What Makes a Great Real Estate Agent?

Qualities of a Great Real Estate Agent

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Real Estate Appraisals: How Do Georgia Appraisers Determine a Property’s Value?

When you are looking to sell your home you cannot avoid getting a visit from an appraiser. It does not really matter even if your buyer absolutely adores your home and would gladly pay what you ask. The lender will still require a professional appraiser to determine what your home is worth as a part of the selling process.

Contrary to popular belief the value of a property is not determined after the appraiser completes the inspection. In fact, the appraiser already has a general idea of the property’s value when they schedule an inspection. So how does an appraiser determine the worth of your home?

Here Are What Appraisers Look at:

Site. Your appraiser will look at the location of your property and will take the view, lot size, utilities, landscaping features, zoning and other external factors into consideration when determining the market value of your home. Since most home buyers would welcome the opportunity to expand, properties with larger lots and square footage will naturally command a higher value.

Exterior Design. The general construction of your home will largely determine the value of your property. The appraiser will pay serious attention to your foundation, walls and roof since any damage to these components could make your home inhabitable.

Condition of the Interior. The interior of your home is just as important as the exterior so expect your appraiser to take a look at your flooring, walls, plumbing, electrical, windows and doors. The condition of your kitchen and bathroom will also affect your home’s final value.

Home Improvements. Any renovations, upgrades and other added features will also contribute to your home’s final value.

Neighborhood. You’ll get additional points if your property conforms to the neighborhood. After the appraisal the information gathered during the inspection will then be used to evaluate what your home is worth using the comparable sales price approach. The appraiser will use Real Estate Data collected for homes sold by agents in the marketplace (MLS listing database) within a certain distance of your home over the last six months. Any necessary real estate appraisal adjustments based on the features and characteristics of the other homes will be made to complete the appraisal.

For more valuable tips on selling or buying a home, please visit my site at www.pamsantoro.com  . You can also contact me at 678-656-6627 if you have any questions about local market conditions, financing or anything that can help you with in your search for real estate. Remember, no one sells a home like a Mom! 

Spring Spruce Up, Getting Your Home Ready to Sell!

As spring is upon us, now is the perfect time for Home Sellers in Atlanta to do some spring cleaning and make your home stand out in the Real Estate Market.

Spring cleaning in my home growing up was always a big deal. As a Real Estate Agent I see the benefits of this seasonal ritual, especially when preparing your home for sale. As you begin to look at your upcoming home sale, now is the time to make a home selling checklist that will get your home ready for potential home buyers.

Make the Most of Your Spring House Cleaning

Wash the Windows

This is often overlooked and can make a big difference when showing off the light in your home. Don’t forget those windowsills as my mom would always say!

Clean It Out, Pack It Up, Give It Away

Packing away personal items in storage will allow potential home buyers to see your house as their new home.

Clean That Kitchen!

Give the deal breaker of your home a great cleaning. Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove scuffs. A grease removal agent like Orange-Sol will remove any grease buildup making your kitchen cabinets shine.

Time to Paint

Now is the time for a fresh coat of paint. Use neutral colors to brighten rooms and carry the same complementing palette to adjacent spaces.

Be the Inspector

Make sure your refrigerator, closets and cabinets are clean and offer the illusion of great storage options.

Don’t Forget the Garage

Your garage should be neat and promote great storage availability. Be sure to stash any pest control products so that home buyers will not get a false impression.

Clear Entryways

Entrances should give visitors the appearance of being open and roomy. Make sure furniture is not blocking walkways.

Curb Appeal Sells

Now is the time to visit the local Home Depot for some spring color. Invest in new mulch, flowers and outdoor lighting. Make sure your outside welcomes home buyers inside.

If you’re still not sure whether it’s the perfect time to buy or sell your home, please feel free to contact me at 678-656-6627, and I will do my best to help you do what you have set to accomplish. You can also visit my site at www.pamsantoro.com for more tips on selling or buying a home. 

Hot, Cold, Neutral: Which Real Estate Market is Best?

When is the best time to buy or sell a home? While most people don’t give it a lot of thought, you may need to consider the condition of the real estate marketplace before you start looking for a new home or put your old one in the market. Why? It’s because doing so can help you achieve what you have set to accomplish.

Types of Real Estate Market

Basically, real estate markets fall into either one of these three major categories – buyer’s markets, seller’s markets, and/or neutral markets.

Buyer’s Market

A buyer’s market or cold market exists when there are more homes available for sale than buyers who are willing to purchase them. Since buyers will have more houses to choose from, they will have a better chance of finding the perfect home for less since serious sellers would be more willing to negotiate the price and/or terms of the sale. Needless to say, this is the best time if you’re looking to buy a home.

Seller’s Market

If you want to sell your home, then you should definitely consider doing so when the market is hot. Since there are more buyers than available inventory in a seller’s market, serious buyers will be more willing to pay a premium and/or negotiate the terms of the sale just to secure the deal. Besides the fact that you can sell your house faster in a hot seller’s market, there is also a possibility that you’ll get more than what you ask for it.

Neutral Market

While the previous markets swing in favor of either the buyers or the sellers, the conditions are more stable in a neutral market.  In a neutral market, median sales prices don’t fluctuate as much, interest rates are more affordable, and there is an equal number of buyers and sellers in the market.

If you’re still not sure whether it’s the perfect time to buy or sell your home, please feel free to contact me at 678-656-6627, and I will do my best to help you do what you have set to accomplish. You can also visit my site at www.pamsantoro.com for more tips on selling or buying a home. 

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