READ THESE IMPORTANT STEPS BEFORE SELLING YOUR HOME

First and Foremost…Get a Real Estate Professional’s help.

Even though the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings, most new buyers (and many more experienced ones) are better off using a Real Estate Professional who has in-depth knowledge regarding the area you are interested in living and who will have your negotiating interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process.

Important Steps

Once you have decided on your Real Estate Professional, you will need to get your financial house in order. You need to determine how much house you can really afford. The rule of thumb here is to aim for a home that costs about 2 ½ times your gross annual salary. If you have significant credit card debt or other financial obligations or even an expensive hobby, then you may need to set your sights lower.

Step 1- Get pre-approved.

Getting pre-approved will you save yourself the grief of looking at houses you can't afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house. Not to be confused with pre-qualification, which is based on a cursory review of your finances, pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history.

Since you most likely will need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover.

Step 2- Decide What is Important to you in a Home

Your Current and Future Needs

Before you start searching for a home, you need to think about your needs both now and in the future. Here are some things to consider:

·        Size requirements. Do you need several bedrooms, more than one bathroom, space for a home office, a two-car garage?

·        Special features. Do you want air conditioning, storage or hobby space, a fireplace, a swimming pool? Do you have family members with special needs? Do you want special features to save energy, enhance indoor air quality and reduce environmental impact?

·        Lifestyles and stages. Do you plan to have children? Do you have teenagers who will be moving away soon? Are you close to retirement? Will you need a home that can accommodate different stages of life?

Try to buy a home that meets most of your needs for the next 5 to 10 years, or find a home that can grow and change with your needs

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