Jam-packed full of Free Ideas...

Free advice... how I can help you with the roof over your head?

Those of you who read my blog regularly (thank you!) know that I am a professional Realtor in Middle Tennessee with a wide variety of practical real estate buying and selling experiences, both good ones and painful ones. You’ll also quickly note that my blogs are not simply cut-and-paste from somebody else’s ideas. Most importantly, you’ll observe I have gained vital, first-hand knowledge through each of these practical, personal experiences. I get great satisfaction from truly helping people, providing my lessons learned from these diverse experiences, and I can help you buy a home or sell the one you own.

Do you like where you live, but are tired of paying rent?

Have you ever wondered whether you could own the roof over your head? It costs you nothing for me to help you. For example, I work with professional lenders who will help you improve your credit standing. Particularly for first-time home buyers, they have have access to programs where you can own a home for little or no down payment. Your monthly costs are typically far less than your rent payments. (Think of it this way - your landlord is paying the property expenses, plus expects to make a hefty profit every month for his/her trouble, plus gets yearly tax-time benefits, plus benefits from the increasing equity of the property - and all that comes out of your rent check.) I can also help you attend a free workshop (a full-day or two evening sessions) to help you understand what the home buying process looks like – with no obligation on your part. These valuable ideas cost you nothing.

Ready to buy?

Since it’s become a more competitive and aggressive market, we will need to be better prepared before we start looking at homes. Let’s talk about what that looks like. By the way, did you know that the Buyer doesn’t pay the commission on a real estate transaction? Most often the Seller pays for that part of the transaction. Can I reduce the commission by not working through a Realtor? If you are working with a good and professional Realtor, you’ll find that you actually get a better deal, because that Realtor becomes your shrewd business partner, negotiator and advocate.

Are you happy with the home you live in?

That makes me smile, especially for those of you that I have helped in any way with that home purchase. Here’s where I can help you *for free*. Did you know that there are things you can do  to improve your home ownership experience? You wouldn’t drive your car for years without taking it to a mechanic. It’s often referred to as “Total Cost of Ownership”, and there are ways to keep those costs reasonable and manageable. In the same way, resources like home inspectors, stagers and warranties aren’t just for buying and selling. It doesn’t cost you a dime to have the benefit of their knowledge – and while you may not plan to sell your home for several years, you can benefit from their advice, enjoy the improvements now, and not pay for their services a second time later (when you do determine it's time to sell).

Thinking it’s about time to sell?

More free counsel from my experience – there’s more than just worrying about making sure your home looks good to prospective Buyers. Are you ready for your next home? Do you really know what you want to afford, and what you can afford to pay? That’s a great time to do a “dry run” – again no cost involved – about what the home selling process looks like. Do you have a termite contract in place? Lenders most often won’t allow your Buyer to buy without a clear termite letter. Do you know whether there are any major systems that may fail an inspection? It’s a good idea to take stock of what you have – before you think about advertising your home for sale!

Ready to sell? Or need to sell?

Have you ever worked with a Realtor who suddenly insists that you need to do a bunch of upgrades to get top dollar for your home? Believe it or not, that is often not the best approach. It’s important to understand the question before you try to answer it. What is a Buyer looking for? They want the right home, for the right price. That means they may *or may not* want to pay for the upgrades you are about to purchase. I can help a Buyer get those upgrades as part of their purchase price, and at the same time not have it be a huge chore and cost for you as a Seller. Fresh paint? Yes. Replace perfectly good carpet with new hardwood flooring? No. New kitchen cabinet knobs? Yes. Replace your countertops with new granite? No. Professional pictures? Yes.  You get the idea – provided the items are in good repair (see previous paragraph), this is all about how your home is presented and marketed to prospective Buyers.

Want more uncommon ideas?

Let’s grab coffee or a bite to eat or sit on a park bench on a sunny day and discuss – you can reach me anytime direct at 615-480-2955 or e-mail me at bill.munson@kw.com. Count on me for creative, realistic and *productive* ideas!