As the year progresses, many homeowners are more than a little confused as to whether it is a good ideal to sell their home.

However, now may be a good time to reevaluate your needs and wants and decide whether or not to list your Terrell Hills home for sale.

Although this year remains uncertain, the market will likely improve. So, the question is: should you sell your Terrell Hills home now?

• Right now, there is a healthy supply of Terrell Hills’ homes for sale on the market. However, as the year moves on, there will likely be an even bigger supply of homes on the market as many sellers look to move during the summer months. So what better time to get into the market and leave your mark than now, as all the other homeowners wait by the sidelines?
• The homebuyer tax credit has been extended, but not for long. Wait until spring or summer to list your Terrell Hills’ home for sale and you could be missing your best opportunity to sell your home. This is especially true for first-time homebuyers, so if you own a modest home that would make a great starter home, consider listing your home on the market now and catch all those first-time homebuyers who are taking advantage of the homebuyer tax credit.
• Interest rates are still low, but many experts predict that they will begin creeping up as the year progresses. There are many buyers out there who are actively searching for Terrell Hills’ homes for sale because of the attractive financing rates, so get in on the action while it’s hot.
• It only makes sense that you will not only want to take advantage of selling in today’s market, but buying, as well, so get out there and sell your Terrell Hills’ home so that you, too, can take advantage of less competition, lower interest rates, and the first-time homebuyer tax credit. Remember: there are advantages for both buyers and sellers in today’s market, so position yourself so that you can take advantage of both!

Selling your home is a bit of an art these days. Gone are the days of the real estate boom when all we needed to do to sell a home was to slap a “for sale” sign up in the front yard.

Instead, buyers are more particular, mainly because there is an influx of homes on the market. In other words, if your home isn’t well kept and updated, the house next door probably is. The bottom line is that homebuyers these days want turn-key homes; homes that they can settle into without much repair or updating.

Aside from the obvious rule of performing all home repairs before listing your Helotes’ home for sale, there are a number of things you can tackle in a weekend to make your home more desirable to homebuyers. So, what are you waiting for, weekend warrior? Roll up those sleeves and get started today!

• After you have given each room in your Helotes’ home a fresh coat of neutral paint, consider adding decorative moldings. Molding is inexpensive, yet when installed it can turn any ordinary room into a very attractive one. Also, consider adding a chair rail and picture frame molding to your dining room to make it stand out. Don’t forget to trim all doors and windows, as well!
• Refinish the cabinets – If you have good, wooden cabinets that are simply a bit outdated, take them down and refinish them. A crisp coat of white paint, along with new hardware, is all you may need to give your kitchen an instant facelift.
• Tear up any old, outdated, worn or damaged flooring and replace it with new flooring. The flooring of today is varied and attractive, and can be quite inexpensive. Head to your local home improvement center and check out the latest vinyl tile flooring options; vinyl floors of today are inexpensive and easy to install!
• Get your hands dirty and clean up the yard. If your home’s first impression is less than desirable then it’s probably time to dig in and clean up your yard. Weed and mulch the beds, add colorful annuals and freshen up the front door with a coat of paint. Consider replacing your old mailbox with a new one, replace an old light post with a more modern one and add new hardware to your front door.

Many of the luxury communities in San Antonio, like the Dominion, have seen a very competitive real estate market. As more and more homes go up for sale, luxury homeowners in the Dominion are discovering that selling a luxury home may prove to be quite challenging.

It is with this in mind that many sellers are concentrating on their outdoor spaces to wow buyers. The best luxury homes often have an outstanding, outdoor area for both relaxation and entertainment, so it is up to you, as a seller, to impress your buyers the moment they walk into your backyard oasis.

Exciting, Outdoor Trends

• Separate Living Areas – If you have a large, outdoor space, consider creating different living areas to better put the space to use. A grilling area, a dining area, an entertainment area and, of course, a relaxing area, complete with outdoor beds, is an ideal way to separate your outdoor living space.
• High-End Materials – Outdoor spaces in luxury homes, because they serve as an extension of the upscale interior spaces, must be just as fabulous. You can achieve this by using top-grade materials and natural stones to accomplish this. From native stones to granite countertops, an outdoor space with natural, high-end materials will allow your buyers to envision a calm, natural environment.
• Lush Landscaping – A beautifully landscaped outdoor space will allow your outdoor space to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Landscaping can also serve to create your outdoor spaces.
• Outdoor Spas – There is, perhaps, no better way to finish off your luxury backyard setting than with a luxury, outdoor spa; perhaps tucked behind a private a garden or lanai.
• Outdoor Theaters – Outdoor sound systems and outdoor plasma televisions are the newest way in which luxury homeowners are blurring the line between indoor and outdoor spaces, and are a fantastic addition to any outdoor party or get-together.

Many sellers shy away from the idea of paying hefty realtor commissions on the sale of their homes, especially in these financially challenging times. This leads many people to try selling their homes on their own, without the assistance of a reputable realtor. While these sellers may be saving in commission fees, they are taking on a tremendous load of liability, hard work, and aggravation. The San Antonio flat fee MLS listing can ease much of the pain of trying to sell a home.

Professional Help for One Low Fee

One of the biggest problems homeowners run into when trying to go it alone is exposure. In order to make the sale of their home known to the largest numbers of potential buyers, the homeowner needs to advertise. If a house is on the market for weeks, or even months, advertising gets very expensive.

The San Antonio flat fee MLS listing shows available, realtor represented homes on the powerful Multiple Listing Service. The MLS is where buyers and their agents go when looking to purchase a home. If a home is not included in the MLS, it is going to go unnoticed by hundreds of potential buyers. Unrepresented sellers will not have access to this valuable service.

Private party sellers also spend a great deal of time showing their home to unqualified buyers. As they say, time is money, and much of the time spent with “looky-loos” equates to wasted money. A flat fee realtor can pre-qualify potential buyers prior to showing a home, ensuring a seller’s time is not wasted on the merely curious or those with poor credit.

Getting the Most from a Sale

Individual sellers have difficulty pricing a home competitively, yet still realizing as much of the full value of the home as possible. The San Antonio flat fee MLS listing helps the seller and the flat fee agent locate comparable homes in the area that will be competing for a buyer’s dollars. This ensures the home is priced appropriately for the prevailing market.

Finally, studies have shown that traditional real estate sales do not move any faster than properties listed with a flat fee realtor. The small price to employ a San Antonio flat fee MLS listing will more than pay for itself in the long run.

As a homeowner, your home is likely a source of pride. Therefore, when it comes time to sell your Alamo Heights home, you have a good idea of what it is worth.

It therefore may come as a bit of a shock to receive a less-than-thrilling offer from a potential buyer. Your first reaction may shock, followed by disgust. The Alamo Heights home that you have put your heart and soul into maintaining, repairing and updating certainly is worth more than what the buyer is offering, but in this tumultuous real estate climate, how do you know when to settle and how do you know when to stand your ground?

A Flat Rejection vs. a Counter Offer

For most homeowners, the idea of completely rejecting the offer may occur to them at the offset. This is not the time, however, to let your emotions get in the way of a sale. You must remember that many buyers are simply “feeling you out;” so instead of flatly refusing the offer, consider responding to their offer with a counter offer.

Your counter offer will likely let the buyer know that, although you are not prepared to settle for their offer, you are stilling willing to negotiate. Once the buyer has returned with a revised offer, you can make the decision whether to continue with the negotiations.

When to Continue to Negotiations?

It is, however, important to remember one thing: although the process of negotiating and submitting counter offers is frustrating and time consuming, it can result in a sale.

If the buyer continues to counter offer with unacceptable offers, you can request more information from the buyer regarding the reasoning behind such a low offer. As a seller, you are going to have a rock-bottom price for which you will settle, so always keep that in mind during negotiations.

Finally, don’t let your ego get in the way of a sale. Although you may feel your home is worth more, if market conditions dictate otherwise then you must be willing to make concessions regarding the price of your Alamo Heights property.

If there’s one thing we can all agree on is that today’s real estate market is decidedly more challenging. It is therefore all the more important that we find a qualified real estate agent to help sell our Alamo Heights homes.

If you are in the market to sell your Alamo Heights home, then it may be time to start searching for a real estate agent that can help make your idea a reality.

How to Find a Real Estate Agent that’s Right for you:

• Begin by locating several real estate agents that have experience selling homes in Alamo Heights. Ask friends, family members and neighbors for referrals, or simply head out into your neighborhood and check out the local For Sale signs. If you see an agent’s name appear time and time again, chances are that he/she is quite familiar with selling homes in Alamo Heights.
• After you have assembled a small list of potential real estate agents, narrow your list down by interviewing each one. Some of the questions you may want to ask include: How long have you been in the real estate business? How many homes have you sold in the past year in Alamo Heights? What is your general approach to marketing properties? What is your standard commission? What is your educational and professional background?
• In addition to asking the agent about his/her education and qualifications, it is also important that you have an overall likability for him/her. Remember: regardless of how qualified an agent is if you don’t have a good rapport then the relationship probably won’t work.
• Remember that an agent’s commission is always negotiable, particularly if you also plan on using the agent as your buying agent.
• Keep an open line of communication with your agent at all times, and encourage him/her to do the same. In other words, a weekly update is always a bonus.

If you need to sell your San Antonio property and the idea of paying a realtor up to six percent in commission leaves you feeling frustrated, then you’re not alone.

Many San Antonio residents are realizing that handing over a good portion of the sales price of their San Antonio home to a Realtor is simply ridiculous. With housing prices down and the housing market slow, we all need to watch where every dollar is going.

But can you realistically eliminate a real estate agent from the equation when selling your home? You can with the help of VIP Realty!

VIP Realty has a special, flat-fee MLS program for homeowners who want to forgo a full-service arrangement with a Realtor. This program enables you to avoid paying commission to VIP Realty, although we will still act as your broker.

Instead, you simply pay a one-time flat fee. Our flat-fee MLS program eliminates any surprises and is much less expensive than the commission charged by most real estate agents under a full-service broker agreement.

The fee for the flat-fee MLS program through VIP Realty enables you to achieve maximum exposure for your San Antonio property by listing it with VIP Realty’s multiple listing service. The comprehensive MLS through VIP Realty allows your home to be viewed by countless agents and buyers from all over the country, thereby maximizing your home’s exposure for a quick sale.

The flat-fee MLS program essentially eliminates the seller’s commission. Instead, you need only pay half of the commission (usually three percent) to the buyer’s agent should he or she find a buyer for your San Antonio property. However, if you find a buyer on your own, the commission that you will have to pay out will be completely eliminated!

Selling your home through VIP Realty’s flat-fee MLS program is the ideal way to get the most money from your home!

If you have been failing to get good offers for your San Antonio Real estate property and if you are depressed about it do not worry, here are few simple tips that will help get a good offer soon.

Lately the real estate market has been down in general but San Antonio Real Estate market has show great resilience against recession. However, we need to put our focused effort to get good offers for our San Antonio Homes for sale.

The first factor that we need to remember is that when buyers approach a home owner, they approach us with great suspicion because if the property is good then why do we have to let it go and why is that the home owner selling the property. So in their mind they are skeptical about our motives for selling. They try to be extra cautious to ensure that they are not deceived in anyway. So we will be able to address their concerns more effectively by trying to look at the whole deal through the eyes of the buyer.

Secondly, presentation counts a great deal. The property needs to be appealing both to our mind as well as our eyes. So make sure when the buyers visit your property, they are well received and that the property is well presented. If required hire a company to clean your premises and the money you invest in cleaning your home will bring you good returns. So pay attention to the presentation. Concentrate mainly on the kitchen and the bathrooms. People often are put off by broken faucets and heating systems that do not work. Get all the basic amenities working in case they should have some problem. Never forget to clean up your basement. Most often we forget this area; you should every chance you have to impress the buyer. So never overlook any area including your basement and attic.

Clean up your exteriors too so that the buyers will develop a desire to own your property as soon as they get out of their car. If there are cracks on the walls or problems with the window frame get it repaired.

Be realistic with your expectations on the offers. You must try to make a research to find out the realistic prices of houses in your locality. Remember, the age of the house will affect the value of the house so do take that too into consideration. Not being aware of the price of real estate property will make you wait for unrealistic offers and lose even good offers.

Above all, find a good San Antonio real estate agent who can list your property and give your property good exposure among the potential buyers. By getting help from San Antonio realtors you can save a lot of time. They will also give you a clear picture about the market condition and the estimate for your house. They will also handle the negotiation of the offers and get a good price for your property

It is a nerve-rattling experience – a home inspection on your home! If you are like most sellers, you may be more than a bit nervous when the home inspection rolls around. As most people know, a home inspection can make or break your San Antonio real estate transaction.

Although there’s not much you can do regarding the unknown, there are a few simple tips that can make the home inspection process a bit more pleasant:

1. Clean up! This may sound simple, but the first thing you need to remember is that a home inspector’s first impression of your home can often create an impression in his or her mind. A clean house, for example, evokes a feeling that the homeowner takes pride in his or her home and that basic maintenance has been taken care of.
2. Assemble all receipts and repair documents to show the inspector what you have addressed. This will clear up any confusion regarding when the furnace was last serviced, for example, and make the home inspection move along at a quicker pace.
3. Leave your utilities connected, even if the house is vacant. A home inspector will need access to the water, the gas and the electricity to properly test your home’s appliances, furnace, hot water heater, air conditioner, etc. If your utilities are disconnected, the home inspection will need to be delayed until the home has been properly inspected.
4. Clear the way so that the home inspector can easily access the garage, the electrical panel, the attic, the furnace and the hot water heater. Remove any clutter and create a clear pathway to, once again, facilitate the home inspection and speed the process along.
5. Leave the house, if possible, during the home inspection, and take the pets with you. Because buyers are typically present during the home inspection, you may create an uncomfortable situation if you stay at the home. Instead, grab the kids and the pets and leave the home. On average, a home inspection can last anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours, so make arrangements beforehand and plan to be gone for at least a few hours.

Let’s face it. It’s no longer a seller’s market. Gone (at least for the immediate future) are the days of homes priced greatly above their appraised value and homes flying off the market in a matter of days.

Homes in Leon Valley remain on the market for an average of 90 to 120 days. That’s three to four months of waiting, wondering and agonizing over whether your home will sell. To expedite this process, and to attract potential home buyers, there are few, basic things to take care of:

Price it Right

If you have time to spare and selling your home quickly is not a priority, then by all means, price it higher and be prepared to wait. However, if you’re like most people selling their home, you want a quick sell. Therefore, the bottom line is: price it right! With the help of a local real estate agent, determine the appraised value of the home, research other homes in Bexar County area that have sold in the last few months and price it aggressively. When determining a sale price for your home, remember that the difference between a competitively priced home and one that is overpriced is often the sold sign in the front yard.

Consider the Area in Which You’re Selling

Taking time to evaluate the local market, or hiring a well-qualified real estate agent to do it for you, will enable you to get a better feel of what to expect. For example, homes prices in Leon Valley are up 5% from last year and the greatest activity is among repeat buyers. Having this important information in your back pocket will allow you to better gauge your market and determine your marketing strategy and pricing strategy.

Spruce It Up for a Quick Sell

Clean the carpets, pain the walls, pull the weeds and hide the junk. It may seem obvious to take care of these matters, but important details are often overlooked by sellers at the expense of selling their home. Ask yourself the following questions: Is my home bright, clean and clear of clutter? Are my home’s features accentuated? Walk through your home and try to envision it from a buyer’s eye. Is it welcoming and easy to walk through? Taking the time to tend to the small details can often mean less time on the market and more money in your pocket.