine if anyone other than you has an interest in the property. The search may be performed by title company personnel using either public records or more likely, information gathered, reorganized and indexed in the company's title "plant."

With such a thorough examination of records, any title problems usually can be found and cleared up prior to your purchase of the property. Once a title policy is issued, if for some reason any claim which is covered under your title policy is ever filed against your property, the title company will pay the legal fee involved in defense of your rights, as well as any covered loss arising from a valid claim. That protection, which is in effect as long as you or your heirs own the property, is yours for a one-time premium paid at the time of purchase.

The fact that title companies work to eliminate risks before they develop makes the title insurance decidedly different from other types of insurance you may have purchased. Most forms of insurance assume risks by providing financial protection through a pooling of risks for losses arising from an unforeseen event, say a fire, theft or accident. The purpose of title insurance, on the other hand, is to eliminate risks and prevent losses caused by defects in title that happened in the past. Risks are examined and mitigated before property changes hands.

This risk elimination has benefits to both you, the homebuyer, and the title company: it minimizes the chances adverse claims might be raised, and by so doing reduces the number of claims that have to be defended or satisfied. This keeps costs down for the title company and your title premiums low.

Buying a home is a big step emotionally and financially. With title insurance you are assured that any valid claim against your property will be borne by the title company, and that the odds of a claim being filed are slim indeed.

Isn't sleeping well at night, knowing your home is yours, reason enough for title insurance?

Setting the Price

I will assist you in setting the listing price for your home. We do not price our listings in the traditional way that some realtors are doing. We will be glad to discuss that with you in detail when we sit down with you and discuss the listing price.

Remember, the price is the first thing buyers notice about your property. If you set your price too high, then the chance of alienating buyers is higher. You want your house to be taken seriously, and the asking price reflects how serious you are about selling your home.

Several factors will contribute to your final decision. First, you should compare your house to others that are in the market. If you would like us to we will complete and review with you a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA). The CMA will reflect the following:
*houses in your price range and area sold within the last half-year
*asking and selling prices of houses
*current inventory of houses on the market
*features of each house on the market

From the CMA, you will find out the difference between the asking price and selling price for all homes sold, the condition of the market, and other houses comparable to yours.

Also, try to find out what types of houses are selling and see if it applies to your area. Buyers follow trends, and these trends can help you set your price.

Always be realistic. And understand and set your price to reflect the current market situation.

Don't be Fearful of a Home Inspection

A professional home inspection protects both you and the buyer. It allows both you and the buyer the opportunity to learn about the property's defects.

A home inspection usually covers the following:

*Plumbing conditions - if there is leakage or clogging
*Roofing conditions - the extent of deterioration, if there is leakage
*Electrical conditions - if there are inadequate circuits or potential fire hazards
*Structural problems - if there are problems with the underlying foundation of your home

As a seller, the home inspection reports protect you because it establishes the actual condition of the property at the time of sale.

I actually recommend that the seller gets a home inspection when we put the home on the market. This will keep a sale from falling through in the future. So many times I have found that issues unknown to the seller will bring a closing to a screeching halt! In order to keep this from happening lets get it done so we have no surprises!

Call for more information on buying of selling a home!

Sherie Earley-Womack

Choice Real Estate

931-261-8955

sherie@choiceoftn.com

Making a Good First Impression

If you want buyers to be interested in your home, you need to show it in its best light. A good first impression can influence a buyer into making an offer; it influences a buyer emotionally and visually. In addition, what the buyer first sees is what they think of when they consider the asking price.

A bad first impression can dissuade a potential buyer. Don't show your property until it's all fixed up. You do not want to give buyers the chance to use the negative first impression they have as means of negotiation.

Ask around for the opinions others have of your home. Real estate agents who see houses everyday can give solid advice on what needs to be done. Consider what architects or landscape designers have to say. What you need are objective opinions, and it's sometimes hard to separate the personal and emotional ties you have for the home from the property itself.

Typically, there are some general fix ups that need to be done both outside and on the inside. As a seller, you should consider the following:

*Landscaping - Has the front yard been maintained? Are areas of the house visible to the street in good condition?
*Cleaning or Redoing the driveway - Is your driveway cluttered with toys, tools, trash etc.?
*Painting - Does both the exterior and the interior look like they have been well taken care of?
*Carpeting - Does the carpet have stains? Or does the carpet look old and dirty?

call me today for a free home visit! I would love to work hard to sell your home!

Sherie Earley-Womack

Choie Real Estate

931-261-8955

Making a Good First Impression

If you want buyers to be interested in your home, you need to show it in its best light. A good first impression can influence a buyer into making an offer; it influences a buyer emotionally and visually. In addition, what the buyer first sees is what they think of when they consider the asking price.

A bad first impression can dissuade a potential buyer. Don't show your property until it's all fixed up. You do not want to give buyers the chance to use the negative first impression they have as means of negotiation.

Ask around for the opinions others have of your home. Real estate agents who see houses everyday can give solid advice on what needs to be done. Consider what architects or landscape designers have to say. What you need are objective opinions, and it's sometimes hard to separate the personal and emotional ties you have for the home from the property itself.

Typically, there are some general fix ups that need to be done both outside and on the inside. As a seller, you should consider the following:

*Landscaping - Has the front yard been maintained? Are areas of the house visible to the street in good condition?
*Cleaning or Redoing the driveway - Is your driveway cluttered with toys, tools, trash etc.?
*Painting - Does both the exterior and the interior look like they have been well taken care of?
*Carpeting - Does the carpet have stains? Or does the carpet look old and dirty?

call me today for a free home visit! I would love to work hard to sell your home!

Sherie Earley-Womack

Choie Real Estate

931-261-8955

Staging Your Home To Sell for Top Dollar

Staging Your Home To Sell for Top Dollar...

Home staging is a relatively inexpensive way to change the interior appearance of a home. It has evolved into one of the quickest and best marketing tools for improving a property's salability. Staging focuses on eye catching tactics through the reemployment of accessories, rearrangement of furniture and just plain simplifying the often overly decorated rooms most owners have grown accustomed to.

People usually think interior decorating and home staging are one in the same. Professional interior decorating focuses on fulfilling the owners' decorating desires and often involves remodeling and the purchase of a lot of furnishings and accessories.

Home staging, on the other hand, promotes the use of what you already have or uses inexpensive acquisitions as props in order to provide a simplified and depersonalized look. The stagers encourage you to view your home as a product to be marketed, not as the refuge that fulfills your needs. Staging is also referred to as real estate staging, home enhancement, interior redesign or simply redesigning.

Whatever the name it goes by, the goal is to get buyers to view your home as their home. Staging zeros in on modifying your home to maximize its appeal to home buyers, without spending a lot of money.

Rather than trying to impress buyers with your choice of decor, you should strive to influence these prospects with the potential your home offers. This can be accomplished with as simple a concept as rearranging a room's contents to provide an aesthetically pleasing environment. It may not function the way you want it to, but staging often involves classic examples of form over function.

Some Areas of Concentration in Your Home:

Accessorizing

Be prepared to show your stager what accessories you have stored away, including collections, pictures and knick-knacks that you've grown tired of. A new arrangement, placement or focus could bring life to existing decor or living spaces with things you already own. Although it's probably not the look or decorating you currently want, it may be the best to help market your home.
Homes that maintain shrines to teddy bears, Elvis, glass figurines, dolls and large collections of just about anything discourage emphasis on your showing objectives. Would you ever see these types of personal collections in a model home?


Rearranging furniture

Avoid lining up furniture along all the walls. Consider artful placement at an angle or a rearrangement that modifies current furniture distribution such as creating a cozy reading corner in a large living room, or a sofa/chair placement that makes more of an intimate conversational area.

Eliminating furniture

Remove excess furniture in most rooms, including bedrooms. Furniture or decor that would be considered unusual or unconventional should be scrutinized. You're trying to impress buyers, not your friends.
Take a clue from builders. Their model homes often utilize scaled down furniture to achieve the illusion of making rooms appear larger.
GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH

Home stagers will point out the need for cleaning and eliminating clutter and obvious distractions that need attention or repair. Save yourself some money and make the most of this professional's time by tackling these mandatory projects ahead of time. The cost of our Home Stager will be a whole lost LESS MONEY than your first Price Reduction! Don't Wait Contact Karen Today, Our Accredited Staging Profession. Karen graduated from the best training available today and was taught by the founder of Home Staging.

Call me today to get your home sold!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sherie Earley-Womack

Choice Real Estate

931-261-8955

sherie@choiceoftn.com

Use a Buyer's Agent

It's important that you choose an experienced agent who is there for you. Your agent should be actively finding you potential homes, keeping you informed of the entire process, negotiating furiously on your behalf, and answering all of your questions with competence and speed.

First, find an agent who represents you and not the seller. This is beneficial during the negotiation process. If you are working with a buyer's agent, he or she is required not to tell the seller of your top choice. In addition, he or she is also focused on getting you the lowest asking price.

Also, when you use a buyer's agent, you will see more properties. Not only are they plugged into their Multiple Listing Service, but also they are actively finding homes that are listed as FSBO, or homes that sellers are thinking about listing.

Call me for more info!

Sherie Earley-Womack

Coice Real Estate

931-261-8955

sherie@choiceoftn.com