When someone wins an Academy Award, don’t we expect more from him or her in the future? Why? Because the Award defines their abilities in some way, and here is where they’re relevant to your Brandon MS home for sale. Just like the Awards, our homes seem to define us in some strange way.

Think about it. When you see a large home with manicured lawns, lighted pathways and a pool, don’t you automatically assume the owners have money? They’ve won the “dream home” award.

Likewise, if you see a home with a scraggly lawn and a bad paint job, you may assume the opposite. In other words, it doesn’t automatically occur to us that the people with the manicured home may just be good at money management or that the owners of the scraggly lawn home may make plenty of money but not manage it well.

We, as human beings, are good at judging a book by its cover. We assume certain things based on what we see, not reality. So what does the home you’re selling say about you? What will it say about the buyer? Would it win the dream home award?

Looking At Your Home with New Eyes
When preparing your home to sell, it’s important to look at the home you’ve lived in for years with new eyes.  Because you’re used to the cracks in the sidewalk, peeling paint or missing shingles, you probably don’t even notice it any more.

Potential buyers, however, are looking for Academy Award winners. Little things, such as unwashed windows, really can make all the difference. Trees with dead branches, lawns that haven’t been mowed, numbers falling off of mailboxes – all of these things may seem small, but they can quickly lose a sale.

Buyers see the outside of a Brandon MS home for sale and have certain expectations of what the inside will look like. If the inside and outside don’t match, you have work to do. Don’t let the home you’re selling wallow on the market. If it’s been sitting on the selling block for months without a peep, it’s time to see what you can do about turning it into a dream home award winner!

If you’re ready to sell your home, I can help. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com today for more information.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com 
Paula@PaulaRicks.com 
Call direct:  601-942-3392

1. Resolve to look over the competition. Not just one or two of the Brandon MS homes for sale, but ten or eleven. Look at them with the buyer’s mindset. What selling points do they have? What negative points do they have? Your goal should be to outshine the competition. You can’t do that if you don’t know what the competition is.

2. Resolve to do a little home improvement. These don’t have to be big projects. Your project could be as simple as adding a few bushes for better curb appeal. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or a huge amount of time for the home improvement to count. What you do have to do, however, is make the improvement count. In other words, don’t forget to walk buyers past whatever you’ve decided to do, or tell your real estate agent about it.

3. Resolve to check with your agent about the state of your home. Not when they think it will sell, but what you can do to up the value. Remember, “value” is a relative term. Upping the value for buyers may be as simple as cutting $5,000 off your price.

4. Resolve to be calm if a buyer suggests a lower price than you want. Consider the options fully – don’t just snap his or her nose off. Can you afford to let the house go at the offered price? If you can and still want to say no, think about it… how long did it take to get this potential buyer? Can you afford to wait longer?

If you have one of the Brandon MS homes for sale, keep in mind that it’s just one of the homes for sale. You have an amazing amount of competition; not just here, but around the nation. Take a chance to do something a little different. Your New Years may turn out to be even happier than you expected!

If you’re looking for unique ways to sell your home, I can help. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com for more information.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct:  601-942-3392

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, home sales have risen five months in a row. Great news for everyone currently in the Brandon MS real estate market. Why are they rising? A few reasons:

• Mortgage interest rates are at an all time low.
• Home prices are dropping to become more affordable.
• Buyers have a large selection to choose from, which encourages buyers that might otherwise have held out.
• First time buyers are rushing to buy before the $8,000 tax credit ends, which means closing the deal before November of this year.

Here are a few tips to help you get your Brandon MS real estate sold before the year is up:

• Pricing – The key for most homebuyers seems to be the price. In fact, lower priced homes are selling the fastest. Go over your pricing with your Brandon MS real estate agent. Discuss whether you can afford to drop your home price, and if so, by how much.
• Valuation – A major reason for some of the sales falling through is because appraisals were performed by home appraisers outside of the area. Unfortunately, many of them appraised homes lower than the price the buyers and sellers had negotiated. Because of this, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae push for appraisals to be done by home appraisers in the local area and appraisers who are more experienced with the local area’s housing trends and market. So, when it’s time to have your house evaluated, choose someone in your area, and ask that the buyer does the same.
• Competition – Because there is so much competition, it’s always a good idea to take one last look at your home. Take your real estate agent with you and go over the home with a fine-toothed comb. What can you do to up the value? What can you do to make it more appealing?

Lastly, don’t give up hope! You have a great house to sell and buyers are looking. Do your best, listen to your agent and stay relaxed.

If you’re ready to sell your home, I can help. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com now for more information.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct:  601-942-3392

1.  How much rent can you charge?  Your rent will need to cover the costs, including mortgage, taxes and insurance.  In addition, you’ll need liability insurance, as well as an additional 5 to 10 percent for unexpected maintenance.  If your area’s typical rent amounts won’t cover your costs, you probably don’t want to rent.

2.  Do you have other ways to cover a down payment?  If you’re moving to another piece of property, but relying on the equity in your current Brandon MS real estate for the down payment, you don’t want to rent.

3.  Do you have the time?  Being a landlord means extra responsibility.  Although it may not take a lot of time, that time can be inconvenient, especially if you have a full time job.  If you can’t picture yourself getting up at odd hours of the night to meet a plumber, you probably don’t want to rent.

4.  Can you afford to give up a tax break?  The capital-gains tax exemption is one of the benefits of owning a home.  If you keep the property for five years and live in it for two, you won’t have to pay taxes on the first $250,000.  However, if you rent for more than three years before selling, you’ll owe capital-gains taxes on all of the profit.  If you can’t afford to give up the tax break, you probably don’t want to rent.

5.  Can you handle wear and tear?  Not every renter will be careful with your beautiful French windows and teardrop chandeliers.  In addition, if your property has a lot of rooms it will probably attract families with kids.  If you can’t handle the wear and tear from different renters, you probably don’t want to rent.

Renting out Brandon MS real estate isn’t for everyone.  However, if you’re trying to sell your property and having problems finding a buyer, it is something to consider. 

If you’re trying to decide if you want to sell your home or rent it, I can help.  Call me today at 601-942-3392 or contact me at Paula@PaulaRick.com for more information.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct:  601-942-3392