The St. Louis Park Real Estate Blog

How To Stage Your Home To SELL For Almost No Money

In today's real estate market the competition is tougher than ever.  One of the top things you need to do before you even considering selling your home is to stage your home to sell.

Here are a few top things that will help dress up your home for almost no money.

1. The Outside Counts- When people think of buying a home they always think of what they can do with the inside of the home and come to under utilize the outside of the home.  The outside of your home is what people see first and as you know it....you've only got one shot to make a first impression.  The outside appearance of the home is just as important if not more.
2. Messy Home v.s. Dirty Home- When a buyer is looking at your home they can not only tell if the home is picked up, but they can also tell if the home gets a thorough cleaning on a regular basis.  This is something that truly costs you no money, but makes a huge difference in your profits because no one wants to move into someone else's dirty home.  There is something to be said for a home that is always looking fresh.
3. Over Personalization- It's fun to have lots of pictures of your family and friends around the house but when it comes to someone looking to buy your house it is a big downfall.  When a buyer is looking at your home they are looking at it to see if it is somewhere they could picture their self living.  They are not interested in looking at who lives there now.  If they can not see their self living there, it is un-likely they will move in/buy it.
4. De-Clutter- That's right! Clutter is a big problem for people who want to sell their home.  You want to make sure the space looks clean and fresh.  If a home is cluttered up the space looks small and un-inviting.  Your best bet is to pack up the things you do not use on a regular basis and put them in the garage. 
5. Wear & Tear- It's funny because when you walk up to or into a home you can usually tell how well the homeowner kept up the home.  During the whole time you are living in the home things are bound to break or get wrecked or something.  Your best bet is just to take care of it right away, even if you are not planning on selling for a few reasons.  First- it's just good maintenance.  And second because if you don't get them done right away, you are more likely to forget about them when you do sell.  And most of the time they are things that buyers will over estimate the cost of fixing and take it off of the asking price.
6. Smelling Good- Last, but definitely not least....Make sure your home is smelling great!  There are things that people get used to over time and one of those things are smells.  Usually from pets that homeowners don't think about when they go to sell their home.  The smell on the inside of the home is one of the first things that someone new walking into a home will notice.  So make sure you keep some air fresheners plugged in and ask someone else honestly to tell you so you can fix the problem (if there is one).

No matter what you improve at your house, make sure you always do a thorough and good job.  If your home is not well taken care of and things are not in good working order, buyers will wonder what else in the house doesn't work or if that project was not completed well, what else was rushed through or skimped on in the house.

Your Personal Real Estate Consultant For Life,

Crystal

What to Know BEFORE You Buy a Home at a Real Estate Auction

I was thinking today about what the different ways to buy a home are and the thought that popped into my mind was through a real estate auction.  Real estate auctions are a very non- traditional way to find a home.  So I started thinking about all of the different steps you have to take and all of the different things involved with a real estate auction.

So here's the top 5 list of What You Need to Know BEFORE You Buy a Home at a Real Estate Auction:

• No Pre-inspections- The seller only has 1 or 2 open houses before the home is sold for you to look at the property.
• Must Have Money Down ...and it is Non-Refundable- You must bring with you to the day of the auction a hefty down payment of $10,000-$20,000 to even bid on the home.  If you are the highest bidder, the money is non-refundable even if for any reason you do not buy the home.
• You are Buying the home As-Is- When you purchase a home at an auction the seller takes no liability in the condition of the home.  They also will not allow anyone to have a home inspection.  This ends up being very risky for a buyer. 
• Buyer Premium is added to total price of home (usually 8%)- Keep in mind that when you buy a home the traditional way, the seller pays the commission.  At an auction the buyer pays a whopping 8% commission on top of the highest bid.  And it adds up fast.
• Must Close within 30 days- People who use an auction to sell their home so do for very specific reasons.  One of them being that they want to sell their home fast.  So when purchasing a home at an auction you have to be ready to close on the home within 30 days.

I'd be happy to answer any specific questions or concerns, just send me an email

Your Real Estate Consultant For Life,

Crystal

#1 Thing you Need to Do Before You Buy Real Estate & Move From Your Apartment

As you probably know there are many things you need to do before you buy a house in St. Louis Park.  One of the first things to check out is what you need to do before you move out of your apartment into a home.  First and most important thing is to read through your lease.  I've seen it time, and time again that people assume if they are buying a house or a condo that they can get out of their lease.  Some times that is the case and sometimes it is not.  Sometimes landlords have a build/buy clause where if you purchase a home or a condo in St. Louis Park or if you build a home you can pay a fee to terminate your lease early.  In certian cases there is something called a "winter clause" in the lease agreement and renters are not allowed to move out of the apartment during the entire winter!  So the first thing you need to do before you buy a home and move from your apartment is to read your lease and talk to your landlord to find out what the policies are and what the required notice you have to give is.

(This is not intended as legal advice.  If you need legal advice please contact your attorney)

What's the Right Type of Home?

There are many different types of homes that are availible in St. Louis Park in today's market.  From condos to co-ops to townhomes to single family homes availible.  There are also one levels, side by sides, split enrties, ramblers, high rises, and low rises availible.

The question you want to start with is......What's your lifestyle??  Do you travel a lot, have kids, have time and energy to shovel snow?  Do you enjoy mowing the lawn, gardening, & landscaping?  Do you want a spare room for guests, like a big yard, or like to live near the beach?

For a FREE list of homes that meet your specific needs, contact me.

St. Louis Park Real Estate....You WON'T REGRET!

I've been thinking recently about people buying their first home in St. Louis Park or even people who want to purchase a second home or investment property.  And with this market more times than not, the people who have the means to buy and still have not, have a lot of fear or resitance around the thought of buying a home in the current market.

It's understandable to have some fear going into the process and of course lots of questions will come up.  But it's important to remember that the only real estate that people regret buying, is the real estate that they should have bought 10 years ago!

-Crystal

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St. Louis Park is rated in the 100 Best!

A positve and interesting article about living in St. Louis Park by America's Promise Alliance

America's 100 Best Communities for Young People - Again
Jan. 25, 2007
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. -- St. Louis Park has done it again. For the second-consecutive time, the city has been named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by America's Promise.

Devoted to improving the lives of youth, America's Promise awards communities that have dedicated time and resources to young people in tangible ways that make a difference. St. Louis Park was also honored with the award in 2005, the first year for the 100 Best recognition. The Mankato and Rochester areas are also among the 2007 recipients, giving Minnesota three out of the 100 best communities nationwide. The applicant field this year included more than 1,000 communities across the country.

"The entire St. Louis Park community recognizes that children are truly our future, and the legacy we leave them today will choose the path our city takes tomorrow," said St. Louis Park Mayor Jeff Jacobs. "It is an honor to be recognized nationally for the work everyone in our community has done to improve the lives of young people."

Community partners working together to achieve this recognition include St. Louis Park Public Schools, Children First, the Meadowbrook Collaborative, Park Nicollet, the Jewish Community Center, Benilde St. Margaret's, Torah Academy, the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Arts, and the City of St. Louis Park.

"For years, St. Louis Park has been well known as a city where government, business, education and residents all come together to work on behalf of children's issues," said City Manager Tom Harmening, who serves as co-chair of the Children First organization. "While our work is never done, the entire community can take pride in this award and start looking for more opportunities to reach out to our youth."

One of the latest ways St. Louis Park is demonstrating its commitment to youth is the development of the Asset Champions Network. Designed to emphasize the critical need for asset building, the network includes individuals from all walks of life who want to build connections with young people and bridge generations. 

Click here for more information on America's Promise Alliance or The City of St. Louis Park

What You can get for Under $100,000??

Have you ever heard people say......You can't find anything for under $100,000 anymore?  I was recently thinking about that and wanted to see for myself exactly if that was true.

So immediatly I started looking on The HomeFinder and realized that, of course that is not true.  Right now there are 9 condos just in St. Louis Park alone that are availible for less than $100,000.  That means you could have a mortgage payment of less than $600. per month.  That is less than rent!!

Good Luck in your home search!

6 Ways to Beat the Stress of Buying a Home

Death, Divorce, & Moving are the 3 most stressful things people encounter in life.

Here is a short list to get you started on the right foot.

• Begin with the end in mind

Moving is a very large task in itself and there are definetly a  lot of things that you can get lost in during the process.  Beginning with the end in mind keeps your mind focused on what it is that you want to accomplish to help you achieve the big picture.

• Be Flexible

It helps to be prepared financially.  Overestimate on your financial calculations by one thousand dollars.  Sometimes there is an un-expected repair that needs to be fixed that the seller will not be willing to pay for or the interest reate may change and affect the necessary down payment.  As your real estate team, we will strive to tie up  loose ends as quickly as possible, but remember there is no perfect world.  So if you are prepared and have a rainy day fund, you won't get angry.  In fact, it'll probably go better than you expected.

• Trust in the Process

In a real estate transaction there is so much to do and it is easy to panic.  Sometimes when you are not familiar with how things work and you can't see the end, it's easy to panic and give up.  You may think you are taking a big chance, but really you are giving yourself a big chance.  Even though you can't see every step of the way, as you move towards your goals, a way opens up.  We know that you haven't moved in a long time and it's a major upheaval in your life.  But we've been there many times before, and we're looking out for you.  Trust that we know the way to get you there.

• Get Knowledge

One thing you'll feel during this time is out of control.  It feels like everyone else has taken over your life....the lender, the seller, the appriaser, the inspectors.  They all have the power to say yes or no to your moving plans.  We'll try our best ahead of time to let you know what you expenses will be, and what the un-knowns are.  We'll educate you as best we can and let you in 'behind the scenes' so you won't ever feel stupid or out of control.

• What are Your Options

As things start get more complicated and more complex it's easy to get confused.  When you are faced with a decision is to ask yourself or the other person what your options are.  Because there are always options to choose from.  For example, you may not want to pay for your closing costs out of pocket, it may be possible you can roll them into your mortgage, or the seller may be willing to pay them for you.  Each case is unique, but when set backs occur ask yourself this question.  It helps to defuse the situation and restore clear headed thinking.

• Seek Entertainment

Sometimes when you are buying a home it is so easy to get caught up in everything and trying to make so many decisions that you just need to take a break and forget about it.  Especially when you make an offer on a home and you are waiting to see how the seller responds.  It's so easy to get so involved and just wait around to find out what they say, when the fact is that you can not control it anyway.  So it is best to get your mind off of it and just let it happen, as it in fact will.  Do something else entirely, maybe something where you aren't powerless.  Take a hike, play tennis, get out of town for the day, pray, watch a movie, or pour yourself into your work.  Whatever works best for you.  Just forget the situation and refuse to listen to those irritating thoughts when they come into your head.  Just think about something else instead, and take it one day at a time.

To keep stress to a minimum, here's how we'll serve you when you work with us in buying your new home: a) we promise not to take your business for granted, b) we will inform you of your options c) we will give you our best-reasoned expert counsel and advice with your best interests in mind, d) we will clarify your goals and motivation, so that you can decide if moving is the wisest choice at this time. e) we will provide recommendations and information to help your kids through all the changes f) we will negotiate effectively for you to get the lowest possible price for your new home g) we will protect your interests during escrow, keeping a detailed record of the transaction h) we will be your levelheaded sounding board or relief valve when the stress is overwhelming i) we will counsel you through the feelings of "buyer's remorse" j) we will alert you ahead of time to every possibility so you
feel more in control k) we will provide guidance and help with movers, change of address, utilities shut off, cleaning, etc. m) we will continue to give you information of value after the transaction... for life.

Happy House Hunting!

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Buyer Beware....Top 10 Things You Need to Know Before you Buy a Home

No matter if it's cars, clothes, or a loaf of bread, there are just certain things that you need to know when you purchase something.  Buying a home is definitely no exception.

There are many different things you should be aware of when thinking of buying a home.  Here is a list of The Top 10 things you need to know before you buy a home.

• How much home you can afford
• What government programs you can qualify for
• What closing costs are
• How mortgages work
• How you can get the seller to pay for your closing costs
• If you qualify for a low interest rate government home loan
• What the best way is to find the right home
• How you can tap into the Multiple Listing Service computers to find the best home
• What you need to know about home inspections

For information on how to get FREE tickets to The Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before You Buy a Home, contact me at crystalbrummer@exitrealtymn.com