What a Foreclosure Can Do For You

Ok so lets face it, if you are looking to purchase a home buying a foreclosure can help you save money.  Purchasing a foreclosed home can get you more home for each dollar that you spend.  When the market fluctuates as much as it has in the past 5 years no one wants to pay for an over priced house.  In the past people have destroyed their home before the bank took it over devaluing the property.  This is no longer a common occurrence as it once was because banks are paying people to leave the property as is.  This leaves an opportunity for home buyers.

Foreclosed homes are coming to the market in better than ever condition.  You may even be able to find an updated home that is in good condition under market value.  It is always advised to search the MLS for foreclosures before looking at the regular listings.  Foreclosed homes sell faster because they are under market value.  It is becoming harder and harder to flip property to make money, so investors are flocking to the foreclosure listings.  Act fast when purchasing a foreclosure because offers roll in. 

Get the foreclosure home inspected.  It is always advised to get a home inspected before purchasing it and this is especially true when putting in an offer on a foreclosed listing.  You want to make sure that any problem is disclosed before making your purchase.  Banks rarely inspect the home thoroughly because they have a large amount of foreclosures and do not want to spend any more money than they have already lost. 

SEARCH FORECLOSURE LISTINGS NOW

Always remember that the word "foreclosure" always perks buyers up because they think that they are getting a deal.  If you choose to purchase a foreclosed home just to fix it up and resell it be sure that you have enough cash to allow it to sit on the market for a few months when re-listing it.  The home will no longer be classified as a foreclosure home for sale and will be listed as a regular listing.  If priced right it will sell fast however there are more homes for sale currently than buyers.  Make sure that your home is priced a little less than others so that it sells faster.

Tips to Make Your Home Sell Faster

Need your home sold faster?  Follow these steps:

1. Put the clutter away -  If you have a built up of clutter or a room that you just throw everything into it is wise to rent a storage unit to make your home look more spacious.  It may cost $100 per month but that is nothing compared to how much more open your home will feel to potential buyers.  Since you have to pack it away anyways you might as well do it now so that it will benefit the sale of your home.

2. Neutralize and Depersonalize - If you have a bright red bathroom you may want to consider painting it a neutral color.  Potential buyers may frown upon rooms that are loud because they will know that they have to put more work into the home once they purchase it.  Assume people are lazy and do this yourself.  It will make your home sell faster.  Depersonalize your home by putting away family pictures and awards etc.  This will also help declutter your home.  Put up neutral paintings in their place.

3. Get Your Home Inspected - This will help ease the mind of potential buyers if this report is on the kitchen table as they look through your home.  It shows that you have done your homework and there are no hidden surprised with them making you an offer.  They will know the home condition upfront. Buyers like honest sellers.

4. Stage Each Room - Dont "repurpose" any room.  Arrange your furniture so that each room shines to its best potential.  Make sure that the sofa does not block the fireplace etc. 

5. Clean Your Floors - Get your carpets steamed cleaned and buff the hardwood floors if they are in bad condition.  This makes the house look kept and clean.  It will give the home a better look overall and appear cared for.  If you have dirty floors buyers are going to nit pick at everything else because they will think you have not taken care of the place.

Another thing you want to make sure that you do is price your home right.  Consult your realtor to help understand market trends and listen to their recommendation.  Using a real estate agent that can sell sell sell will give you the best advice.  If you are in the Schaumburg, Illinois area we recommend using www.AaronWittenstein.com. He has a proved track record and can market your home using the most advanced technology available.

I Need My House Sold Fast

Are you in a financial bind and need your home sold fast?  Many people get stuck selling their home in a short sale to avoid foreclosure.  Losing your job or getting into a financial bind is becoming more and more common.  People who never would have thought they would be in this position are being forced into a corner. 

The solution: putting your home on the market as fast as possible to get the most value out of it will get you farther than waiting for your financial situation to get better.  Listing your home with a real estate agent rather than trying to sell it on your own will also get your home sold faster.  Pricing it according to market value or a little bit under will attract the right buyer. 

 Does Craigslist really work getting my home sold?  The answer varies from state to state and depends on the amount of web traffic the real estate section of craigslist is receiving.  Looking for a real estate agent that presents their listings in a professional manor on Craigslist will help bring in more buyers than an open house ever will.  Using a real estate agent that is up to date on technology is something that most buyers do not look for.  They look for someone who has a lot of listings because they appear to be doing a large amount of business.  This can be deceiving.  Do research and look on Craigslist for a realtor that knows what they are doing when it comes to the marketing of your home for sale.

What to look for in a realtor

Most people are under the assumption that listing their home with an experienced realtor is the way to go.  This is normally a wise decision, however with the market fluctuating and technology progressing, the way a home is marketed is changing.  20 years ago we didnt have the internet to rely on and went to a realtor to access listings.  Companies like "Buy Owner" pop up which charges one fee to list your home on the MLS without the assistance of a Realtor.  Many have had success saving money this way when going to sell their home.

There are many cases however, where people have their home listed on the MLS and it doesn't sell.  In fact no one even comes to look at it after its been on the market for months at a time.  Marketing the sale of your home is more complicated than ever now that every listing is on the internet.  Having a young Realtor who knows how to market your home on the internet can be more effective than using a more experienced Realtor that is not as up to date on technology.

 Before the internet, real estate agents held open houses to get buyers to look at the property for sale.  This was effective then but does not drive in large quantities of people at any given time.  With access to the internet buyers can tour your home with the click of a button allowing your home to be in front of more potential buyers.  It is a fact that if more people see your listing the better chance you have at selling your home faster and at a higher price.

Many people are under the assumption that if they try to sell the home independently they will get more money.  If no one is bidding or even looking at their home then they resort to lowering the price.  If a seller is going to lower the price of their home to attract more buyers then why not just hire a real estate agent and get the home sold faster?  This doesn't require a price reduction and your home will get more traffic from buyers.

All in all, regardless of preconceived assumptions give the young real estate agent a chance to sell your home.  That is your best choice over going with just a basic listing like the "Buy Owner" option or having a real estate agent that has been around for over 20 years list it.  Younger Realtors also do not manage as many listings as someone who has a larger client base.  They will focus their undivided attention towards one goal...selling your house using the latest marketing technology.

Tips on Selling Your Home in Schaumburg

Do you have a house in Schaumburg that you would like to sell? Selling a home in a market that fluctuates the way it does today is not always easy. Schaumburg is a town that has more people moving into it than leaving which is always a good thing.

Here are a few tips when going to sell your home in Schaumburg:

1. Price your home correctly - Consult a Realtor in Schaumburg to get the best market value for your home. Someone who knows the Schaumburg market well would be a Realtor located in the town that has the experience and knowledge it takes to get your home sold quickly and at maximum value. It is a known fact that your home will be sold faster if you list it with a Schaumburg Realtor rather than try to sell the home independently. We all know that time is money and when a property sits on the market for a long period of time the owner tends to lose money and ends up reducing the price to attract more buyers. This isn't always an efficient way to get maximum value for your home.

2. Get your finances in order - Start by getting your home appraised. Finding out the value of your home along with any problems that may come up during an inspection will give you an advantage. You will know where your Schaumburg home stands when buyers start coming to look at it and negotiate prices. The second part that is important to get approved for a mortgage. You can go through many companies to to get a mortgage but not all mortgages are good. Know the terms and conditions that you are getting yourself into before you commit to a mortgage company or bank. Consulting a Realtor can help give you an advantage because they work with mortgage companies all of the time and know who is honest and easy to work with.

3. Be a smart marketer - EVen if you do not have experience in marketing, it is not hard to know that when you are selling your Schaumburg home you want to have your home listed in as many places as possible. Your schaumburg realtor knows where people locally look for houses and will advertise on your behalf. If you get a good realtor they may even help pay for some advertisements in local magazines, papers and the internet.

Marketing for real estate keeps changing at a fast pace. Dont assume that you know how to market the listing of your home if you have never done it before or had success with it 15 years ago. Realtors in Schaumburg are up to date on the latest trends and usually have a monthly budget to work with already in place. Just because you think that taking out an expensive advertisement in the paper for the sale of your home is going to work because it once did years ago does not mean that it will work again today. Put your pride aside when it comes to marketing because the average person is not an expert. Some things should be left to a professional Realtor.

Additionally, giving buyers the signs they need to locate your home is increasingly important. Potential buyers may have a hard time finding your house no matter where it’s located, and using directional signs to ensure that your home will be seen is imperative. Count how many turns it takes to find a main street. The number of turns you make is the number of signs you’ll need.

4. Find a fixer-upper to increase value in short time - If you are looking for a place to live for a few years and want to make a quick dollar by fixing it up and selling it you can do it. This is a strategy that many people in progressive neighborhoods and towns take on and make thousands of dollars while doing it. Why not make real estate bring you riches while putting a roof over your head?

Small changes you make now – such as replacing outdated appliances, applying a fresh coat of paint inside and out, and replacing hardwood floors or carpeting – can help raise the asking price when it’s time to relocate at the end of your assignment. Upgrading too much or too little will be something that you want to avoid. Consult a real estate agent in Schaumburg for some upgrading advice and they will be able to tell you what is good to change and what should stay the same.

5. Do your research before relocating - Moving to a new part of the country can be overwhelming, especially if you have children in school. Check the details on school districts, neighborhoods and even find contractors online such as plumbers and electricians before you arrive. You can find most of this information online so it is accessible to you. Generally towns with larger populations have good and bad areas.

6. From Curb Appeal to Your First Open House - Curb appeal is the impression buyers get when they first pull up to a home. This can be something that makes a long standing impression on buyers. Make sure hedges, bushes and the lawn are trimmed, flowers are abundant and fences look brand new. A fresh coat of paint makes a home look cared for.

All in all there are many things that you can do to make your home sell faster and at a higher price. Contact a Schaumburg Realtor for help when purchasing a home in the Schaumburg area.

Real Estate in Schaumburg, Illinois

Are you looking to purchase a home in Schaumburg, Illinois? Schaumburg is a pristine community that has a good variety of people. The school district is one of the best in the state of Illinois with some of the highest paid teachers. Schaumburg is a family oriented community that continues to grow each year. Property value in Schaumburg has retained its value even when the economy fluctuates.

Real estate in Schaumburg Illinois thrives throughout year to year. If you are a buyer looking to purchase a home in Schaumburg check out AaronWittenstein.com. Aaron is on of the best realtors in Schaumburg and can help buyer purchase a home or sellers get top dollar for their home in a timely manor.

For updated listings in Schaumburg click here. Buyers who are represented by a realtor tend to have an easier time finding what they need and getting the price that they are looking for. How do you know what to look for when purchasing a home? How do you know what to do to get your home prepared to sell? Below is a solid guideline list for both buyers and sellers:

Exterior:

• Repair or replace missing and/or damaged fence slats, stakes and posts.
• Remove dead tree and shrubbery that it causing damage (or may cause damage) to the house
• Power wash siding, walkways, decks, under the eaves and anyplace where dirt and spider webs are a problem.
• The garage door should open easily and quietly.
• Clean grease and oil spots from concrete or asphalt surfaces.
• Polish door handles, door knockers and anything that should be shiny.
• Replace/repair any broken or unsightly items.. such as handles, mailboxes, lock pads.
• A fresh coat of paint anywhere, in or on a house says to buyers "this house is cared for."
• Make repairs to worn shingles or roofing tiles and gutter seams
• Clean out the gutters.

Interior:

• Rub a bar of soap on all window and slider tracks to aid in ease of opening.
• Keep stairways tidy and assure that all handrails are sturdy, secure and safe.
• Repair or replace missing or damaged tile, hardwood, vinyl and baseboards.
• Repair or replace or reface countertops: broken tiles, chipped laminate.
• Pay close attention to bathroom sink and tub surrounds. New caulking may be needed.
• Replace old, outdated and soiled carpeting.
• Re-enamel, patch or replace badly chipped or stained fixtures. Tub, tile and porcelain refinishers are often less expensive than purchasing new.
• Repair noisy or leaky toilets and faucets. Clean faucets filter screens for a nice even flow.

When purchasing a home it is important that major renovations had a building permit issued when they were completed. This ensures that your home was safely built according to state, county and city ordinances.

Schaumburg Illinois has one of the best park districts around offering services for residents of all ages. This includes sports, exercise classes, pools and much more. Do you own an airplane? Schaumburg has its own airport for the recreational aviation lover.

Schaumburg is a great place to live so take a look at our listings now!