Something to Think About This Christmas

If you’re thinking about selling next year, the time to make a plan is now.

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First off, let me say merry Christmas and happy New Year to you. This year has been amazing for us. We’ve been able to help more than 200 families find a new home this year, which is fantastic.

A lot of people have contacted us recently who are thinking of selling in 2017. As a response, we have started setting up planning sessions for all of our clients that want to sell in the next year.

These planning sessions have worked well in the past.

We will sit down, go over when you want to move, where you want to move, and how we can get you there. This has worked well for us in the past, as it allows both the seller and their agent to feel at ease. It also helps the process go much smoother.

If you have any questions for us or would like to sign up for a planning session, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you.

Happy Holidays!

What All First-Time Home Buyers Should Know

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Being a first-time home buyer is very exciting, but there are a few things you should know and questions you should answer before starting the process. We’ve got the information for you today, and are happy to share it with you. Before starting the process of buying your first home, you need to:

Financing is an important part of the puzzle.

• Know what financing is best for you. If you qualify for certain programs through the state of Michigan, you may be able to get a $7,500 grant. There are also financing programs from the USDA and VA that don’t require any down payment.
• Know what you are looking for. What area do you want to live in? How many bedrooms/bathrooms do you want? What amenities do you need? Answering these questions will allow us to set up a profile for you on our home search website, which will only send you the listings that match your criteria.

Once you’ve found your dream home, we can go through it, take a look at everything, and advise you on where you should make an offer in the current market. It’s that simple!

If you have any questions for us or are looking to buy a home in Grand Rapids, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

How We Can Help You Buy and Sell Simultaneously

Bob tried to overprice his home to take advantage of the market. It didn’t work, but we were still able to sell his home quickly after an adjustment.

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We are here today with one of our great clients, Bob, to talk about his recent experience of buying a home and selling a home at the same time. I’ve been getting a lot of questions from people about how this can be accomplished, and I hope Bob’s story sheds some light on some ways how it can be done.

When Bob originally decided to sell, we met and discussed a lot of different things like the condition of his home, where he should be pricing, etc. At first, he decided against my advice and wanted to capitalize on the market by overpricing the house. After about a week with no bites, we met again and I advised him to come down to that original price we talked about at our first meeting.

After taking our advice, Bob’s home sold one week later. This wasn’t the only way we were able to help him through the transaction, however. After they got an offer, they faced additional challenges in the form of mountains of paperwork. It got so bad, they considered backing out of the deal.

Everything worked out in the end for Bob.

With our assurance and our staff’s assistance, we toughed it out and everything worked out in the end for Bob. Bob is grateful that we were able to resolve these issues, because he says if we hadn’t, they wouldn't have been able to. Trying to buy and sell a home on your own can be done, but it is not something we would advise.

If you have any questions for us or you need anything, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

A Cool Story About My Old Home

I wanted to share a really cool story about a house I used to own that fell on hard times. With just a little bit of help, this home that had failed to sell for nearly a year had a successful sale.

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I wanted to share a cool story with you today.

I used to own the house behind me in the video above a little more than 20 years ago, right here in the heart of Wyoming Park.

It was really cool because last summer I was looking over some expired listings and I noticed that this home was on the market for more than 300 days, and it kind of bothered me. I asked the owner for a walkthrough to determine why it didn't sell, and I was a little puzzled.

However, I gave them some hints for staging and some ways to make the house look a little better, including some awesome photography. When we got the house back on the market, it sold within five days!

The home expired at $120,000 but we sold it for $126,000!

The really great part is that it expired at $120,000 and we sold it for $126,000!

I really love working on projects for clients, so if you ever need any help any with real estate needs, give me a call or send me an email. I'd love to help you out!

How Can You Buy and Sell at the Same Time?

Buying and selling a home at the same time is contingent on clear communication and deliberate timing.

Selling your Grand Rapids home? Get a free home value report

 Buying a Grand Rapids home? Search all homes for sale

How can you buy a house if you already have a house to sell? The process is simpler than it sounds.

The first step is to go out and look at a couple of homes that you would like to buy. Once you feel comfortable with that, you would have a Realtor such as myself come over and take a quick look at your home and determine the exact price that it would sell for in a quick and efficient time frame. 

From there, you and your Realtor would communicate very clearly with the listing agent of the home that you intend to buy to determine what your game plan should be to complete the dual transaction. Your timing in this circumstance must be deliberate. With my clients, I typically institute a time frame of 60 days, which gives us time to sell the one house and have the closing done on the other. 

With my clients, I typically institute a time frame of 60 days to get the job done.    

So remember, timing and communication are key. This year, our team has handled more than 100 transactions where a homeowner has sold their house and bought another house in the same time period following that same formula, and we haven’t experienced a single problem with in any case.

If you have any more questions about buying and selling a home simultaneously or need help doing so, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. Just give me a call or send me an email, and I’d be happy to help you!

Home Inspection Tips From an Expert

As you know, when you buy a house, it’s a great idea to get a home inspection. Today I’m here with Brent Modderman from Integrity Inspection Services to go over a few things you need to know about the home inspection process. 

What do you look for in a home inspection? 

We are going to look at the overall condition of the home, inside and out. We start with the roof and work our way down to the basement. We’ll look at the heating and cooling system, electrical, and plumbing to make sure that things are done correctly. We’ll also make sure the foundation is set. 

We make sure the home is safe and in good condition for you.

Basically, we are looking to make sure that the overall condition of the home is up to par and that the property is safe. We also want to make sure that you know exactly what you are getting into with this property. 

How much does a home inspection cost? 

The home inspection runs about $350. If you want to know what the radon levels are in the property, the radon test will cost $125. Termite inspections cost $75. If you are buying an older home and want to test for lead paint, that will cost you $50. 

How long do home inspections take? 

Home inspections last about two hours on average. If you do the radon test, we do have to leave the test kit in the property for 48 hours. 

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen on an inspection? 

The weirdest thing was that I had various drug paraphernalia fall out of the ceiling on me. Of course, there are always some people who don’t quite pick up after themselves, even though they know their home is going to be inspected. 

If you have any questions for Brent, give him a call at (616) 581-8575, email him at IntegrityInspectionServices@gmail.com, or check out his website. As always, if you have any real estate questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Helping First-Time Buyers in Grand Rapids

I started working in real estate in 1992, and I have always enjoyed working with first-time home buyers. Right now, it is very important to do a strategy session before you go and look at homes. 

During the strategy session, I’ll ask you how much you want to spend each month on a home, and we’ll figure out what kind of loan program works for you. Some buyers use FHA loans, which requires a 3.5% down payment. I also work with a lot of veterans who can use VA loans, which requires no money down.

During the strategy session, we’ll make a plan to find your dream home.

Other buyers may need an RD loan program to buy a property out in the country. If you have 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% down, you can get a conventional loan. No matter what you need, the strategy session helps us set you up for success. 

Finally, we’ll go over what you’re looking for in a property: how many bedrooms do you want, how many bathrooms, and where do you want to be? Once we figure out what your dream home is, the real work begins. 

If you have any questions for me, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

What Does Our Inventory Tell Us About the Market?

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Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about our housing inventory and what it means. I wanted to talk to you about why the number of homes that are on the market is so important.

Housing inventory is a measure of the number of homes currently on the market. A good level of inventory is at least six months' worth of homes on the market at one time. The number of homes on the market does have a significant impact on your home’s value.

"With such a small supply, we have buyers stacking up."

With such a small supply, we have buyers stacking up who are all waiting for homes to be listed on the market. When we have a situation like this, it often can lead to multiple offers and offers above asking price.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you.

How to Find Your Dream Home in Grand Rapids

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The Grand Rapids market is awesome, but it’s not as hot as many people would think. Right now, you can list your house for sale. You can have an extended close or possession period. That gives you enough time to look for and purchase a new home to move in.

There’s not a ton of available inventory in our marketplace. However, if you plan ahead with extended timeframes, we assure you can find your dream home.

Who do you know that’s thinking about selling a house? We have a high demand in surrounding neighborhoods. As a local professional, I have several pre-approved buyers looking for a home of their home as well.

"Let’s plan ahead."

With that in mind, when you need to sell your home, you’ll need to buy one, too. Let’s plan ahead.

Additionally, my clients earn the most profit when their property is clean and organized. Before listing your home on the market, be sure it’s in pristine condition! Don’t miss out on top dollar.

If you have any questions about this topic, reach me by phone or email. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have!

What Happens After Your Grand Rapids Home Sells?

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As we enter May, it’s an exciting time in the Grand Rapids real estate market. Homes are selling very quickly.

Since houses are selling quickly, I like to get together with sellers and have a planning session with you to sit down and talk about your goals. What time of year are you looking to move? Where are you looking to move to?

Many people are starting by focusing on selling the home fast and selling for top dollar, but they’re not planning things like where they want to move.

I’ll get together with you and we’ll plan everything out and decide on important timelines.

Additionally when selling, it’s very important to have your house staged appropriately. I’ll visit your home and provide tips on placing furniture, cleaning the garage, or painting a wall or two.

We’ll also send out a professional photographer for amazing, high-quality photos of your home.

Then we talk about what your objectives are when pricing a home. Lately we’ve found that we’re getting multiple offers on homes. If we price on the low end, we can get multiple offers, and if we price on the high end, we might get an offer that’s above what you were even dreaming of. Both options can be very attractive.

I’d love to get together with you. Give me a call or send me an email, I’d love to work with you.

A Simple Strategy for Grand Rapids Buyers in Multiple Offer Situations

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As a buyer, there are a few things you can do to win a multiple offer situation. It can be a complicated process, but I’ve won more than 100 multiple offer bids with one simple strategy.

When we find a home that you love, if there’s a multiple offer situation, I call the other agent. I have great relationships with many of the agents in our area. I find out what the seller’s motivations are so that when we structure your offer, it lines up exactly with what the seller is looking for in regards to price and terms.

If you have any questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

What Are the Best Ways to Add Value to Your Grand Rapids Home?

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Today, our expert stager, Julie Stone, joins us to discuss the top three questions homeowners ask when she is on a consultation.

1. What color do I paint my walls? The color you paint your walls really depends on your hard finishes, including your carpet, your wood floors, and your countertops. If possible, we suggest using gray, as it is a color that is still "in" at the moment and works as a neutralizing force in your home. It makes your home look very updated when compared with the boring beige color that was "in" years ago.
2. How can I get the biggest bang for my buck? Whether you’re simply renovating your home or you’re trying to get your money back, everyone wants to know what they can do to add value to their home. Believe it or not, light fixtures will get you the biggest bang for your buck. You need to change out your brass fixtures to update and upgrade your home. Cabinet hardware is another inexpensive thing you can do to add value.
3. What big design trends are in right now? As mentioned earlier, gray walls are still huge. Surprisingly, another color that is hot right now is orange, especially in accessories such as rugs and pillows. Gunmetal finishes are also quite popular for appliances, silverware, and light fixtures, among other things.

When you do a walkthrough consultation with Julie, she will make a list of recommendations of items to do that will appeal to the majority of home buyers in every room. Whether it’s painting, carpet, light fixtures, or just rearranging furniture, she will identify all the things you need to change to make your home appeal to the largest number of buyers. Depending on the size of the home, the consultation typically takes about an hour and a half to complete.

If you would like to set up a consultation with Julie, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!

The Grand Rapids Market Today

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I’m excited to let you know the Grand Rapids real estate market is booming right now! Sellers are actively listing their homes and within two weeks, they’re already earning top dollar from a sale. It’s an excellent time for buyers and sellers alike.

If you hire our office, we’ll first visit your home and examine the property. We’ll let you know the true value and share staging tips. We want to add value to your home with simple fixes. Additionally, if you’ve attempted to sell your home before and it was unsuccessful, I can help you sell your home this time around! I might even be able to help you earn more money for your property compared to the previous agent.

Give me a call or send me an email today! Let’s work together. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have.

Why Is 2016 Going to Be an Amazing Year?

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We are really excited about 2016 here in Grand Rapids. All signs are showing that it's going to be another amazing year. Our team had a record year in 2015, as we were able to help over 200 families get into homes. We also ended the year highly ranked on Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com. 

We are very thankful for all the business and referrals we've gotten over the year. Thanks to all of you! Today we are going to talk about a few things that you should keep in mind if you are thinking about taking advantage of the conditions in our real estate market this year. 

The most important thing you can do in this market is plan ahead. You'll need to do some research on what homes in your area are selling for, and what price yours could possibly fetch. We would love to come out to your home and do a thorough market analysis, giving you the most accurate value possible. Give us a call and we can schedule an appointment.

One thing I also wanted to mention was to be wary of using automated home value estimators. Even ones like ours are prone to mistakes, as recently it valued a client's home at $125,000, when it was actually worth four times that amount. We apologize for that, but it's important to remember these estimates are just estimates. Having us come out to give you an accurate assessment by looking at your home in person is the best way to know your home value.

Another thing to keep in mind is that interest rates are incredibly low right now. I just talked to a loan officer, who told me you can get a 15-year mortgage for 3.75% interest right now. Rates have actually come down a little bit lately, but they are only going to go up from here on out. 

If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!