Category Archives: Home Sellers

What to Know About Contract Contingencies

A realtor and buyer talking about the real estate contract and contingencies to include.

There are many steps to purchasing a new home. After the initial offer is made, buyers and sellers often negotiate before they come to an agreement. Buyers then deposit earnest money to show they are serious about the purchase, and both parties begin the closing process.

However, a lot of things can go wrong between signing the contract and closing on a house. To protect buyers, several types of contract contingencies may be included in the contract. These allow the buyer to legally back out of the sale if necessary.

Many home contract contingencies are accepted by sellers, but some may weaken offers on a home. Here are four common types of home contract contingencies and how to tell which ones may be right for you.

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Moving to an Assisted Living Community in Phoenix? Here’s How to Decide What Happens to Your Current Home

A woman and a caregiver in an assisted living facility looking at something in the distance.

Deciding that now is the right time to move to an assisted living community in Phoenix, AZ, is a big deal. You’ll be altering your life in a significant way. Plus, for homeowners, it also means you’ll need to determine what happens with your house.

Examining the benefits and drawbacks of various strategies can make it easier to figure out what’s best. Here’s a look at some available options that can help you decide what happens to your current home as you move into an assisted living facility.

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6 Signs It’s Time to Upsize

A family with two young children playing in moving boxes.

Most people love their current homes, especially if the home is where they grew up or where they have raised their children. But no matter how many memories those homes hold, there may come a time when you will simply need to move into something bigger. Maybe your family is growing, perhaps you’ve acquired too much stuff that you can’t let go of, or maybe you need more room for your hobby. These are all signs it’s time to upsize your home. If you want to know more about these signs, keep on reading.

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When is the Best Time to Update a Kitchen?

A kitchen that has been updated with new gray cabinetry and backsplash.

A home reflects the type of lifestyle it houses. The kitchen in a house with kids will be very different from the one used by a single person or empty nesters, and this will often lead to design decisions for the space.

If you are looking to sell, the consensus among real estate experts is that kitchen updates are important at some point before selling. What if you’re planning on staying in the house for a decade or more? It still may make sense to make them part of a renovation project rather than doing minor touch-ups here and there.

The best time to update a kitchen space can vary depending on your circumstances. However, there are some general guidelines that you can follow to help make the process easier.

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Pros & Cons of Selling Your Home During the Holiday Season

a white wooden home decorated for the holidays with a for sale sign.

While your neighbors are slowly starting to decorate their homes for the upcoming holidays, you are decorating your home for sale. While they are waiting for their guests to arrive, you are waiting for the potential buyers to arrive. Now you might be wondering – is this time of the year a good time to sell? Like all other things, selling your home during the holiday season comes with its pros and cons. If you plan to put your property on the market in the upcoming months, keep reading for some valuable insight.

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Things to Consider Before Renting Your Property

a sign in from of an apartment signifying you are renting your property

If you’ve decided that you want to rent out your home or investment property, you may think that all you need to do is publish a listing and, voila! You’ve got a new tenant! Well… renting out your property may not be as simple as it seems. Before creating a listing online, there are a few things you need to consider.

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Buying Out of State, Virtually, Without Overpaying

By: Agnes A. Gaddis on Oct 26

Man searching for a home to buy out of state, virtually.

Can you believe that it is possible to live in California today, make an offer on your dream home in Springfield, Missouri tomorrow, and close within a month? The prevalence of remote work and state-of-the-art real estate technology has made it easier than ever to search for homes without concern for geographical limits.

Millions of Americans now work remotely, far from corporate HQ, and sometimes from the flurry and fuss of city life. In fact, during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, one in five Americans moved or know someone who moved, especially from big cities. One of the primary reasons for this exodus was affordable housing. People relocated to suburbs and vacation hotspots in search of larger, less expensive homes as more companies became remote-work-friendly.

Buying a home in one state while living in another, whether it be for more affordable living, work reasons, or as a second home, might not be as straightforward as buying in your current state. It can be challenging to purchase in a place you are not familiar with- housing laws, walkability of the community, home maintenance concerns, etc. can be vastly different from one state to another. This article is a step-by-step guide to follow if you are considering buying out of state.

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Selling an Inherited Home

A for sale sign in front of an inherited house.

Selling an inherited house is challenging on many levels. The first is the emotional impact of dealing with the death of a loved one. Then there’s paperwork, legal responsibilities, and financial considerations to take into account. That’s why we compiled this guide to help you with the process of selling an inherited house.

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Use Landscaping to Increase Home Value

grass, rock, and gravel, representing the how landscaping can increase home value

In the recent years, multiple studies have shown that landscaped homes sell at a higher price than similar homes with poor landscaping. Today this is more accurate than ever, with home sales figures rising 13%, depending on the extent of the renovations to the yard.

Homeowners are developing their backyards and front yards, and the house clean-up boom is driving that engine. However, deciding what to do on your property can be a difficult decision.

Let’s learn more about what improvements are beneficial to increase your home value.

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Making Sense of Home Automation in the Real Estate Market

phone with icons showing home automation

Every year there seems to be a new phone, gadget or product that is a must-have on everyone’s shopping list. But when it comes to shopping for a home, how does the newest home technology influence the buying and selling process? Do homeowners need to add smart home features to sell their homes? Should buyers be on the lookout for automation in their new home? If, like most people, you have questions about home automation and the real estate market, we have a few answers that may help you out.

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