Southern New Hampshire Home for Sale? 6 Tips for Selling Now

If your Southern New Hampshire home for sale isn’t selling, you’re probably wondering if you’re missing something. Well, here’s a list of things you might not know that could make all the difference:

1.    If the location of your Southern NH home for sale isn’t great, the price and terms are the only thing that will sell it. Make them outstanding!

2.    Attractive, competitive terms may help you get a higher price. For instance, if you’re allowing the option of owner financing, and also allow a smaller down payment (say, 3-5% of the sale price), you may be able to sell your house for a higher overall amount.

3.    Because of the current high competition, your home has to be in the best condition at a competitive price. Check out the competition, accept that yours might need work, and get to it.

4.    You can’t set a limit for home improvement. If your home needs something done to beat the competition and you can do it, do it! You aren’t just spending money; you’re investing in the sale of your home. Although you may not get all your money back, you just might get a quick sale at full value.

5.    Staging – you’ve heard of it; tons of agents are talking about it. If you want to get your house sold, either invest in staging services or do your homework and stage the home yourself. It’s all about presentation.

6.    Remember that you are no longer the host/hostess of the house. You are a business person, and your business is getting that house sold. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of a solid business deal.

Putting your Southern New Hampshire home up for sale is a daunting prospect. If it’s been up for a while, it can be an exercise in frustration. However, keep the above points in mind, listen to the experts and put what you learn to work for you.

If you’d like to get your home sold, I can help. Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

How Does a Second Mortgage Work on a Southern NH Home?

You may not know it, but you can take out a second mortgage on your Southern New Hampshire home if you have equity in the property.  A lender may offer you a home equity loan (HEL) or a home equity line of credit (HELOC).  Which one is right for you?  Here are a couple of tips to help you decide:

    * A home equity loan is commonly referred to as a second mortgage.  Expect the process to be similar to getting your primary mortgage.  Your home will have to be inspected, and you’ll need to arrange for another appraisal.  Home equity loans frequently have a higher interest rate than primary mortgages because the lender is at a greater risk of you defaulting on the loan.

    * The HEL can be a fixed-rate mortgage, which means that your interest rate and payments are fixed for the duration of the loan.  This makes it easier to plan for the payments, so you’ll be able to borrow responsibly and not get in over your head.

    * A home equity line of credit is more like a credit card secured by your Southern NH home.  It allows you to withdraw money, up to a set limit, whenever you need it. There is generally a minimum payment due each month.  Unlike a loan, you'll increase your available credit each time you make a payment.

    * A line of credit usually has a variable interest rate, like a credit card.  It may have a low introductory interest rate for a short time, and then increase for the rest of the loan term.  You can access the funds with a bankcard or checks drawn off the HELOC.

If you are borrowing for a single project like remodeling the kitchen of your Southern New Hampshire home, you might think about a home equity loan.  However, if you’re looking to finance a re-occurring expense like college tuition, an open line of credit might work best for you. 

Have questions about mortgages or real estate?  I’m happy to help.  Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Homes for Sale in Southern NH: Should You Buy a Model Home?

Of the homes for sale in Southern New Hampshire, at least of few of them are model homes. Not “model” as in the perfect house for anyone, but “model” as in the builder’s showcase. They’re beautiful, generally include higher-end options and often contain excellent examples of cabinetry and architecture.

If you come across one of the model homes for sale in Southern New Hampshire, should you consider buying it or pass it up all together? Well, like everything else, there are pros and cons:

Pro: More for your money
Eventually, the builder has to sell the model home, and at that point, he or she is a motivated seller. The chances are more likely that you’ll end up paying less than the listing price. As well, since it is a model home, it will have bells and whistles you might not get from the same type of house down the street.

Pro: Bells and whistles
What are bells and whistles? Well, it depends on the area and the builder, but model homes have many add-ons to show the capabilities of the builder, architect and other companies involved in building the homes. Those bells and whistles can include anything from expensive landscaping and a finished basement to window seats.

As well, most builders are willing to sell the furnishings, giving the buyer of the model first dibs. Quite simply, you could very well end up with the best house, the newest appliances and the nicest furniture.

Con: You may have to wait months
If you buy a showcase home before the builder has sold all the other homes in the development, the builder may not be willing to close. Most want to wait until the showcase house has done its job. Especially in the current economy, this could take quite awhile. If you go this route, make sure your contract gives a specific closing date – and always read the fine print.

Con: It’s old and new
While a model home has never been lived in, it could very well have sat on the lot for three years while the development was being sold. While the appliances may never have been used, the warranties are wearing out; the walls and floors show wear and tear as well. For this reason, you want to make sure the builder includes a little maintenance in the contract. New carpeting and fresh paint are bargaining points for you as the homebuyer, among others.

Should you buy one of the showcase homes for sale in Southern NH? Well, it’s really up to you, but always do your homework first. How long the house has been there, what the contract includes and other questions should be answered – before you sign on the dotted line.

If you’re looking for a dream home with all the bells and whistles, I can help.  I can even help you get the best price and terms on a model home, if you call me before you start visiting them.  Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

10 Must Have Tools for Southern New Hampshire Real Estate Repairs

You can do many simple repairs around your home to save money. Whether you are making repairs around your Southern New Hampshire real estate to prepare it for sale or repairing items after buying a home, having the right tools for the job makes everything much easier.

Here are my top 10 must have tools to complete most Southern NH real estate repairs:

1.    Cordless drill. A cordless drill gives you a quick way to put screws in walls, put together furniture or to remove screws effortlessly.

2.    Hammer. You should have a medium weight hammer on hand for tapping pieces into place, installing nails or even removing wall sections or nails you no longer need.

3.    Level. If you want to hang anything evenly, you need a level. Use a level to measure holes for hanging cabinets, towel bars and pictures.

4.    Pencils. You will use pencils to mark studs or drill holes or to make notes while you’re working.

5.    Pliers. Pliers are essential for removing staples and nails. You can also use them to remove screws. Keep an assortment of different sized pliers on hand.

6.    Putty knife. If you are covering nail holes or wall cracks, you need a putty knife to spread the spackling. You can also use a putty knife to remove wall paper, adhesives or spilled paint or caulk.

7.    Screwdrivers. At the very least, you need a regular screwdriver and a Phillips head screwdriver with a medium tip. You should also have a set of small screwdrivers on hand.

8.    Tape measure. A good tape measure will come in handy any time you need to measure.

9.    Utility knife. This knife is basically a razor blade with a handle. You can use it to remove wallpaper, scrape paint or remove tape after painting.

10.   Vice grip. Vice grips help you hold items, and they are especially useful if you are removing screws, untwisting something with sticky adhesive or just need to hold something while you work.

Let me help you prepare your Southern New Hampshire real estate for a fast sale. Give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

5 Tips to Keep Your Southern NH Home for Sale Ready to Show

You’ve repaired, de-cluttered, deep cleaned and polished your Southern New Hampshire home for sale until it shines.  But how do you keep it that way when you and your family have to live in it every day?

Here are 5 tips to keep your Southern NH home for sale ready to show (without driving yourself crazy):

1.    Decree some rooms off limits.  There are a few obvious rooms that can easily be declared off limits such as the formal dining room and living room.  But there are others you may not have considered.  If you have 3 bathrooms, proclaim 1 or 2 of those bathrooms off limits.  Have a guest room but no guest?  Shut the door and forget it.

2.   Hire a maid service.  You may not be able to afford a cleaning crew on a regular basis, but to reduce your stress while your Southern NH home is for sale, consider hiring a housecleaner to come in once or twice a month.

3.    Leave your shoes at the door.  Sure, it’s inconvenient, but it really does keep your floors clean much longer which means less vacuuming, sweeping and mopping.

4.    Clean as you go. Anytime you get something out, put it away when you’re done with it.  Persuade every member of your household to do the same.

5.    Use potpourri.  You may have read some tips I’ve given about baking cookies to make your home smell great for showings.  That’s an excellent idea for people who have lots of time or just love to bake.  But for the rest of us, put out a bowl of cinnamon scented potpourri and avoid cooking smelly foods such as liver, fish or anything fried until your home is sold.  If you can’t do without your fish, go out to eat.

Need to sell your home?  Let me help you get it sold so you can relax.  Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

4 Tips for Buying a Southern NH Home for Sale (Doing It Right the First Time)

If you’re looking for a Southern New Hampshire home for sale and you’ve never bought a home before, you might think, “This won’t take much time.” Typically, just the opposite is true.   Buying a home frequently takes quite a bit of time.

Of course, the whole home buying process will go much faster (and smoother) if you do things the right way. If you’re a first time buyer looking for a Southern New Hampshire home for sale, take some lessons from the pros. The following tips will help make the buying process fly:

1.  Weigh the Benefits - Before you actually go house hunting, weigh the pros and cons of buying a home. Can you really afford it? Is it a good idea, or are you caving under pressure from family, friends, your doctor and the next-door neighbor?

Make sure that you’ve actually considered the alternatives and decided home ownership is the best move for you. In my experience, homebuyers who are sure they’re ready to buy not only enjoy the process more, but also are more likely to enjoy the home they buy.

2.  Define What You’re Looking For - Before you walk out the door to look at homes, figure out your goals. How do you do this? Begin on the internet.  Between virtual home tours, online listings, photographs and aerial shots, you’ll be able to build a much stronger idea of the type of home and neighborhood in which you want to live.

Once you go through this process, you’ll have clearly defined goals you can then pass on to the buyer’s agent you hire. You are now halfway to home ownership!

3. Lay Off the Sugar - Before going to look at houses, lay off the sugars. Research shows sugar can inhibit your short-term memory. You want to be able to remember the homes you’ve seen.

Having said that, your agent probably won’t show you 15 or 20 homes in a day. At the most, you might see 8 or 9. You see, a good agent pays attention to the goals you told him or her on the first day. The only homes you need to see are those that fit your goals.

4. See Your Favorites Before Buying – Okay, you’ve looked at 14 homes, and you’re torn between houses 2, 5 and 6. Since you’re only buying one house, you want to make sure you get the home you want. Therefore, before signing or making any kind of commitment, look over the ones you like the most again. You’ll see things you may have missed before, which will help narrow the choice down to one.

Buying a Southern New Hampshire home for sale is one of the biggest steps you’ll ever take. It’s a big investment, and the process can be time consuming. However, following the above steps can make owning the home of your dreams less of a hassle and more of a dream come true!

If you’re looking for a professional buyer’s agent who can help you find the home of your dreams, give me a call at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Do’s and Don’ts of Marketing Your Southern NH Home Online

You have a for sale sign in front of your Southern New Hampshire home. Even though the real estate market is slow, you still see other houses being bought. What’s the matter with yours? Why is your home still sitting on the market? Is it you? Is it your home? Is it your agent? It may just be your online marketing (or lack of it).

Do Upload Photos
The internet is one of most popular places for homebuyers to do their

initial shopping.  If your Southern New Hampshire home isn’t online, it needs to be there. If it is online, it needs pictures. If it has pictures, pay attention to the following issues:

·    Dark or grainy pictures
·    Images with closed windows, drapes and/or blinds
·    Photos of rooms with clutter
·    Only one photo, and it’s of the front of the house
·    Images that haven’t been adjusted to look their best online

Finally, ask yourself, if a picture says a thousand words, what are the photos of my home saying? If your pictures don’t look friendly and inviting, and if they don’t make your home look its very best, you might as well take your home off the market.

Do Add Data
Don’t forget to add important information. Think about it. How many other homes are being sold online? What makes yours better/different? In other words, why should a buyer take the time to look at your house in person?

Buyers aren’t mind readers. They can’t look at a picture and see that your home has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.  You have to tell them that.  If your house also has a large backyard, walking paths nearby or green home features, by all means, brag about it.

Don’t Restrict Showings
People need to see your home in person before they’ll decide to buy it. Unfortunately, many sellers make the mistake of having restricted showing hours, needing appointments for a showing and not being available when they have a prospective buyer.  Instead…

·    Do use a lockbox, so you don’t have to be there for an agent to show the house.
·    Don’t set restricted hours.  This makes showing the home at the buyer’s convenience difficult, and you definitely want it to be convenient for your potential buyer.

There are several areas where marketing can go bad and become a missed opportunity for selling your Southern New Hampshire home. However, if you make it convenient, show your home at its best and don’t overprice, you’re well on your way to changing “for sale” to “sold.”

If you want an agent who will market your home to its best advantage, give me a call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.