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Selling Process

Jan 30 2020
house for sale in the winter

Why List Your Home During The Winter Months?

By Holiday, Selling Process

While many homeowners assume that spring or summer is the ideal time of year to list their home for sale, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, there are many good reasons why listing a property during the winter months is the best overall strategy.

Here are the top 5 reasons to list your home during the cold season instead of amid spring flowers or in the balmy summertime:

1. There Is Less Competition

Contrary to popular opinion, the real “sweet spot” for home sales is in the dead of winter. The reason is obvious – there is less competition on the market, which puts the seller at an advantage due to the regular laws of supply and demand.

With fewer homes to choose from, the hard fact is that buyers can’t afford to be as “picky” if they plan to buy during the winter months. That’s why the best time to list a home is (arguably) from November through January and especially during December.

2. You Get Only Serious Buyers

Think about it. If someone is motivated enough to go about shopping for a new home in cold weather. Packing up and moving during the winter is not much fun either, nor is working around a busy holiday schedule. Thus, winter buyers are almost always “serious” buyers who won’t waste your time and who come prepared.

3. Selling Prices Are Higher

The above-mentioned factors lead naturally to wintertime home sales prices tending to be higher than in the spring or summer. On average, homes sell for 1% more this time of year. That may not sound like much, but 1% of a $300,000 home is $3,000 cash in your hand.

4. Selling Times Are Shorter

Additionally, homes listed in the winter tend to sell a week or more sooner than otherwise. That is unsurprising, given that buyers are serious and maybe on a fixed time table. What it means for the seller is less wait time, less stressing over “what if it doesn’t sell,” and getting into your new home quicker!

5. Financing Processes Quicker

Bankers are less busy in the winter as well, which also works to your advantage. It is easier for people to get pre-approved for a mortgage and to obtain financing faster. The bottom line is that everything just moves faster in a smaller seasonal market.

For help in listing your home, custom-building your dream home, or for information on our home trade-in program, contact Experience Homes in Amarillo today!

Jun 18 2019
new houses in amarillo

How to Avoid Realtor Fees

By Selling Process No Comments

Realtors earn a commission called a realtor fee every time they sell a house, and it’s nothing small, amounting to up to 6% of the total house sale. However, it can be maneuvered around.
Certainly, you could just sell and purchase property yourself without using a realtor. That’s easier said than done, but it’s not impossible. A better way might be following a few tips on how to sell your house and either diminish or sidestep fees altogether:
  • Finding The Right Realtor
  • Make Agents Justify High Commissions To You
  • Hold Out For Higher Listing Prices

The Split

If you sold your home for $300,000, a 6% realtor fee would pull $18,000 from that sum. This is a typical commission for realtors. If you use the same agent to buy and sell your home, they’ll take 3% of the sold and purchased properties.
Push for a split between separate realty agencies, or a halved commission. Use two agents instead of one, and let them work with one another. Also, the larger the appraisal of the property you’re buying, the greater leverage you’ll have in terms of diminishing commission.

Make Agents Justify High Commissions To You

Ask agents why you’re paying them such a high commission, and make them prove the worth of such a price. Be sure you know other agencies in the area, and have done your homework. At the very least you can knock off a few percentage points.

Hold Out For Higher Listing Prices

Sometimes realtors will low-ball you on listing prices because they’re trying to work a deal. Holding out for a higher listing can help you offset their commission fee.

Trade-In Programs

Builders (like Experience Homes in Amarillo, TX) sometimes offer home trade-in program. Basically, they appraise your property, and when you buy your new home, they’ll pay you a percentage of the old home’s appraisal.
No realtor fees are involved, you don’t have to do any house showings, you won’t pay two mortgages, and you don’t have to stress out on leaving by a certain time.
Additionally, if you clean things up and do some DIY additions prior to the appraisal, you can increase its worth substantially, helping cover the differential.
Such tactics will give your money greater buying power, and help you secure the best real estate deals.
May 18 2019
New Home in Amarillo, Texas

NEW HOME? 5 TIPS TO MAKE MOVING EASIER

By Buying Process, Moving Process, Selling Process No Comments
It doesn’t matter what kind of deal you get on a new home in Amarillo, Texas, moving is hard. The best you can do is diminish associated hassles. Following are several tips to help stimulate your mind and save you unnecessary difficulty during your move.

 

1. Get New Homes Re-Keyed Immediately

Find out how many doors are accessible via key, and which keys access them. Rekey those doors as soon as possible after you’ve signed the dotted line. If you can do it the day of the sale, this may be worthwhile. You’ll need to secure the new premises; doing so sooner rather than later makes the moving process easier.

 

2. Use The Move To Organize Yourself

Perhaps have a yard sale as you move, throw out what you don’t need, and get everything else properly organized as you pack it up. 
new home in amarillo

When in your new home, hang on to your new organizational practices.

3. Use House Trade-In Programs Like Those From Experience Homes

A house trade-in program helps you avoid realtor fees, you don’t have to show your old home, you don’t have to pay simultaneous mortgages, and you can leave when you want. This can give you flexibility in time frames, making the sale of previous property and the move to a new home much less complicated.

 

4. Be Strategic With Garages, Attics, And Finished Or Unfinished Basements

Attics, unfinished basements, and garages are often unused or improperly used. Now that you’ve reorganized everything, determine if you’ll use these spaces for storage or utility. A garage could be a “workshed,” as it were. Or it might just be a place for cars.
Know what you want to do beforehand, pack up strategically for what you’ve planned. This is a lot easier than just throwing things where you can and losing utility of a room for a few weeks or months after the fact.

 

5. If You Need To Paint Anything, Do It Prior The Move

Be sure you know whether the new home needs painting work. Oftentimes new homeowners don’t realize this until after they’ve already come into a new property. Do so prior to your move and save yourself some hassle.
new home in amarillo

It’s a lot easier to paint empty rooms than full ones.

A Moving Experience That’s More Convenience

Moving is work, but you can defer much of it by doing repairs/augmentations like painting prior the move, having a plan for your possessions beforehand, going with Home Trade-In options like those from Experience Homes, home builders in Amarillo, Texas, organizing yourself and goods during the move, and ensuring all doors are immediately rekeyed. Some of these tips may or may not be right for you; figure out what works, and save yourself some trouble!
Mar 25 2019
best time to sell your house

Is Spring Really the Best Time to Sell Your Home?

By Selling Process
Spring is in the air, and prime time for home buying and selling is in full swing. So is spring the best time to sell your house? Spring is the most popular time to sell a home, by-and-large, but there are disadvantages to selling in the spring, too.

How Does Your Home Measure Up?

Everyone has to do some kind of prep work to get their home ready to sell. If yours needs major work, it may be better to wait until it’s done, instead of rushing to sell.
If your home is about the same age, condition, and has similar amenities to others in your neighborhood, it may be easier to sell in the spring when there are lots of buyers. Under those conditions, homes sell faster, and buyers often put in a competitive bid on homes to get into the neighborhood of their choice.

There’s More Competition

This can be a good thing or a bad thing: On one hand, your home could sell quickly at a profitable price, but on the other hand, it means you’ll also become a home buyer in a sellers market. Either way, it can create stress for both buyers and sellers. Buyers get outbid or have to submit bids on several homes before they get accepted. Sellers often benefit from having multiple offers but may have to leave their home sooner than they would like, find temporary living arrangements, or have problems finding another home quickly.

Will You Be Able to Find Another Home?

You have to live somewhere; your financial situation and ability to relocate has to be a consideration. Statistically speaking spring is the best time to sell your house. But ultimately your financial situation, ability to relocate and emotional readiness may be bigger factors.
A Home Trade-In Program can eliminate this and other stressful elements of the process. With Experience Homes‘ Home Trade-In Program, there are no real estate agent fees, no showings to worry about, and you won’t have to pay two mortgages while you’re waiting to sell your home. Contact us today!
Feb 04 2019
should i use a realtor

PROS AND CONS: FOR SALE BY OWNER OR THE REALTOR ROUTE?

By Buying Process, Selling Process No Comments

Pros and Cons: For Sale By Owner or the Realtor Route?

When it’s time to sell your home, many people decide to have a real estate agent help them with that process. There are some hardy souls, however, who decide to sell their homes themselves. Which is a better decision? If you’re thinking about selling your home, here is what you should know about the difference between hiring a realtor and going the for-sale-by-owner route.

 

Saving Money

A listing agent’s commission is generally around 6% of the sale price. There are homeowners who choose to go their own way to avoid having to pay that fee. The truth, however, is that because the agent knows the area and how to price a home to get it to sell, you may not get as much for your home if you choose to sell it yourself. Even saving yourself that 6% commission, you could still potentially be leaving money on the table.

 

Having More Control Over Timing

Some home buyers prefer to be the ones to set up showings and open houses to fit better around their schedules. Real estate agents, however, do work with homeowners to determine the best times to set up showings and open houses. In addition, potential buyers are often more comfortable viewing a home if the current owner is not present.

 

Preparing Paperwork

There are several complicated steps in preparing the paperwork necessary to sell a home – there can be more than 20 pages of paperwork. If you want to avoid legal problems, it’s usually a good idea to have a professional involved in this stage of the process.

 

Another Alternative

Experience Homes in Amarillo offers a Home Trade-In Program, where we will purchase your home and move the equity directly into a brand-new home. You won’t have to worry about finding an agent, staging or listing your home. You can also stay in your old home until the new one is built, saving you from having to figure out where you’ll stay in between selling one home and buying another.

 

When it’s time to sell your home, consider what will work best for you. An agent can ensure you get the most money for your home and that the paperwork is done properly. But our Home Trade-In Program can save you many of the hassles of the traditional buying and selling process.
Jan 01 2019
house for sale in the winter

Why List Your Home During The Winter Months?

By Holiday, Selling Process

While many homeowners assume that spring or summer is the ideal time of year to list their home for sale, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, there are many good reasons why listing a property during the winter months is the best overall strategy.

Here are the top 5 reasons to list your home during the cold season instead of amid spring flowers or in the balmy summertime:

Sell house fast

1. There Is Less Competition

Contrary to popular opinion, the real “sweet spot” for home sales is in the dead of winter. The reason is obvious – there is less competition on the market, which puts the seller at an advantage due to the regular laws of supply and demand.

With fewer homes to choose from, the hard fact is that buyers can’t afford to be as “picky” if they plan to buy during the winter months. That’s why the best time to list a home is (arguably) from November through January and especially during December.

2. You Get Only Serious Buyers

Think about it. If someone is motivated enough to go about shopping for a new home in cold weather. Packing up and moving during the winter is not much fun either, nor is working around a busy holiday schedule. Thus, winter buyers are almost always “serious” buyers who won’t waste your time and who come prepared.

3. Selling Prices Are Higher

The above-mentioned factors lead naturally to wintertime home sales prices tending to be higher than in the spring or summer. On average, homes sell for 1% more this time of year. That may not sound like much, but 1% of a $300,000 home is $3,000 cash in your hand.

4. Selling Times Are Shorter

welcome to our house sign

Need to sell your house fast? Homes listed in the winter tend to sell a week or more sooner than otherwise. That is unsurprising, given that buyers are serious and maybe on a fixed time table. What it means for the seller is less wait time, the possibility to sell your house fast, less stressing over “what if it doesn’t sell,” and getting into your new home quicker!

5. Financing Processes Quicker

Bankers are less busy in the winter as well, which also works to your advantage. It is easier for people to get pre-approved for a mortgage and to obtain financing faster. The bottom line is that everything just moves faster in a smaller seasonal market.

For help in listing your home, custom-building your dream home, or for information on our home trade-in program, contact Experience Homes in Amarillo today!

Oct 18 2018
Curb Appeal Ideas for Winter

4 Ways To Create Curb Appeal In the Cooler Months

By Buying Process, Selling Process No Comments

Seasonal changes can affect the outward appearance of your home. Fallen leaves, wilting plants, and dry grass can impact the sale of your home. But there are ways to create curb appeal even in the cooler months.

Clear out the debris.

Your front yard is one of the first things prospective homebuyers see, so it’s important to keep it clean. Because cooler weather often means increased winds in Amarillo, it’s common to see leaves tossed over the driveway, debris stuck in your flower beds or even snow and ice on your walkways. Keep the debris (and potential accidents) to a minimum with daily inspections.

Opt for cold-weather plants.

Plants are the easiest ways to add curb appeal, but keeping plants looking perky can get a bit tricky in cooler weather. Select plants that can withstand the cold, such as winter hazel, camellias, Blue holly and pansies.

Add fresh paint.

Paint colors can influence a prospective buyer’s first impression of your home. Make sure you keep your home up to date with a fresh coat of paint for a brand new look. You can also opt for a power wash of your property to remove any dirt or residue that may be making your surfaces look worn.

Shed some light.

Homes are often shown to potential buyers in the evenings after working hours. In the fall and winter months when the sun sets earlier, adding light to the outside of your home can help better showcase its features.

Get Expert Help

Achieving curb appeal in the cooler months doesn’t have to be a solo job. At Experience Homes, we’ll sell your home for you when you choose to build with us. When you use our Home Trade-In Program, the profit from the sale of your current home go towards the purchase of your new, custom home. Let us handle the stress of selling your home so you can fully enjoy building the home of your dreams.

Jun 18 2018
sell my house

IS THIS SUMMER THE RIGHT TIME TO SELL MY HOME?

By Buying Process, Selling Process No Comments

“I’m ready to list my home because my family has outgrown our current home. Is this summer a good time to sell my house?”

It’s a question we’re asked every day. People want to know if now is a good time to sell their current home and upgrade to a new one. They want to ensure they make the move now before the fall school season starts.

Often people have growing families and they’re expecting a baby and want to get settled into their new home in time for their new bundle of joy.

The great news is that there are several options for upgrading homes such as with our home trade-in program, which means this summer might be the ideal time to buy a new home!

We take the stress out of home ownership and upgrades.

According to Realtor.com, the summer is when about 50% of home sales take place, making this a good time to sell your existing home. At the same time, people want to find a safe, new neighborhood for their families so they can get settled in and set up before the new school year begins.

The biggest concern that people have with selling their current home is usually the timing: They don’t want to carry two mortgages while they are moving into their new home and waiting for the old one to sell. That’s where we can help.

At Experience Homes, we buy homes, sell homes, and build new homes. We also have a great home buying alternative which is our home trade-in program that lets buyers sell their old home and build a new one.

Home ownership made easy.

With the home trade-in program, we will pay for the appraisal with your current home and we’ll buy your trade-in. That way you will have all the time you need to move to your new location. It’s that simple!

The home trade-in program eliminates the guess-work when it comes to selling a home and purchasing a new one. There aren’t a lot of builders that offer this type of program and a lot of people don’t even know about it. Our home trade-in program gives homeowners all the time they need to sell their old home and move into a new one.

Your home is where your heart is and it’s where you raise your kids and make your memories. It shouldn’t be stressful and that’s why we’re here to help.

Home trade-ins are easier than trading in a used car.

Part of the excitement in having a new home you build yourself is deciding how you want it laid out, how many bedrooms you will have, and other options we can help you explore together depending on how much house you need.

Do you want a big island in the kitchen? Front-facing bedrooms for the kids? A view of the backyard from a private master suite for the adults? A private den or office in the basement? A one-car garage or a two-car garage?

These are all options you can explore when you trade-in your old home and have a new one built – and we’re there every step of the way to make it a smooth transition.

“We were stressed over nothing. Not only was the sale and move easy, it was a great transition for our kids, too!”

Stress-free home ownership this summer and we’re here to help you.

Your home trade-in this summer will be an easy process and we’ll help every step of the way. We appreciate our customers and their feedback. We also believe in transparency, so please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about the home trade-in program. We’re here to make this the best summer ever as you progress into your new home. Let’s start the path to new home ownership today!

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