Selling a Home When You Have Pets

Selling Your Home When You Have Pets - Williamson County Homes for Sale

If you’re a pet owner who’s decided to sell your home, you may wonder how your pet’s presence will affect the way potential buyers see your property. You may also be looking for ways to lessen the stress to your pet when it comes to staging and showing… and with a bit of planning, you can sell your home while keeping your four-legged pals happy throughout the process.

Staging and Showings When You Have Pets

While evidence of pets in your home won’t turn away every potential buyer, it’s important to make a good first impression on everyone who takes a tour. This means staging your home and yard to look their best, and that may include repairing pet damage. We always suggest that you:

  • Patch the lawn, if necessary
  • Repair any scratched or chewed areas, including your rugs and furniture
  • Have your carpets and upholsteries (if necessary) professionally cleaned

If it’s practical, air out your home as often as possible to keep it smelling fresh. While you may not notice if your home has pet odors, newcomers certainly will. It’s best to err on the side of caution!

Minimizing Stress to Your Pets

Take your pets with you when you leave your home for showings. The house will show better, and you won’t be leaving your pets alone with strangers while you’re away.

Even if they don’t like car rides, your pets are likely to be more comfortable when they’re with you. This could be a great time for a long walk or a special treat for your furry companion.

Are You Selling a Home in Williamson County or Davidson County?

We have extensive experience with the real estate markets in Williamson and Davidson Counties, and we’d be happy to discuss our in-depth strategies and techniques to get your home in front of all the right buyers. We’ll also give you a free comparative market analysis so you know exactly how much your home is worth.

While you’re here, you’re welcome to download our free home seller guide, which is packed with amazing tips on selling your home quickly and at the right price.

When you’re ready to find out how we can provide you with spectacular service, call us at 615-473-5973 or contact us online. We’ll look forward to selling your home.

2046 Autumn Ridge Way $969,000

2046 Autumn Ridge Way Spring Hill, Tennessee

5 Beds 5 Baths 3,700 SqFt 0.360 Acres

 

Is 2016 Your Year to Buy a Home?

Is 2016 the right year for you to buy a home in Williamson County - Brentwood and Franklin homes for sale

If you’re like many people who have been renting a home, you’ve been waiting for the right time to buy one of your own.

The good news is that it looks like 2016 might be your year… and here’s why.

2016 Interest Rates Are STILL Low

Right now, 30-year fixed-rate home loans are sticking around 4 percent interest rates, which means that it might be a great time for you to apply. Naturally, interest rates can (and do) change quickly – but for now, they’re still at record lows.

Rent is Going Up

The cost of renting a home is climbing steadily, and that means it may be more affordable for you to buy your own house instead of rent. Even if your rent and potential mortgage payment are roughly equal, you have a choice between paying someone else and building equity in your own house.

Down Payments Don’t Have to Be Huge

With a number of mortgage programs requiring less than 20 percent down, including VA loans, FHA loans and the new Home Possible Advantage Mortgage program by Freddie Mac, you may not need to save a tremendous amount of money as a down payment.

Homeownership Sometimes Carries Tax Benefits

If you’re buying a home, you should talk to a tax professional before you file – you could be entitled to a number of deductions and benefits. Many homeowners are able to deduct several home-related expenses, including the monthly interest they pay on loans.

Are You Buying a Home in Franklin, Brentwood or the Surrounding Communities?

If you’re looking for a home in Williamson County or Davidson County, we can help. While you’re here, download our free homebuyer handbook and check out our all-in-one mortgage calculator.

You can also check out our:

When you’re ready to explore your options, call us at 615-473-5973 or get in touch with us online. We’ll begin looking for homes that meet your needs right away.

 

Prequalification vs. Preapproval: What Do You Need?

Prequalification vs. Preapproval - Williamson County Homes for Sale

When you’re thinking about buying a home in Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood or any of the surrounding communities, you’ll probably need to talk to a lender about getting a mortgage.

However, simply talking to a lender doesn’t mean that you’ll qualify to buy a home.

In fact, the process can be a bit complicated – so here’s what you need to know.

What is Prequalification?

Loan prequalification is a process that only requires you to talk to a lender, mortgage broker or bank about your current financial circumstances. You’ll discuss your credit, your income and your assets, as well as your debts.

The lender will not run a credit check on you during a prequalification. However, the lender will tell you how much you may be able to qualify to receive if you decide to apply for a loan with that institution.

What is Preapproval?

Loan preapproval is a much more in-depth process than prequalification is. You’ll still talk to a lender about your financial circumstances, but this time, the lender will read a credit check on you to find out whether you meet the criteria for a loan from that institution. The lender will also verify your income and assets, and the result is an official preapproval for a loan.

What’s Best – Prequalification or Preapproval?

Conventional wisdom says that it’s best to get preapproval from a lender before you even begin house hunting. If you are prequalified, you’ll have a good idea about how much you can afford… but if you’re preapproved, sellers are more likely to take your offers seriously because they know you’ll be able to follow through.

Are You Looking for a Home in Williamson County or Davidson County?

If you’re looking for a new home in Williamson County or Davidson County, we can help. Call 615-473-5973 or get in touch with us online. We’ll begin a custom search just for you.

What is the Home Possible Advantage Mortgage Program?

Home Possible Advantage Mortgages - Buy Home Brentwood TN

Many homebuyers have a tough time saving up 20 percent of a home’s purchase price to use as a down payment. In fact, it can seem like such a big task that many people choose to continue renting rather than building up such a substantial amount of money.

However, there are programs available, including the VA loan program and the FHA loan program, that don’t require a 20 percent down payment. Recently, the Freddie Mac Home Possible Advantage loan program has made it possible to buy a home with as little as 3 percent down.

Could that be the right program for you if you’re buying a home in Franklin, Brentwood or any of the surrounding communities?

What is the Home Possible Advantage Mortgage Program?

Designed for low- to moderate-income buyers, the Freddie Mac Home Possible Advantage Mortgage program helps people buy homes when they have limited savings.

The program requires only a 3 percent down payment with qualifying credit. Some participants – particularly those on the lower end of the credit score spectrum – may need to come up with a higher down payment.

Who Qualifies for Home Possible Advantage Mortgages?

To qualify for a Home Possible Advantage Mortgage loan, you’ll need to:

Will You Need Private Mortgage Insurance With a Home Possible Mortgage?

Any mortgage loan backed by Freddie Mac that requires less than a 20 percent down payment will require the borrower to purchase private mortgage insurance, or PMI. Private mortgage insurance protects the lender if you later default on your loan.

The amount of money you pay for PMI will depend on your loan-to-value ratio, which simply refers to what you owe on your mortgage versus its value.

Are You Buying a Home in Williamson County or Davidson County?

If you’re buying a new home in Williamson County or Davidson County, we can help you.

While you’re here, please explore our:

Call us at 615-473-5973 or contact us online to tell us what you’re looking for in your next home. We’ll be happy to help you find the perfect place to live.

What Do Home Inspectors Look For?

If you’re like many people, you know that you’ll need to hire a home inspector to search for problems in any home you’re interested in buying. But what is a home inspector looking for, and what can you do if he or she finds major issues?

Sellers Disclosing a Home’s Issues

Sellers are supposed to let you know if a home has issues, but in some cases, the sellers don’t know the issues exist. Very rarely, homeowners do know about a home’s defects but fail to mention them to potential buyers; sometimes this is because they don’t want the defects to affect the sale.

What Do Home Inspectors Look for During Inspection?

A home inspector doesn’t care whether or not you choose to buy the home. The inspector’s job is to make sure you have enough information to make a good decision, no matter what it is. Your inspector won’t be biased in favor of you or the seller; he or she will be paid either way.

Your inspector will check the home’s:

  • Structure, from the foundation to the roof.
  • Exterior, searching for deterioration, leaks and a number of other flaws.
  • Interior, looking at doorways, walls, countertops and everything within the home (including appliances, flooring, stairs and electrical outlets).
  • HVAC system to find out whether filters, supply pipes and entire heating and cooling units are working.
  • Plumbing, from water flow to drains and pipes, including the wastewater system equipping the house.

Once the inspector has finished checking the home, he or she will prepare an in-depth report that includes any issues uncovered during the process. You’ll be able to use the report to make a decision on whether the home is a good choice for you. In many cases, buyers can use issues that arise to negotiate during the buying process; it’s a good idea to talk to your Realtor® about your options if a home has issues that you didn’t know about before you decided to buy.

Are You Buying a Home in Williamson or Davidson County?

If you’re interested in buying a home in Williamson County or Davidson County, check out:

When you’re ready to explore your options, call us at 615-473-5973 or contact us online. We can show you any listing in the area, and we’ll be happy to help you find your next home.

 

How Other Home Sales Can Affect Yours

Two similar homes can sell at wildly different price points — but why? If you’ve spent any time looking at Nashville, Franklin or Brentwood real estate listings, you’ve noticed homes for sale all over the price spectrum.

There are several factors that determine how much an individual home is worth, and what adds value to one may detract it from another.

One thing that you need to know is that other home sales can directly affect yours.

How Other Home Sales Can Affect Yours

Your Realtor(R) will give you a free comparative market analysis (you’ve probably heard this referred to as a CMA) that helps you determine the right price for your home.

The CMA is an incredibly helpful tool because your home’s value is directly related to current market conditions in your city and even within your neighborhood.

Other factors that can affect your home’s value — either in a positive or negative way — can include:

  • Foreclosures in the neighborhood or nearby
  • Location in respect to community amenities (as well as whether new shopping centers, entertainment venues or other amenities are planned nearby)
  • Logistics such as community safety, commute times to nearby cities, and access to public transit

Upgrades you’ve made in your home can affect its value, but not always in the way you think they will; if you have the biggest, most modern house in the neighborhood, it may not be as easy to sell as it would be in a neighborhood full of comparable homes.

Naturally, some of these things are out of your control. Unfortunately, that means it’s not always easy to predict how much your home is worth without a current market analysis. Because some of these things can change in a short span of time (such as the bank foreclosing on the home across the street or the city unveiling a plan to build a freeway just outside your neighborhood), it’s important that you only rely on current data from your Realtor when you’re pricing your home.

Are You Selling a Home in Williamson County or Davidson County?

We’ll be happy to give you a free CMA, so call us at 615-473-5973. If it’s easier, contact us online. We’re here to help you sell your home quickly and at the right price!

 

Why Do You Need a CMA?

Many home-sellers are under the mistaken impression that it’s okay to price a home high when it first hits the market and lower it if it doesn’t sell.

In theory, that sounds okay.

However, it doesn’t usually work out very well in practice. That’s why you need a comparative market analysis.

What is a Comparative Market Analysis?

A comparative market analysis, which is commonly called a CMA, is an extremely valuable tool. Prepared by a professional Realtor(R), a CMA shows you how much money your home is worth on the current market.

How Realtors Develop CMAs

Your Realtor will evaluate a number of data points to create your comparative market analysis.

He or she will evaluate homes that have sold and closed over the past year, as well as properties currently on the market, listings that have sold but haven’t yet reached closing, and those that failed to sell while they were on the market.

Your Realtor isn’t looking at every property in town, though. He or she is looking at properties that are similar to yours in size, amenities and location.

Why Setting the Right Price is So Important

If you list your home at the wrong price, you’re not going to be able to sell it.

If the price is too low, you’re leaving money on the table — money that could go toward paying off your loan, your down payment.

If your home’s price is too high, it will sit on the market without selling. The longer it sits on the market, the fewer interested buyers will see it — and you’ll eventually be forced to lower the price.

However, a price reduction can send the wrong signal to buyers, who may not be able to see the value in your home.

That’s why it’s so important to get the price right from the beginning. You want to entice buyers by offering them real value — and if your home is priced correctly, that’s exactly what will happen.

Do You Need a CMA?

If you’re selling a home in Williamson County or Davidson County, we’ll be happy to give you a free comparative market analysis so you can determine the right selling price for your home.

Call us at 615-473-5973 or get in touch with us online. We’ll be happy to help you sell your home quickly and at the right price.

 

What is Title Insurance?

When you’re buying a home, you’ll hear all kinds of new terms — and one of them is title insurance. You probably already know that you need it, but what is title insurance — and what does it do for you?

What is Title Insurance?

Title insurance is a necessity if you’re buying a home. In fact, most lenders will require that you purchase it. However, the insurance you purchase for your mortgage lender isn’t designed to protect you. It’s designed to protect the lender.

That’s why many people choose to purchase buyer’s title insurance.

Unlike the types of insurance you’re already familiar with — car insurance, life insurance and homeowner’s insurance, which cover you in case something happens in the future — buyer’s title insurance covers you for things that might have happened in the past (long before you bought your home).

What Does Title Insurance Protect You Against?

Title insurance can protect you against other people’s claims against your property and title defects.

Buyer’s title insurance can protect you from:

  • Adverse possession
  • Forgeries
  • Errors in tax records
  • Undisclosed heirs
  • Deeds by minors
  • Impersonation of true land owners
  • False affidavits of death or heirship
  • Fraud
  • Probate matters

How Do You Pay for Buyer’s Title Insurance?

Buyer’s title insurance typically costs you a one-time premium. You never have to pay for it again.

The title insurance agent you hire will conduct research on the title to find out whether there are any defects that could threaten your ownership of the home. If the agent finds any, he or she will attempt to correct them.

However, if a defect arises later (10, 20 or even 50 years after you’ve purchased the home), that title insurance policy that you purchased will kick in. You’ll be defended against all covered claims.

Are You Buying a Home in Williamson County?

If you’re thinking about buying a home in Williamson County, we can help you find the perfect place to live.

Call us at 615-473-5973 or get in touch with us online. We’ll begin a custom search as soon as we know what you need.

How to Shop for the Best Mortgage

If you’re like most people, a home is the biggest purchase you’ll ever make — and it typically requires a mortgage loan.

So what do you need to know about shopping for the best deal on a mortgage?

How to Shop for the Best Mortgage

It’s always a good idea to talk to multiple lenders before you settle on one. That helps ensure that you’re getting the best possible terms.

Remember that you can negotiate with lenders, too, and you may have more leeway than you think you do.

Home loans are available from several types of lenders, including:

  • Credit unions
  • Commercial banks
  • Mortgage companies

You can also get a loan through a mortgage broker — but when you do this, the money isn’t actually coming from the broker. The broker simply arranges the transaction.

You can “comparison shop” between several types of lenders. When you do, it’s a good idea to ask several questions, such as:

  • What are your current mortgage interest rates? Are those rates fixed or adjustable? What’s the loan’s annual percentage rate, or APR?
  • Will I have to pay points? (Points are fees you pay to the lender or broker that will often lower your interest rate, thereby lowering your monthly payments.) You should also ask for the points in dollar value so you’ll know exactly how much the lender will be charging you.
  • What are your loan origination or underwriting fees? What are your broker fees, transaction fees and closing costs? You can always ask for an explanation of any fees that you don’t understand.
  • How much will I need to come up with for a down payment?

Are You Buying a Home in Williamson County?

If you’re buying a home in Williamson County, we can help you find one that’s just right for your needs.

Call us at 615-473-5973 or get in touch with us online today.

Why is Curb Appeal So Important?

why is curb appeal important - sell home williamson county

When you’re selling a home, your Realtor(R) will emphasize home staging and curb appeal.

It makes sense that staging your house is important — after all, you want the living space to be as attractive and appealing as possible — but what about curb appeal? Does it really matter that much?

The “Halo Effect” and Your Home’s Outward Appearance

There’s a psychological process that takes place when each of us first sees something. It’s called the halo effect, and as humans, it’s part-and-parcel of the first impressions we develop.

Our first impression enables us to judge a book by its cover, so to speak.

When you drive by an attractive, well-kept home, you probably automatically assume that the inside is clean, well-maintained and neat.

What do you think when you drive by a home with missing shingles, crooked siding or a sagging porch?

Bear in mind that many potential buyers will drive by a home after they find it online — and if they don’t have a good first impression, it’s unlikely that they’ll call your listing agent and ask for a showing.

Quick and Easy Ways to Boost Curb Appeal

Naturally, lawn maintenance and exterior repairs are the most important (and sometimes the toughest) ways to boost your home’s curb appeal. If everything is already in working order but you’d like to make some improvements, try:

  • Getting a new mailbox
  • Replacing your house numbers with new, modern versions
  • Repainting your front door
  • Upgrading your light fixtures
  • Adding flowers or seasonal decor wherever it’s appropriate

Are You Selling a Home in Williamson County?

If you’re selling a home in Williamson County, we can help. We’ll walk you through every step, from boosting your home’s curb appeal and staging to signing your final paperwork.

If you have a moment, download our free home-selling guide. It’s packed with great tips that will help you along the way.

Call us at 615-473-5973 or get in touch with us online. We’re the experts on selling in Williamson County, and we’d love the opportunity to help you.

Contact Us Now!

Benchmark Realty, LLC

Gennifer Mallard, Realtor

615-473-5973 Direct

615-371-1544 Office

GenniferMallard@gmail.com

Benchmark Realty, LLC
318 Seaboard Lane, Suite 112
Franklin, TN 37067
License #00292590
Company License #259153

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