Ah, the good ol’ open house. For some real estate agents, it’s a staple of the home selling process. Other agents, however, like to tout their drawbacks and choose to not hold them.

Our friend Terry Waggoner, co-host of The Boom Real Estate Podcast, is in the former camp. He likes doing them. And lucky for us, he also likes making hilarious videos about them.

Hey agents, hop on our email list below. (All the cool kids are doing it!)

The post 6 Steps To Viewing An Open House (Hilarious!) appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Most of us out there in the really real world are just trying to save a buck… whether through extreme couponing or using a few less toilet paper squares in the loo. It seems like when it comes to sassying up your home, though, you can’t keep money from flying out the door. Well, we can help with some simple home hacks that will keep your money where it should be—in your piggy bank.

1. Add Some Mirrors!

Mirrors are great for giving the illusion of extra room and they’re also a great place for ghosts to live. Don’t believe us? Watch any horror movie, ever.

2. Add Smaller Mirrors!

With some rope and some glue you can make a great decorator piece… and you’ve just given the ghost something to strangle you with. Good job. Instructions found here.

3. A Chic Jar Organizer for The Wall.

Not sure what to do with your moonshine jars after you’re done drinking the night away? Well a cool wall organizer is a great idea! Here’s a video showing more.

4. Make Your Lampshade a Piece of Art.

I have no snarky comments for this. THIS is awesome. Instructions found here.

5. A Stylish Print for Your Curtains.

When you want to decorate curtains that only cover 1/8” of your windows, like in this picture, a colorful top print is the way to go. More details here.

6. Curtains Closer to Your Ceiling Make for Larger Windows.

This is a nice trick for making windows, and your room, look larger. If this information gets out, men will be hanging curtains above their belts.

7. Full Bath Dreams on Half Bath Budget?

Some floor to ceiling curtains will do the trick for opening up your water closet.

8. Spare The Rod, Spoil The Curtains.

An unusual curtain rod can show people your stylish side, or that you just simply ran out of curtain rods. More ideas here.

9. Ties for Your Curtain Will Impress for Certain.

Pretty self-explanatory. We just like our catchy rhyme. Other ways to decorate them here and here.

10. Get A Handle On Your Cabinets.

A new handle that is. Instead of a new cupboard or dresser, try some new knobs to give that old surface a new look.

11. Frame it Up.

In a move straight out of Pee-Wee’s playhouse, wrapping a frame around your television will give your entertainment room a catchy look. More ideas here.

12. Be Gone, Foul Wiring.

A simple use of a shower rod will hide those unsightly cables. Instructions found here.

13. Turn Those Cables Into Art.

With some staples, patience, and skill you can make designs out of those pesky wires that are such an affront to decorative tastes. See this example.

14. Create A Unique Headboard.

Shop class doesn’t seem so dumb now, does it? Instructions found here.

15. Make A Canopy for Your Bed.

With some shower rods, and a little effort, you can turn your can’t-o-py into a canopy. See this one a New York designer made.

16. Drawers, They Hold Stuff.

There is a lot of unused space (and monsters) under your bed! Slide a drawer under there to create some extra storage. See instructions here.

17. Ewww… Linoleum.

A fresh coat of paint will take care of that. Detailed instructions here.

18. I Saw A Ceiling And I Want To Paint It Black.

It gives depth and could possible cheer up your emo kid. See more photos here.

19. Mirror Screams, “I’VE BEEN FRAMED!!”

Adding a decorative edge to your mirror can liven up the bathroom. See instructions here.

20. Switch Out Your Switches.

Adding some color and decoration to your light switch panels can really put some pizzazz in your home. More design ideas here and here.

21. All That Glitters…

Is gold. Yes, adding some gold accents to the spaces in your home will bring new life to old décor. Learn more here.

22. Focus On a Wall…

An accent wall in a room will help make your living areas seem brighter.

23. A Rainbow of Options.

Using different color schemes can add depth to your room without doing any actual expansion! See example interiors here.

24. It’s Curtains for Your Bedroom.

Adding a curtain barrier can add some flare and illusory depth to your sleeping chambers. More photos can be seen here.

25. Radiating Warmth and Style.

Usually those are just fancy words to say what a fresh coat of paint can do for your household. Now, they actually mean what they say! Turn your radiator into a statement instead of an eyesore.

The post 25 Stylish Home Upgrades That Only Look Expensive appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Ask anyone that lost a house within the last decade since the housing market crashed, and I’m sure it was one of their hardest times in their life. Banks seemed to have no sympathy for people, and they were on a repossession spree for years when homeowners could no longer afford their mortgage payments. Not many qualified for refinancing because the homes value was significantly lower than what was owed, and therefore the market plummeted and created a wave of disgruntled, distraught, devastated, and now homeless, people in its wake.

A majority of homes that were foreclosed on were deserved, but there were a great deal that also weren’t. Well, a southern Florida couple got sweet revenge when they foreclosed on Bank of America, instead of the other way around. Watch the video below to learn how…

…and nevermind that this all went down in June, 2011; this story is timeless.

Via 2xtream

The post Homeowners Turn The Tables By Foreclosing ON Bank of America appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Via Flickr | George Bush Library | CC BY 2.0

We’ve already covered why your real estate agent is your best friend… but could an agent also be your best choice for President? I think so, and here are 11 reasons why.

1. Real estate agents are great at public speaking.

In fact, they spend at least 75% of their time talking to, lecturing, training, mentoring, and educating their clients and some co-workers. An agent wouldn’t even need a speechwriter because they can speak off the cuff and from the heart. You can trust what they say, too, because they tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Wouldn’t this be a refreshing change in the highest elected politician?

2. A real estate agent would reduce the national debt.

Real estate agents know all about managing money. Since it takes 30-45 days for a sale to close and earn a paycheck, agents learn to spend their money wisely and stick to a tight budget. They already are conditioned to account for money spent on marketing, office expenses, association dues and other things – so that would help when needing to revamp social security, government spending and how often to vacation in Hawaii. They know not to spend carelessly because they have to deduct broker fees and 30% in taxes from their checks, so having been self-employed would be a huge asset when running the country.

3. Real estate agents are always accessible.

They always answer their phones, and can also be reached via e-mail, text message, and various social media platforms, pretty much all hours of the day. It’s important to know that the Commander in Chief can easily be reached and will also “like” your posts and even re-tweet you. But, don’t call on the red phone!

4. Real estate agents are decisive.

They don’t dilly-dally around because they know that time is of the essence. When a situation arises, they would have no problems making tough decisions, like where to hide the Easter eggs for the annual hunt on the White House lawn, and whether to stock Coke or Pepsi on Air Force One.

5. Real estate agents don’t give false promises.

Not ethical ones, anyway—most of which are. Part of an agent’s job is to manage the expectations of a client, making sure to explain all the negative scenarios that might pop up along the way. With all the ups and downs of a real estate transaction, it’s never wise nor ethical to knowingly give false hope. Most agents know this and take this very seriously.

6. Real estate agents have no “quit” in them.

They’re 24/7 work-machines that run on little sleep and lots of caffeine and don’t shy away from hard work. In fact, the more challenging the task, the more it pushes them to work even harder to get the job done right and fast. There’s nothing more valuable to an agent than time, because time is money.

7. No tax money needed for an interior designer for the White House.

A real estate agent would have a ball staging and redecorating the White House because they know what’s hot and what’s not. They would respect the vintage feel, but also offer a creative touch to spruce the place up a bit. No need to contract out.

8. Real estate agents are master negotiators.

Every real estate transaction requires negotiating with all parties involved. This skill set would be instrumental in unifying congress, and the end result would be a happy America. Agents like making people happy, especially their clients. Having an unhappy buyer or seller is unacceptable and won’t generate any referrals in the future, so agents are good at keeping their cool and making clients feel they’re always their number one priority throughout all negotiations.

9. Transparent communication is second nature to a real estate agent.

The American people crave transparency, and they’d receive it at all times because agents are used to sending mass emails to everyone with a quick de-briefing. Agents appreciate clear communication from start to finish from all those involved in a transaction, so you can expect the same treatment from the Oval Office.

10. No one is a better listener than a real estate agent.

Americans want to be heard and to know their President cares about them. Agents spend most of their days listening to clients’ needs and wants, complaints and vents, and pretty much their whole life story.

11. Real estate agents thrive on helping others live the American Dream by becoming homeowners.

How much more American can you get?

My choice for President would be none other than Phil Dunphy. Phil, we need you to run!

Agents, there’s nothing more American than being on our email list. Show your patriotism by dropping your info. below.

The post 11 Reasons Why A Real Estate Agent Would Make The Best President appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Not everybody who posts to Craigslist is selling or seeking something; some use the platform to make a point. Such is the case with the anonymous Realtor who posted this “wanted” ad.

Via Craigslist

Realtor looking for people to do their job at a discount.

I am a Realtor and since people always expect me to cut my commission I assume they must also do their job, or provide their services, at a discount.

I am looking to hire all types of people to do all sorts of jobs for me, as long as I do not have to pay what you’re actually worth. I’m sure you have a lot of extra time on your hands and you probably make enough money anyway. Think about it, helping me will actually help yourself because I know a ton of people and I’ll tell them what wonderful (discounted) work you do.

So if you have a job or service you provide, and are willing to devalue your worth, please let me know because I’m sure I have work for you and will hire you in a second.

Feel free to email me with the service you can provide, when you can start, and please include references.

I look forward to your discounted service.

Thanks,

:)

Is it snarky? Absolutely.

Funny? You decide.

But one thing’s for certain: it’s rooted in the truth of what most real estate agents face on a regular basis.

Fact is, most people don’t really understand what they do to earn their commission and how they get paid. This causes the misconception that agents aren’t worth what they’re paid. Or that they live “high on the hog”.

Not hardly. After marketing fees and dues, agents earn about 1.5% per transaction on average. It’s expensive to be a real estate agent. Just have a look:

Some Common REALTOR® Expenses:

• Broker Fees
• MLS Fees
• NAR Fees
• E&O Business Insurance
• Extended Auto Insurance
• Self-Empoyment Tax
• State Licensing Fees
• Advertising Fees
• Showing Service Fees
• Website Fees

• Assistants salaries
• Yard Signs
• Photographers
• Videographers
• Office Supplies
• Business Cards
• Property Flyers
• Electronic Lockboxes
• Continued RE Education

You can view the original ad here, and if you’re thinking of getting your license, read this Open Letter To Anyone Considering Becoming A Real Estate Agent

The post A Realtor Used Craigslist To Say What Most Realtors Are Thinking (But Few Actually Say) appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Spring has sprung, which means it’s the perfect time to get the outside of your home in top shape before the summer months. A little sprucing can go a long way with enhancing your home’s curb appeal. In fact a property’s outdoor appeal can dictate people’s home buying decision. And while it’s not always necessary to keep a perfectly manicured lawn and flawlessly trimmed trees and bushes, little updates and refreshers, such as washing the windows and re-painting the front door, can make a positive impact. Plus, yearly maintenance can prevent big, costly overhauls down the road.

Use this infographic from The Grass People to hit all the bases—from the lawn and gardens to outdoor lighting and walkways.

Via The Grass People

The post Use This Spring Clean-Up Guide To Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

If you’re looking to improve your home, of course you have to consider several things. First of all, will this improvement satisfy and fulfill a need? It’s important that you answer it truthfully because home improvements are generally expensive so at least make sure you are aware of your needs. In addition, will you be able to afford it? There are a lot of home improvement ideas, some affordable and some are expensive. The good thing is depending on your need, there’s usually an affordable and more expensive option.

Another Factor to Consider

The factors listed above are for the present. As a homeowner, you also have to consider the future. In this case, you have to consider how this improvement is going to help you in the future.

It’s not just about making sure that this investment will last a very long time. Hiring a reliable contractor can help make sure of that. You also have to consider how it’s going to affect your home’s resale value. This is true even if you’re not really planning on selling your home. Who knows what the future holds?

If you’re going to invest in a home improvement project, at least make sure that it will help increase your home’s resale value. This way, you’ll be able to recoup a good part of your investment when you do decide to sell your home later on.

The Best Home Improvement Ideas

Here are the best home improvement ideas that not only satisfy and fulfill a specific need but also help increase your home’s resale value:

• Garage door replacement
  This is actually something that you can do right now because it’s very affordable. On average, it will just cost you $1,595 to have a better looking (and functioning) garage door. It will increase your home’s resale value by $1,410 so that’s an investment well spent.

• Vinyl siding replacement
  Curb appeal matters when it comes to determining a home’s resale value and vinyl is king when it comes to siding. Spend $12,013 on vinyl siding replacement and based on the national average, you can expect to recoup 80.7% of your investment when you sell your home later on.

• Wooden deck addition
  A wooden deck is not only beautiful; it’s highly functional as well. This is why it’s not a surprise that it improves the home’s resale value by $8,085. Not bad for a $10,048 investment.

• Minor kitchen remodel
  The kitchen usually makes or breaks a deal so make sure that you’ll have a kitchen that prospective buyers would love. Homeowners spend $19,226 on average for a minor kitchen remodel but they’re able to recoup 79.3% of their investment because buyers are generally willing to pay $15,255 more because of the remodeled kitchen. Here’s a REALLY minor kitchen remodel that yielded major results!

Other Ideas

Check out this infographic by Contractor Quotes to learn other home improvement ideas that can improve your home and increase its resale value.

Via Contractor Quotes

The post 14 Best Remodeling & Home Improvement Ideas To Increase Your Home’s Value appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

This list is not in any particular order. Number 1 isn’t more severe than Number 10.

1. They get pre-approved before talking to an agent.

Let’s make sure we’re being clear on one point. Most agents want their clients pre-approved before showing them properties. The difference is that clients get pre-approved before talking to an agent. But here’s something to think about. Only 32% of home buyers report a positive experience with their lender. Over 1/3 of home buyers reported a “very to extremely stressful” home purchase. Why?

Because their lender can’t close on their deal.

Agents are known for being able to close deals. And agents work with lenders who they know can close on a deal. If a lender can’t close the loan, you don’t get your house and nobody gets paid.

A few months back, I watched in horror as a lady-client was badgered nearly daily by a loan officer who could not get her home loan closed. We finally had to switch lenders and the new lender closed the loan in 2 weeks. Just for the record: a recent report indicated that only 32% of home buyers had a positive experience with their LENDER. Listen to your agent!

2. They get a new credit card.

For some reason, when shopping for a home or even in escrow, people seem to want a new credit card. If you’re shopping at a clothing store and the cashier asks you if you want to save 10% by getting a store charge card say NO! A new credit card means they will run your credit which drops your credit score. And because you were approved, the lender now sees you have a new credit card with a new debt limit. Both the credit score drop and the credit limit impact your loan.

This is what I did as my mistake new home buyers make. I did this when I bought my first property. Two days later, the lender called me absolutely irate because my credit score dropped, thereby increasing my monthly payment and almost disqualifying me for the loan. All that to save $20.

3. They run up their credit cards.

Right in the middle of escrow, little Jimmy has a birthday and we MUST buy him the latest X-Box with the newest World of Warcraft. Oh he also needs that gorgeous iPad pro! BAM! Little Jimmy is happy and the world is a better place.

Not so fast. Charging up your credit card has a snowball effect on your home buying process.

There is a direct relationship between credit card balances and your credit. Look at what happens with you credit card balances.

• As your credit balance increases, your credit score decreases.
• As your credit score decreases, your interest rate for your home loan increases.
• As your interest rate increases, your monthly mortgage payment increases.
• As your monthly mortgage payment increases, the amount you can borrow decreases.

Little Jimmy will live just fine without a new BMW for his birthday.

Unfortunately, this is a common mistake new home buyers make. It comes from old habits, whereby credit cards finance happiness. The best advice I can give is that you do NOT touch your credit cards at all during the escrow process. If anything, pay them down.

4. They buy a car.

WHY?!? You’re buying a new house and you need a new car?!?! I get it. You’re buying a new house so why not have a new car to go with it. Right? Wrong! Unless you’re paying cash, you’re going to have to finance that car. And when you finance your car, it affects your finances. See bullet point 3.

Unfortunately this one stays with you for the duration of your lease or until you’ve paid off your car. Again, the charge on your credit is seen almost instantly by the lender, thereby raising your interest rate and raising your mortgage payment. Usually this demolishes a buyer’s plans on purchasing a home.

This ranks up in the top 5 mistakes new home buyers make. The excitement of purchasing a new home goes to their heads and they suddenly want a new car. After escrow closes, then you can buy the new car. I don’t recommend it but go ahead if you must after escrow.

5. They change or quit their job during escrow or go on maternity leave.

Some friends of mine were expecting their first child. She went out on maternity leave 5 days before the end of escrow. Wouldn’t you know it: the lender called a day later to verify employment and freaked out to find out she wasn’t working anymore. The loan officer had to pull a miracle out of thin air to prevent them from losing the house. Wait until AFTER the close of escrow to change jobs.

This is what I call one of the “unknown” mistakes new home buyers make. Essentially when you’ve been pre-qualified, you should put your entire life on hold. No job changes, no new credit cards, no new charges on your credit cards. Nada. Don’t do anything.

6. Not Knowing the Neighborhood.

I often equate house hunting to dating. It’s easy to fall in love with someone until you meet their nightmare family. Same with a house. You fall in love with this property and you absolutely MUST have it! Forget the neighborhood!

When you buy a home, you’re also buying the neighborhood.

A few things. First: your agent should be able to give you data on the neighborhood so you know how the neighborhood is doing economically. Second: your agent should be able to tell you about any surprises going on in that neighborhood. Third: always visit the neighborhood late on a Saturday night. What do you hear? Oh look! There’s a Death Metal Mariachi Club that comes alive at night that caters exclusively to meth dealers and biker gangs. Discounting the neighborhood is another of the common mistakes new home buyers make.

7. The Commute.

You’re in love with a home that’s two hours away (factoring in traffic) from your job? Sweet Moses smell the roses! That’s four hours a day, five days a week. That’s 20 hours of your life every week that you’re not getting back. Maybe its best to consider the time you’ll spend in the car, away from your family and life in general. People do make that trek every single day. All the power to them!

If you grind this drive every day, it will wear on you. Most people, confident they can handle it, start envisioning a commute that is 15 minutes and not 2 hours. Unfortunately you’re stuck in your house for a few years before it becomes monetarily sane to sell and find some place closer to your work. Underestimating the commute is another common mistakes new home buyers make.

8. They count on appreciation.

Appreciation is how much a home’s value will increase (or decrease) over time. Markets go up, markets go down. It’s a fact of life. While everyone certainly remembers the housing crash that started in 2008, they forget that the mid 1990’s was also another crash. There was also one in the 1980’s. The 1970’s and 1960’s had one as well. Actually every decade has experienced a housing crash. It is not a question of “if” but “when”. My axiom is that there’s never a bad time to buy but there are horrible times to sell. Your long term focus should be on paying down your mortgage and becoming debt free.

I hear clients say “Yeah, I’ll buy this house and in 2 years my house value will have doubled!” Um… no one guarantees that and you shouldn’t think that way.

9. They use “Uncle Bob” as a home inspector.

Home inspections usually cost $300 to $400. But Uncle Bob is a contractor! He can do it for free! Have a professional home inspector do your inspection for you. Every qualified home inspector has a detailed list of EVERYTHING that needs to be inspected in a house. Your Uncle Bob won’t and usually doesn’t. When negotiating with the seller, the only source a home buyer will have to use is the home inspection report. If it is not listed in that report, you won’t be able to negotiate with the seller on any needed repairs.

It’s the buyer’s responsibility to make sure the inspector they use is qualified, certified and thorough with their home inspection.

Again, your agent has a ready-made list of inspectors who are top-notch.

This is not one of the common mistakes new home buyers make. It only seems to impact those people who feel they must always “have the deal”. They start looking at ways to cut corners. When you’re making your biggest financial investment decision, now is not the time to cut corners.

10. They buy with emotions.

House hunting is like dating. You’ve discovered your big “Why I want to purchase a home.” You’ve made a list of all the items that you need to support your vision. Suddenly you see a house that you absolutely MUST have. You’re dancing barefoot in the tulips! The problem is the house doesn’t have anything you indicated that you need. But you MUST have it! You lose your head, overpay for the house and forgive all those problems with it.

A year later, you’re miserable. All those problems your inspector found now haunt you and your wallet. This is the problem when you buy a home based purely on emotion.

The flip side to this is that you fall in love with a house, put down an offer, and you don’t get the house. Someone put in a better offer and that was accepted. It happens.

This is the most powerful of the mistakes new home buyers make. Emotions can get the best of us. That’s why it’s important to make sure you remain focused on your “Why” and keep looking for a house.

Summary

There’s probably a myriad of other mistakes new home buyers make but these are the ones I’ve witnessed more times than I can count. At the end of the day, the biggest mistake is that new home buyers ASSUME that once they are pre-approved that everything is set. They don’t realize that the lender is watching their finances very closely. Any change and they are all over you!

About the Author:

Cliff Duvernois

Entrepreneur, Real Estate Specialist, tech nut, resident of Long Beach and lover of Twinkies. Part-time film maker. Education serves as the backbone of my customer service. Making my clients the most informed and educated that they can be helps to better achieve their goals and objectives.

The post 10 Mistakes New Home Buyers Make appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Via bigstockphoto.com

If you’re old enough to remember the 1980s, you remember when everyone had that friend, family member, or acquaintance who tried their hand at becoming a real estate agent. Somewhere along the line, real estate became perceived as a glamorous, easy job that anyone could do. But if you’re seriously considering getting into real estate, you should know that it isn’t glamorous or easy. It definitely attracts a certain personality type — strong, independent, and willing to take responsibility for their own success. That’s why not everybody makes their real estate career last! Read on to discover 5 real confessions of successful real estate agents and decide if you have what it takes.

1. You can’t snap your fingers and get your real estate license.

Yes, it’s true that in most states, it only takes a few months to become a licensed agent. That’s why so many people are drawn to the idea of giving it a shot. But that doesn’t mean it’s an easy thing to achieve! The state licensing exams are far from simple. Even these days, when it’s easier than ever to get your real estate license online, you have to invest time and money into understanding laws and procedures inside and out. Don’t wait until you’ve finished training to interview brokers, either. It’s not uncommon for a brokerage to ask for additional coursework before letting you jump into the field. This often means even more cash is coming out of your pocket.

2. Don’t expect to work a little and make a lot.

How much do Realtors make? It’s enough to make the cost of getting trained and licensed worth it, right? Well, not for everybody. The idea that Realtors have a ton of free time and make huge paychecks is a myth. In reality, it all depends on the sale. Once you start working for a brokerage, they will take a large portion of your commission. Not to mention what you owe in taxes. You’ll also need to use some of the money you have left for business cards, flyers, and other promotional material. Factor in the many hours you spend driving around, answering emails, and talking to the client, mortgage company, and everyone else involved in a home sale, and it’s daunting math. You might not necessarily be making the big bucks for all your hard work.

3. You have to be the best salesperson around.

A shy person might hesitate to become a Realtor, and with good reason. You’re selling homes (actually, lifestyles) which are enormous and important purchases, and that means you have to be better than the average person in sales. Real estate agents can gain the reputation of being sharks. They’re often aggressive because they have to be. In every major city, there are thousands upon thousands of real estate agents, and each one depends on commission to make a living. That doesn’t mean that you should be pushy. The best real estate agents know how to network within the industry and gain the trust of their clients. It definitely requires talent.

4. Dealing with clients can get wild.

Sure, buyers and sellers might think of real estate agents as unpredictable sharks with questionable negotiation tactics. But what about them? The clients acquired by a real estate agent can vary in crazy ways… and some can actually be crazy. Many real estate agents answer late night phone calls from buyers in tears, cracking under the stress of deciding on their first home. Others are simply impossible to please and looking for a combination of amenities that is either way out of their budget or simply impossible to find. Sometimes, the process of buying or selling a home will reveal cracks in a marriage, and then the real estate agent is right smack in the middle of a couple’s war!

5. Being your own boss is actually cool.

When you begin researching how to become real estate agent, the reality can feel a little daunting. But if you’re the type of go-getter who actually enjoys knowing that nobody but you is in charge of your success, you could end up loving this job. There are plenty of days you’ll end up working from the couch in your pajamas, fielding phone calls and thinking up your next strategy for a sale. You have to be a strong organizer and a jack of all trades, but if you can make the industry work for you, there’s no more powerful feeling.

So there you have it. Becoming a real estate agent is not for the faint of heart, but it’s a great job for the right kind of person. You’re part salesperson, part therapist, and part police officer — at least when the neighborhood kids start terrorizing your next open house.

Oh, one last thing. Don’t even think about jumping into real estate without reading this Open Letter To Anyone Considering Becoming A Real Estate Agent.

Alicia Hill

Alicia began her career as a class consultant for the training centre for sales & business development and now works for Real Estate Academy Australia, a company which offers real estate courses in Queensland. If you like her work, find more of her pieces on Twitter.

The post 5 Confessions on Becoming a Real Estate Agent appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Selling your home? Every seller wants the same thing: to sell their house for the most money possible, as quickly as possible. This is exactly what your real estate agent wants too. That said, there are usually two things keeping this from happening: price and condition.

Price and condition are always the deciding factors for buyers, and they also affect the amount they may offer. Luckily for you, these are also the only two things you have control over!

So let’s take a look at the top five mistakes you may be making if your home hasn’t sold yet.

Mistake #1: Thinking your house is special.

As a homeowner, you are proud of your home. You might even think it’s superior to all others in your neighborhood. This might be because of the time and money you spent remodeling it. Perhaps you hand-picked every slat of Brazilian Hardwood and personally laid it, or chose a ridiculously expensive gold leaf wallpaper that you just had to have. You may assume if you spend a lot of money on bells and whistles, that MUST make it worth more, right? Wrong.

Buyers are looking at your home, trying to envision it as their home. They’re easily distracted by your loud, hot pink bedroom walls and won’t consider that it was a custom color made to match the loud pink zebra comforter and matching curtains. They’re also mentally calculating how much money they need to spend to refinish those hardwood floors, repaint and have that wallpaper removed.

You must understand your house isn’t special to anyone but you, so it’s always best to cater to buyers by showing them your home’s cleanest, most neutral face. You need to clean your home until it shines, ditch the clutter, paint, make needed repairs, and keep up with your landscaping.

You need to trust your real estate agent (not Zillow) on where to price your home. And remember one important thing: Just because you spent $50,000 on a kitchen remodel doesn’t mean you’re getting every penny back (despite what your shoebox full of receipts might be telling you).

Mistake #2: Thinking you’re a salesperson.

As a seller you may think you’re being helpful by sticking around during showings to help agents and potential buyers see how special your home is. You might think the buyer’s agent can’t possibly know how to showcase your home as well as you can, or have any clue what the really important things are to point out.

So you stick around, you smile super big and you’re super nice to everyone. You point out the hardwood floors, custom wallpaper and things that you love about the house, because you are a better salesperson than some real estate agent who has never lived there, right? Wrong!

Actually, you’re not coming off as super nice, but annoying (at best) and more than likely cocky or creepy (hey, just telling it like it is). While gushing over all the things you love, those may be the very things the buyer hates.

The best thing to do is leave the house and give the buyers some space. Buyers want privacy. They don’t want to be cornered into awkward small talk with the homeowner or feel rushed when making the most expensive purchase of their life.

Mistake #3: Thinking they will come back.

Imagine you had a long day at work. It’s a hot, muggy day. Your car’s air-conditioning is acting up, making you stick to your seats on your longer-than-usual commute home. Your kids are bickering and everyone is starving. Then your phone rings. It’s your real estate agent calling with a last-minute showing request… in ten minutes. This is NOT what you need right now, but you want to sell your house.

You have two choices. Option A: plead for the showing to be rescheduled, because you mistakenly assume the buyers and their agent will gladly rearrange their schedule around yours and come back.

Or, Option B, remind yourself that you want your home sold, and these buyers may only have the next hour or so to see as many homes as possible before making a decision because they’re relocating from out of state (or whatever their unique situation may be).

Never, ever, go with Option A.

No matter how you feel or what kind of day you’re having, you need to be accommodating. Sometimes you just have to bend over backwards. Buyers hold all the power because they’re the ones with the money and ability to make your dream of selling come true.

So as you load up your hungry, fussy kids, you smile and wave as you back out of the driveway and head to the nearest drive-through. You’ve made the right decision! You realize you must suck it up and make your house available… even when you really don’t want to, because buyers will rarely come back at a better time.

Mistake #4: Not being willing to negotiate.

So you got an offer on your home, and you accepted it! Congrats! Regardless of how long your home had been on the market or what the final terms are, this is exciting because it means all the showings are over and you’re roughly 30 days away from closing.

After the home inspection, the buyers ask for some repairs to be made, or possibly for you to purchase a home warranty for them or assistance with closing costs.

Most buyers will ask for those things; it’s nothing to get bent out of shape over.

This is where you, the seller, need to be willing to meet in the middle and show the buyer that you’re serious about selling. Otherwise you risk your deal falling apart and being stuck with the house which you’ll eventually shell out more money to fix anyway.

Sure, you can always re-list your home, but it may sit on the market for 30, 60, 90 days or more. Meanwhile you’ll have to deal with more showings, keeping the house spic & span, and losing sleep due to the anxiety of the unknown.

Please remember that this pending sale on your home has contingencies, and it could fall apart for a number of reasons. The appraisal is one contingency; the home inspection is another. Both of them may require you to be flexible and willing to negotiate. If you aren’t and the deal falls apart, then you have no one to blame but yourself.

Also, your first offer is usually your best offer, and oftentimes your only offer. Once you secure an interested buyer, you need to trust your agent and work with them and your buyers to get the home sold and not waste time on bickering over a $100 light fixture or $400 home warranty.

Mistake #5: Pets.

Last but not least, not everyone is a pet lover. Many people are allergic to cats or dogs, or have sensitive noses that can smell urine and stinky litter boxes on the other side of the house.

When you’re selling your house and you have pets, you really need to make the home look and smell as if no pets ever stepped foot in it. Your cat’s favorite spot on the couch that’s coated with 4 inches of matted fur needs to get scraped off (with a lint roller a few hundred times if need be). The food bowls, cat trees, pet toys, pet beds, scratching posts, cat condos, etc. need to be out of sight too. So do the fur babies themselves.

Before you leave, make sure your backyard is free of landmines. You may as well put Whiskers’ litter box in a garbage bag and store it in the garage or closet or someplace out of sight and smell.

When a buyer leaves, they’ll remember their first impression, so you want it to be a good one. Pet odor can be a deal breaker, even if everything else about your home is perfect.

To summarize…

Your home isn’t particularly special to anyone but you, so keep it clean and showing beautifully and as neutral as possible at all times. Don’t try to be the real estate agent (i.e., be sure to leave the house during showings), and take the pets with you! Don’t assume that buyers will bend over backwards to see your house—you need to do the bending, and you need to be flexible with negotiations too.

If you follow this advice, you shouldn’t have a hard time selling quickly and you’ll avoid the unnecessary stress that many sellers endure because they become their own worst enemy by sabotaging their own sale.

The post 5 Ways Sellers Sabotage Their Own Sale appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

You’ve gotten pre-approved for a mortgage and are working with a real estate agent; you are officially a home buyer! This is a fun and exciting time in your life, and it can become very stressful if you let it. Buyers sabotage their dream of becoming a homeowner all the time, so here’s a list of what NOT to do if you want to live happily ever after.

Mistake # 1: STAY pre-approved

So many buyers get pre-approved for their mortgage and assume that it’s good forever. Not all lenders and real estate agents will take the time to explain the complexities that involve getting pre-approved, and therefore do not educate their client about how to STAY pre-approved. Your job, income, debt-to-income ratio, and credit score are all verified in order to determine if you can get a mortgage, and for how much you can borrow. This will be verified numerous times throughout the process, and up to the day you close on a home, so it cannot change! This means:

• NO new lines of credit can be opened.
• NO more credit card usage.
• NO late payments.

And please, for the love of all that’s holy in the world, do NOT go buy a new car or new furniture & appliances for the house you haven’t even bought yet. Wait until you close, and then you can put yourself into as much debt as you want. After all, it is the American way, right?

Mistake # 2: Dilly-Dallying & Delaying

You look online every day at homes, and your agent emails you with new listings that match your exact search criteria. When a home first hits the market, it’s like a shark tank and tons of agents and their buyers are circling it like it’s dinner. If you want to see a house, then you need to jump on it. I know you’re busy with work, or your kid’s baseball practice, or you need to go grocery shopping, or you don’t have a babysitter. The amount of obstacles are endless, but if you really want something, then you make the time to do it! Use an hour or two of vacation time and leave work early, or delay the errands, and bring the kids if you can’t get a sitter. This could be THE ONE, and you can’t see it on Monday and expect it to still be for sale by the weekend, when you have more time.

Mistake # 3: Writing a low offer.

In most areas, it’s a sellers’ market. That means that the seller has the upper hand because inventory is low and they have little competition. This means that YOU, the buyer, have a ton of competition and potentially dozens of other buyers wanting the same house.

This is not the time to write a lowball offer, “just to see” if you get it. Your real estate agent will run comps to make sure the home is priced appropriately, and they will negotiate for you on everything from the price, to repairs needed, to the date of closing. You need to trust your agent, and if you really WANT THIS HOUSE, then don’t mess around and lose it to someone else who wanted it more. Homes are worth what a buyer is willing to pay, so that sometimes could be less than asking price, or more than asking price.

Mistake # 4: Asking for too much from the seller.

Even if you write a full-price offer and on paper you look like the perfect buyer, you have to assume there is someone else even more perfect competing for the same house. You may need some help with closing costs, or you may not want to close for 60 days because you have to sell your current home first, or you may want the appliances or items that aren’t included in the sale.

Be careful about how much you ask for, because a seller will weigh all the pros and cons, especially in a multiple offer situation, and not necessarily accept the one that was for the most money. Another buyer may offer $5,000 less, but be able to close in 30 days, not need help with closing costs, and not want anything extra.

In the end, it still nets the sellers more money, and less time waiting. Your real estate agent will help guide you on making the best offer, so trust their experience and advice! If you need help with closing costs, it may be wise to not shop at your maximum approved amount, and you may want to start eating Ramen Noodles and PB & J’s for a while to save money so you don’t have to ask for so much.

Mistake # 5: Nit-picking the home inspection report

Every home has issues. Not one home on this planet will produce a perfect score on an inspector’s report. A home inspector will give you a thick report that makes it look like this house is about to blow up with all the code violations and recommended repairs. This does not give you the right to go back to the seller and demand it all be fixed, or try to get them to lower the price.

Depending on the severity of the needed repairs, sellers and buyers can work together to get those fixed or replaced if both agree, but a drippy faucet or few missing GFCI plugs doesn’t constitute you wanting $5,000 off the price of the home. The inspections are done for your protection, and so you know what you are getting into.

All homes are sold AS-IS, and it’s your job as the new homeowner to maintain the home and make any repairs needed once you own it.

Mistake # 6: Having Premature Buyer’s Remorse

Once your offer has been accepted, the appraisal is done, the inspection is done, and everything is hunky-dory – STOP home-shopping!

You are weeks away from closing and becoming a homeowner, and you see more new listings pop up that you think are better than the one you’re about to buy. You’ve invested money into this sale already, and you have a legally binding contract, so stop daydreaming about the “what-ifs” that other homes may offer, and focus on the home that is about to be yours. There’s no better deal out there if you got the house you wanted, and it’s passed all the contingencies.

You’re on the home stretch now, so stay patient and if you must shop online, then look for all the new furniture, paint colors, and updates you plan to do. Hoard the ideas on Pinterest or put things on layaway, and DON’T buy anything until you close. This has been a wild ride, and you really don’t want to start all over again!

The post 6 Ways Buyers Sabotage Their Dream of Home Ownership appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

DIY remodels are a dime a dozen on the internet, but it’s hard to pass up sharing one with such an amazing before and after. Imgur user, mysacrifice, and his father decided they were tired of having a shabby shed that looked like it might be a hiding place for Freddy Kruger’s slightly scarier cousin. With some skill, determination, and the appropriate materials, they created something which could potentially put She Sheds to shame!

It took a few days, a hammer, an angle grinder, and some tin snips to knock off the stucco and cut away the wire meshing that kept this “beauty” together.

The next step was to create a basic blueprint of their vision. This siding measurement accounted for a little waste, as they decided it was safer to over order the materials than not have enough.

Step by careful step, the wall replacement began!

Once the wall was completed, a pergola was constructed to add to the seating area. 2x4s were used for the construction so things wouldn’t look too bulky. Here they were bracing and leveling the main columns.

Perfectly fitting these notches with a circular saw, hand saw, hammer, and pry bar was probably like trying to shave with scissors. Still, with a bit of ingenuity they were able to get the job done.

That alone was worth some congratulations. Why not take it a step further?

How about some railing made from split 2x4s? Now that’s a complete seating deck.

You know, natural lighting is just what the doctor ordered to make a shed more lively. Especially when a friend has a free window you can use.

Once the cut was made, sweet sunlight was able to make their day.

The frame and window were fairly simple to install.

Some simple wood stain was used to seal the siding. One coat was used for protection, and later on a second coat was applied to the front to darken the wood.

The house wrap was carefully stapled up, and then the siding was tacked in place with deck screws on each end. More screws were applied later to secure the siding. After the job was finished, they had quite a bit of extra siding.

The extra siding was used to create a matching cover that hides the waterfall pump and filter for their koi pond.

Wow. Now that’s how you turn a shanty-town shed into something that adds relaxation, style and property value to your home!

H/T: The Chive

The post Shabby Shed Gets A Total Makeover Treatment, And It’s Impressive appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Via Big Stock Photo

Realtors and agents across the country dread the FSBO (For Sale By Owner), and it’s not just because these sellers are playing dress-up and pretending to be real estate agents. There are all sorts of headaches and hiccups that can happen when not working with a professional, and here are the top five:

1. Trust

A FSBO is the owner of the home they want to sell, and they are not a licensed real estate agent. They aren’t bound by the Code of Ethics that Realtors are, and may do and say whatever they want to get their home sold. This is like buying sand from a guy on the beach, or taking nutrition advice from Little Debbie.

2. Documentation

It is required by law for disclosures to be made about the condition of the home, and if any repairs were made. A real estate agent will have access to the database of paperwork and have it properly documented, and know how to pull records to verify there aren’t outstanding liens, assessments, or back taxes owed. A FSBO may not even know this documentation is required, and possibly may try to cover things up.

3. Negotiation

Throughout a real estate transaction, there are so many back and forth negotiations going on you’d think it was a tennis match. This is because real estate agents are hired to best represent their clients, and there are so many complexities involved, including: the offer, closing date, financing terms, comps, appraisal report, inspection report, daily occupancy rate, and more—so it’s best to let the professionals handle it all. FSBOs, on the other hand, are representing themselves and don’t care what you need or want.

4. Finances

It’s easy to assume that a FSBO is broke; otherwise they would’ve hired a professional real estate agent. If the seller is broke, then what happens if the home doesn’t appraise? Or if the inspection report reveals the furnace and roof are on their last leg and need replacing? It’s also easy to assume that a FBSO is just cheap; otherwise they would’ve hired a professional. This may be worse, actually. Do you really want to buy a house from someone who might have also cut corners on their home instead of paying a professional to fix the plumbing, electrical, roof, etc.?

5. Sense of urgency

Anyone who wants to sell their home, and wants it to sell it quick, will hire a real estate agent to get the job done. Maybe the sellers are relocating, or need a larger home and want to move over the summer before the kids go back to school. Or, maybe they’re just really smart and trust a professional to do the job right! You won’t find as much urgency with a FSBO, because most times they have no clue where they’re moving or when. And according to a recent news report, you could even run into problems getting them to vacate after closing!

In summary, why do some people think they are qualified real estate agents and list their homes FSBO? Statistics show that an overwhelming 85% of them do list with a real estate agent eventually, so that speaks volumes. As for the 15% that don’t? Well, most will probably die trying… in the same house that’ll be eventually sold by a real estate agent.

The Bottom Line

There are some wonderful homes on the market that are listed by owner. It’s not that you should necessarily turn a blind eye to them; rather, don’t go into the situation alone. If you don’t have an agent, hire one to represent your best interests. And if you already have one, now is NOT the time to go rogue. Oftentimes the only thing that’s able to salvage a FSBO deal is the help of an experienced agent.

The post 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Buy A For Sale by Owner (FSBO) Home appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

It’s hard to believe Disney’s Frozen came out just a few years ago. The movie and its infectious ballad “Let It Go” have become so ingrained in today’s pop culture, it seems like Frozen has been with us all along (especially if you have kids).

But something’s missing in the lyrics, don’t you think? Hmm. Needs a little more…

… real estate!

Enter Andrea Madison Romero of “Shake it Off” parody stardom. She’s back at it again to lay down the real estate spin you didn’t even know this song needed. And it’s literally perfection.

The post This Realtor’s Parody Of “Let It Go” Is Literally Perfection appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

There’s always a way to cheaply upgrade your home’s security, and help you feel just a bit safer when you’re off on a long trip, or entrenched in a yearly Scream marathon. Here are 17 helpful options to ensure you have the extra edge against any would-be intruder. Amazon links are included.

1. Here’s a smartphone garage door controller that lets you open and close the garage from anywhere, and know if someone else opens or closes it.

$99.00

2. Concerned about losing your valuable packages to neighborhood thieves? This “Gorilla Box” will keep your deliveries safe and sound.

$133.58

3. Imagine a cat burglar cleverly picking your lock, and ever so stealthily opening your door. Now imagine said cat burglar promptly soiling their pants when the door jams on this noisy door stop.

That satisfying smile will only cost you $11.33.

4. Whether you want to be able to see what’s going on inside your house before you enter, pre-light your way to a room, or make your neighbors think your house is haunted, this Wi-Fi light switch is for you!

$44.03

5. A clever floor mat is a simple way to deter would be thieves. Your family will thank you. Your neighbors on the other hand…

$34.95 and excommunication from Bobby’s annual Christmas bash down the street.

6. Here’s a portable door lock that was a 2012 Amazon Top Holiday Seller. It helps make any door just a little bit more secure.

$21.95

Dictionaries are some of the most overlooked books ever made, right along with Knitting for Dummies, and random field guides to slime molds. So why not have a safe disguised as one?

$11.59

8. Lets face it. You really want to feel like a boss with a BARSKA Biometric Safe. How can you not feel more secure with a safe that reads your thumbprint, and sounds like it was named after some mythical viking hero?

$144.99

9. What about those determined thieves that just want to smash the door in? This security bar can withstand about 350 lbs of meathead.

Not bad for $17.98!

10. These “peel and stick” motion sensor LEDs can be placed anywhere. At $14.67, they are so cheap that you can turn your property into one big spacecraft landing beacon.

11. Lockable armoires are a stylish way to keep your valuables out of greedy hands. Being made of walnut wood, this armoire is likely too heavy to carry off.

$229.99

12. Get the preemptive “Nope” on annoying door to door solicitors with this video doorbell.

$199.00

13. Here’s a $13.00 portable security alarm that gives you the heads up if someone jimmied open your door.

14. The Kuna security system is a lantern with a camera, two way intercom, motion detection, and alarm. Add in the fact that it takes about 15 minutes to install and this $200.00 smart cam is quite the bargain.

15. Don’t have the cash for security cams? Try some fake ones that blind your intruders with LED lighting. At $8.00, what more can you ask for?

16. A fitted “Security” dog shirt can make any canine companion a bit more intimidating. Unless you own a miniature corgi. Nothing will make that intimidating.

$11.73

17. Then there are the “Whimsical Gnomeland Security” statues. Seriously, about the only strategy with these is to be alerted of a burglar’s laughter when they see an army of Gnomes barring the door from entry. Aside from that… At least your Grandma will think they are cute.

$11.99

It’s Summer, and that bug to build and improve the home is likely hitting a good number of folks. With all of the DIY options out there, how is one to choose what to put their time and resources into? We outlined 23 of the top DIYs for relatively easy and inexpensive upgrades to the home. Enjoy!

1. Make your succulents extra happy by using vintage wine bottles for homes.

2. Globe lights from IKEA can be a bit boring. All it takes is creativity and some paper to make them more exciting.

3. *Mary Poppins Song* “Just a spoonful of tea light helps the anxiety go down.”

4. Have an old rake? Don’t throw it out. Let it continue to serve you in the kitchen.

5. Again, why discard an old ladder when you can repurpose one as a wine rack?

6. If you thought spoons were a great way to present tea lights, these easy DIY plaster flowers take it to another level!

7. This old wine barrel section can become a beautiful vintage frame around your mirror.

8. With the right color paint, an extra piece of PVC pipe can holster your hair tools.

9. Tangled cords making a mess under the sink? A few PVC pipes on the inside of your cabinet door will solve the problem.

10. You know those really cool pallet planters you see all over the web? Here’s how to make one yourself.

11. Give your blank wall a Moroccan touch with this wall stenciling DIY.

12. Bring a spicy warm glow to your home with cinnamon stick candelabras.

13. Another amazing item made from wood pallets! This stylish coffee table is quite a tribute to the growing world of wood pallet DIYs. But seriously, I’m waiting for the day an entire mansion is made of wood pallets.

14. Great way to repurpose baby food jars into classy flower holders.

15. Keep a sandy mess to a minimum with this super clever, easy to build DIY covered sandbox.

16. These snazzy, roll out toy holders will fit perfectly under most beds.

17. Now that’s a DIY table design you don’t see every day.

18. These driftwood candle holders would bring a stylish touch to any home.

19. With a little paint and ingenuity, used glass bottles can be used to enhance a room.

20. With a little bit of paint and the right arrangement, you can turn regular cinder blocks into stylish plant holders.

21. There are simply too many cool ways to display plants on wood pallets that we can’t pass up.

22. Nothing says you love your family like going through the “pane and effort” it takes to frame their pictures on windows.

23. Because you can never have enough chic wine racks.

The post 23 Inexpensive DIY Projects You Need To Do This Summer appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

These transparent houses put the age old saying “you shouldn’t worry if you have nothing to hide” to the test.

There are literally no secrets when you live in one of these houses. What happens in transparent house stays…in the minds of everyone that happened to be looking at the time.

If smudges on glass drive you crazy, this house would be a nightmare to live in. With all of that glass there’s bound to be finger prints on something around the clock.

House NA

House NA is the ultimate see-through house. The structure sits at just over 900 square feet and was created as a throwback to how humans used to live in trees.

Via Architecture Designs

What separates this one from the rest is its location. It’s in a city, tucked in between other normal buildings. There is nowhere to hide.

Via Architecture Designs

How long could you live in this one?

Via Architecture Designs

Hiroshima Hut

The Hiroshima Hut sits on the countryside of Japan and its owners wanted to be as close to nature as possible.

Via Dezeen

The designers, Suppose Design Office, elevated the house and added two rooms underground to give the residents an option for privacy—which is more than the folks occupying House NA can say!

Via Dezeen

The goal with Hiroshima Hut is to allow occupants to observe and even interact with nature.

Via Dezeen

Sadly, the only interaction with nature I can see happening is when a poor bird thinks the house truly is transparent and tries to fly through it.

S House

The “S House” is another urban transparent in the city of Satiama, Japan. You might get a headache if you stare at this one for too long.

Via Dezeen

There are over a dozen different staircases. It’s only two stories but it has five split levels. This one is hard to wrap your mind around.

Via Dezeen

I have to admit, it’s not the most efficient use of space, but it looks cool and that’s all that counts in the world of transparent homes!

If you can make it to the top of the maze, you will be handsomely rewarded with a view of the Satiama skyline.

Via Dezeen

Villa Overby

Villa Overby is a product of Sweden, but the design isn’t anything like IKEA.

Via Dezeen

Critics will be quick to point out the this house has a few internal walls, thus disqualifying it from this list. This is true, but look at how nice this house is!

Via Dezeen

The bedrooms are visible from the outside through the glass wall, so that has to count for something to the transparency purists out there.

Tree in the House

If you are going to make a house in the middle of a forest, why not make it completely transparent, round and have a live tree growing right in the middle of it.

This is the question designer A.Mosow asked themselves when they built this house.

It’s a cool idea, but couldn’t they have made the thing a little bit wider? There is a whole level dedicated to just branches from the tree.

That darn tree is hogging the whole house!

It looks amazing at night, almost like a giant lantern lightening up the forest surrounding it.

Via A.Mosow

The Woodland House By Carlo Santambrogio

This is the most interesting house on the list—mainly because it looks like a giant ice cube with all that snow in the background and its blue coating.

Via HomeDSGN

In fact it even looks a little fake. I’m sure there is a transparent home expert that can comment on the validity of the Woodland House. Has anyone ever stepped foot in this place?

The Woodland House is located in Milan, Italy.

Lucid Stead

Artist Phillip K. Smith III decided to turn an old shack in Joshua Tree, California into an international art piece.

Steven King Photography via Daily Mail

Lucid Stead looks like a transparent house, but it’s actually a clever use of mirrors to give the illusion of transparency.

At night the window mirrors light up with LED colors that change their hue as night falls over the desert.

After seeing all these transparent houses, I wonder if more like these will be springing up in the future!

Author Bio: Ryan Shaw likes writing about communities and tips for buyers and sellers. Check out more at The Real Estate Witch.

The post Would you live in this see-through house? appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Ok, so technically it was the Realtor’s husband who did the posing, but she IS the brainchild of this unique marketing strategy.

Who is “she”? That’d be Amethyst Albert, a second year real estate agent in the Fort Bragg/Fayetteville, NC area.

In an interview with the Lighter Side of Real Estate, she said she “strives to think outside the box.” And we’d have to agree; this is about as far outside the box as you can get. Just take a look!

With T. Rex trending on social media, she decided to stage T. Rex buying a home.

She knew just the photographer to showcase her vision and the house. Michael, of Mike Wallace Photography, is also an active duty soldier at Fort Bragg.

Amethyst believes that while selling real estate is very serious profession, you can certainly have a lot of fun making dreams come true.

We agree with her. I mean, how can you NOT call this fun?

She says her goal was to place T. Rex in human situations to invoke a little humor, while allowing people to see the beauty of the home for sale.

Who knew T. Rex did yoga? More importantly, who knew T. Rex was a female?!

Fun fact: Her favorite picture from the shoot is below. It’s T. Rex with The Heritage Flag, a custom-branded American Flag made of whiskey barrels that she gives to her Veteran clients.

Bravo, Amethyst! We’ve gotta hand it to you—you’ve truly captured the “lighter” side of real estate.

The post Realtor Poses in T-Rex Costume To Sell Home… Because Why Not? appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Do you know what a home appraisal is, or why it’s so important for you to have? Many people misunderstand this crucial component of the home buying experience.

In a nutshell, an appraisal is a valuation of your home; it’s a way for lenders to ensure that they aren’t providing a mortgage that isn’t worth what the home is worth. Your appraisal must match or exceed the value of your loan, otherwise you’ll run into hiccups.

An appraiser is someone who uses comparable sales in your neighborhood as well as the condition of your home in order to make a sound valuation of your home. They’ll include factors both inside and outside the house.

If an appraisal is lower than the amount you thought the house was worth, there are several options, including renegotiating the deal and paying the difference. If it’s higher, it benefits the buyer. But knowing more about appraisals, whether you’re a homebuyer or seller, can help the whole process go more smoothly. Use this graphic from our friends at Title Source to get started.

Click the graphic to see a larger version.

Via titlesource.com

The post What All Buyers Need To Know About The Home Appraisal Process appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

If I’m not writing, I’m selling real estate. Sometimes, when I reveal this to my artsy writer friends, I get a look of surprise or outright disbelief. My profession’s reputation precedes me. It’s no secret that a real estate makes the list of the Twenty Sleaziest Ways To Make A Living. I share the ticket with lawyers, prison guards, drug dealers, crime bosses, prostitutes, and Congressmen.

Really?

Yes children, your parents are slime-balls (my husband is my partner in crime).

But let me tell you about a day in the life of a Realtor.

At settlement last fall, I watched an older woman, wife, and mother slide her life across the settlement table with a worn set of keys to a younger woman, wife, and mother.

“It was a good house.” She bit her lower lip and tears welled in her eyes.

Her husband, crippled from a botched operation, his right hand limp in his lap, turned away, fighting tears, too. This man, who had every right to be bitter at his newly handicapped status, softened as his wife’s voice shook. He fought to keep his composure, refusing to look anybody in the eye, the pain etched across his strained expression.

“We had a lot of good times there.” She sniffled and pulled a Kleenex from her purse. “But, it’s just too much now.”

The young woman reached, her hand touching the older woman’s hand. “I’ll take good care of it,” she said, her voice soft and cracking. The two women looked at each other, tears in both of their eyes. In that moment, the hopes, dreams, and memories of one woman—her life—passed to the other.

And, I was there as a witness.

Sometimes we forget what a house represents. It’s more than a place to live. It’s where we create a life. It’s a place a family calls their home, until one day it becomes somebody’s else’s home. It’s borrowed and loved and then it’s gone. The people inhabiting it are only visitors passing through, transitory beings. The sticks and bricks hold something intangible, something that defines what it means to be human: a home.

Buying or selling a home is not just a financial transaction; it’s an emotional and symbolic beginning or ending, a definite marker in one’s life. As the gatekeepers, Realtors wave buyers and sellers through, pointing the way.

These are life-changing events real estate agents witness, events to which we’re made a party. We hold the distinction of being there. A buyer or seller invites us into his or her life to share in this—to shoulder the burdens and the joys that accompany passing the torch from one family to another.

We see people at their best and worst, in happiness and sadness. At the settlement table, a buyer celebrates a step into adulthood by purchasing a house or a young couple solidifies their commitment to each other by signing a mortgage together. Sometimes, a family is disintegrating and the house is the last tie that binds. Or a parent has died and siblings need to settle the estate, the house being the final remnant of their childhood. And, sometimes a house just becomes too much, like with my sellers. The weeks turn into years and the years into decades, and then it’s time to go.

That fall day, my seller shook hands with the woman who would borrow her home for a while, maybe a lifetime, but one day she, too, would pass it on to another young person. As we stood to leave, my seller turned and hugged me, her tears falling freely.

“Thanks, Heather.” She caught her breath and wiped her eyes. “Thanks for everything.”

I paused in her embrace, a lump forming in my throat.

So this is why I do this.

Sleazy or not.

Heather Christie

I’m a wife, mother, writer, real estate broker, knitter, cook, exercise freak, and avid reader. I recently finished my first novel, What The Valley Knows.

The post I’m A Real Estate Agent. Am I A Sleaze? appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.