Don't let this happen to your Cedar Rapids Home.

I thought you would be interested in avoiding one of the most common mistakes a homeowner makes when they decide to sell their Cedar Rapids homes.  How do you get the LEAST money possible for your property?  It's easy.  Ask too much for it, believing you can always come down later if you have to!  That is a common strategy among sellers (and some real estate agents) who don't know any better.  But it doesn't work! 

Nothing ever sells at too high a price.  Buyers always look at more than one home to get a feel for their choices, and no one ever spends more than necessary.  And the longer a house sits on the market without selling, the more likely people are to decide that there must be something wrong with it.  Is it the price?  Or does it need hidden repairs?  Will it be this hard to sell when your buyer wants to sell it? 

However, if you'd like to sell it quickly and at top dollar, CREATE A DEMAND FOR IT.  That is, price it VERY close to it's expected actual selling price and watch people compete for it. 

So when you decide that its time to make a move, contact me, I can help you sell your Cedar Rapids home so give me a call.

Rick Hernandez
rick@bestiowahomes.com
www.bestiowahomes.com

Your listing has expired and now you're wondering what to do. The most important question you must ask is, "Where did I go wrong?" The answer is not usually within you, but with the agent you entrusted to sell your Cedar Rapids home. 

Be prepared with the right information so you can interview your prospective agent with confidence and assure you make the right choice this time 

With hundreds or even thousands of dollars at stake and weeks of time invested, don't risk making the same mistake twice. Make sure your next agent is eminently qualified to sell your home.  Call Rick Hernandez to see how I can make a difference.

Don't risk this decision out of obligation to a friend, family member or acquaintance. Your listing has expired and it's easy to develop the identity of having a problem property in the market place. 

Therefore, it's vitally important to choose the right agent this time around. Typically, most people will ask business associates, family or friends to recommend someone they've had good luck with, someone they can trust. 

Other sellers will watch neighborhood real estate signs to see who is listing many of the homes. Still others rely upon the reputation of the major national franchise companies. 

Then, of course, there's always the yellow pages. All of these methods could prove to be disastrous! Trust Your Instincts First! 

When selecting an agent, he or she should be someone you feel good about, someone you're willing to trust with one of the largest financial transactions you may ever make.

 This report is designed to empower you with the information necessary to make the right decision before you arrive at the place where you're ready to sign on the dotted line again. Don't allow the prospective agent to dictate your time table.  If you would like to learn more about me you can check out my Cedar Rapids Real Estate site or give me a call.

Getting Your First Home Mortgage

Buying your first home can be both thrilling and scary and getting your first mortgage is usually part of the equation. Obtaining a mortgage can be confusing and stressful for many people, especially if this is a new experience. Without a doubt your home, even if it's a starter home, is and will be, one of the biggest investments of your life. With that in mind it is important to take the mortgage process slowly and not rush or skip important steps.

One of the very first steps necessary in the mortgage process is to decide if you want to go with a direct lender or a brokerage service. Dealing directly with lenders can, in most cases be a little bit cheaper because you don't have to pay a brokerage commission. However, a brokerage service can find lenders that are most suitable to the needs of the borrower and also take care of the many administrative tasks involved in the process. That is what you are paying them to do.   You can learn more at my Cedar Rapids Real Estate website.

For first time homebuyers there are many programs that can assist including, but not limited to, FHA, VA and other specialized programs that vary based on where you live. Any quality mortgage company will be able to supply a listing of programs suitable to the lenders needs. In many cases these programs can be quite helpful in assisting in that first home purchase.

It is also important that you pre-qualify for a mortgage. That way you will know in advance how much home you can afford which in many cases will save you time, aggravation and in some instances embarrassment. You can go on the Internet and use any one of the free mortgage calculators available to help you figure out what your monthly payments might look like. Filling out that application and getting pre-approved is a must for any one seeking a mortgage.

You should also ask a lot of questions about anything that you may not fully understand. Find out the difference between a fixed and adjustable rate mortgage. You must also find out about any fees that may be charged to you. Some fees, quite frankly, can be avoided by the educated shopper so shop around. Buying a home is similar to buying anything else, only on a much larger scale. You always want to get the best deal possible and remember to never, ever sign anything that you don't fully understand.

Ready To List With A Real Estate Agent? 12 Things Your Cedar Rapids Agent Must Do To Maximize Your Profits!

Ready to place your home on the market? Do you understand the process and details of selling a home?

Before you list with an agent, educate yourself on all the factors that will affect your profit. Be as informed as possible so you can make the absolutely best business decisions. After all, the sale of your home is a business decision!

Most of us are not tuned into the trends and fluctuations of the real estate market. Likewise, we are not aware of the necessary steps to maximize profits on the sale of our home.

Typically, we rely heavily upon an agent to lead us down the most profitable path. Considering our home is usually the most valuable asset we own, doesn’t it make sense to list with someone who will maximize our profits? But how do we find that agent?

This report is designed to empower you with critical information necessary to evaluate an agent’s qualifications and help you identify the professional top producer. The more meticulous you become in selecting the right agent, the higher your profits will be!

Start by doing some research:

The Phone Interview- Place a call to each of the agents on your list. Do an initial ‘feel out’ interview over the phone so when you meet you will both be prepared.

Request a Complete Plan- From title to escrow, request a complete plan as to the services they can provide for you.

Evaluate Their Team- Top producers will have established relationships with lenders, title reps, inspectors, everything. They are there for your benefit and if they are ill prepared to handle all the steps, you are being short changed.

Insist on A Written Marketing Plan-To sell a home in today’s market, it takes more than putting a sign in the yard, a lock box on the door and agent tour on Tuesday.

A true professional knows exactly what he or she has to do to get a home sold and will be willing to show you in writing. There should be 17 to 20 different strategies in their marketing plan.

Look for innovative ways to attract home buyers. Demand 24-hour advertising, lead accountability and tracking services. These services exist and you should insist upon them.

Insist on Pre-qualification- Even though this is not always controllable when another agent is involved, it is imperative to never take your house off of the market unless you know the status of the potential buyer.

A Net Sheet- Request a complete net sheet, minus commissions and fees, showing your exact proceeds when you list your property.

Accessibility-How easy is it to get in touch with the potential agent? Document how quickly they returned your call. Remember: they will be returning calls to your prospective home buyers.
Ask what their call return policy to a buyer is, not only personally but their staff as well.

Internet Presence-What search engine ranking does that agent have? Do they have a plan on following up with the potential buyer leads that are generated from their online efforts?

Direct Mail- Investigate the agent's capacity to send direct mail. How often do prospects receive mail? Is it professional? Does the mail piece motivate prospects to respond?

Honest Feedback After Each Showing- There is nothing more disappointing than having a showing and getting your hopes up for a sale, and then never hearing what the buyers thought.

Negotiation Strategy- Have a written, well-conceived negotiation strategy. The old adage, "You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate" rings true in real estate. Insist on a sound negotiation strategy before you entertain buyers.

A Written Guarantee-All industries offer guarantees on their service or product, except real estate. If a real estate agent is confident in his or her service, they should be willing to guarantee the sale of your home in writing.

We sincerely hope these tips and ideas are of value to you. If there is any way we can be of service, please contact our office.   The Cedar Rapids Real Estate Market is still good and I can show you how to get the most money for your home.

We would consider it a privilege to be of service to you!