Category: Home Selling
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Picking a real estate agent for the wrong reasons
Reader Question: I have a friend who is a real estate broker. She wants to be my agent for a home I currently own and the home I buy when I relocate. She has another job and appears overwhelmed. She lives two hours from where I am buying, and the house I am selling is…
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Inheritance creates multiple choice decision
Reader Question: My wife is selling a home she inherited. It has been shown multiple time with no results. The house needs updating, and it has a bowed basement wall. It was listed for $69,900 which was below the market value. We’ve had several offers, but they are flippers who have offered $20 – $25…
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Home seller left items behind at move-out
Reader Question: We recently moved into our first home. The contract called for the seller being out on a specific date with all of their possessions. We also contractually agreed to allow them to harvest some outdoor plants after they come up this spring. The seller left items behind at move-out and has not picked…
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Do listing tactics bring the best price?
Reader Question: We will be listing our home for sale soon. We received three estimates from agents on our home’s value, and they are all different. Also, each of the agents has different tactics about how the listed price is presented to get the best price. For example, one agent suggested we use “market…
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Home seller finds buyer; who gets or keeps the commmission?
Reader Question: I’m the homeowner. I listed my home with a real estate agent; however, I found an interested buyer on my own. If that buyer purchases my house with no help from the listing agent, “Who gets or keeps the commission? ” Monty’s Answer: Your question is one that someone else in America…
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The Impact of the New Tax Bill on Homeownership
Reader Question: We now have the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. We are considering changing homes. This move would not job related, or created by any lifestyle changes; we just want a change. What has changed regarding homeownership as a result of the new tax bill that may affect us making this move? Monty’s Answer:…
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Off market listings are a bad idea
Reader Question: Off market listings? We recently read an online article on one of the major real estate sites about off market listings. These listings were described as listings not entered into the MLS system. The gist of the article was that there are benefits to using this approach to sell your home in a hot…
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Will the real estate market crash?
Reader Question: Some people fear another real estate market crash. We see the real estate market has recovered in many markets. We are considering selling our current home and buying or building another house. With these conflicting opinions, it is difficult to figure out whether to go ahead. Do you think the housing market will…
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Eight tips for a relocation company executive
Reader Question: I am a member of the management team of a mid-size relocation company. Our meetings cover the same topics every week; cutting costs, client retention, internal HR issues, and problem properties. I feel like we spend too much time talking with each other, and that we are stagnating as a result. My question…
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Do we have to fix up the house to sell in a hot market?
Reader Question: Do we have to fix up the house to sell in a hot market? We want to downsize and buy something more manageable. Our house needs some work, and we are trying to decide if we’re going to put the work into it or sell as is and maybe give someone the opportunity…
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Six big real estate mistakes to avoid when listing your home
Reader Question: We are going to put our home on the market in March. We want to maximize our equity and ensure a smooth experience. In preparing for this event what are the big mistakes home sellers make? Monty’s Answer: Most home sellers want to ensure their success and maximize their equity, but many of…
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Ten Common Real Estate Scams
Reader Question: What would be your advice concerning the different real estate scams going on. For example, is being a for sale by owner dangerous today? What are some of the warning signs of real estate scams? Monty’s Answer: Scams have always existed as there are elements in our society that lead nefarious lives. While…
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Should we sell our home without an agent?
Reader Question: We are considering selling our home without an agent. We have done this in the past and were satisfied with the outcome. We used a lawyer to handle the closing and paid a much lower fee compared to an agent’s fee. Do you think individuals can do this successfully? Monty’s Answer: The circumstances…
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Five reasons it is tough to evaluate a home
Reader Question: It appears to be tough to evaluate a home. We plan on selling our home in the spring. When appraisers or real estate agents make adjustments between features in our house and the comparable homes features, we understand that these feature adjustments are subjective. The modifications are made to the comparables to make…
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Ten kinds of real estate agents
Reader Question: We are downsizing and considering different lifestyles once we sell our home. We do not recall the different kinds of real estate agents in the market today. Is it just us, or are there more kinds of real estate agents? Monty’s Answer: There are more real estate agents with a specialized practice today…