February 2010
12 Questions to Ask When Choosing Your REALTOR®
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com 12 Questions to Ask When Choosing Your REALTOR® Make sure you choose a REALTOR® who will provide top-notch service and meet your unique needs. 1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is [...]
Simple Tips for Better Home Showings
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com Simple Tips for Better Home Showings 1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet [...]
How to Get an Offer on Your Home
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com How to Get an Offer on Your Home 1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range. 2. Prepare for visitors. Get your house market ready at least two weeks before you begin showing it. [...]
Does Moving Up Make Sense?
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com Does Moving Up Make Sense? These questions will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or in a more desirable location. If you answer yes to most of the questions, it’s a sign that you may be ready to [...]
8 Reasons Why You Should Work With a REALTOR®
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com 8 Reasons Why You Should Work With a REALTOR® Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its [...]
5 Things to do Before Putting Your Home on the Market
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com 5 Things to do Before Putting Your Home on the Market 1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will [...]
Take the Stress Out of Homebuying
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com Take the Stress Out of Homebuying Buying a home should be fun, not stressful. As you look for your dream home, keep in mind these tips for making the process as peaceful as possible. 1. Find a real estate agent who you connect [...]
7 Reasons to Own Your Home
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com 7 Reasons to Own Your Home 1. Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, as well as some of the costs involved in buying your home. 2. Appreciation. Real estate has [...]
Get Your Finances in Order: To-Do List
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com Get Your Finances in Order: To-Do List 1. Develop a household budget. Instead of creating a budget of what you’d like to spend, use receipts to create a budget that reflects your actual spending habits over the last several months. This approach will [...]
8 Tips to Guide for Your Home Search
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com 8 Tips to Guide for Your Home Search 1. Research before you look. Decide what features you most want to have in a home, what neighborhoods you prefer, and how much you’d be willing to spend each month for housing. 2. Be realistic. [...]
5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com 5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score Credit scores range between 200 and 800, with scores above 620 considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. The following factors affect your score: 1. Your payment history. Did you pay your credit card obligations on time? [...]
Lender Checklist: What You Need for a Mortgage
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com Lender Checklist: What You Need for a Mortgage □ W-2 forms — or business tax return forms if you’re self-employed — for the last two or three years for every person signing the loan. □ Copies of at least one pay stub for [...]
Common First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com Common First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes 1. They don’t ask enough questions of their lender and end up missing out on the best deal. 2. They don’t act quickly enough to make a decision and someone else buys the house. 3. They don’t find [...]
Why You Should Work With a REALTOR®
Provided by Sonja Huntsman, CRS, Windermere Sun Valley 208-720-7125 Sonja @SonjaHuntsman.com www.SonjaHuntsman.com Why You Should Work With a REALTOR® Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code [...]
Thinking of Remodeling?
5 Essential Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Contractor By: Oliver Marks Bottom of Form A local contractor with a reputation to uphold is a better option than one that has to commute from far away. Image: John Lund/Marc Romanelli/Getty Images For all of the excitement of choosing plumbing fixtures, cabinets, and tiles for a [...]
