Monday, June 28, 2010
SEVEN CRITICAL MISTAKES HOME BUYERS MAKE (AND HOW TO AVOID THEM)
MISTAKE NO.3 SHOTGUN SHOPPING, AKA WORKING WITH TOO MANY REAL ESTATE AGENTS
Typically, the home buying process goes something like this. You pick up a few newspapers, look through the ads, see a few interesting homes, drive through the neighborhoods, and then you end up calling the agent who advertised the home. Before you know it, you have called on several homes that fit your needs and desires. By doing so, you have selected your Realtor by default. This is a huge mistake. The preferable way to go about finding the best home for you is to choose one agent and have them show you homes that match your criteria. The truth of the matter is this: All real estate agents have access to the same information. The Multiple Listing Service provides the same descriptions of homes to every agent, so choosing an agent based on a house they just happened to advertise is doing yourself a major disservice. The question then becomes how you chooses an agent. How do you know who is good? Well, look for indicators of success. The quality of an agent's marketing will often be indicative of their quality as an agent. Start by asking for a copy of their personal brochure. Do they have one? Is it full color and professionally created? Does it tell you who they are rather than simply provide a laundry list of accomplishments and designations that you can't decipher anyway? Take the brochures and if you can answer yes to all of these questions, narrow them down by looking for a personality match. Remember all agents have access to the same list of houses for sale, so the most important aspects of their service will be your ability to get along with them and their ability to understand your needs. That is why a face-to-face meeting is usually best at this point. --- Bryan VogtStrano & Associates, Realtors® - GMAC Real Estate(618) 355-5824--- O'Fallon IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleSwansea IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleBellville IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleScott AFB PCS Relocation--- Labels: agent, homes for sale, marketing, Realtor
# posted by Bryan Vogt @ 2:55 PM
Thursday, June 24, 2010
741 Deerfield Dr, Swansea. Well maintained brick ranch!
 NEW PRICE!!!$147,900MLS#3000460 A great chance for family and/or friends to be entertained in this lovely, maintenance free, brick, ranch home located on cul-de-sac. This one owner home has nice sized rooms with an eat-in kitchen and a pantry. Family room has gas fireplace, skylights & cathedral ceiling. This home has crown molding, walk-in closet and lots of storage space. Stained glass French doors lead to heated sunroom and attached enclosed porch and patio. http://bryanvogt.com.idxre.com/idx/listings.cfm?cid=4294&pc=MLS&sr=1&gsr=1&sb=pd --- Bryan VogtStrano & Associates, Realtors® - GMAC Real Estate(618) 355-5824--- O'Fallon IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleSwansea IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleBellville IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleScott AFB PCS Relocation---
# posted by Bryan Vogt @ 9:41 AM
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
NEW ATHENS ILLINOIS LOG HOME ON 40 ACRES
 New Listing!!!860 Pete Junk Rd. MLS#3008934 Wow! Lovely three bedroom, three bath, log home nestled on 40 beautiful, wooded acres! This distinctive home will please those who can appreciate the natural beauty both inside and outside. There is an unfinished walk-out basement waiting for someone to make it their own. Enjoy evening breezes and wildlife from a wrap-around porch. A versatile 52x48 pole building could house horses, or equipment, or autos. There is a pond on this property and a lovely stream runs through it. About 20 minutes from the city, you can have the best of both worlds. http://bryanvogt.com.idxre.com/idx/listings.cfm?cid=4294&pc=MLS&sr=1&gsr=1&sb=pd
--- Bryan VogtStrano & Associates, Realtors® - GMAC Real Estate(618) 355-5824--- O'Fallon IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleSwansea IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleBellville IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleScott AFB PCS Relocation---
# posted by Bryan Vogt @ 9:28 AM
Friday, June 18, 2010
SEVEN CRITICAL MISTAKES HOME BUYERS MAKE (AND HOW TO AVOID THEM)
MISTAKE NO. 2 FAILURE TO GET PRE-APPROVED (NOT JUST PRE-QUALIFIED - THERE IS A DIFFERENCE)
Many of today's leading real estate agents prefer not to work with a buyer until the buyer is pre-qualified for a loan. This may seem exclusionary at first, but by doing so the agent is actually doing the home buyer a huge favor. The truth of the matter is that shopping for a home without being pre-approved wastes everyone's time. That is why I always advise anyone interested in buying a home that the first step they should take is to their mortgage lender. Once there, they should get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified. Let me explain the difference. Being pre-qualified means that you have sent a few minutes with a lender who may have asked you several questions, but generally has no real insight into your financial obligations and, by extension, your overall financial situation. Even if a lender provides you with a certificate indicating you have been pre-qualified, the seller knows that no financial information has been verified at that point, which devalues your negotiating power. On the other hand, being pre-approved indicates to the seller that you are a serious prospect. Getting pre-approval requires disclosure of financial information and provided you with an actual dollar amount that you can spend. Not only does this provide you with the confidence to shop smarter, it also gives you an advantage if more than one buyer is interested in a property. If the seller has three offers, but your offer is the only pre-approved offer, the seller knows you are at least one step ahead of the others and can proceed more quickly. The other offers may encounter snags in getting the "pre-qualified" loans actually funded. By being pre-approved, that will not happen to you. It is not as fun or exciting as jumping in the car and looking at houses, but getting pre-approved is a great way to give yourself an advantage when the time comes.
Labels: finances, pre-approval, pre-qualified
# posted by Bryan Vogt @ 1:26 PM
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
SEVEN CRITICAL MISTAKES HOME BUYERS MAKE (AND HOW TO AVOID THEM)
MISTAKE NO.1 BEING UNPREPARED
It almost goes without saying, but buying a house is serious business. However, many home buyers enter into the equation unprepared or haphazardly. Sure, it is always fun to look at houses and get a feel for current market conditions, but before you get serious about buying your home, you need to have your ducks in a row. This means making sure your current living arrangements can accommodate your move. If you are renting, be sure you have reached the end of your lease or are renting month to month. If you own a house, be sure it is sold before you prepare to make an offer. It means having your finances in order and collecting proper documentation required for your loan, such as paycheck stubs, bank statements, and tax returns. It means giving thought to exactly what your needs and desires are in a home and being able to differentiate the two lists. Being prepared also means being physically and emotionally ready for your move. People often underestimate everything that is involved in a move, from packing up every last belonging to arranging for help. Once you find a house, the whole process can move very quickly, which comes as a surprise to many home buyers. Emotionally, the less prepared you are the more taxing the process can become. By no means am I trying to give you an excuse not to move, but before you do, I want you to understand what you are getting yourself into. No one wants to work toward finding a house only to learn that you are unable or unprepared to move. That is severly disappointing for both the buyer and your real estate agent. Get serious about it, prepare yourself, and then get ready for your best move ever. --- Bryan VogtStrano & Associates, Realtors® - GMAC Real Estate(618) 355-5824--- O'Fallon IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleSwansea IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleBellville IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleScott AFB PCS Relocation--- Labels: finances, loan move
# posted by Bryan Vogt @ 2:01 PM
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
7 CRITICAL MIISTAKES HOME BUYERS MAKE
7 CRITICAL MISTAKES HOME BUYERS MAKE (AND HOW TO AVOID THEM)
Buying a home is the epidome of the American Dream. Unfortunately, however, too many home buyers jump into the process before they truly understand everything they are getting themselves into. That is where this report comes in. Throughout my career, I have learned many things and seen many people who have all made the same mistakes. Many people who I have helped have had a bad real estate experience. I would like to help you learn from their mistakes. I have assembled these items into a list warning home buyers of seven critical mistakes I have seen buyers make and how to avoid them. I hope you enjoy reading it and find it helpful for your next home purchase. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to contact me. --- Bryan VogtStrano & Associates, Realtors® - GMAC Real Estate(618) 355-5824--- O'Fallon IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleSwansea IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleBellville IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleScott AFB PCS Relocation--- Labels: home buyers, home purchase
# posted by Bryan Vogt @ 10:32 AM
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Brick Ranch - 741 Deerfield, Swansea, Illinois
 New Price!!!$154,900 MLS#3000460 A great chance for family and/or friends to be entertained in this lovely, maintenance free, brick, ranch home located on cul-de-sac. This one owner home has nice sized rooms with an eat-in kitchen and a pantry. The family room has gas fireplace, skylights and cathedral ceiling. This home has crown molding, walk-in closet and lots of storage space. Stained glass French doors lead to heated sunroom and attached enclosed porch and patio.
http://bryanvogt.com.idxre.com/idx/listings.cfm?cid=4294&pc=MLS&sr=1&gsr=1&sb=pd--- Bryan VogtStrano & Associates, Realtors® - GMAC Real Estate(618) 355-5824--- O'Fallon IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleSwansea IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleBellville IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleScott AFB PCS Relocation--- Labels: brick, ranch home, Swansea
# posted by Bryan Vogt @ 10:24 AM
Monday, June 07, 2010
SQUEEZING EVERY LAST DOLLAR FROM YOUR HOME SALE
DON'T CREATE A MESS Make sure your floorplan will make sense when you are done. Be careful not to make changes that impede the natural flow of the house...closing off halls, doorways, etc. Room additions in particular are often very poorly done. If it looks like something tacked on to the house, don't do it. Adding a bedroom whose only connection to the rest of the house is through another bedroom should be avoided. As you can see, squeezing every last dollar out of your home sale can be a fairly involved process. When you consider the end result.....a quicker sale and top dollar for your efforts....I think you will find that a few well chosen home improvements are worth both the time and the money. --- Bryan VogtStrano & Associates, Realtors® - GMAC Real Estate(618) 355-5824--- O'Fallon IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleSwansea IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleBellville IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleScott AFB PCS Relocation--- Labels: floorplan, room additions
# posted by Bryan Vogt @ 2:56 PM
Friday, June 04, 2010
SQUEEZING EVERY LAST DOLLAR FROM YOUR HOME SALE
DON'T PLAN ON MOVING SOON IF YOU ARE SPENDING A LOT You probably won't recoup your investment if you plan on moving in less than two years. If you plan to move sooner, spend less money and focus your efforts on the most egregious problems. For example, turn a bad kitchen into a decent one rather than a chef's kitchen. DON'T PLAN ON MAKING UNIQUE IMPROVEMENTS
Sure, you may love the built-in bookcases on every wall of your guest room, but prospective buyers will probably view them as a nuisance to tear out, which means they will be less willing to meet your price. Also, avoid remodels that make unusual use of a particular room. Anything that limits flexibility will limit interest in your home. --- Bryan VogtStrano & Associates, Realtors® - GMAC Real Estate(618) 355-5824--- O'Fallon IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleSwansea IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleBellville IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleScott AFB PCS Relocation--- Labels: improvements, moving, remodel, unique
# posted by Bryan Vogt @ 1:54 PM
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
SQUEEZING EVERY LAST DOLLAR FROM YOUR HOME SALE
HOME IMPROVEMENT "DON'TS"
DON'T OVER-IMPROVE
Any project that raises your home's value by more than 20 percent above similar homes in your neighborhood should be reconsidered. The reason is simple. Say your home is typical in a neighboorhood of $200,000 homes, and you make $50,000 in improvements. Buyers looking for a $250,000 home are looking in neighborhoods where that is the norm, not the exception. --- Bryan VogtStrano & Associates, Realtors® - GMAC Real Estate(618) 355-5824--- O'Fallon IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleSwansea IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleBellville IL Real Estate, Condos, Homes for SaleScott AFB PCS Relocation---
# posted by Bryan Vogt @ 3:20 PM
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