Buyers

Buying a home is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make in your lifetime. It can be especially intimidating for first-timers – many tend to go with the first home within their price range, or just give up and continue renting once again.

To help you make the best decisions during the home buying process, here are a few helpful tips:

  • Work with a trustworthy and reliable real estate agent – Finding the right real estate agent is a key step in the buying process. An agent who knows the local area will be able to provide you with insider knowledge, show you listings that match all of your requirements, and represent your best interests during negotiations.

  • Get preapproved for a mortgage – Getting preapproved will give you an idea of how much you can afford, so you won’t need to waste time looking at homes only to find out it’s outside your price range. Be sure you have required financial information ready such as amount of income, savings, and investments to ensure a smooth preapproval process.

  • Search thoroughly – Be sure you exhaust all available options when looking for a home, including searching online, asking your real estate agent, and even exploring neighborhoods yourself and looking for “for sale” signs. Don’t forget to also ask your friends, relatives, and acquaintances – you never know where a quality lead on an available home may come from.

  • Seek out financing options – First-time buyers can look into first-time homebuyer programs such as an FHA loan, which only requires 3 percent of the loan value during closing.

Sellers

Putting a home on the market requires plenty of research, an organized marketing strategy, and lots of patience. One of the best ways to get ready is to simply know more about the selling process. Here are a few helpful tips to remember when selling a home:

  • Use comparable homes as references – Look for other listings within your neighborhood for homes similar to yours in terms of size, number of bedrooms, and features. This will give you an idea of your home’s current value, so you can come up with a realistic price range. Be sure to also consult your agent, so he or she can help you determine an ideal price point.

  • Get rid of clutter and depersonalize – Your goal is to get potential buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. Make sure each room has a clearly defined purpose, and is free from clutter. Don’t place anything that may draw too much attention, as you want buyers to think of your home as their own, and how it can fit their lifestyle.

  • Avoid going overboard with renovations – If you’re planning to renovate your home to increase its value, create a strategy that can help you make the most out of your money. It’s best to go with budget-friendly improvements that can create an immediate impact, such as repainting walls, replacing old kitchen cabinets, or sprucing up curb appeal.

Looking to buy or sell a home in Brevard County? Get in touch with the Garrett Bell Team at 321-537-6697, or send an email to [email protected]