Ten Rules to Follow When Buying a Home

1. Stay put. Commit yourself to your new home for at least a couple of years before making

your next move.

2. Money matters. If you’re considering a mortgage, shore up your credit and get a copy of

your credit report.

3. Get pre-approved. Save yourself the time and grief of looking at houses you can’t afford.

4. Determine how large your mortgage can be. Explore different loan options to determine

what is best for you.

5. Decide what (and where) you want to buy. Prioritize your needs (i.e., location, schools,

amenities).

6. Consider your re-sell value. Even if you don’t have school-aged kids, a strong school

district is a good thing.

7. Do your homework. Bid based on sales trends of similar homes in the neighborhood.

8. Calculate the hidden costs. Property taxes, insurance, maintenance and association

fees can impact your wallet over time.

9. Don’t be house poor. Double and triple check to be sure you haven’t maxed yourself out

on the cost of your home and left nothing for maintenance, etc.

10. Get help. Consider hiring a REALTOR® to get the most for your money. It pays to have

someone looking out for your interests.

Ten Rules to Follow When Selling a Home

1. Hire a good REALTOR®. A professional who knows your neighborhood and has a good

track record in your community will go a long way in helping to find a buyer.

2. Clean out the clutter. Open spaces look best. Clean, and clean some more to make a

good first impression.

3. Spiff up the property. Make any improvements that will improve the show of your home.

When possible, stick with the simpler (and less expensive) options to be sure the buying

price covers your investment.

4. Determine the worth. Know the fair market value of your home. Your REALTOR® can help

assess the cost. You may also want to have the home appraised.

5. Price it right. A REALTOR® can help you objectively set the price so that it reflects the

value of your home and the trends of the surrounding community.

6. Come up with a plan. Are set on your price, or eager to move? How low are you willing

to go to settle?

7. Get pre-approved for your next move. If you’re looking to buy another house, make sure

you know your financial situation.

8. Figure out your selling costs. Commission, ad costs, attorney fees, taxes and prorated

costs may all come into play. REALTORS® deal with transactions every day and

can give you a very close estimate of seller closing costs.

9. Set the stage. Clean the windows, open the curtains, turn on the lights, display fresh

flowers. A bright house is a welcoming house.

10. It’s show time. Be ready and willing to have your home shown any day, even with short

notice. Making it difficult to see will also make it difficult to sell.