Five Ways to Avoid Buying a Money Pit

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When you buy a home in Flathead Valley, you don’t want to end up getting trapped in a money pit. Here are five ways to avoid buying a home that will leave you with a headache and expensive repairs.

1. Get a thorough home inspection. Once you’ve found the perfect home, get a qualified home inspector to come in and take an in-depth walkthrough of your property. Talk with them at length about what is wrong with the home and what your options are.

2. Read the reports and disclosures. Take time to thoroughly examine the report you get from the inspector, and make sure you have all the necessary disclosures from the seller so you know everything you possibly can about the condition of the home.

3. Get multiple bids on repairs. If you end up coming to an agreement with the seller that you will make some of the repairs, make sure you get multiple bids on them. 

4. Don’t get too overconfident. Be skeptical when buying. Don’t let little things get you down about a home, but make sure you’re not buying something that will be more trouble than it’s worth, either.

5. Prioritize price reductions and credits over seller repairs. If a seller reduces the price or gives you credit for repairs and it doesn’t affect your financing, don’t worry so much about having them fix everything.

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Be skeptical when buying.

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These are all great tips to remember, but the most important one to keep in mind is that you need a great home inspector. If you have any questions for us or would like a recommendation for an inspector, give us a call or send us an email. We can’t wait to hear from you!

The Key to Selling Your Flathead Valley Home

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Today, we’re going to talk about the number one mistake for Flathead Valley sellers to avoid.

The National Association of Realtors recently conducted a study on homebuyers and their online search processes. They found 8 out of 10 buyers look for high quality photographs when deciding whether or not to visit a property. This is the number one factor for those buyers.

Professional photographs allow the buyers to see what the house is like. It’s also important to know that 90% of buyers begin their home search online. Without a doubt, the most important thing you can do is post professional photos of your homes. Just because everyone has an iPhone these days doesn’t mean you should let your agent take pictures of your home with one.

You never get a second chance at a first impression, so make sure that the buyers see awesome photos of your home. Get your home staged correctly and set it up perfectly so that you have an easy transaction from the very beginning.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Find the Right Price in Flathead Valley

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Looking to sell in the Flathead Valley? Get a free Home Price Evaluation

Overpriced homes will not sell. That’s why it’s so important to find the right price for your home when listing. Here are two simple tips to help you price your Flathead Valley home correctly the first time around!

Find comparable homes. Hire a Realtor with access to the MLS and previously closed properties. Since Montana is a non-disclosure state, this information isn’t accessible to the public. Sites like Zillow and Trulia likely aren’t accurate.

Figure out which homes receive active searches. You face competition automatically as a seller and you need to know what’s out there. Familiarize yourself with the current market climate and conditions.

One of the most important things to do as a seller is to price your home correctly. That’s the most efficient way to sell your home in the Flathead Valley. If you have any questions about this topic or anything else real estate related, contact me by phone or email!

Avoid These Mistakes When Building a Home in the Flathead Valley

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If I could build a home all over again, I’d approach it differently. Here are some ways to avoid making mistakes when building a home in the Flathead Valley.

Get solid blueprints and multiple bids. Know exactly what you want to build. Wait to get multiple offers from different builders and go with the best offer. Be sure to compare prices side by side.

Get the price of an upgrade up front. Builders have different rates for upgrades, so it’s important to know these before you commit to a change. Get a firm price if you change anything to avoid surprises at the end!

Understand you’ll probably go over the budget. There will be changes, including any repairs or renovations inside the home. From the beginning, be conscious of and plan for this especially.

If you have any questions about this topic or more, feel free to reach out by phone or email. I’d be happy to address any concerns and mediate the conversation.

Avoid these Four Mistakes When Selling Your Home in the Flathead Valley

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A lot of things can go wrong in a real estate transaction, and today I'd like to speak about four specific things that you need to be careful to avoid.

Not having professional photos of your home is a huge mistake. When your main source of attention from buyers is on the Internet, your photos have to be outstanding in order to stand up against other listings online.

You also need to get as much exposure as possible. If your agent doesn't have a complete marketing plan, then you're going to have more difficulty selling your home quickly and for top dollar.

Not using a real estate agent is another thing that could land you in hot water. It's been proven that when you hire an agent, your home will sell quickly and for more money. In fact, homes sold by their owners sold for 13% less than when people hired a real estate agent.

Mispricing your home is another thing that can kill your real estate deal. Your price is your #1 piece of marketing and advertising, so you have to get it right the first time. Buyers are savvy and they know whether or not they're getting a good deal.

If you need help buying or selling a home, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Why You Shouldn't Wait to Sell Your Flathead Valley Home

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Looking to sell in the Flathead Valley? Get a free Home Price Evaluation

Most homeowners are unaware that the fall is actually a really great time to sell. In fact, if you're ready to make your move, you're in luck -- 25% of all transactions that happen take place in the fourth quarter. Although there aren't as many people buying, there are even fewer sellers, meaning you have less competition when selling your home.

If you are thinking about selling your home now, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. For one, you need to clear the driveway and walkways of snow so that people can easily enter your home. If there is no snow, you want to make sure your yard is looking nice and trimmed, and clear of debris. Also, if you plan on selling in the next 6 months, you need to schedule a time for a professional photographer to come out soon before the weather gets bad and while there is still good light.

If you have any questions about selling during this time, or if you need real estate help of any kind, we would love to hear from you! Don't hesitate to reach out to us at any time!