Should You Buy Southern New Hampshire Real Estate Through an Auction?

With the many auctions here and throughout the U.S., you may be wondering if it’s worth buying Southern New Hampshire real estate this way. Auctions let you bid at a public sale.  Some property is being sold by the owner, but most properties are foreclosures being sold by banks.

Like any endeavor, there are pros and cons to buying Southern NH real estate at an auction. For instance, a pro for auctions might be the price; you can often get great discounts on nice homes through an auction. However, you may get caught up in the fervor of the bidding process and pay more for a home than you ever intended.

The Condition of the Home may be Questionable 
When you work with a real estate agent to buy a home in the traditional manner, you go through the home inspection process.  This ensures the home is in sound structural condition.

In an auction, you have to go with the timeframe of the bidding process and most likely will not have time to get a home inspection performed.  In fact, homes sold at auction are sold “as is.”  That means no improvements will be made to the home, even if you had it inspected and found something wrong.  Additionally, there’s no warranty and no legal recourse to get your money back if you find problems later.

Tax liens can be Costly
In foreclosure auctions, a property may have a tax lien. If you win the auction, you may then become responsible for the payment of the tax lien. It could be a small or large amount of money, but no matter the size, you may not be able to afford it on top of the cost of the house.

Large Payments in Short Timeframes
Lastly, consider that full payment may be required at the close of the sale; if not full payment, earnest money will at least be required. Because closing usually happens within a month of the auction, it’s always best to be pre-approved for your loan before you start bidding.

If you’re looking at Southern New Hampshire real estate auctions for your dream home, do your homework first. You could end up with a fantastic deal, but, without enough information, you could also end up with a dead end.

If you’re looking for a great deal on a wonderful home, I can help. Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

Southern New Hampshire Homes: Strategies for Selling in Slow Markets

While the changed nature of the real estate market makes it much more difficult to sell Southern New Hampshire homes, the fact remains that home are still being bought and sold.  Buyers are out there; you just have to attract them to your home.

Here are a few tips for getting Southern New Hampshire homes sold in a slow real estate market:

Prepare for the Sale
Your home needs to stand out from the rest. Give it a lot of sparkle and shine:

    * Make minor repairs:  Patch holes, fix faucets and replace cracked tiles.
    * Clean inside and out:  No cobwebs, dirty carpets, worn rugs or smelly odors.
    * Check your curb appeal:  Mow the lawn, plant flowers, trim bushes, etc.
    * Remove clutter and de-personalize:  If it isn’t essential, pack it up or get rid of it.
    * Straighten your cabinets and closets:  Buyers will open them; make sure they’re nice and neat.

Stage Your Home
Hire a professional home stager or read informational home staging articles on doing it yourself. Here are a few quick tips:

    * Carefully choose your window coverings.
    * Tie new bathroom towels with ribbons for a “finished” bathroom look.
    * Use color psychology.
    * Bring in plants.

Use Good Marketing Techniques
A strong marketing campaign is a must.  A few techniques you want to be sure you and/or your agent include in your marketing campaign are:

    * Take photographs with good lighting that show off the positive aspects of your home.
    * Create a virtual tour that showcases both the inside and outside of your home.
    * Display the photos and virtual tour on as many real estate websites as possible.

Selling Southern New Hampshire homes isn’t a quick or easy endeavor. Especially now, aggressive marketers are the winners. Taking the time to clean and stage your home as well as create a wide-reaching marketing campaign can get that for sale sign taken down for good.

If you’d like to sell your home, let me create a strong, wide-reaching marketing campaign to get your home sold.   Give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Buying Southern New Hampshire Fixer-Upper Real Estate – Pros and Cons

Are you buying Southern New Hampshire real estate chiefly as an investment or as your primary residence? Does it need a little updating or a big overhaul? When you consider that buying Southern NH real estate is a major purchase, no matter what the reason, it’s always a good idea to look at the potential pros and cons of doing a rehab.

Pros of Buying a Fixer Upper
Location – The fixer upper you’re considering could be in a great neighborhood. It might even be on the best street. And because it needs work, you could get a home in a location you might otherwise not be able to afford.

Cost – It’s almost always cheaper to buy something broken than to buy something that works. Well, the same can be true for any kind of real estate investment. Buying a fixer upper may be a good alternative, if you want to own a home but can’t afford a high mortgage payment.

Style – It’s your home. When you remodel, redecorate or renovate, you get to choose what you want it to look like. Maybe it has a big picture window just dying for a window seat. Maybe you like soft mauve walls instead of the institutional green currently there. That’s okay, because you can fix it up to fit your personal style.

Cons of Buying a Fixer Upper
Cost – You may be able to save money on the selling price of a fixer upper, true. However, the savings could be totally lost once you start looking at the cost of renovations. Before you sign on the dotted line, do what any homebuyer should do and get a home inspection. Figure out how much you’ll be spending all together instead of basing your costs exclusively on the selling price.

Location – Often, fixer uppers are in less than pleasant neighborhoods or on streets with other homes in equal disrepair. Especially if you’re flipping houses, the chances of getting your investment back are low. When buying a fixer upper – for any reason – make sure you weigh it’s location against the cost.

Style – Quite simply, your personal style might take more energy and knowledge than you have available. For instance, if you don’t know anything about drywall, plasterwork or woodwork, that window seat you want so badly may not be possible. As well, if you only have an hour or so a day to work on the home, it could be in a state of disrepair for a long time before it’s finished.

If you’re thinking about buying Southern NH fixer-upper real estate, always look at the pros and cons of the specific house. You could make a great investment or end up with a money pit.

If you’re looking for a fixer upper that needs some tender loving care, I can help. Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

Staging Southern NH Homes for Sale: Not Just Pretty Furniture

Many real estate agents say, “Stage your Southern New Hampshire homes for sale!” If you have no idea what that means, you might Google it, read a few articles and get the idea that you throw a little rented furniture into your home and call it done. If you read a little bit more, you might add a mirror or potted plant here and there. However, if you really dig into it, you’ll find that properly staging Southern New Hampshire homes for sale takes a whole lot more than that.

Test Your Knowledge
Did you know…

    * Smaller furniture in small areas makes the space appear bigger.
    * Carefully arranged plants bring warmth to a living area.
    * Rugs and artwork add depth and dimension to a room.
    * Sunlight shining through a window makes a room feel warm and inviting.
    * A staged bedroom is as important as the bathroom and kitchen.
    * The colors you choose can make the difference between a sale and a flop.

If you didn’t know any of the above, it’s time to learn how to stage or hire a professional stager. Why?  Because home staging has been proven time and again to be one of the best steps to take to sell a home quickly and for more money.

Find Home Staging Resources
There are tons of online resources available to help you stage your home if you’d rather do it yourself. Here are just a few, in no particular order:

   1. Field Guide to Preparing and Staging a House
   2. Home-Staging Cheat Sheet
   3. Staging to Sell: The Secret to Selling Homes in a Down Market

Hire a Professional Stager
Does this mean you can’t do it yourself? Not at all. You just need to ask yourself two questions: 

   1. Can you afford to wait to sell your house while you’re learning how to stage your home?
   2. Even after researching and studying, will you be able to do a quality staging job?

If you can’t afford to wait or you’ll never be great at staging, hire a professional.

What’s the moral of the story? If you have one of the Southern New Hampshire homes for sale and you’ve been considering home staging, stop considering. Do it! 

Need help preparing your home for sale?  I can help. Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Southern New Hampshire Home Warranty FAQ

In today’s real estate market, it’s helpful when homeowners add incentives to sell their Southern New Hampshire homes. Incentives may include paying a portion of the buyer’s closing costs, reducing the sale price or offering a home warranty.

Many sellers and buyers are unaware of the advantages of home warranties, so below are answers to some frequently asked questions about home warranties:

●    What is a home warranty? A home warranty is a policy that covers the repair or replacement of home systems and appliances. They are typically annual policies that can be renewed and usually cost between $400 and $600.
●    Who pays for a home warranty? Either the seller or the buyer can pay for the home warranty, but sellers usually cover the cost as an incentive for selling their Southern NH home.
●    What is covered? This will depend on the terms of your warranty. Most warranties cover the air conditioner, dishwasher, furnace or heating system, water heater, ductwork, garbage disposal, inside plumbing, electrical systems, range and oven, and telephone wiring. Check with your home warranty for your specific coverage.
●    What is not covered? Again, this will depend on the terms of your warranty. However, most warranties do not cover outdoor sprinklers, certain faucet repairs, refrigerators, washers and dryers, garage door openers, spas, and pools. Check with your home warranty for your specific coverage.
●    How do I file a claim? If you have to file a claim, contact your home warranty company. They will call a service provider who will set up an appointment. You will have to pay a small service fee that is usually less than $100.

Want to buy a Southern New Hampshire home that comes with a warranty? I can help.  Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Consider the Investment Value of Southern New Hampshire Real Estate

If the Southern New Hampshire real estate you are looking to buy is going to be your primary residence, you probably know the features that are important to you.  However, in today's economic environment, the resale, or investment value, of Southern NH real estate is as important as the practical value of the number of bedrooms or bathrooms and the size of the kitchen.

In the past, a home buyer rarely worried about the resale value of a property because homes were always considered good financial investments. With today’s fluctuating home prices, property values are as important for home buyers to understand as they are for real estate investors to understand.

Location and Property Values

Before the housing and mortgage crisis, even if the home that suited you was not in a prime location, it would likely increase in value over time.  Now, you want to be sure you research a potential home before purchasing it to be sure:

1. The home is in a great neighborhood.
2. It’s at the lower end of the market value for that neighborhood.

If you buy a home in a neighborhood that is already considered a lower value area, it’s possible that those prices will not recover as quickly as better areas.   Or worse, home values could decline more leaving you with a home worth less than what you paid for it.

Now more than ever, it’s important to work with a real estate agent who specializes in the area where you’d like to live.  As a specialist in Southern New Hampshire real estate (specifically about a 45 minute range West, North, and East of Nashua), I can give you the detailed information and advice that you need to move with confidence.  Contact me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Seller’s Remorse: What Happens After Your Southern New Hampshire Home Sells

It happens to everyone at some point. You walk away from the closing table wondering if you made the biggest mistake of your life. Did you sell your Southern New Hampshire home for less than it was worth? Will you be able to create good memories in your new home? This is called seller’s remorse.  Here are some tips to prepare for it and survive it:

• Seller’s remorse is a fear, and you should deal with it just like you would any other fear. Talk about it with your friends, family, and real estate agent. They can listen to you and reassure you that you made the right decision.
• Remind yourself of the facts. Facts are the opposite of fear, and they will help take your focus off your fears. If you are moving because of a job relocation, you had to sell your home. If you had to sell your home because you couldn’t afford it, whatever you got for the home is better than ruining your credit.
• Find out what other Southern New Hampshire homes are selling for. Look through the classifieds. Drive around town. Ask your real estate agent.  When you see what other homes have sold for, you can rest assured that you got a good price. Remember to look at the sale price instead of the asking price.
• Treasure your memories. The memories go with you when you leave; they are not confined to four walls and a roof. 
• Look to the future.  Now, it’s time to start a new chapter in your life and make fresh memories in your new home.  Enjoy this new turn your life is taking.  Look back fondly, but embrace your new path.

Let me guide and advise you through the selling process of your Southern New Hampshire home so you can move with confidence! Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.