Seattle Collective

Someone asked what my Plan B is after this is done. To this, I say my plan is to find you a beautiful place to live, celebrate your joys, and share success with you. No Plan B for me, and here’s why….

One of the biggest challenges I have when discussing the listing process with sellers is explaining how much goes into preparing a home. Most sellers work extremely hard to prepare so that their house looks ready for a potential buyer. 99% of the houses I list need paint, deep cleaning, windows washed, furnaces serviced, and landscaping. That can add up, but rest assured, it promises to put your best foot forward so that the buyers can find no objections to writing it up.

While things seem uncertain, unexpected changes are facing us each day, the psychology of buyers and sellers is to get out there while they can. As a buyer, you are looking at competing. Here are some tips on how to weather the low inventory (read: No good houses) storm.

If you are like me, I look for anything I can to write off on my taxes when it comes to my home. I try to keep all of my receipts, consider my home office, and ask my accountant what can be counted as a write-off. It can be confusing, but I try to turn every stone. For those of you who own a home, here’s a friendly reminder of how it can benefit your tax return.

The days of needing to have 20% to purchase a home are no longer (yay!) However, it’s important to know that if you do not have the whole 20%, you will need to have PMI either built into your loan or purchased up front (boo!). As you think about buying, it’s important to discuss your options with your lender and consider all costs involved with obtaining a loan.

It may sound strange coming from a Realtor to share this, but I wanted to offer an alternative idea as you plan your next home. As an advisor, it’s my job to help you consider all options when making big financial decisions. Moving is expensive and often a challenging chapter in life. As you decide on your next steps, it’s important to look at your choices at all different angles. Below, here are a few questions to ask yourself before taking the leap.

Properly staging a home can be the key to attracting a quick offer when it’s time to sell. Here’s how to DIY your home staging so you have an eye-catching property for listing photos, showings, and open house events if professional staging isn’t part of the plan.

Yes, even in winter, your home can be present beautifully. It just takes a little sprucing up and prevention to show how lovely it is at any time.

When people think of curb appeal they envision lush green lawns, vibrant trees, and garden beds filled with blooms. Although these elements create an inviting space for potential buyers, they are near impossible to achieve in the dead of winter. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t create a great first impression for buyers. Implement these suggestions to boost your curb appeal this winter: