John Conley, Associate Broker

Feb 15

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John Conley, Associate Broker.

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BUYERS: DON’T DO THIS !!!!!!

Feb 10

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Top 3 Ways to Turn a Seller Off: Buyers, if you want a home’s seller to play ball, best practice is to avoid these 3 pitfalls:

1. Unjustified, extreme lowball offers: It’s no secret that buyers have the upper hand in many markets right now. (To be clear, I said ‘many’ – not ‘every’ – your agent can help you understand what the dynamics are in your market.) But let’s be realistic, here. No seller can afford to give away their home at a price far below what it’s worth on today’s market. Lowballing a seller at a price far below the recent sales prices of similar homes in the neighborhood on the ‘let’s-take-a-stab’ plan, is highly likely to turn them off. And that, in turn, will cause the seller to view your offer – and you – as disrespectful and wasteful of their time.

Not only will they turn down your offer, but they may not even bother with a counteroffer, rendering your efforts at securing that particular home dead in the water.

Buyers: Review the recent sale prices of similar homes in the neighborhood (aka “comps”) with your agent before you make your offer. Also, ask them to help you factor in other market data, like the average list price-to-sale price ratio and the average number of days neighborhood homes stay on the market. It’s all right to come in lower than asking, if the market data supports such an offer; just be sure your offer is based on reality – and not your fantastical hallucination about scoring the bargain of the millennium.

2. Buyer-side mortgage fails: Plenty of employed buyers with decent credit and cash in the bank have been turned down for a mortgage these past few years. That means buyers can’t assume (a) that they’ll be approved for the amount of loan they need to buy the house they want, or (b) that they’ll be approved for a loan at all. Your inability to get approved for a home loan can create all sorts of problems not just for you, but also for your home’s seller. The average seller’s worst case scenario is that they accept your offer only to find out a few weeks, or months, later that you can’t get the loan you need to close the deal.

Buyers: It’s not overkill to start working with a mortgage professional as far as six months or a year in advance of starting your house hunt to get pre-approved for a loan. Make sure you get a clear understanding of the amount you qualify for, then work with your real estate agent from there to determine the price range you should house hunt in. And whatever you do – don’t buy a new car, open new credit cards or even change your line of work before your escrow closes, unless you consult closely with your mortgage professional before you make that move.

Tip for Sellers: Work with your agent to vet buyers before you sign a contract. Factor in their down payment and earnest money deposit, and feel free to counteroffer these items, not just the offer price. It’s not overkill to have your agent contact the buyer’s mortgage broker to see how reliable the buyer’s pre-approval really is.

3. Bashing the seller’s home: Home bashing happens when buyers start bad-mouthing (aka “trash talking”) the place and/or the neighborhood in hopes of getting a lower asking price. Examples: pointing out all the foreclosures in the area, saying the house down the street just sold for much lower than the asking price on this house, saying you’ll need to rip out the entire kitchen before you even consider moving in – saying any of these things to a seller who happens to be at home during the showing or the inspection is probably one of the fastest ways to turn them all the way off.

Buyers: Bad-mouthing a house or neighborhood won’t work to get you a lower price. Instead, it only serves to irritate the seller and motivate them to come up with all sorts of reasons why they shouldn’t sell their home to you! Remember: homes hold incredible emotional experiences for owners. Make an offer you’re comfortable with and keep the negative comments to yourself.

If there are legitimate, factual reasons underlying your decision to make an offer at a price the seller might see as a lowball, ask your agent to respectfully communicate those facts to the seller’s agent.

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BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR HOME ON THE MARKET….

Feb 3

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Everyone has heard rumors of de-cluttering when it’s time to sell your home. But, what does that really mean? Before going hog wild and moving out… here’s a few of the most important things to consider removing before you list your home for sale.

1. Personal photos. I don’t always recommend removing photos of the ‘family’ but if you have hallways filled with photos or photos on every end table it is probably necessary. Buyers really DO get distracted by them. They will take them all in as they walk down the hall. Not only do they take away from the home, but it’s really disturbing when a buyer is excited to ‘know’ the sellers. And, the buyers do look at them.

2. Bills and personal papers. I understand that you cannot remove these document from the home all together, but please take the time to organize them, box them up and put them out of sight. If you have bills laying out on the counter or kitchen table it’s like an invitation for the buyers to ‘peek’ at them. Believe me – I discourage it – but it still happens. And as a seller you just don’t want to leave the temptation behind.

3. Money. I would love to say that every buyer (and Realtor) going through every home is honest, but I really don’t want to test those waters. If you have cash, cash boxes or coin jars sitting out in the open… put them away. It’s just better for everyone if it’s out of sight. As Realtors we do what we can to protect your home, but your help makes a difference!

4. Valuables. Jewelry, watches, valuable antiques…. anything that might be worth a bit of money that you wouldn’t want to lose. Out of sight, out of mind. If buyers don’t know they are there they won’t think about it. I can’t tell you how many homes I’ve been in where the jewelry is left on the dresser…. somehow it’s uncomfortable. At least put it away.

5. Guns and ammo. I don’t care if they are in a case or out laying around or under a bed. It’s better if you just plain old remove them from the home prior to listing. For some reason they make buyers (in my experience) feel really insecure.

6. Shoes! If you have a pile of shoes at the door… ask yourself why. A pile of shoes gives a buyer two impressions. The first? That there isn’t enough storage in your home. 2. That there are too many people living in the home. So, in order to avoid wondering on the part of the buyer… just put them away.

7. Medicine. Take it out. Don’t store it on the counter. Don’t store it in the cabinet. Don’t store it in the bathroom. Remove it. There have been many complaints over the years of potential buyers ‘stealing’ the medicine out of the cabinets. I have never had it happen on my time clock, but to avoid any trouble it’s best to simply remove it.

8. All things on your kitchen counter. Everything? Really? Yup. The cleaner you can leave the counter, the more buyers dream of being in there. Have you ever been in a cluttered kitchen? Does it feel inviting? How about a cleaned up kitchen? Does it make you wanna spend time there? Also, if you store things on the counter it gives the appearance that you do not have enough storage space.

9. No more junk drawers. Seriously. Clean ‘em out. There is nothing more tacky than a potential buyer opening the cupboards and drawers and having things sticking out everywhere. Box up all the notes, pens, tacks, and odds and ends and put them away. Chances are you don’t dig in the drawer often anyways.

10. Nothing but magnets…. and maybe not even that. Take a photo of your fridge, take everything off, wash the front (and side), and take another photo. It is really refreshing to walk into a home that has a clean fridge. The kids pictures are beautiful (believe me… my fridge is covered in them) but buyer’s can’t imagine their own children’s drawing on there if it is covered with yours. And, the magnets… If they aren’t decorative (and even then) they are generally more of a distraction to the room than a help. Consider it.

There are many more ways to declutter a home for sale… but these are some important things to consider. For more information on selling your home call me @ 918-916-9592, send me a    tweet @bestenidrealtor of drop me a note on Facebook.com/bestenidrealtor.

 

 

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Helpful Mobile Apps for House Hunters

Jan 27

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The once-funny statement that “there’s an app for that”  is now true much more often than not. With close to 1 million mobile apps available for download, it can be an overwhelming task to sort out the truly useful from those that are simply entertaining – not to mention those that are just plain silly.

So, I’ve done some homework for you! Here’s a short list of mobile apps I think you’ll find super useful for saving time, making smart decisions and keeping you organized while you’re hunting for your next home.
 1. Genius Scan What it does: Puts a document scanner in your pocket. Enables you to use your phone’s camera to take a picture of a document, then email it to anyone in PDF or JPEG format. Why it’s useful: Many real estate agents now use digital document signature software which allow you to sign with a click and, more importantly, without faxing documents back and forth. But some don’t – and some mortgage lenders will simply not accept anything but a copy or scan of your ‘wet ink’ signature. Throughout your transaction, you might find yourself needing to scan and email your contract documents with your original signature, a copy of your deposit check, new payroll check stubs as you receive them, your driver’s license, a gift letter from your Auntie Grace or any of a number of other documents you’ll need to get to your agent or mortgage pro across town – or across the country. Having the ability to scan documents and checks and email them right from your phone can save you a lot of time and hassle – not to mention gas and cash. Works with: iOS Price: Free Android Alternative: Document Scanner (Free 7-day trial/$3.98 for full version.)
 2. Dictionary of Real Estate Terms What it does: Translates the vast universe of real estate jargon and acronyms into plain English, putting a decoder at your fingertips for easy reference any time you need it during your house hunt or transaction. The Dictionary includes over 3,000 real estate terms, charts and graphs. You can save your searches and email terms to others. Your phone does not have to be connected to the Internet to use the Dictionary, which can be useful if you need to look up a term on an inspection or appraisal report while you’re in a home or office where you don’t have a great connection. Why it’s useful: I can guarantee few things in life, but one thing I do feel comfortable assuring you is that home buying will expose you to terms you have never heard before. You need to know what the terms used in your inspection, disclosure, contract and loan documents mean, and sometimes looking them up is the best way to do that. Works with: iOS and Android Price: $1.99 (iOS) and 99 cents (Android) 3. House Hunter What it does: Helps you organize your house-hunting notes and priorities so you can more easily remember and compare the homes you’ve seen. The app also helps you evaluate the homes you’ve seen by providing a scorecard that weighs features against what you’ve identified as requirements and priorities. It includes a mortgage calculator, photo storage, and a feature that allows you to share your notes with your agent, among other bells and whistles. Why it’s useful: After you see about five houses, they can all blend together. This app helps you keep it all straight, while also keeping you mindful of what your original priorities were and how the homes you see measure up against them. Works with: iOSPrice: $3.99
 4. SpringPad What it does: Helps you keep track of any and every thing you want to remember in a digital notebook you can access from anywhere, on any device. You can:
  • scan barcodes of home furnishings, appliances and other items you want to buy after you move;
  • save ideas, property addresses, online clippings from design and news sites, photos from decor mags and to do lists from your mortgage broker;
  • categorize all these things – and more – by house hunt, mortgage and escrow, moving, and decorating; and
  • set reminders, share your notes with your agent or even get an email alert when the duvet you want goes on sale.
All without a single scrap of paper! Why it’s useful: Empowers you to organize the hundreds of elements of your home buying adventure into a single spot and access it wherever you are – without carrying a bulky, messy binder or folder around. Works with: iOS and Android Price: Free
 5. ColorSnap What it does: Allows you to take a picture with your phone’s camera from anything in the world that inspires you, then discover the corresponding Sherwin-Williams paint color. Why it’s useful: If you see a wall color you love in a home you, well, don’t like too much otherwise, you can capture the color and replicate that once you do find your dream home. Same goes for if you come across any other item in a color you love and would like to incorporate into your design scheme. Works with: iOS and Android Price: Free
 6. Karl’s Mortgage Calculator What it does: Calculates mortgage payments using the principal loan amount, interest and term (and can solve for any of these if you input the other three variables). This app also gives you a more precise idea of what your total monthly expenses will be on a given home by factoring in line items other calculators leave out, like mortgage insurance, homeowners association dues, property taxes and homeowners’ insurance. You can also see what kind of savings you might be able to achieve – and how early you can pay your mortgage off – by running scenarios that add in extra loan payments. Why it’s useful: Having this mortgage calculator handy during your house-hunting adventures will enable you to quickly calculate how a given increase in your offer price will change your monthly payment. Works with: Android Price: Free iOS alternative: Mortgage Calculator Pro (99 cents)
7. Trulia Real Estate App What it does: SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT. Seriously, no mobile app list for home buyers would be complete without the Trulia app. It uses your phone’s GPS function to serve you up nearby listings and their details if you happen to find yourself in a neighborhood you love, or in front of a home with a for sale sign – but no flyers! The Trulia app also finds the banks, restaurants and gas stations near any given listing, and can even create instant heat maps showing neighborhood differences in prices. Why it’s useful: You may find that you like a particular neighborhood, but not the individual home you came to see. Or you might visit a friend and fall in love with their street, but have no idea what homes in the area go for. Having an easy-to-use mobile app that helps you discover more nearby homes for sale, wherever you are, is actually quite indispensable. It eliminates the need to scrawl down numbers on scraps of paper or squint to see the faded numbers on the curb then wait until you’re in front of the computer to try to match an online listing to a real-world house. Works with: iOS and AndroidPrice: Free Brokers, agents, buyers and sellers: What real estate-related apps do you find indispensable?

 

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An Easy Formula to pay off your debts!!!

Jan 25

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In order to start saving more and increasing your wealth, you must first begin to pay off the debts you have incurred that are inhibiting your advancement.  Many people have made the mistake of trying to tackle all their debt at once, which quickly leads to discouragement.  And here’s why.

There is nothing motivating about taking huge strides to pay off debt, but never fully realize the impact that it’s having on your bottom line.  If you stash away a few extra dollars towards each debt you have incurred without really keeping track of your progress or celebrating the little victories, you will very quickly experience burnout.

Therefore, your best bet is to first sit down and take the time to list out all of your current debts from credit cards to car loans.  Record the total debt amount along with the current minimum monthly payment on each account.

Next, choose the lowest debt and start to pay a little extra towards this one debt while paying the minimums on the others.  Choose an amount that will stretch you but is still within your means.  Once this debt has been paid off, you can then move on to your next lowest amount and apply the extra payment plus the monthly minimum of your old debt.

Continue this process until all your debts have been paid.  Be sure to celebrate along the way and keep track of your progress.  Over time you can then begin to apply your old debt payments towards a savings/investment account of your choice.

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Get The BEST PRICE on your next home purchase!

Jan 18

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One of the most important aspects to buying a home is to ensure that you purchase for a fair price.  Since there are certain key steps that you must follow in order to make a sound decision, it pays to have a knowledgeable Realtor on your side who will be able to help obtain the best and most realistic asking price for a property.

Determining Market Comparables

For example, one of the first ways that your agent will discover the price of a home is by researching local market comparables.  In most cases, they will be able to bring up a list of properties sold over the last 6 months within a 1 mile radius.  Properties should also not be bigger than 20% of the subject size.

Additional features to consider would be the neighborhood each home resides in, structural differences, bedrooms and bathrooms, overall condition and other amenities such as a pool, a/c, or garage.  Other factors, such as if a particular home sold for much lower due to foreclosure is something your agent can uncover as well.

Houses That Have Not Sold

Next, many homes could be on the MLS for 6 months or longer without ever selling.  Others that are comparable could have been taken off the market after not getting enough offers or being listed for too high.  This is valuable information, because you may be able to get a particular property for a substantial discount or it may not even be worth pursuing.

Neighborhood Reputation & Appreciation

When it comes to buying a house, this is one of the most important reasons to work with a Realtor.  Since your agent will have a familiarity with various local market trends and statistics, you will be able to learn what makes a particular neighborhood desirable and also which areas to avoid.

A lot of things can affect a home’s value such as the school district, crime levels, or even other properties located nearby (such as those burnt in a fire or properties that were a bank sale).  In fact, sometimes these factors can even differ from block to block!

Your agent will also help you to assess the appreciation rates for various neighborhoods and future development plans that could affect home prices, so that you can get a decent indication of what to expect down the road.  This can be extremely valuable information dependent on how long you plan to live at the said property and the length of time the home may need to sit on the market.

Appraisals & Inspections

After you place an offer on a property, you will have the opportunity to get an appraisal and home inspection as further due diligence.  Even with an agent, there are sometimes issues that may arise with a property that could affect the home’s value that you were not even aware of.

Some of these problems could include structural issues, plumbing or electrical, termites or insects, mold or even water damage to name a few.  Obviously many of these things could impact the price significantly and would either have to be fixed by the seller or renegotiated to get a fair price.

In conclusion, there are a lot of areas to consider when choosing a home and getting a fair price on a property.  Since this is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make, it is crucial that you protect your interests and ensure that you are getting the best deal possible.

In order to get started researching homes in our local area, contact ME right away using the information located above.  I look forward to serving you as you search for your next future home!

 

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United Country’s EXCLUSIVE Marketing Strategy Guarantee

Jan 7

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As a United Country Lippard Winkeljohn LLC, professional, I work for you. You can depend on me to put your needs first. I will unique marketing system to provide you with exceptional service and superior results.When you select me to market your home, I guarantee to perform the services that we have agreed upon, as part of an Exclusive Right To Sell Agreement, to your personal satisfaction or you may cancel our agreement with 24 hours written notice.

Marketing Plan

Prepare a written, custom tailored marketing approach which targets specific buyers to achieve maximum exposure. Which includes traditional print media and a picture of your property in the Sunday newspaper each week until your property sells, as well as, FULL INTERNET INTEGRATION and SOCIAL MEDIA websites,My Real Estate Blog and create an individual website for your property that will feed major third party listing websites (Truilia, Oodle, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, RealBird, etc.). I will also make a video of your home and photograph it using professional camera equipment.

 

Property Analysis

•Recommend reasonable, cost-effective enhancements to maximize your home’s appeal. Suggest action steps which showcase your home’s assets and enable potential buyers to visualize living there.

 

 Broker Promotion

•Invite cooperating real estate professionals to a planned preview of your property and ensure complete exposure through the Enid Metro Realtors Multiple Listing Service.

•Promote your home’s assets at sales meetings.

Property Promotion

•Place our distinctive United Country yard sign on your property.

•Develop comprehensive “feature and benefit” marketing materials for distribution to both local and transferring prospective buyers, as well as real estate sales professionals.

•Develop ads, fliers, and other promotional materials.

Realistic Pricing Analysis

•Help you establish a realistic, competitive asking price based on current, factual market activity.

•Monitor the competitive Pricing position of your home by:

◦Viewing and comparing new listings which compete for the buyers we have targeted.

◦Preparing a survey to solicit candid feedback at the Sales Associate’s preview of your home.

Regular Updates

•Analyze the results of our marketing activities, regularly update our marketing strategies, and share the analysis and adjusted plan with you on a regular basis.

Pre-Qualify Prospects

As the sole remedy for breach of promises under this guarantee, seller is entitled to terminate the Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement provided Broker is given 24 hours written notice of the reasons for termination and an opportunity to cure the default during the notice period. Such cancellation shall terminate all obligations under this guarantee excepting Seller’s obligation to pay commission to Broker and cooperating broker for prospective purchasers registered with Seller who subsequently purchase the property.

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Before you BUY or SELL, WATCH THIS!!!!

Jan 4

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Whether you are considering a purchase or are trying to decide to sell your home yourself, give me a call TODAY if you have a question you need answered. I am here to help. It’s what I do. Also, take a look at my Facebook page BESTENIDREALTOR for some great tips and be sure to LIKE it!

 

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What To Do? Decisions, Decisions….

Home ownership is sometimes a very elusive thing. A young family looking to own their first home, struggles to get the money together for the down payment and tries to figure out if it is all worth it. Doubt can be an aweful thing to contend with like “Am I doing the right thing and I don’t really understand all this real estate jargon. I hope we can find just the right home for us and not have to… settle for something less just to buy something. Will I qualify with the bank?” These doubts and questions are just the kinds of issues that I deal with on a daily basis. I am confident that I’ll be able to guide and help those that are willing to start a new journey for their family. In as much as there are loans that require very little money for down payments and closing costs, BUYING a HOME is now within reach for most people. Call me today for the details and be assured that there’s no pressure, no hassles just honest conversation to help you decide after hearing the facts, if paying the bank is better than paying your landlord’s mortgage. 918-916-9592 or jrconley@att.net.
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HOW EASY IS THIS? NO MORE RENTING…

Some guy is thinking: I can buy a home for less than rent, I need no money down, the seller can pay the closing costs, the rates are great & I get a ton of tax benefits and I’ll own my own home…..but I’m STILL not sure if I should buy? You MUST be kidding right?!!

IF there was a way that you could buy a home for NO MONEY DOWN and you could roll the closing costs over into the loan, would you still want to pay rent? Well there is! Call me or message me and I’ll share the details with you. My number is 918-916-9592. What are your thoughts?

¿SI hubiera una manera que usted podría comprar un hogar para NINGÚN DINERO ABAJO y usted podría rodar los costes cerrados encima en el préstamo, usted sin embargo querría pagar alquiler? ¡El pozo allí es! Llámeme o el mensaje yo y yo compartirá los detalles con usted. Mi número es 918-916-9592. ¿Cuáles son sus pensamientos?

 

 

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