Get Ready To Sell Your Home | Tips from the Experts at HomeCraft Team

Whether you're retiring, recently got a new job in another location, or it's time for a change, selling your home can be exciting. However, to get ready to sell your home—even if you're mentally prepared—many steps exist in the process. 

Follow these expert tips from the HomeCraft Team to help you prepare your home for the selling process.

Tip One: Price Your Home Properly

The first tip to get ready to sell your home is to ensure you're pricing it properly. Many factors influence how you should price your home, including: 

• The style of your home
• If it has a mortgage 
• The overall condition, including appearance and practical factors like if its electrical system is up to code
• Any add-on features like a pool or garden

Many homeowners undergo renovations before deciding to sell their homes. Some tricks can also help you sell your home for more than your asking price too. For example, if your home has a value of $500,000, pricing it at $490,000 can be enough to attract more potential buyers. 

You should also work with a real estate agent in Plymouth, MI, like the HomeCraft Team, to ensure you're selling your home at the right price.

Tip Two: Take Top Quality Photography

While you can't order a house on Amazon, home buyers usually begin their house shopping online before scheduling a house tour. 

You want to have high-quality pictures of your home, as well as video footage for a virtual tour. Our professional crew at HomeCraft Team can snap pictures of your home's most attractive angles. We also use drones to capture high-quality video footage. 

Top-quality pictures alone won't sell a home, but they can get a buyer interested.

Tip Three: Be Realistic About the Price

It's easy to overprice a home, especially if you put a lot of time and effort into its renovations or upgrades. However, you should always be realistic about the price and be willing to negotiate and compromise. 

External factors like the housing market and buyer competition can also impact your home's selling value. Sometimes it's even better to wait to sell your home. The right time of year can help you gain a better return on investment (ROI). 

Know your buyer also—for example, does your home appeal to people with more traditional tastes, or does your home have a more contemporary style?

Tip Four: Stage Your Home Properly

In today's digital world, properly staging your home is a huge factor to create the most interest. With a few quick keystrokes, buyers can easily look through dozens of homes. Sellers only have a short window to grab and retain a person's attention, and this is where staging matters. 

While high-quality photos are crucial, you also need to account for factors like your home's setup. Certain colors, furnishing pairings, and even furniture angles can influence a house's appearance. 

These factors can be subjective, but it's still smart to work with an interior designer and professional photographer. You may even want to do minor upgrades, like repainting a room or adding a couple more furnishings or furniture pieces.

Tip Five: Find the Right Real Estate Agency

Selling a home can be tough and hard to determine if you're pricing your home correctly. Making your home appealing to the right market or determining whether you need additional renovations are just a few of the factors to consider. 

However, working with the right Plymouth, MI real estate agent makes the process a lot less stressful. You want an agency that works with you from start to completion. The right agency helps you manage expectations while showing you ways to improve your home's ROI. 

At HomeCraft Team, our expert real estate agents can assist you every step of the way. We can properly stage your home and use traditional and modern marketing techniques to interest more potential buyers.

Your Real Estate Team | HomeCraft Team in Plymouth, Michigan

Many factors determine a home's selling success on the market. While some home sellers can take a proactive approach and handle a lot themselves, they might be leaving money on the table. To get the most out of your home, it's best to work with a professional team that can walk you through the entire process. 

At HomeCraft Team, our professional real estate agents bring over 40 years of experience helping home buyers and sellers throughout the southeast Michigan communities. With our assistance, you can get ready to sell your home by calling us today at (734) 329-0123!

5 Essential Tips for Home Buyers in 2023

In 2023, there are five tips for home buyers to help make the home-buying process less stressful. This guide from the HomeCraft Team will help you succeed in finding the right home. 

Whether you're looking for your dream home or want a home you can rent out as a side income, these solutions can help you on your journey. Read on to discover expert tips, including how to pick the correct Plymouth, MI real estate agency.

Tip One: Prepare Your Finances

The first tip involves preparing your finances and having a set budget in mind. The housing market is constantly changing, and many factors can affect a house's price, including: 

• Location 
• The style of the home
• The condition of the home
• Any add-on features, such as a pool 

You should save up for initial costs, including closing costs and down payments. Be sure to have good credit and, if necessary, take some extra time to build up your credit before trying to buy a home or connecting with a lender. 

Timing is also key, and the economy, interest rates, buyer competition, and more can impact how much a house may cost. A professional real estate agent from the HomeCraft Team can help determine the right time to buy a home. 

Tip Two: Understand Your Mortgage Choices

While mortgage lenders like to advertise the fact that they have many choices for home buyers, some mortgage options are better than others. 

While multiple mortgage options can be beneficial, it's better to aim for quality mortgage programs versus quantity. 

For a first-time home buyer, it's generally best to have a traditional 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Home buyers can explore other mortgage options, but experts recommend this mortgage for first-time buyers. You should also account for certain preferences, including: 

• If you're able to make a 3% down payment for a traditional loan 
• If you want an adjustable-rate or fixed-rate mortgage
• If you want to put 0% down as active military or veteran
• If you're planning to live in a home long-term

Tip Three: Look Out for Lenders

Tips for home buyers also include knowing how to pick the right lender. When searching for homes for sale in Southeast Michigan, you should work with a trusted lender because they're a significant part of the entire process. 

Note that your credit score and whether you owe debt can impact your ability to get approved for a loan. A better credit score and less debt mean a more advantageous loan. 

Sometimes it makes more sense to wait a year or two to build up your credit and pay off any debts you have before connecting with a lender.

Tip Four: Plan Your Timeline

Just like having a set budget in place, you should also construct a set timeline. 

Several steps to buying a home exist, including getting pre-approved for a loan, making a down payment, and paying closing costs. You also need to factor in aspects like cleaning and maintenance costs and how long your mortgage plan is. 

One thing home buyers shouldn't avoid is the home inspection. Inspections can cost between $300 and $800, but these inspections can assess a home's overall quality. You can also avoid homes with problems like mold or an outdated electrical system.

Tip Five: Find the Right Real Estate Agency

Buying a home in 2023 requires a lot of time, patience, and knowledge. While home buyers should strive to educate themselves, working with the right real estate agent in Plymouth, MI, makes a huge difference. 

As illustrated by the National Association of REALTORS®, 98% of homebuyers use a real estate agency or agent to help them buy a home. However, not every real estate agent is the same. 

Look for an agency that works hard to pair buyers with the right homes and that isn’t afraid to use current technology and new buying methods to do so.

Your Real Estate Team | HomeCraft Team in Plymouth, Michigan

Buying a home can be stressful without the right team, whether you're a first-time buyer or if you've dealt with the process before. For tips for home buyers, working with the correct real estate agent is the best solution. 

At HomeCraft Team, we bring over 40 years of combined experience in pairing buyers with their dream homes. Start your journey to your new dream home by calling our office at 734-329-0123.

Have you ever wondered where the name Bird School came from?

Our local Jim Salamay, just posted a very interesting article on his website in regards to the history of Nellie E Bird and her home in Downtown Plymouth. 

217 Ann Street was built in 1912 and was home to a very well-known Teacher and School Principal of Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (PCCS). Nellie E. Bird (Smith) was born on a farm in Salem Township on March 4th, 1882. After graduating from Ypsilanti High School, she received her teaching degree from Ypsilanti Normal School (now known as Eastern Michigan University) while she was employed by PCCS, she earned her Masters Degree from the University of Michigan. Mrs. Bird was married to Frederick Bird and they moved into this Plymouth home in 1917 with their 2 daughters. When the Birds moved to Plymouth, Mrs. Bird became a 5th-grade teacher at Central Grade School. Mr Bird passed away in 1922. In 1923 Mrs. Bird became the Principal of Central Grade School which was located in the same building as Plymouth High School (today is known as PARC) until 1950. Mrs. Bird also served as Principal of Starkweather School. In 1950 the Plymouth-Canton School Board voted unanimously to name the “new Elementary school” being built on Sheldon Rd after Mrs. Bird. In 1951 the Nellie E. Bird Elementary School located at 220 Sheldon Road in Plymouth was dedicated. (Go Thunderbirds!)

Buying a home can be very exciting but depending on the state of the real estate market it can present its challenges. Our recent market here in the Southeastern Michigan area has been what we call a sellers’ market.

WHAT IS A SELLER'S MARKET IN REAL ESTATE?

When buying a home, it is important to understand the different types of markets that exist. There are three common market times: seller’s market, buyer’s market, and a balanced market. A seller’s market exists when there are more buyers competing for homes than homes available to purchase. Without getting too specific we would calculate the number of months it would take the current inventory of homes to sell. When this number goes down, we shift towards a seller’s market and when this number increases, we move towards a buyer’s market.

For home sellers they love being in a seller’s market as most homes move very quickly however this time of the market is very tough for buyers. Once a buyer decides to purchase a new home being in the correct position to purchase with the right help makes all the difference.

Below are some awesome tips for buyers purchasing a home in 2019:

Get your Pre-Approval

One of the most important steps to purchasing a home regardless of the type of market is getting pre-approved. Why look at homes that you can’t afford or you’re not comfortable paying the mortgage. Before any seller looks at offers, they expect all buyers to be qualified. If you end up going up against multiple offers, then this pre-approval will make all the difference. Here at HomeCraft of Michigan we work with some amazing lenders that work when you need them not 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday.

Down Payment

Another big part of any agreement is the buyers down payment. If you have the money, then put a large deposit down to let sellers know you are qualified and have some money to work with if any issues come up during the escrow period. Putting down a large deposit also reduces the amount of interest you will pay over the life of the loan. When you’re looking at a 30-year mortgage this adds up quickly.

Be Ready to Work Hard

Since our current market conditions look like we will be in this seller’s market for a while longer you must be ready to see homes as soon as they hit the market. Most homes have multiple offers within the first 12-36 hours. If you are only able to see homes one day per week then you might miss out on some nice homes. In addition, a great agent can view properties for you if your schedule does now allow flexibility.

Select a Great Agent

Choosing a great agent that knows the area and has a team available to help can make all the difference. During these seller markets, it’s critical that buyer agents can accommodate your schedule when needed. Once you do find the right home this same agent will need to explain the process and make sure your offer has the best possible advantage especially when multiple offers are in hand.

Decide if you Need Contingencies

There are many reasons why sellers select certain offers over others. Most people think that it always comes down to price. We all know that price is very important however the more contingencies that your offer has the less likely it is to be accepted. For example, if you have a home to sell and the offer is contingent upon your home selling then your chances of winning a multiple offer bid are extremely low. Other contingencies that sellers don’t like to see are long inspection periods, appraisal contingencies, and extended lawyer review timeframes.

Stay Flexible

During a seller’s market when your dream home hits the market you must stay flexible. Most of the time buyers will need to offer over asking price but it does not always come down to price as mentioned above. Can you offer a flexible occupancy period, quick closing, inspection minimum, or free occupancy? All these options work great and help a seller decide what offer would work the best for them. If you’re working with a great buyer’s agent, then they will have already asked the seller the important questions so they can produce the best possible offer.

As you can see working with the right agent in this tough market can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes you just need to work with an agent that understands what is important to you plus can learn what the seller’s needs are to make a deal win/win for both sides.

Have you decided to purchase a new home in 2019? If so then reach out to us here at HomeCraft of Michigan. We are a local boutique real estate team that provides an exceptional customer experience. Most of our team has been in real estate for over 15 years and it shows. Don’t trust buying a home in this market to anyone. Here at HomeCraft of Michigan we are “Bringing the Craftsman Approach Back to Real Estate”

Call, Text, or Email us here at HomeCraft of Michigan:

734-718-8668 or soldbyhomecraft@gmail.com

In a sellers market, such as the Plymouth/Canton area, it is natural to wonder if you need to spend money getting your home ready for the market if you are thinking about selling. Many Plymouth/Canton homeowners think since inventory is low, that they can save money by not spending money on repairs, updates, or staging. Nearly every month we see examples where sellers save time on the market and net more money in the end by spending the time and money up front to get their home ready for the market.

Save Time

At the beginning of this year we had a referral contact us as they had a rental home where the lease was about to expire. The tenants already contacted the owners to let them know they were moving. It was about this time that the homeowners contact us to walk the property and give them a complete market analysis of the home including updates/repairs, staging advice, and a marketing strategy. Their home backed to a major road in the area and the area was very active. They decided to wait on listing their home while they did some repairs and obtained the city certifications needed to sell. It was awesome as they took almost all of our advice inside and out and the home was in great shape and ready to list. We went and toured their home to work out a timeline. At this point they told us since their home had a lot of traffic they decided to sell “For Sale by Owner”. We advised them that this was not the best choice as it was the hot spring market but offered to help them and guide them as needed. We checked on them ever week and they had a lot of traffic initially. Finally after almost 3 months on the market FSBO they let us take over. We went through our pre-marketing plan and then listed the home with new professional photos and set into motion our custom marketing plan. Within 1 week we had 16 showing and I personally showed the home twice. We sold the home for the exact list price that they had the home listed for almost 3 months. At the closing my clients looked over and asked why they didn’t listen months ago.

Make More Money

In another example, our team helped a seller just a few months ago. We consulted with the homeowners just after an identical town home went under contract. After meeting with us, they spent $3,000 on painting their home, de-cluttering and getting it staged. The result was a bidding war that ended up with them getting a cash offer that was $15,000 higher than they thought they would get and $5,000 higher than the other similar unit.

The Bottom Line

No one likes to put money into a home they are about to leave, but more often than not that upfront investment will save you time on the market, make you more money and create a lot less stress throughout the process. So where should you spend your money?

If there are any obvious repairs needed start there. Not only will these items scare away offers, but they will become negotiating items on home inspections.

Get a fresh coat of paint. Make sure you go with neutral colors.

Stage the home or hire a professional stager. Our team will give you advice on staging or hire a professional in the listing process because we think this part is so important.

Consider making some updates if needed. Updating appliances, flooring and counter tops can also go a long way.

Give your home some curb appeal. Make sure the home looks great from the outside.

Finally, do not let your efforts go to waste.

Over 90 percent of buyers see your home first online. Make sure the photography puts it in its best light. Nothing is worse than spending the time and money to get your home ready for the market and then cutting corners on the photography and wasting those efforts. Our team includes high quality photography and online videos optimized to attract more views than our competition so that you home is seen in its best light by the highest number of buyers.

If you have any questions about how to get the biggest bang for your buck when selling your home, for more information about our team check us out at www.robertyoder.com or email robertyoder00@gmail.com or call/text 734.718.8668 at anytime.

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We can definitely fill you in on details that are not listed on the report and help you determine the best home for you. If you are wondering if now is the time to sell, please try out our INSTANT home value tool. You’ll get an estimate on the value of your property in today’s market. Either way, we hope to hear from you soon as you get to know our neighborhoods and local real estate market better.