Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

It used to be that buyers could go house shopping and when they have found their dream home, then they go to get pre-approved. However, in today’s market, that has proven to be one of the least effective methods in landing the dream home.

Be picky, but don’t be unrealistic. There is no perfect home.

Traditionally, buyers will stop at a house for sale and be shown the property by an agent sitting in the open house or the owner. The difficulty with that method is that the agent sitting there is usually the listing agent. And in most cases, he or she represents the seller.

Not every applicant is approved for a home loan the first time he or she applies. For a variety of reasons, even after a lot of hard work, sometimes a loan just can’t be approved. It may have to do with the applicant’s credit or savings history, employment stability, debt structure, or the value of […]

Consider comparables. What have other homes in your neighborhood sold for recently? How long did it take them to sell and were there any price reductions? How do they compare to yours in terms of size, upkeep, and amenities?

It’s an objective opinion of value, but it’s not an exact science so appraisals may differ. For buying and selling purposes, appraisals are usually based on market value-what the property could probably be sold for. Other types of value include insurance value, replacement value, and assessed value for property tax purposes.