Top 5 Signs That You Are Ready to Sell Your Home in Birdland Pleasanton

Top 5 Signs That You Are Ready to Sell Your Home in Birdland Pleasanton

When is the right time to sell your home to buyers looking for homes for sale in Birdland Pleasanton CA? Knowing when to take that leap of faith as you put your home on the market for sale is not always easily recognized. This is an important decision that requires careful planning and honest assessment. There are indicators that can help you determine if you are truly ready to sell your property. 

Here are five obvious signs that you should sell your home now: 

Your home no longer suits your lifestyle

If you are thinking of selling your home, an important factor to consider is how well your current home meets your everyday needs. If your family is growing, perhaps you could use another bedroom. Downsizing can also be a good option if your adult children have already moved out. It is liberating to sell a larger home, pay cash for a smaller one, and invest the rest in your retirement. Whether you are expanding or downsizing, make sure that you factor in your family’s financial considerations. 

You already have a game plan

If you already have an idea where you want to relocate, it is a good sign that you are ready to sell. Serious sellers will always have a game plan as to the location of their new home. It will help you determine the direction of your future and is a great motivating factor to put your home on the market. Aside from the location, serious sellers also have an estimated listing price of the home that they can afford. 

You can actually afford the move

Before you start shopping for a new home, remember to account for the cost of leaving your current one. Whether you are hiring professional movers or hauling all your stuff by yourself, you need to be sure that your budget can cover all your moving expenses. You should also invest and work on getting your current home ready for a sale. 

You are no longer emotionally attached to your current home

Emotions can tremendously affect your decision whether to sell or stay. If you are still emotionally attached to your property, you are not ready to sell yet. There are dangers to being too attached to your home. If you are still very much connected to it, there is the danger of not listening to the advice and suggestions of your real estate agent. Also, you may be willing to do what it takes to sell your home to buyers looking for real estate for sale in Birdland Pleasanton. If you can already see your home as a product to be sold and no longer a memento of your family’s special moments, then it is time to put the “for sale” sign in your yard. 

You are ready for change

Any change is difficult, especially in the beginning. Adapting to new surroundings can pose a challenge to you and your family. You need to be ready for that change. Expect that with the decision to sell and relocate, other factors in your life will be affected. If you look forward to these changes and believe that things will eventually fall into place, if feel that you are genuinely prepared for a major change, then you are ready to sell your home. 

Check out www.HomeValuesPleasanton.com today for more home selling ideas and for a free market evaluation of your home in Birdland. 

If you are looking for a Pleasanton luxury REALTOR® who can help you sell or buy your dream luxury home, call me, Rhonda Fee, at 925-200-0827. You can also text 925-660-7110 with any of these codes: seller411, buyer411 or homesearch. With my extensive experience and knowledge of the Pleasanton luxury real estate market, combined with a track record of satisfied clients, your next transaction will be the best move you’ve ever made!

Top 5 Easy Tips to Help You Buy and Sell a Home Simultaneously

Top 5 Easy Tips to Help You Buy and Sell a Home Simultaneously

Selling your home to buyers looking for homes for sale in Birdland Pleasanton CA is a serious endeavor. You have to deal with the paperwork, deadlines, statutory obligations and other important aspects. Couple this challenging task with buying a home and you can end up with an overwhelming and stressful experience.

Here are a few things to remember when buying and selling a home at the same time.

Know the market first

Before you open your doors to buyers looking for Birdland Pleasanton homes for sale, make sure you have a clear and solid understanding of the housing market in your area and the area where you are planning to buy. Find out if the market is weighted toward buyers or sellers. Knowing the current condition of the market will help you strategize and prepare for your next course of action. Connect with a professional full time real estate agent to aid you in pricing your home correctly. 

Remember that having your home on the market for several months because your price is too high implies several months of paying two mortgages.

Coordinate closing dates

For a smoother transaction, your closing date on your old home should come before your new home. With the help of your real estate agents, you can make the selling and buying dates line up a little better by preparing for one activity while doing the other. While actively selling your current home, you can prepare to buy a new home as well. Check your options, keep your credit score high, and research loans.

Plan your schedule strategically

Should you buy first then sell or sell first then buy? Both have their risks and advantages. If you decide to sell your home first it will make getting a mortgage easier. However, you will need a temporary place to live in. If you buy first, moving will be relatively hassle free, but it can affect your debt-to-income ratio, making it harder to qualify for a new mortgage. In addition to that, it can be quite difficult to juggle two monthly house payments. Whichever option you choose, make sure that you are ready for the consequences.

Get your finances in order

You need to have your finances in order if you are planning to buy and sell a home at the same time. You need to know whether you can qualify for a mortgage without having to sell your existing home. Although many people are unable to do so, this can be a great advantage if you are able.

Know your game plan

As a homeowner, you need to understand that not having a game plan in place could lead to costly mistakes. You need to determine if you will list your home first prior to looking at homes that are for sale. You also have to decide in advance if you will make any offer received on your home contingent on finding a suitable property for you and your family. Ask yourself if you can afford to purchase a home that would make it worth selling your current home.

You can minimize the stress of buying and selling a home at the same time by doing the right preparations. With the right people on your team, the experience can be as seamless as possible. Check out www.HomeValuesPleasanton.com for more home selling ideas, and for a free market evaluation of your home in Birdland. 

If you are looking for a Pleasanton luxury REALTOR® who can help you sell or buy your dream luxury home, call me, Rhonda Fee, at 925-200-0827. You can also text 925-660-7110 with any of these codes: seller411, buyer411 or homesearch. With my extensive experience and knowledge of the Pleasanton luxury real estate market, combined with a track record of satisfied clients, your next transaction will be the best move you’ve ever made!

5 Tips to Successfully Sell Your Birdland Home to Younger Buyers

5 Tips to Successfully Sell Your Birdland Home to Younger Buyers

If you are considering selling your home for sale in Birdland Pleasanton CA to millennials, you must first discover what they truly want in a home. According to the National Association of Realtors, millennials account for 32% of real estate buyers. They have specific values and desired lifestyles. They also have definite criteria in choosing homes.

Read on for some tips on how to sell your home to the younger buyers.

1. Make sure your home has WiFi access

One helpful tip that can make your property desirable to millennials who are looking for Birdland Pleasanton CA homes for sale is making sure that your house is equipped with WiFi and has a good signal. Millennials have very demanding jobs and social lives and they constantly need to be online. If your home can’t get a good signal, you may install WiFi boosters. Remember that a faltering signal or lack thereof can be a deal breaker for this type of buyer.

2. Make sure your home is healthy for its inhabitants and guests

Nobody wants to live in a home that can potentially lead to serious health problems. This is very true for the more health-conscious millennials who prefer homes with improvements focused on health and well being. Make sure your home has good air quality, mold. Younger buyers prefer less driving and want more walkability. In fact, these buyers are foregoing their cars for bikes or their own two feet. They will surely appreciate homes that have a corner store and public transportation nearby. If your home’s location is not accessible to public transportation and does not have a good walking score, discuss with your trusted real estate agent how you can offset this negative point. Make sure your home has good air quality, mold and fungus free basements, and no VOC off-gassing from paint. Millennial homebuyers also choose wood flooring over carpet. This is because carpets can look dirty and can aggravate some people’s allergies.

3. Millennials want walkability

Younger buyers prefer less driving and want more walkability. In fact, these buyers are foregoing their cars for bikes or their own two feet. They will surely appreciate homes that have a corner store and public transportation nearby. If your home’s location is not accessible to public transportation and does not have a good walking score, discuss with your trusted real estate agent how you can offset this negative point.

4. Make sure you have online photos of your home

Most millennial home buyers looking for real estate for sale in Birdland start their search online. If you want to get their attention, you need to carefully consider how your property shows online. In real estate, photos make the first impression on potential buyers. Some buyers will not even consider buying a property if it doesn’t have photographs in the online listing. Get professional photography that will show your home in its best light. Otherwise, these buyers will never step foot in your door. Remember that the quality of listing photos and the expertise of the person taking them can have a big impact on home sales.

5. Make sure to employ proper home staging

Staging is a critical part of selling your home to millennials. Staging is a method of decorating where the goal is to showcase your home’s best assets. With proper staging, buyers feel at home the moment they walk through the door. On the other hand, without staging, it will be harder for the buyer to imagine what it could be like once they move in. Professional home staging helps meet buyer’ expectations.

Check out http://www.HomeValuesPleasanton.com for more home selling ideas, and for a free market evaluation of your home in Birdland. 

If you are looking for a Pleasanton luxury REALTOR® who can help you sell or buy your dream luxury home, call me, Rhonda Fee, at 925-200-0827. You can also text 925-660-7110 with any of these codes: seller411, buyer411 or homesearch. With my extensive experience and knowledge of the Pleasanton luxury real estate market, combined with a track record of satisfied clients, your next transaction will be the best move you’ve ever made!

5 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Sell Your Birdland Home by Yourself

5 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Sell Your Birdland Home by Yourself

Are you thinking of selling your home to buyers of homes for sale in Birdland Pleasanton CA? Are you planning to do it by yourself? Well, a number of homeowners have considered selling their home on their own but most who do find little success in trying. Why? It is because the home selling process is extremely time consuming and exhausting. Aside from that, there are several disadvantages of selling your home without the knowledge and expertise of an agent.

Read to know the downsides of selling your home without the help and guidance of a real estate professional.

Getting less for your home

According to statistics, FSBOs sell for significantly less than homes which were sold with the help of real estate agents. This is because getting an accurate list price is critical to the successful sale of a home. Real estate professionals who deal with Birdland Pleasanton homes for sale are experts in their fields and have extensive local knowledge of the market. They are always on the lookout for comparable properties and they have a keen sense of how the marker is doing. Since they have access to multiple listing service, they can also check past sales. If you try to sell your home by yourself, you might have difficulty in determining the most accurate price to start at, when to reduce the price, and an appropriate price to accept during negotiations.

Security and safety risks

Another disadvantage of selling your home by yourself is that you expose your home to a higher level of risk associated with security and safety. Although majority of buyers may have genuine interest in your home, your property may become an easy target for theft and burglaries. That is why extra security measures should always be taken to avoid this scenario.

The emotional aspect of the sale

When selling homes, the emotional aspect is often overlooked. However, it is an extremely important part of the process. Are you prepared to hear a lot about your home’s shortcoming from buyers trying to negotiate a lower sales price? What will you do if your home does not receive any interest at all? Having a real estate agent will help you have a more objective view of your home’s value.

Screening potential buyers

Without a real estate agent, you must be prepared and willing to screen your own buyers. You have to be extra careful because you would not want to negotiate with someone who was never qualified for the home in the first place. If you do not know how to pre-screen prospects, you will waste time talking to people who are not serious buyers

Taking charge of sales and marketing responsibilities

Some sellers who choose to sell their homes by themselves underestimate the amount of effort required to market their homes. If you want to attract buyers looking for real estate for sale in Birdland Pleasanton, you should be prepared to keep your home clean, clutter-free, and show-ready at all times. You also need to take good photos of your home and write effective sales descriptions. Without an agent you will be responsible for all the paperwork, the marketing and advertising, and the showings. Aside from the time consuming process, you must also be prepared for all legal, financial and other issues associated with the sale of a home.

Check out http://www.HomeValuesPleasanton.com for more home selling ideas, and for a free market evaluation of your home in Birdland.

If you are looking for a Pleasanton luxury REALTOR® who can help you sell or buy your dream luxury home, call me, Rhonda Fee, at 925-200-0827. You can also text 925-660-7110 with any of these codes: seller411, buyer411 or homesearch. With my extensive experience and knowledge of the Pleasanton luxury real estate market, combined with a track record of satisfied clients, your next transaction will be the best move you’ve ever made!

The Biggest Turn-Offs for Homebuyers and How to Avoid Them

The Biggest Turn-Offs for Homebuyers and How to Avoid Them

If you are seriously considering selling your home for sale in Pleasanton CA to buyers you need to be aware of things that could add value to your property and help attract more attention. 

At the same time, you need to know the things that could send buyers running for the front door.

Read on for some major buyer turn offs that you need to avoid.

Bright walls

Paint can do wonders to a home. It is a low-cost but effective way of showcasing your property. While you don’t have to paint the whole house, you should cover rooms with existing bright or unique colors with something more neutral. Bold colors are highly personalized and can send buyers out the door. Remember that most buyers are more comfortable with neutral walls, both inside and out.

Cooking smells

Next to pet odor, buyers find cooking smells nearly as­­ offensive. Strong spices such as garlic, bacon and onions tend to linger long after the meal is over. To diffuse the smells, leave a window slightly open while cooking. You may boil some cinnamon in water to freshen up your home prior to showings. Also be careful with plug-ins and sprays because sometimes they can make the problem even worse for buyers who are sensitive to smells or allergenic to fresheners.

Outdated fixtures and appliances

Buyers of Pleasanton CA Birdland homes for sale will not be impressed by tarnished doorknobs, disco-era light fixtures, and ancient ceiling fans. Before showing your home to prospective buyers, you need to do something about the old fixtures in your home. Keep in mind that homes which have old fans, lights, ovens, and kitchen appliances can really turn a buyer off.

Sellers who hang around

Buyers don’t feel comfortable when sellers greet them at the front door, follow them around the house, and give unsolicited comments. They may feel like a guest in a stranger’s home or a patron at a museum. Buyers tend to be cautious and they don’t get enough time to really to delve into the property. To avoid annoying buyers, it is better if you will stay away from showings.

Misrepresenting a home

Most buyers looking for real estate listings in Birdland Pleasanton CA begin their search online. That is why sellers use photos and words to make their homes more attractive on the multiple listing services. However, there are times when pictures and words paint a false portrait. If the information about your home, neighborhood, or even transactional position is misrepresented, the sheer misrepresentation will definitely turn off buyers. Always keep in mind that buyers rely on sellers to be upfront and honest.

Irrational seller expectations

Another issue that can turn off buyers are irrational expectations from the seller. An unreasonable seller with irrational expectations is the last thing a buyer wants to argue with a seller about. With other similar properties on the marker, it would be easy for a buyer to just skip over to the next available home. To avoid this, check the other homes that are for sale in your area and price range. If your property has much less curb appeal or is much less updated than the other homes, don’t list it at the same price and expect it to sell.

Check out http://www.HomeValuesPleasanton.com for more home selling ideas, and for a free market evaluation of your home in Birdland Pleasanton CA.

If you are looking for a Pleasanton luxury REALTOR® who can help you sell or buy your dream luxury home, call me, Rhonda Fee, at 925-200-0827. You can also text 925-660-7110 with any of these codes: seller411, buyer411 or homesearch. With my extensive experience and knowledge of the Pleasanton luxury real estate market, combined with a track record of satisfied clients, your next transaction will be the best move you’ve ever made!

Top 5 Tips in Choosing the Best Offer in a Bidding War

Top 5 Tips in Choosing the Best Offer in a Bidding War

Sellers who receive competing offers to purchase from buyers of homes for sale in Birdland Pleasanton CA are now faced with an interesting problem - how do you know which offer is the best? 

To answer this, you will need to review each offer carefully to determine its strengths and drawbacks. Doing so will help you minimize the fallout and increase the likelihood of success. Your trusted real estate agent can provide you an estimated seller’s net sheet on each individual offer. This is very helpful in comparing offers side-by-side.

Read on for some tips to help you evaluate the offers .

1. Set baselines

Setting baselines is one of the best ways to help you select the best offer on your home. If you are receiving several offers from buyers looking for real estate for sale in Birdland Pleasanton CA , it is best to determine which terms matter most to you. If the price is your highest consideration, you may need to be flexible on your desired closing date. 

If you want to be sure that the transaction won’t fall apart because the buyer can’t get a mortgage, your trusted real estate agent should speak with the buyer’s lender to find out how they were pre-approved. Some lenders will provide a much more in depth approval than others and it is worth the phone call. 

2. Check all legal documents

Before you choose any offer, make sure you have gone through each document carefully. Ensure that you understand the actual contract that you will be signing. Be familiar with the legal aspects of the contract, including important things like the amount of earnest money deposit being held in escrow, the amount of money the buyer will be mortgaging, the closing date and any other inserted contingencies.

3. Don’t take offers personally

Selling your home is not just a business transaction, it is also an emotional process. It is normal for you to feel attached to your home. However, avoid feeling offended if your real estate agent informs you that a buyer complained about some features of your home, justifying a lowball offer. Take it as a sign that the buyer is truly interested and those comments are just part of the negotiation tactics. 

4. Beware of pitfalls

Receiving multiple offers can be exhilarating, but be careful not to let it go to your head. Too much drama and delay can cause some buyers to lose interest and withdraw their offers. Working with an experienced real estate agent who has successfully dealt with houses for sale in Birdland Pleasanton CA will help you steer clear of common seller pitfalls. Have a master negotiator who fights for your best interests and also realizes the delicate balance of negotiating.

5. Be flexible

If you receive an unacceptable offer through your real estate agent, do not reject it right away. Instead, ask questions to determine what is really most important to the buyer and check if you can meet that need. 

For instance, if you learn that the buyer has to move as soon as possible, this may allow you to be firm on the price but offer to close quicker. Remember that the secret to successfully negotiating the sale is to remain flexible.

Check out http://www.HomeValuesPleasanton.com for more home selling ideas, and for a free market evaluation of your home in Birdland.

If you are looking for a Pleasanton luxury REALTOR® who can help you sell or buy your dream luxury home, call me, Rhonda Fee, at 925-200-0827. You can also text 925-660-7110 with any of these codes: seller411, buyer411 or homesearch. With my extensive experience and knowledge of the Pleasanton luxury real estate market, combined with a track record of satisfied clients, your next transaction will be the best move you’ve ever made!