Tips for Sellers and Buyers

Realtor Thursday

Marilyn Boudreaux, of Century 21 Mike D. Bono & Co. Realty in Lake Charles, Louisiana shares some tips with us. Whether you are getting ready to sell your home or looking to buy, these tips will help you navigate the process the way the pros do. Most importantly, keep your cool and don’t be afraid to ask questions!

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HOME SELLER TIPS

Sellers can do some other simple things that can make the whole selling process go so much more smoothly. Don’t wait for inspection headaches get a jump on any repair items before listing your home.

Pets: Take your pet for a walk or crate your pet when the home is showing. It is best for the pet not to be inside during the viewing. Why?-–because some buyers may be fearful of pets or allergic to pets. Seeing a pet could also draw the buyer’s attention to look for damage to doors or windows, you can always ask the Pro Commercial Lock Installation Services to install a secure pet door to avoid scratches and more. If you own a cat, make sure the litter box is fresh and out of sight.

Odors: Get rid of any odors! Your home should welcome the buyer when they step through the front door. Keep your home clean and fresh. If a buyer smells smoke or cooking odors it could be a turn off. Avoid strong smelling cleaning products, air freshners and sweet smelling candles. Buyers may think you are trying to cover odors. Prior to showing, brew some coffee or place fresh flowers for an appealing scent.

Clean and De-Clutter: A home that is neat and appealing to the eye will get the buyer’s attention. Think of showings and inspections as if you were planning for a dinner party with guests arriving. Clean all surfaces, and remove clutter so everything appears shiny and fresh!

Curb Appeal is everything! First impressions matter, sellers need to understand buyers are looking at more than just one property. Home Sellers should concentrate on making their home stand out among the rest of the homes for sale and always be ready for showing with a neat clean home. home-buying-advice-12-06-11

TIPS FOR BUYERS

Get Pre-Approved: Talk to your local lender to get preapproved for a home loan. Pre-approval helps to know how much you can afford. Once you are pre-approved for your home mortgage you will have an educated idea of how much you can spend. Pre-approval also makes the negotiation process easier when you are ready to move forward and make an offer on a home.

Think About Your Lifestyle and Your Budget. Making a list of what is important to you is helpful because when you start looking at houses, certain home features will catch your eye, leading you to want to compromise on your original goals. Your list of priorities will keep you focused and help you narrow down the many choices on the market.

Take Notes and Photos When Viewing Homes for Sale When you are ready to view homes for sale, bring a digital camera to take pictures of the homes you view–you’ll be happy to have the photos to refer to later. After touring each home, write down what you liked and didn’t like.

Ask Questions:

1) What are Closing Costs? Will the seller pay closing costs?

Are there any incentives like a flooring allowance or home warranty being offered?

2) What are the neighborhood comps of similar homes sold for in the past 3 months?

3) How long has the home been on the market?

4) Has the house had any price drops since it has been on the market?

5) Have there been any previous offers? What happened?

6) Are there any special HOA assessments or building restrictions?

Bio

Marilyn Boudreaux attended the University of Arkansas and has a business background which includes 16 years of comprehensive sales and marketing experience with Fortune 500 companies. Marilyn has been a resident of Southwest Louisiana for 29 years and enjoys participating in Lake Charles charitable events and giving back to the Lake Charles community.

Marilyn has six years of real estate experience. She began her real estate career in 2005 after moving from Lake Charles with her husband of 14 years, Craig Boudreaux, to Boca Raton Raton, FL. Upon returning home to Lake Charles, in 2007, Marilyn obtained her Louisiana real estate license and affiliated with Century 21 Mike D. Bono & Co.’s. She is a full-time licensed Louisiana Realtor who in a short amount of time, has succeeded in establishing herself as a Century 21 Multi Million Dollar Real Estate Agent in the Lake Charles Real Estate market.Marilyn Boudreaux is one of the top 100 real estate agents within the Century 21 South Louisiana/Texas Region.

Marilyn has been recognized within her own brokerage, Century 21 Mike D. Bono & Co.’s on several occasions as a monthly top listing and top selling agent. Century 21 has recognized Marilyn Boudreaux with consistent Production Achievement, 100% Customer Quality Service Assurance Awards 2008-2011, Pinnacle Service Awards, 2010- 2011, and 2011 Masters Achievement For Units Sold. Marilyn’s real estate tagline “Matching People With Properties” is most appropriate!

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