Real Estate Tips

Whether you are thinking about buying or selling your home, Davenport properties strives to provide you with excellent tools and resources that will aid in creating an enjoyable and seamless experience.

Selling your house

When you prepare to show your house to perspective buyers the key idea is to help them view it as their potential home.

• Replace personal family photos and memorabilia with art or gender generic paintings.
• Remove any clutter from the house, and try to keep the space open and airy.  
• Do small repairs. One of the first things a potential buyer will do is turn on faucets, switch on lights, and open cabinets. Try to get rid of all the “Leaks and Creaks” around your home.
• Look Up. The ceiling is one place sellers forget to look, but buyers will. Make sure the higher places are leak free, stain free, and spider web free. 
• Look Down. Hiring a good carpet cleaner is a small investment that will make a big impression.
• Not all buyers are pet owners or smokers. Try to remove any odors without masking them. A great smelling plant or ozone spray would work, along with carpet freshener.
• Create Curb appeal. Let the outside of your home invite prospects inside.
• Ask friends and family for opinions; could you see yourself living here, how do you think the house smells and looks. Get them to do a mock walk through with you. They may notice things that you have become accustomed to.
• Get excited and have fun. Creating a happy and relaxing atmosphere makes the entire experience an enjoyable one for you and the buyer.

Buying a home

• Understand your finances before you start looking for your home. Decide on a budget that is good for your needs, and remember future considerations.
• Get pre-approved for a mortgage; this will give you a clear idea of your financial situation.
• Be firm on what exactly you do and do not want in your house and community now and in the future. If you have children or may be thinking about having children in the future then local schools would be something you will want to look into.
• Get specific. Let the agent know any concerns you may have now or in the future. This is a business of communication. The more you talk about what you want and need, the easier it will be for the real estate agent to narrow down the list to your perfect home.
• Take notes. As you are looking, make sure to write down what you liked and didn’t like about the home and community. This will really help in the decision process. Include your Agent in your findings; this will help to further narrow down the list to your dream home.
• Get excited. You are buying a new home; this should be a fun and exciting experience for you. Whether you are looking at your first or tenth house, remember that the end result will be YOUR perfect home.