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Fix the small stuff

Repair or replace broken or outdated hardware throughout your home. You can install new door handles, faucets, towel bars and curtain rods - fixtures that are readily visible to homebuyers - rather inexpensively. Remeber to tighten any loose door handles and hardwear. Touching up scuff marks on walls and doors adds a fresh look toy our home too!

Light it up
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more salable.

Declutter living areas

Cramped and cluttered rooms turn buyers off and make your house look smaller. A home packed with your personal belongings also makes it difficult for others to envision living there. Start by storing away excess furniture, toys. Pack up things you don't use on a daily basis, and put them in storage or ask a friend to hold onto them. De-cluttering your house also gives you a head start on your move!

Make the House Sparkle

Preparing your home to be viewed by potential buyers may require a good deep clean, or hiring a professional. Cleaning may include washing the windows inside and out; renting a pressure washer and spraying down sidewalks and the exterior; re-caulking tubs, showers, and sinks; and polishing chrome faucets and mirrors. Make sure all of the dust is removed from under the furniture, in the cabinets and closets, and everywhere else it could be hiding.

Consider your curb appeal

Yes, for better or worse, buyers do tend to judge a book by its cover. You want to make sure potential buyers' first impression of your home is a good one, and inspires them to stop by the open house or schedule a tour, so they can see more. It doesn’t have to be a complete re-landscape of your yard, it can be a weekend cleanup, plant a few flowers or plants, add a little mulch, etc.

Hide valuables

From art, firearms, medicine, to jewelry, keep your valuables out of sight, either locked up or stored off-site. You can't trust everyone who comes into your house, even when you're trying to sell it. Take care to hide your valuables or move them to a safe space away from your home.

Find a REALTOR

Find a Realtor who is knowledgeable about your market, has a good reputation and reviews or comes highly recommended, and discuss your situation and home with that Realtor to make sure that Realtor will be a good fit for your situation.

Are you thinking about getting a home loan? Make sure you know these different mortgage types.

Are you getting ready to dive into your first home purchase? If so, it may help to learn the basic types of mortgages before diving in.


The Basic Types of Loans.

1. CONVENTIONAL / FIXED RATE MORTGAGE

Conventional fixed rate loans are a safe bet because of their consistency — the monthly payments won’t change over the life of your loan. This is your standard, plain-vanilla mortgage.

They’re available in 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40-year terms but 15 and 30 are the most common.

2. INTEREST-ONLY MORTGAGE

Interest-only mortgages give you the option, during the first five or 10 years, to pay only the interest portion of your monthly payment instead of the full payment. You aren’t required do this. This slows down your repayment time but can be useful in a pinch. Afterward, the rest of the mortgage is paid off in full like a conventional mortgage.

3. ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE (ARM)

There are many different ARMs. The basic idea is that their interest rate changes over time throughout the life of the loan. The rate changes reflect changes in the economy and the cost of borrowing money. A common ARM is called the 5/1 loan —
the interest rate stays the same for the first five years and then is free to change for the remaining 25 years.

4. FHA LOANS

These are mortgages guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration. They come with built-in mortgage insurance to protect against the possibility of not being able to repay the loan. The required down payments are smaller with these loans.

5. VA LOANS

These loans make it easier for veterans of the U.S. armed forces, and sometimes their spouses, to buy homes. They don’t require a down payment and are guaranteed by the Department of Veteran Affairs.

6. USDA LOANS

These are mortgages guaranteed by the government. They also come with built-in mortgage insurance to protect against the possibility of not being able to repay the loan. The required $0 down payments but do come with geographical and income limits to qualify.


There are a lot of different loan types available to fit the needs of different borrowers. Contact me for more info on finding the right home loan for you!