Category: Home Selling
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A senior housing dilemma
Reader Question: Hello Monty, my wife and I are in the late sixties. We are in good health and have no home mortgage. We have no trouble keeping busy, but as we look to the future and the options, sorting it all out in a logical and efficient fashion seems complicated. There is so much information and fluff out…
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Presto! Change a one family home into a two family home
Reader Question: We have been remodeling a single-family country home and right now we are at a point where we have to decide on either a 1 bedroom apartment or extra family room/office. We are looking for the best resell options. We could have a 1 bedroom-1 bath apartment along with a huge 3 bedroom 1 1/2…
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A perfect storm – How to create poor real estate decisions
Reader Question: My mother wants to have a home built. She has been advised that she should not sign the purchase agreement before she sells her home to avoid a large tax. She is 85 years old. She was also told to keep all utilities on at old home until sold. Are these points valid? Thank you,…
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A home seller’s checklist
Reader Question: Monty, we are going to be selling our home soon. The word has gotten out in the neighborhood, and conflicting advice is pouring in about which agent to use and how to go about selling the house. How do we sort this out without upsetting the neighbors? Randy and Susan P. Monty’s Answer: Hello Randy and Susan,…
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Dealing with “condition issues” when selling your home
Reader Question: My garage floods due to driveway runoff during heavy rains. I am getting ready to put the house on the market as I am relocating to a different state. Do I need to disclose this as a drainage issue on my seller’s disclosure? Thanks. Brad W. Monty’s Answer: Hello Brad, and thanks for…
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How to protect your home equity in a divorce
Reader Question: I am separated from my husband. Instead of selling the house he wants to buy me out. He is a Realtor and wants me to pay 3% commission to him for this transaction. Is this legal? Rachel D. Monty’s Answer: Hello Rachel, and thanks for your question. The simple answer is that it is legal…
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How to determine which items to leave when selling a home
Reader Question: I am selling my deceased parents home. Should I dispose of items such as the refrigerator, chest freezer and professionally installed gas heating stove before showing the home? Is it better if they would be included in the sale? Mike T. Monty’s Answer: Hello Mike, and thanks for your question. The information provided is not…
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Overcoming a real estate inspection defect
Reader Question: Monty, I recently had a home inspection, and it is noted that my potential property had a crack in the brick due to beam shifting. If the seller does not want to repair the items because he has backup offers, what can I use as negotiating power? Thanks. Josh D. Monty’s Answer: Hello Josh, and…
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6 good tips to prepare for an offer on your home
Reader Question: Monty, we listed our home for sale about a month ago. Our agent just called to say she is expecting an offer later today. We have no idea how to handle this, but we want to be smart about it. Anything we should do to prepare? Thank you. Carl and Megan H. Monty’s…
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Selling your home? Be certain to check out the competition.
Reader Question: Monty, what market information do we need to help us determine the asking price when we first offer our home for sale? Doug P. Monty’s Answer: Hello Doug, and thanks for your question. The words “market information” infer the question asked is about external market data separate from the data about your home. Asking about…
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Real estate agent puts commission at risk
Reader Question: I own a business and the property. I recently decided to close my doors and retire. I put a sign in the front window closing business. A Realtor came in and asked is the property for lease and could she bring a client down to look at it. After looking at it, the…