What are the two most important factors when selling a home?

Check your curb appeal and make sure it is the best that you can get.

Inside get rid of all clutter and clean, clean, clean

Call Billings Real Estate Professionals for all of your real estate needs 406-248-4409

I ws told I need a letter showing I am prequalified. Why do i need this?

If you are serious about buying a new home, you will need to know how much money you can borrow and what mortgage payment you can afford.   Many realtors will want you to be preapproved for a home loan before they start showing you houses.

The best place to start is with your own bank or credit union.  Your realtor can also recommend a lender they have worked with and who has a proven track record of providing quality service.  The loan officer will check your credit and review your most current pay stubs, W-2s tax returns and bank statements.  Most lenders can tell you right away if you are approved and how much you can afford. Once a seller has accepted your offer, you can still shop for your mortgage with other lenders to make sure you are getting the best deal.

The best homes that come up on the market sell the fastest.  When you find that perfect home you will want to move quickly.  When you are ready to make an offer, the sellers will want to see that you are preapproved for a loan and can afford their home.  Because you are preapproved, your lender can provide an up-to-date letter for the specific property to submit with your offer.

Call me today to let me help make your home buying experience enjoyable and successful.   

Colleen Foreman

cforereal@aol.com

406-671-0412

 

What are some inexpensive things that I can do tyo prepare my home for sale?

1. Repair ceiling and wall cracks
2. Repair or replace leaking faucets
3. Repair banister, handrails, cabinets, drawers, and doors
4. Caulk and grout tubs, showers, sinks and tile
5. Add fresh paint
6. Tight door handles, drawer pulls, light switches and electrical plates
7. Lubricate door hinges and locks

Call Lisa Baumberger for all of your real estate needs  406-208-5560

 

What can I do to Sell my home?

Provide convenient Parking—they do not want to walk far.


Keep odors under control—windows are not open too much yet so all homes tend to get stuffy.

Cultivate a Festive Look—decorations based upon the season are great, but take them down when the season is over

Don't Igonore the Outdoors—keep walks and steps clear
Don't Roast buyers—65 degrees is about right as they may still be wearing jackets

Keep Seasonal clothing under control—buyers do not want to see the mudroom filled with shoes or the hall closet overflowing.

Encourage Day time shows—a home shows best in daylight. Be ready for showings at 9:00 a.m.                                                                                                 Call Billings Real Estate Professionals for all of your real estate needs  248-4409

What is green landscaping?

Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of a household’s energy consumption for heating and cooling. Computer models devised by the U.S. Department of Energy predict that the proper placement of only three trees will save an average household between $100 and $250 in energy costs annually. On average your investment in is returned in 8 years


An 8-foot (2.4-meter) deciduous (leaf-shedding) tree, for example, costs about as much as an awning for one large window and can ultimately save your household hundreds of dollars in reduced cooling costs, yet still admit some winter sunshine to reduce heating and lighting costs.

Landscaping can save you money in summer or winter. Well landscaped areas can reduce surrounding air temperature by as much as 9°F. Air directly under trees can be as much as 25°F less then areas nearby. Shade can reduce air-conditioning costs by 15% to 50% compared to an unshaded home. And as much as 75% when comparing small mobile homes

Windbreaks can keep you home warmer in the winter by shielding your home against the colder wind. Homes with windbreaks placed only on the windward side showed an average of 25% less fuel consumption then similar unprotected homes.

Call Billings Real Estate Professionals for all of your real estate needs.

I am prequalified for a VA loan and I am interested in a home that has a pressure treated wood foundation. Will VA approve that type of foundation for my loan?

Yes.  A pressure treated wood foundation that has been properly installed, and meets current building codes, is acceptable for VA, FHA and Rural Development Loans.


Call Terry Pollert for all your real estate needs 406-2408-8018

When a Realtor is showing my home, would it be best for me to be there and answer any questions the buyers may have?

No! Buyers typically don't feel comfortable touring a Seller's home when they are there.  The Buyers will have trouble visualizing themselves living in the Sellers home. They are usually afraid to open cabinet, and closet doors, and to closely inspect the property when they feel the Seller is watching them.  The Buyer's Realtor is trained to stay close to the Buyers to help them with their inspection of the Sellers property. The Relator will make sure the property to left in the same condition they found it in. The Realtor will make sure all exterior doors and windows are locked and secured when they leave.

Call Terry Pollert for all of your real estate needs 406-208-8018