To find out how much money you'll net from your house, add up your closing costs and subtract them from the sale price of the house. Use our calculator to find your net sale price
Register Today!
Create an account at Burns and Company and you can Save Listings that you like with just one click! and join our newsletter to receive occasional updates via email.
Register for a free account! »
Featured Listings:
$399,000
5
5
0
4812 sqft.
Corner wooded lot in White Oak Landing. This large house has cathedral ceilings in the great room. Master suite with...
$995,000
2
2
0
3598 sqft.
On the lake in the prestigious \"Links\". This steel constructed home has fifteen-foot ceilings, all slate...
$1,595,000
4
3
1
5927 sqft.
A Hays Town Architect Dan Stari Contractor makes for a very special home inundated with character, charm, and quality...
$629,000
4
3
1
5432 sqft.
Exquisite home on over 3 acres in Zachary School District. Beautiful French Creole design, Select Antique Heart of Pine...
What's new at Burns & Company
August 26, 2009 | Selling
Advertising Yard signs and key boxes. Post signs within 24 hours of acquiring the listing, especially if the property is located on a street with good traffic. TIP: Use no more than five large words on a sign. You have only four to seven seconds to get your message across as drivers drive by. Classified advertising. Classified ads are a way to attract and partially...
August 26, 2009 | Selling
- Compare the home to comparable ones on the market and identify its unique and most desirable features. Why would a buyer want this home more than other homes in the same price range?
- Take snapshots of the home's best features, and use them as a starting point for your marketing approach. Make sure they are posted on the MLS System.
- Ask you, the seller, what made you decide to purchase the home, and use that...
August 26, 2009 | Selling
The closing date. See if the date the buyer wants to take title is reasonable for you.
Date of possession. See if the date the buyer wants to move in is reasonable for you.
The earnest money. Look for the largest earnest money deposit possible; since it is forfeited if the buyer backs out, a large deposit is usually a good indication of a sincere buyer.
Fixtures and personal property. Check the list of items that the...
August 26, 2009 | Selling
Unless the buyer who makes an offer on your home has the resources to qualify for a mortgage, you may not really have a sale. If possible, try to determine a buyer's financial status before signing the contract. Ask:
- If the buyer has been prequalified or preapproved (better) for a mortgage. Such buyers will be in a much better position to obtain a mortgage promptly.
- Does the buyer have enough money to make a...
August 26, 2009 | Selling
Get estimates from a reliable repairperson on items that need to be replaced soon, a roof or worn carpeting, for example. In this way, buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs.
Have a termite inspection to prove to buyers that the property is not infested.
Get a pre-sale home inspection so you'll be able to make repairs before buyers become concerned and cancel a contract.
...
August 26, 2009 | Selling
Property Disclosure Form: This form requires you to reveal all known defects to your property. Check with your state government to see if there is a special form required in your state.
Purchasers Access to Premises Agreement: This agreement sets conditions for permitting the buyer to enter your home for activities such as measuring for draperies before you move.
Sales Contract: The agreement between you and the seller on...
August 26, 2009 | Selling
It's important to understand what legal responsibilities your real estate salesperson has to you and to other parties in the transactions. Ask your salesperson to explain what type of agency relationship you have with him or her and with the brokerage company.
Seller's representative (also known as a listing agent or seller's agent). A seller's agent is hired by and represents the seller. All fiduciary duties are owed to the seller...
August 26, 2009 | Selling
How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate, like many other professions, is mostly learned on the job.
What designations do you hold? Designations such as GRI and CRS, which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training, are held by only about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.
How many homes did you...
August 26, 2009 | Selling
A real estate transaction is complicated. In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. A knowledgeable guide through this complexity can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes.
Selling or buying a home is time consuming. Even in a strong market, homes in our area stay on the market for...
August 26, 2009 | Selling
The answers to these questions will help you decide:
How much equity do you have in your home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don't build up much equity in the first few years of paying a mortgage, but if you've owned your home for a number of years, you may have significant unrealized gains.
Has your income increased enough to cover the extra mortgage costs and the costs...
August 26, 2009 | Selling
Consider comparables. What have other homes in your neighborhood sold for recently? How do they compare to yours in terms of size, upkeep, and amenities?
Consider competition. How many other houses are for sale in your area? Are you competing against new homes?
Consider your contingencies. Do you have special concerns that would affect the price you'll receive? For example, do you want to be able to move in four months?
...
August 26, 2009 | Selling
It's an objective opinion of value, but it's not an exact science so appraisals may differ.
For buying and selling purposes, appraisals are usually based on market value: what the property could probably be sold for. Other types of value include insurance value, replacement value, and assessed value for property tax purposes.
Appraised value is not a constant number. Changes in market conditions can dramatically alter...
August 25, 2009 | Selling
- Trim bushes so they don't block windows and cut down on light.
- Buy a new doormat.
- Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.
- Put new doorknobs on your front door.
- Put a fresh coating on your driveway.
- Edge the grass around walks and trees.
- Keep your garden tools out of site.
- Be sure kids put away their toys.
- Buy a new...
August 25, 2009 | Selling
- Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.
- Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
- Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean...
August 25, 2009 | Selling
- Price it right. Set a realistic price.
- Begin to get your house market ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it. Try to see it thru a buyers eye.
- Be flexible about showings. It's often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you'll find a seller.
- Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and...
