Robin Lynch's Discussions

To answer your question. And you may be suprised. Choosing your Realtor is very important. Contact several Realtors, ask them questions. Remember to compare commission rates and services available. Then choose, and choose wisely. Your Realtor will invest time and money to assist you with finding a buyer. If no offers come in the first contract period, look at price and quality of service. If you are happy with the service and are listening to the advice given to you by your Realtor, stick with them! Although if there is no contact by your Realtor and the property has not been shown, then maybe it is time for a change. I am a firm believer that future business is derived from the service given today! I hope this helps.

Of course, in most cases, moving means selling one's home ? after all, it's usually a necessary step in affording a new home. But for various reasons some people choose to rent out their homes instead. In some instances, people know that they'll be leaving only for a year or two ? perhaps while they pursue a graduate degree or take on a specific project at work. Sometimes the would-be seller simply can't sell at a price deemed acceptable, so he or she chooses to hang on until the market picks up. A more likely scenario these days, however, is that the owner wants to hang on while property values continue to soar. Others just want to keep their old home until they're confident they won't be coming back.The Tax Issues When You SellAs you probably know, Uncle Sam provides a generous tax break for those who've lived in their home for at least two of the past five years. Married couples who file jointly can earn up to $500,000 in capital gains tax-free, while singles can enjoy $250,000 in tax-free gains. Good news: Those who are planning on renting out their home for just a year or two will still be eligible for these breaks (provided they've lived in their home for at least two of the past five years). Should they sell more than three years later, however, they forego the tax exemption, meaning their gain would be taxed as a capital gain. (Thanks to the Bush tax cut, long-term capital gains are now taxed at a maximum rate of 15%.) Consequently, for those whose renting plans would turn a tax-free gain into a taxable one, the general advice is to sell.The Tax Issues When You Rent OutBecoming a landlord also offers some handsome tax perks. While rental income is taxed as ordinary income, your tax bill could easily be eliminated thanks to the numerous deductions on expenses and depreciation.

Verify the contractor's licensing and insurance.Make sure the contractor has at least five years experience and is an expert doing the type of work you need.Contact the Better Business Bureau to see if information on your candidate is available.Ask how many jobs like yours the contractor has completed.Ask for examples of work the contractor has done on other projects.Ask the contractor for references from ten current and/or past clients who have had work similar to yours done. Most business comes to a good contractor from referrals, so investigate these references. Randomly call at least three.

You can also contact a stager. A friend of mine owns Staging Touches. (www.stagingtouches.com). She is located in LA.

Hello everyone. I am curious to know how many homeowners out there would consider having their home staged. I know it is a new trend and as a realtor I am curious if anybody would consider this as an option to getting their home sold

To each his own. I like the idea of staging. I wouldn't have a stager all the time. A stager could be used in certain situations. I like the idea of a home being staged because it opens up the house and the buyer can envision their own belongings there. Sometimes buyers shy away when they see a lot of family photos. Vacant spaces are good to stage also because of the fact that they are empty and the designer can bring life back into it.

A broker open house is a mid week mid day open house that is advertised directly to the area Realtors. They are generally held at lunch time to allow for lunch to be served and often to include a drawing for a thank you gift. That's right, in our area at least it is customary for lunch to be served, it isn't uncommon for in town broker opens with a good lunch menu to serve a dozen or more Realtors. Broker opens in more rural areas often have a lower turnout unless it is a truly remarkable home.The broker open serves two very important purposes.First the broker open seeks feedback for the listing, on price, staging, work that should be done prior to sale. It is the chance to use the other area Realtors as a spring board for the marketing plan for the property and allows for the plan to benefit from their feedback and advice.The second and more dramatic purpose is to plant your deal squarely in the front of every attending Realtor's mind. The more Realtors that are familiar with your house, your deal, and can speak confidently about what they have seen with their own eyes the more buyers you will have access to.However, brokers only report poor open-house attendance with certain HUD properties and neighborhoods.A good reputation.Verify the reputation as well as the competence of any agent with whom you deal, so check with both the Board of Registration for Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen and the Better Business Bureau to see if there is a history of complaints against the broker or the broker's firm. Also contact friends, acquaintances and references the broker provides.

The problem with leasing a house to someone is that you don't necessarily know who you are leasing to even if you meet them in person. You could have a beautiful home and by the time the lease is up it would probably not be in the same condition as when they moved in. That is an option but realtors don't favor it. Lowering your price after one month on the market is up to you. There are may factors that determine that decision. Do you have somewhere to go? What are your future plans? Take advice from a professional.

The comments from the buyers seem to be cosmetic in nature. I represented someone who liked the space. She was to re-do the kitchen. She did not like the decor (she was an interior designer) and she didn't like the deck. She would put in a patio. My point is have your realtor market the space in your home so that the buyer can envision the home as their own.

Reasons to Buy First and Then SellIt's a Seller's Market.When the number of buyers are many and inventory is reduced, homes generally sell within days of hitting the market. In this instance, there is little risk in buying first and selling second. However, few sellers will accept a contingent offer. Since these sellers will not accept a sale-contingent offer, you could be stuck owning two residences until your home sells. On top of that, you will pay top dollar for your new home, especially if you end up bidding in a multiple offer situation.Deal is Too Good to Wait.Sometimes, regardless of the marketplace, a home will come on the market at a price that is too good to pass up.It's Your Dream Home.This is an emotional decision. As much as many buyers might want to be logical and analytical, people who let their hearts rule are not. Real estate is an emotional business anyway, so those who fixate on owning a certain type of home may as well buy it when they first spot it. For some, money is no object. Fortunately, these types of buyers rarely look back, but keep their sights set on the horizon, on moving forward, and they don't regret makiing emotional decisions. They want what they want, and they get what they want.