7 Safety tips for Tamaqua home sellers

When you offer your Tamaqua home for sale, you necessarily invite strangers in – both in person and in photos. While nearly every one of those strangers will be an honest person simply looking for a home, you need to take precautions against those who are viewing homes for illegal purposes.   To protect yourself, your family, and your possessions, follow these simple rules:   Consider the possibility of theft long before the first visitor enters your home. When preparing the house for a photo shoot, keep expensive art work and other treasures out of the photographs.   Never let anyone in to view your home without an agent – and never let anyone in even with an agent unless they have an appointment. It doesn't take much to have bogus business cards printed, so make sure the appointment comes through your agent or his or her scheduling service.   If your children are at home when you're absent, be sure they know not to open the door to strangers. If a showing is scheduled, be sure they know the agent's name and his or her expected time of arrival.   Lock up your valuables. Never leave money, jewelry, or small expensive items where they can be seen and easily pocketed. Instead, put them in a locked drawer or safe or take them completely out of the house.   Lock up your prescription medications – especially if you take pain killers or anti-depressants. The medicine cabinet or a drawer isn't good enough, so take them with you if there's no secure spot.   Put away checkbooks, credit cards, and personal paperwork such as credit card bills, medical bills, insurance forms, and pay check stubs. Identity theft is a growing threat to everyone, so be careful. Remember that waste baskets and garbage cans are a thief's hunting ground, so shred sensitive waste paper.   Put away treasured breakables. Some buyers bring along children who are "into everything." Others carry handbags or wear coats with big sleeves. Accidents happen. The agent showing your Tamaqua home will make every effort to keep an eye on the potential buyers, but as you can imagine, it isn't always possible to watch everyone at once.    So make it easy - remove the temptations.

Budgeting for your Tamaqua home purchase

When you meet with a lender to become pre-qualified you'll learn about the funds needed for your down payment and closing costs. Those are the major expenses, but don't forget that they aren't the only expenses.

 

If you're only moving across town and have both a circle of ambitious friends and access to pickup trucks, moving might not cost much more than gasoline and pizza for the crew at the end of the day.

 

If you're going to need a commercial mover, it would be a good idea to get an estimate of that cost now, so it doesn't come as a shock at the last minute.

 

Not all movers are alike, so get referrals if you can, and do check prices and terms from more than one mover. Make sure their policies and guarantees, including the delivery date, are in writing.

 

Next, remember that you may have to pay a fee to activate your phone, internet service, or cable television. If you plan to join a fitness center, will you need to pay a registration fee?

 

If your new home is larger than your previous home, will you need to invest in more furniture?

 

Will your new Tamaqua home need a few repairs or changes before or as you move in? Even a gallon of paint runs about $40 these days.

 

Will you need to spend a night or two in a hotel during the move? Will you need to eat most of your meals in restaurants? Allow for those expenses.

 

Small things do add up, so if you're just starting to think about owning a new home, start putting some money aside to handle the "incidentals" of moving. 

House hunting for Tamaqua dog lovers

 If you're like most dog lovers, your canine friends play an important role in your life. You want them to be happy, and you want caring for them and spending time with them to be convenient for you.

So keep them in mind as you search for your new Tamaqua home.

When you view a home for sale, consider these outdoor aspects:

• Is the yard large enough for my dogs to play when I don't have time to take them out walking or to a park?

• Is the yard fenced? If so, is it the right kind of fence to keep my dogs in and other dogs out?

• If not, do I have room in my budget for a new fence?

• Are there good places for us to go walking together?

• Is there a park or other open area nearby where my dogs can play off-leash?

And then, while considering the home's interior, ask yourself:

• Is there a convenient place where my dog's food and water bowls will fit? You'll soon be annoyed if you're constantly tripping over them, spilling food and water all over the floor.

• Where will my dog's bed fit?

• If your dog is used to sleeping in a crate – is there a spot where it won't be in the way?

• If you like to use doggie doors, is there a "right place" for a door that will let your dog into a fenced area?

• Will the floor coverings stand up to doggie toenails?

When dogs are as much a part of the family as the humans, it pays to keep them in mind as you search for that new Tamaqua home.

I'll be pleased to help you find just the right home for all of you.

Just give me a call at 570-640-8109 and tell me "I'm a dog lover. Help me find a home that will suit all the 2-legged and 4-legged members of my family."

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What to do with multiple offers on Your Tamaqua Home

When you receive multiple offers on your Tamaqua home, you're faced with a choice. You can, of course, reject all of them, but let's assume that you really do want to sell the house, so you're going to either accept or write a counter-offer to one of them.

Some might say "Well, take the highest offer, of course." But the truth is, the highest offer isn't always the best offer. It could even be the worst offer.

Often that offered price is reduced by a request for you to pay part of the buyer's closing costs, give an allowance for new carpeting, or to make major repairs.

As your agent I'll do the math so you can see the net proceeds from each offer.

Then there are contingencies. Standard contingencies include the buyer receiving appropriate financing and the seller being able to provide clear title.

As your agent, I'll look into the buyer's true status with regard to obtaining a home mortgage. Some buyers will provide a letter of pre-approval, while others will provide only a pre-qualification letter – and there is a huge difference.

With a pre-approval, the buyer is assured of getting the loan as long as nothing changes before closing. The lender has already checked the buyers' credit, employment, debt levels, etc. and an underwriter has given approval.

With a pre-qualification, the lender is saying that as long as everything the buyer has stated verbally can be verified as truth, the loan will be granted. In other words, nothing has been verified.

Most offers are also contingent upon approval of a home inspection, but some are contingent upon other factors.

• Some are contingent upon closing the sale on the buyer's present home.

• Some are contingent upon the buyer receiving the proceeds of a settlement.

• Some are contingent upon approval from a 3^rd party.

Unfortunately, some of these events that buyers anticipate never happen - so they do need to be considered carefully.

As your agent I'll help you evaluate all the contingencies. When necessary, I'll look into the status of a pending sale prior to you making a decision. I'll also try to gain that 3^rd party approval – or advise you to make your acceptance or counter contingent upon it. And, since I've known people who waited and hoped for years for settlements that never materialized, I'll research the status of that claim.

Finally, there's the closing date. You may want more time to move, or you may want a fast closing so you don't have to make more payments.

The bottom line: The highest offer on your Tamaqua home may not be the best offer.

I'll help you evaluate each of the terms in each of the offers so you can choose the best to either accept or counter.

Buying or selling a Tamaqua home in the heat of summer

Summer is a wonderful time to purchase a new home in Tamaqua, but it does come with certain hazards. Getting in and out of cars and touring both homes and property can take a heavy toll when the thermometer reads in the 80's, 90's, and 100's.

So be prepared:

If possible, leave your youngsters at home with a sitter or take them to Grandma's house for the day. The heat will make them cranky and uncomfortable, and that will distract you from really seeing the benefits and features of each home.  And of course, your children run the same risk as you of becoming dehydrated.

Dehydration can lead to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps – and you don't need any of those.

That means, it's important for you to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Unless you're working with an agent (like me) who carries a cooler filled with ice and bottled water and juice, bring your own cooler. Remember that 100% fruit juice (no sugar added) will help you fend off dehydration while giving you added energy, while caffeine and alcohol will make you more dehydrated.

The rule: Keep sipping. Don't wait until you feel really thirsty.

Dress for success:

When you're going to spend the day viewing homes in summertime, wear loose-fitting, light colored clothes. The loose fit is for your comfort, and to let sweat evaporate. The light color is to reflect the sun rather than absorb its heat.  

What about selling a Tamaqua home in the heat of summer?

Obviously, when you vacate the house for the showing you should go somewhere where you'll be safe from the sun's rays, but right now lets think about your potential buyers and their comfort.

Not all agents or their buyers carry coolers. So why not encourage them to spend more time viewing your house (and noticing its many benefits) by providing a tub filled with ice and bottles of water – and a note saying "Please help yourselves."   

Your generous gesture might be just that one added thing that creates a good feeling about your Tamaqua house for sale – and leads to a good offer.