Half the battle of selling a home is anticipating problems before they come up. Selling a home is a major life milestone, and it can be complex when you consider all of the steps involved: preparing and listing; making repairs; finding a buyer; navigating the closing process; and finally moving into your next place. The consequences of a mistake can impact your finances and most importantly, your peace-of-mind.

These are the TOP 10 Sellers Mistakes:

FOR SALE BY OWNER! The biggest mistake a homeowner can make is trying to sell the home on their own. According to the National Association of Realtors, FSBO’s (For Sale By Owner’s) sold their homes for 16% less than if they were agent assisted. If you are sick, you go to the doctor. If you are accused of a crime, you get an attorney. So needlessly to say, if you need to buy or sell a home you should call a Real Estate Professional with the Realtor designation. If you feel that the Realtors you have met are not up to your standard, then this leads us to number 2.

Choosing the WRONG REALTOR! Instead of picking a friend of a friend or a relative or someone who is great working with buyer, pick someone who is great at listing and selling homes. Someone with a real track record for selling homes. Someone who can sit with you and give you a plan on how they intend to sell your home.

OVERPRICING your home! If you followed #1 then you hired the right Realtor. That Realtor should bring you a strong market analysis to help guide you in your pricing strategy. It’s always best to price it right the first time rather than “test the market” with a higher price. You do not set the price – We do not set the price – The market sets the price.

ONLY considering the highest offer! The highest offer, while exciting, isn’t always the best offer given your needs. It’s common in many traditional sales to have contingencies. These are conditions that must be satisfied for the sale to close. You may have contingencies that protect the buyer’s interests like a financing contingency or an inspection contingency. It’s important to be aware of these types of contingencies because they can impact the timeline of the sale, the certainty of the sale, and the complexity. For example, you may receive a really high offer that is contingent on the buyer selling their existing house.

You’d have to consider how the added timing and uncertainty compares to a slightly lower offer without that contingency. In another scenario, you may have a buyer who is willing to be more flexible on repairs versus another who is offering a higher price but asking for repair credits.

NOT preparing your home for sale! One of the challenges of listing your home on the market is showing your home to prospective buyers. Generally speaking, the cleaner, less cluttered, and more well-decorated your home is, the more appeal it can have. Clutter can make your home appear smaller and make it more difficult for buyers to picture themselves living in your home. In fact, staged homes sell 88% faster and for 20% more than those that aren’t staged, according to Realtor.com.

Don’t forget about curb appeal. As Moving.com puts it, “Your home’s exterior is like the cover of a book, setting the stage for what’s inside.” If a home is disorganized or appears in disrepair, buyers may be more skeptical about its condition when they’re considering an offer.

NOT understanding the cost of selling a home! The total cost to sell a home can amount to much more than the 6% in agent commissions most people expect to pay. When you account for closing costs, repairs, and other concessions to the buyer, the costs of selling can be closer to 10% of the sale price sometimes. It all depends.

For example, if you move into your new home before selling your old one, you may have to rent a temporary place or pay for both mortgages as well as other carrying costs, such as utilities, HOA dues, taxes, and storage. Always ask agents for a net sheet at your listing appointment to see all the expected expenses. 

WAIKOOL TIP: Kids and pets bring enormous emotional attachment to the home. Take them out for a ride so the buyers can envision themselves in the home with their family. Its important to keep the home as neutral as possible.

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When it comes to selling your house, the right price matters. Competitive pricing generates the most activity from buyers and agents, while a price that's too high can contribute to a longer stay on the market and, ultimately, a drop in price to compete with newer, well-priced listings.

The simple fact is that buyers and sellers determine market value. In other words, the value of your property is determined by what a buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to accept in today's market.

This is because buyers base their pricing decisions on comparisons to the prices other properties have sold for in your area. Through our competitive market analysis, we'll help you find the pricing sweet spot for your home.

A house that's priced at market value attracts the maximum amount of the market's potential buyers. Raise that asking price by just a bit above market value, and the percentage of potential buyers will decrease substantially.

When you're ready to sell, you need trusted local experts in your corner. With offices in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and Redlands we can help to sell or buy your home anywhere in the Coachella Valley or the Inland Empire. Call us today to arrange a WaiKool personalized consultation.

The right agent can help you buy your dream house or sell your existing home quickly. The wrong agent can botch the transaction, leaving you with egg on your face and nowhere to call home. Despite the high stakes, many buyers and sellers give little thought to choosing an agent, whether they’re buying or selling.

Get recommendations from friends and relatives, and see which agents are buying and selling the most homes in your neighborhood. Read online reviews, but realize they don’t tell the whole story, since most clients, satisfied or dissatisfied, don’t write reviews.

Interview, Interview & Interview!

 Don't be afraid of asking questions. If you’re a seller, ask how the agent will market your home, who the target buyer is and how he will get your home in front of those preferred buyers.

The agent suggests the highest price for your house. If you’re selling your house, get listing presentations from at least three agents, who will tell you what comparable homes have sold for and how long they take to sell. The agents are all looking at the same data, so the suggested listing price should be close. Pricing a home too high at the start often means it takes longer to sell and ultimately sells for less. “If you’re too high for the market, buyers will not even look at it because they know you’re not realistic,” “The longer your property sits on the market, the more people are going to think there’s something wrong with it.”

The agent does real estate on the side, part time. Whether you’re a buyer or seller, you want to choose an agent who is actively following the market every day. If you’re buying, you want an agent who can jump on new listings and show them to you immediately. If you’re the seller, you want an agent who is always available to show your home to prospective buyers.

The agent charges a lower commission. In most areas, commissions are traditionally 5 to 7 percent, split between the buying and selling agent. If the commission on your house is lower, fewer agents will show it. This doesn’t mean you can’t negotiate a slightly lower commission if one agent ends up both listing and selling the house.

The agent doesn’t usually deal with your type of property. If you’re buying or selling a condominium, don’t pick an agent who rarely sells condos. If you’re looking for investment property, find an agent who traditionally works with investors. Many agents have multiple specialties, but you want to make sure the agent is well-versed in the type of transaction you’re doing.

#vacation #home #palmsprings #waikool #WaiKoolHomes #CoachellaValley #Hollywood #LosAngeles #SanDiego #InlandEmpire #OpenHouse #SellHome

FOWARD YOUR MAIL TO YOUR NEW PLACE
This is an important step often overlooked by new homeowners. Make sure you take advantage of the free USPS service and you can forward your mail going to your old address directly to your new home. You can use this service for up to a year and you can sign up HERE.

GET A PROFESSIONAL DEEP CLEANING
While many homes may look pretty clean you can’t really be sure just by looking. It’s a good idea to idea a professional cleaning service to do a deep cleaning before you start moving your stuff in. It’s much easier and cheaper for cleaning to be done. An average deep clean for an empty home is between $150-$300. 

 

 

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS
It’s always good to get out and meet your neighbors. See who has kids your age, get inside info on other neighbors, and make some friends. Your neighbors can also recommend good restaurants in the area, dry cleaners, pest control and landscape companies, and so forth. Your neighbors have lots of information on your new community, take advantage.

Dry loads of laundry back-to-back so the dryer doesn’t cool down between loads (a warm dryer uses less energy). And only run the dryer until the clothes are dry. Over drying damages your clothes and runs up your electric bill. If you’re in the market for a new dryer and already have a gas line in the house, go with a gas dryer. A gas dryer is more efficient.

 

 

LOCATE YOUR HOME’S MAIN WATER SHUTOFF VALVE
Know where you main water shutoff valve is in case you need to shut off the water to your entire house. Almost all homes have one main shutoff valve directly before the water meter and another directly after. Where the meter is located depends on the climate in your area. In California, the meter and its two shutoff valves may be attached to an exterior wall or nestled in an underground box with a removable lid.

Here the LIST!

Your home should be your sanctuary, a refuge from the stresses of everyday life, where you can relax, enjoy yourself and spend time with friends and family. If your home isn't bringing you the happiness it should, take a look at the following tips to help put a smile on your face whenever you walk in your front door.

Surround yourself with mood-boosting colors. Red, orange and yellow are most often associated with generating positive feelings. If those colors don't make you smile, surround yourself with the colors that you're most drawn to. Try using one of your favorite memories for inspiration. If you took a life-changing trip to Greece a few years ago, why not paint your bedroom the deep blue of the Aegean Sea?

Fill the air with blissful scents. Many scents, including jasmine, citrus and freshly baked bread, are reported to be linked to happiness. Scent is also closely linked with memory, so filling your home with a scent tied to happy memories will give your spirits a lift.

Create a dedicated space for your favorite hobbies. Spending time on activities that bring you joy is important to your overall happiness. Whether your passion is reading, painting or woodworking, having a space devoted to your favorite hobby will motivate you to spend more time doing what you love.

Bring the outdoors in. According to Psychology Today, there is a significant link between time spent enjoying nature and happiness. To bring Mother Nature indoors, fill your home with plants and fresh flowers or just open your curtains to enjoy the view of any nearby gardens or trees.

Simple tips like these can create a happier, healthier and more valuable home. Thank you for thinking of us for all of your real estate needs, and be sure to share our contact information with anyone you know of looking to buy, sell or invest in a home. With offices in Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs and Redlands we can help you anywhere in the Coachella Valley or the Inland Empire.

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Putting your home on the market? Consider these common buyer turn-offs and make sure you're in good graces with potential buyers. 

Whether you’re running a small business or a large magazine publication, add multiple writers to grow your content and keep it fresh and diversified.

DIRTY OR CROWDED HOMES It can't be overstated how important it is to de-clutter and clean. Buyers want to look at your home, not your things.

You can turn any existing member into a writer for your blog and manage them. Writers can create new posts and manage their comments.

NEW UPGRADES DONE TO A SPECIFIC TASTE
Upgrading your kitchen can be a wise investment before listing your home. Just make sure you do it in a neutral style, as no one wants to rip out something that's been recently renovated.

IRRATIONAL SELLER EXPECTATIONS
Be realistic about where your home sits relative to the market. Overpricing can spell disaster when it comes to selling a home.

BAD LISTING PHOTOS
Make sure online listing photos show your home in the best light, and give a true sense of the space. And again, no clutter.

Finding or selling a property that exceeds your expectations starts with an agent who exceeds your expectations. Call us today to arrange a personalized consultation. With offices in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and Redlands we can help you anywhere in the Coachella Valley or the Inland Empire.

 

An Indian land lease on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation is a contract between the Indian Landowner and the lessee. The landowner conveys the right to use and occupy the property in exchange for rent. The Agua Caliente Indian Reservation encompasses approximately 28,000 acres of land in the western Coachella Valley, including portions of Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, and unincorporated areas of Riverside County. There are 1,175 commercial leases, 7,671 residential subleases and 11,118 time-shares on Indian land leases under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Palm Springs Agency. An Indian land lease on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation may be negotiated for any period of time but may not exceed 99 years. It all began in 1876, when the Pacific Railroad laid the tracks between Los Angeles and Yuma, AZ The U.S. government deeded the Agua Caliente this land throughout the Coachella Valley. The government gave the railroad a checkerboard of every square mile of land for 10 miles on either side of the railroad right-of-way. Today, most Indian leases are administrated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; a homeowner doesn’t deal with the Indian owners directly, but instead usually with the appointed property management company or Bureau of Indian Affairs office.

 Mortgages are available on lease land. Some leases do have minimal down payment requirements and other specific conditions, however it is possible to get a loan on lease land. Interests rates tend to be the same for Lease and Fee Simple land. However, I recommend using a local Palm Springs area lender that is familiar with leased land. The price of the lease can vary depending on the property, and subject to change. Some lease payments are paid annually; others are divided and paid monthly. Each lease is unique and should be reviewed for the specific terms affecting a particular property. The difference between buying land and leasing it is that lease land reduces the cost of a home by 20 to 30% on average. So essentially the homeowner gets the use of the land without the capital outlay – and can afford a far more luxurious home for less money.

Due to the price difference, the amount of the property taxes can be less then fee land as you are typically only paying taxes based on the purchase price of the structure, not the land. This of course is not guaranteed, however. You should research the tax information with the county of Riverside Tax Assessor.

Many people ask; what happens at the end of my lease? Since there is no legal restriction prohibiting the Lease Holder (Indian tribe) from selling their land, you or your heirs may have the option to purchase if you wish to do so. However, most probably, you would be offered a new lease based on conditions existing at that time and there may be large fees involved so make sure you are aware of those cost ahead of time.

 

Things to Consider

If you think that buying a property on leased land may be right for you, you should consider the following:

- How much time is remaining on the lease? If the length of the remaining lease is shorter than you plan to remain in the home, it is VERY important to find out what happens to your interest in the property at the end of the land lease term. The lease term will also affect your ability to finance the home. It may be difficult or impossible to get a mortgage if the remaining lease term on the land is 20 years and you want a 30- year mortgage.

- How much is the monthly land lease payment and most important, what is the FEE to renegotiate the lease when the time comes? You want to make sure that you really will be saving money by buying a leased-land property.

- What are the terms of the surrender clause? Check the terms of the surrender clause if the lease will run out while you still own the house.

If you would like to learn more about the Indian lease land, please contact: Bureau of Indian Affairs 3700A Tachevah Drive, Suite 201 (2nd Floor) Palm Springs, CA 92262 Telephone: (760) 416-2133 Fax: (760) 416-2687

It is extremely important that you don’t make any major life changes immediately before or during the loan process.

Don’t give an earnest money deposit directly to a seller. That’s why you have an agent!

Don’t quit your job, change jobs, or become self employed.

Don’t co-sign on any loans for someone else.

Don’t spend money that you have set assigned for down payment or closing costs.

Don’t make any changes to your credit like opening new cards, spending on cards, or even closing accounts without guidance from a professional.

Don’t panic if the appraisal comes in low. Don’t freak out just yet because there are a few options.Don’t panic!

The loan process can seem daunting, particularly if it is your first time. We will help you understand what is needed and to get you to the finish line.