Relo2Raleigh

At the end of the day, selling your home is a means to an end. Whether you’re downsizing, relocating for work, or simply need a space that meets your current financial and lifestyle needs, you’re relying on your home sale to help facilitate the purchase of a new home. The question is: Will you lose money when you sell your home?

Selling your home is easier said than done, especially if this is your first time navigating a real estate transaction. Unfortunately, this opens up many opportunities for mistakes to be made — even by homeowners who have already successfully sold a home. The following are the common mistakes that could cause you to leave money on the table:

Listing at the wrong time.
With or without an agent to help you, there are certain times when selling your home may be more difficult than others. The winter, for instance, may yield fewer buyers. Attempting to sell in a poor market could also present you with obstacles.
Not hiring a knowledgeable and motivated real estate agent.
The difference between a dynamic real estate agent and a run of the mill agent can mean the difference between tens of thousands of dollars. Their experience and knowledge will help you navigate every part of the process so that you have the best chance of securing a reasonable offer for your home.
Not trusting your agent.
If you’re hiring an agent, you must trust their opinion and expertise. Although you may have a differing opinion, it’s important to respect and place your confidence in their suggestions. Their goal is your goal — successfully selling your home.
Not investing in professional photography for the listing.
Before buyers visit your home, they’ll almost certainly view it online. Without professional photography, you’re not giving the best first impression possible. Invest in professional photography so that buyers fall in love with your home before they even set foot on your doorstep.
Becoming too emotionally invested in your home.
Your home is part of your life, part of your family. While it’s understandable that you’ll go through a variety of emotions during the listing and negotiation, you must remember that this is a business traction that requires professionalism. Don’t allow your emotions or ego to influence the process.
Choosing not to stage the home.
Some homes are best sold empty, but most homes will perform better when they are professionally staged. Staging the home removes clutter and eyesores, replacing them with furnishings that help the buyer envision life in the space.
Failing to clean, renovate, or repair the home.
Before you stage the home, you must make sure that it’s professionally cleaned, any renovations are finished, and that all repairs are professionally completed. Any unfinished elements will detract from the aesthetic and may make the buyer assume that there are other problems hidden in the home.
Trying to hide serious issues.
Never lie, fail to disclose, or try to cover up issues in the home. This is illegal and unethical. By being open and honest with your agent and buyer, you safeguard yourself legally and financially.
Being too firm on price.
Pricing your home can be tricky. You don’t want to price it too high nor too low. You also don’t want to set an unrealistic value on the home that does not align with current market trends. Trust your agent’s judgment on the listing price and during negotiations.
Playing hardball with buyers.
When you receive an offer, be open to contingencies, counteroffers, or other negotiations they may ask you to consider. The goal is to find a reasonable middle ground that both you and the buyer can respectfully agree on.

Selling your home is a detailed process but a thorough understanding of these transactions will help you ensure that you don’t make mistakes that cause you to lose money on your sale. Contact Rachel your Relo2Raleigh Realtor to help you save money and sell your home.

Moving to a New Home With Your Canine Companion

dogs, moving, canine, raleigh, relo2raleigh

Buying a house is an exciting time, and it affects everyone in the family – even the family dog! You’d never dream of making life difficult for your pet, but even the best-behaved pets will need a little extra TLC during all the upheaval of moving.

Dogs can really pick up on the fact that things are changing and any possible stress you’re feeling about the situation. But since they don’t understand what’s going on, they may be uncomfortable in their surroundings, have sudden behavior problems, or have a sudden change of temperament. There is a lot you can do to help your dog adjust to their new surroundings and handle any travel needed during the process.

Check the rules.
Before buying a house, make sure there are no city ordinances or HOA restrictions on dogs that will apply to you. Breed restrictions and restrictions on the size and number of pets allowed per household are more common than you might think.
Take some precautions.
Make sure your pet is wearing identification at all times. Excitement, curiosity, and fear during the move can make even the best-behaved dogs run off unexpectedly. Have the number of the nearest emergency pet clinic with you. Have any medication your dog needs filled ahead of time.
Plan your travel in detail.
Your dog has to get to your new home somehow. The better you plan, the smoother things will go. They may have to ride with you in the car, fly on a plane, or be transported by an animal transport company. Make sure any arrangements are taken care of well in advance. If your dog needs to get used to riding in the car or being in a carrier, practice frequently before the big day. Plan exactly where to stop for food, water, and exercise. Locate pet-friendly hotels ahead of time. Have your pet’s vaccination record handy and familiarize yourself with your airline’s rules for transporting animals.
Keep routines the same.
As much as possible, try to keep things consistent for your dog. Meals, walks, playtime and potty breaks should stay on schedule. Don’t skip important parts of your dog’s routine because you are busier than usual. If you need to change your dog’s routine after you get into your new home, give him time to get used to things and change a little at a time. Once your dog is used to the new surroundings, changes will be easier to make.
Keep familiar items for your pet.
We all know buying a house comes with at least some new stuff. Just make sure you keep your dog’s items like their bed, food and water bowls, blanket and favorite toys so they have something that looks and smells familiar. It will make your new place seem more like home to them and offer your dog some reassurance that not everything is changing.
Don’t skip exercise.
And if possible, work in some extra exercise. It can help your dog burn off extra energy, helping them relax and avoiding behavior problems.
Introduce your dog while on a leash.
Make the initial tour of the house and yard while your dog is on the leash. This gives you the opportunity to check for safety issues and helps your dog feel more secure.

Above all remember to be patient and offer lots of love. Buying a house is a time of change and your dog will eventually adjust to their new home, but it will be in their own time. In the meantime, your help, attention and patience will make things easier for you and your dog.

Selling Your Home | What to Do When You Need to Relocate Quickly

You know that selling a home doesn’t just happen overnight. Unfortunately, there are many instances in which you do need to sell it as quickly as possible. Whether relocating for work or for family, you may have no choice but expedite the process so that you can meet your relocation deadline. Follow this step-by-step guide to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Seek Assistance
A sudden need to relocate can make you feel overwhelmed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends and family members. One of your best resources and advocates will be a trusted real estate agent who knows how to handle fast home sales. Find an experienced agent that has a history of helping other sellers in similar situations — you’ll need to rely on them for more than you realize.
Contact Your New Employer
If you’ve just received the job offer, your next correspondence with your new employer should concern relocation assistance. Most companies offer some form of assistance, whether it’s a flat-rate compensation or help with storage, professional movers, temporary housing, etc.
Assess Your Finances
Once you know how much your company will assist you with the move, it’s time to assess your finances. Moving costs will vary depending on how far you’re moving and what your lifestyle needs will be until you get settled in your new home. The best advice is to dedicate a portion of your savings to this expense. Although you may sell your home for a profitable amount of money, you never want to rely on this until the transaction is finalized.
Assess Your Home
It’s no secret that renovations and repairs go a long way in raising your home’s value. With limited time on your hands, ask your agent to walk your home and suggest repairs or renovations. You can also hire professionals to inspect elements of the home like your HVAC unit and roof so you aren’t surprised by any red flags the home inspector may discover.
List the Home Appropriately
Although time is of the essence, listing the home is not a decision you want to rush until all boxes are checked. Have the home professionally cleaned and staged. Then hire a professional photographer to take high-quality photos for the listing. A half-hearted listing won’t attract motivated buyers. Take the time to invest in this step so you can convince buyers to invest in your home.
Don’t Immediately Purchase a New Home
We never recommend that a homeowner selling a home try to purchase a home simultaneously. Buying a home is a major investment that shouldn’t be rushed. Focus on getting the best offer for your current home, then you can put your effort into finding the right house in your new location.
Be Open to All Offers
If you really need to get your home off of your hands as soon as possible, you should be open-minded about any reasonable offer that is placed. An all-cash offer, even if it’s slightly lower than your asking price, from an investor might be a quick and easy solution. If a qualified buyer has reliable financing and wants to negotiate, hear them out. Your goal is to make this process as simple and swift as possible. Be willing to work with a buyer and they’ll be willing to help you move on as quickly as possible.
Don’t Freak Out
This life-changing move may have suddenly fallen in your lap, but that’s okay! Thousands of people are faced with this situation every year and are now living the next chapter of their lives happily!
Selling a home so that you can quickly relocate may seem like an ordeal, but we assure you that the right real estate agent can help make this process as easy as possible. Follow these steps and you’ll be ready to move on to brighter horizons in no time!

Rachel makes Relocating an easy process. Contact her today at 919-523-7049 to speed up the relocation process. RachelNCRealtor.com

First-Time Home Seller – 6 Tips For Selling Your First Home

Selling your home can be tough. Just about everyone will have strong emotions associated with a very first home – and these can make it harder to sell.

That’s not just because you might be tempted to procrastinate. How we feel about a home can create a challenge: Putting the wrong price on it.

It’s easy to overprice a property because of its sentimental value. Luckily, a local real estate expert can help. By researching recently-sold homes in the area, he or she can price any property to attract buyers.

Although pricing is best left to the professionals, there are many things you can do to help in selling your home faster. With these tips, you’ll make it much more likely to connect with the right buyer and get to closing without a hitch:

Decide on the Best Timing
Timing is the second-biggest factor in selling your home, right behind price. Timing should strike a balance between meeting your needs and taking advantage of the home market’s busiest seasons. Research has shown listings in early April tend to over-perform others in both time-to-sale and final price. Both spring and summer offer some great opportunities.
2. Work on Any Crucial Repairs
Necessary repair work is another factor that influences timing. Virtually all today’s buyers will insist on a complete home inspection that discloses all issues in need of repair – and some insurers even require it. Problems that tend to spook buyers include electrical faults, sewer and septic, roofing near the end of its functional life, and signs of pest infestation. Especially termites!
3. Stage Your Home
Staging is an essential part of selling any home. You should plan to clean the house thoroughly and de-clutter. Removing large furniture items and clearing your closets makes a home look more open and airy. It’s also a good idea to improve lighting: Use brighter bulbs and maximize natural light by removing any heavy window coverings. Your agent will have other suggestions, too.
4. Get Professional Photos Done
Photos are an essential piece in promoting any home. Would-be buyers want to see the whole property at its best. That means both interior and exterior images taken by an experienced photographer. The cameras used by professionals provide crisp, clear, vibrant photos that no cell phone can match. These will help your online home listing to stand out from the crowd.
5. Get Ready for Open House
An open house is the best way to attract buyers who are motivated to take action fast. Visitors will either learn that the property isn’t right for them – saving both you and them some time – or end up more excited than ever. Work together with your real estate agent to make sure each visitor gets the personal touch from start to finish, including a folder of home photos and perks.
6. Be Ready to Respond to Offers
Buyers’ offers come with an expiration date, so line everything up to move quickly. Look at all the practicalities – especially what it will take to get you out the door in time for closing day. Compare offers from various movers and discuss your move-out timeline. Consider moving inessential items to a storage facility. Ideally, you should aim to respond to buyer offers within three days.

Last but not least, be sure to give yourself time to bid your first home, “adieu.” It can be a bittersweet time, but you are on to even greater adventures! An orderly selling process means a stress-free closing, and you can start to enjoy your new home even sooner.

Did you know that Rachel offers her clients complimentary stagging and professional photography? Contact her today to schedule your listing appointment to get your house sold fast and for Top dollar.

RachelNCRealtor.com | 919-523-7049 | withersr@hpw.com

Rachel was an amazing realtor for us. We actually never thought we could qualify to buy a house but her and her team saw it possible and they made the process very easy for us. Now what was just a dream is a reality. We love our new home. Thanks Rachel!

He is a pleasure to work with; always willing to arrange meetings and showings that worked with my schedule. Gave great advice on getting the house ready for sale, and I got an excellent price!

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Your Key to Relocating & Living in the Raleigh area.

4 Reasons to Work with Us!

4-Real Advice

Save Money Selling Your Home

Moving to a New Home With Your Canine Companion

Selling Your Home–Relocating Quickly

6-Steps to Selling Your Home

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