mistakes to avoid – Cooper Realty Associates

Mistakes to Avoid When Buying

If you’re looking to buy a home there are some common mistakes that you should avoid at all costs. The first is passing up homes that can be easily fixed. If a home is in your desired location keep in mind that cosmetic issues can often be easily fixed for a relatively small amount of money. Of course, a home that needs an entire new kitchen might not be worth your time and money, but a home that just needs a facelift, a coat of paint, or new carpeting can be well worth your time and money. Another thing to consider is the total cost of homeownership. Many homeowners forget to factor in the cost of home maintenance which is, on average, 1 to 3 percent of the full purchase price of the home, annually. When you are buying a home, a good realtor can lead you away from the most common mistakes and more, so the best protection is a realtor you can trust!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

Five Mistakes To Avoid When Selling Your Home

If you’re putting your home up for sale, avoid these common seller mistakes:

1. Overpricing. If you truly think your agent’s price is too low, get a second or third opinion, but an agent that lets you list at the price you want even though every other agent suggested a lower price will end up costing you money in the long run because a home that is overpriced will sit on the market and often become stale. On the other hand, a home that is priced right will generate a lot of interest and attention initially, and may even generate a higher price due to multiple offers.

2. Bad Quality Photos. Most home buyers start their search online and many are using mobile apps these days, so make sure that you list photos with your home and make sure those photos are high quality.

3. Not Prepping Enough. Prepping your home for sale should start before your listing becomes active. Declutter, clean and make repairs before you even list your home, so that it sparkles in the photos on your listing as well as in person. Waiting until you have a showing or an open house scheduled is shooting yourself in the foot!

4. Hiring A Friend Instead of An Agent. Don’t trust just anybody to sell your home or choose the person that offers you the highest list price or lowest commission price. You need to find someone who has an active plan for finding qualified buyers, is committed to negotiating on your behalf, and has a plan of attack for the crucial first two weeks that your home is on the market.

5. Not Considering All Offers. Normally homes get a lot of attention in the first few weeks they are listed. By holding out for a better offer or second guessing yourself you can hurt you in the end if you end up rejecting early offers and your home sits on the market and begins being rejected sight unseen by buyers who are leery of stale listings. Remember this, every month that your home stays on the market costs you in mortgage and utility bills, so settling on a price that is a little bit lower than you’d like may save you money in the long run.

Thinking about buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

The Biggest Mistakes Home Buyers Make

Buying a home can be stressful and time consuming. The right agent can make your home search less painful, but it can still be quite a process. There are a few common mistakes that many home buyers make that can make the process more painful than it has to be. The first, extremely common mistake that buyers make is failing to see the potential in the homes they view. While it is important for buyers to see both the positive and negative aspects of each home they visit, passing on a home that is otherwise perfect just because the walls are an ugly color or the carpets are dated is a common mistake that can be avoided.

Another common mistake is getting so caught up in the moment or in the charm of a particular home or location that buyers forget that they need three bedrooms instead of two or need more need an eat-in kitchen versus a dining room. Compromise is a natural part of the home search, but compromising on a “deal breaker” because a buyer is caught up in the moment is a huge mistake. To that end, I located this awesome home buyer’s chart put out by HUD that can help buyers rate each home they see and keep the important things organized in several different categories.

Of course, having a great agent makes these mistakes and others much less common, so give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates if you’re in the market for a home in Sussex County. We look forward to working for you – 302-644-2266.