FAQ | Outlook Realty, LLC

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FAQ'S

Learn all about our business and why we’re the right agency for you. Scroll down and check out frequently asked questions that we commonly hear. If there are topics that we missed or that you have more questions about let us know!

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS?

Take your time and allow the process to evolve naturally.
Get pre-approved for mortgage financing. You want a proper pre-approval based upon your lender's review of your income, assets, credit, tax returns and relevant documents. Easy over the telephone pre-approvals can fall apart once lender's receive supporting documentation. You don't want to have financing difficulties after you spent as much as $1,500 on home inspections and an appraisal.
Formulate an estimate of closing costs. Buyers often do not know how much closing costs and pre-paid taxes and insurance can add up to and one way to lessen stress is to avoid unexpected surprises. Your mortgage professional and Outlook Realty Agent can contribute to this process. There are a lot of costs to account for; initial home inspections, any environmental testing (radon, mold, water testing), first year homeowner's insurance premium, adjustments to the seller for taxes already paid, adjustments to the seller for the heating oil conveyed, attorney costs, title costs, recording costs, estimate of escrows collected at closing and any other applicable fees.
Create a list of "must haves" and "wishing for" items to help establish a criteria. Think about your life today and what it may look like in 5 years. 5 years fly by fast and while it would be terrific to "buy up" in the future, it may be wise to make a purchase today that could sustain you and your future in 5 years if life plans change.
Think of resale before you buy. In a perfect world it's ideal to own a home which may appeal to all audiences (first time home buyers, upsizers, downsizers, single buyers, etc). We never know what surprises lay ahead. A wise purchase will increase your opportunity to attain maximum resale value while selling in the shortest period of time.
Consider locations thoroughly! You may be distracted by that beautiful home "only 12 miles from work" but test out that ride at rush hour and think about what your commute may be like on Summer Fridays or if your place of employment were to change in the future. You are not just buying a beautiful box, you are buying into a community, school system, a commute to work and making one of life's biggest financial investments.
Take notes as you look at houses you like. If you see a wide selection in one appointment you may forget key details.
Ask questions! Anything you can think of, ask away! There are no bad questions! This is the time to educate yourself before making a big commitment.

HOW MANY HOMES SHOULD I LOOK AT BEFORE MAKING A DECISION?

This is a common question! The truth is that there is no number per se. Home searches evolve and buyers often refine their criteria and priorities through the process. You may start out certain you will be moving into a Cape Cod style home and buy the most beautiful Colonial you never expected. There is chemistry in the home buying process and you will know when it's the right one. Don't worry! We will not let you buy a house unless we hear the best four letter word; LOVE!

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR SELLERS PREPARING THEIR HOMES TO MARKET?

FIRST, put your buyer's hat on!
SECOND, ask your friends and family to put their buyer's hats on!
Turn off your emotions and take inventory of your home's strengths but more importantly it's weakness's.
Consider a budget for pre-sale improvements.
Itemize your home's weakness's from worst to least worst and try to allocate costs to remedy.
Invite us to consult with you, brainstorm cost effective remedies and prioritize to get the most out of your budget.
Even with a tiny budget you can effect big changes. Paint goes a long way! There are paint products today not only for walls, ceilings, floors, exteriors but for bathroom tile, formica counters, appliances and many other surfaces! A small investment can have a big impact.
Lighting is key. Start by getting rid of those florescent bulbs, install light bulbs with the maximum wattage allowed by each fixture and leave every light on for every showing.
Minimize window treatments. You want natural light to pour in! Buyer's prefer light over costly draperies. In some circumstances removing exterior window screens may help bring in more light.
Take advantage of our staging services; let's maximize what you already have! Often moving (and removing) furniture and personal possessions can make a profound difference. Outlook Realty will bring in a staging expert to help prepare your house for market if a benefit can be attained.
Organize your belongings throughout your home, garage, basement and attic. For many, consider a storage pod to de-clutter and remove excess belongings. If you've outgrown your home and buyer's observe it, they may envision the same in their future and disqualify it from their list.
Temperature & Scent; often without even realizing it, a house that is too cold, too hot or too scented (bad and good scents) can drive buyers away before they have a chance to fairly evaluate it.
De-creep-ify your basement, attic and garage. Consider renting a paint sprayer, buying a 5 gallon bucket of all purpose white paint-and-primer-in-one and coat the walls and ceilings (don't worry you spray the pipes and wires in the process). This is incredibly quick and easy. Paint the floors and buy a few strips of florescent lighting to brighten up your new clean white space (note this is the only suitable use for florescent lighting when trying to sell your home). You could transform your space for as little as $200 and one day's labor.
There are many many more hints and suggestions we can offer. Ask us for more information!

HOW DO YOUR FEES WORK?

Unlike franchise and large real estate firms we know that one size does not fit all. We are able to tailor commission structures to suit each listing and be more competitive and equitable that our competitors. Contact an Outlook Realty team member to learn more.