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7 Steps to Preparing for an Open House
  1. Hire a cleaning service. A spotlessly clean home is essential; dirt will turn off a prospect faster than anything.
  2. Mow your lawn, and be sure toys and yard equipment are put away.
  3. Serve cookies, coffee, and soft drinks. It creates a welcoming touch. But be sure the kitchen has been cleaned up; use disposable cups so the sink doesn't fill up.
  4. Lock up your valuables, jewelry, and money. Although the real estate salesperson will be on site during the open house, it's impossible to watch everyone all the time.
  5. Turn on all the lights. Even in the daytime, incandescent lights add sparkle.
  6. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that's not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (a basement or bath), and let the salesperson know where to find them.
  7. Leave. It's awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.
 
 
 

Moving Tips for Sellers

  1. Give your forwarding address to the post office, usually two to four weeks ahead of the move.
  2. Notify your credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of the change of address.
  3. Develop a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified of the move.
  4. Arrange to have utilities disconnected at your old home and connected at your new one.
  5. Cancel the newspaper.
  6. Check insurance coverage for moved items. Usually movers only cover what they pack.
  7. Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.
  8. Note the weight of the goods you'll have moved, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to weight. Watch for movers that use excessive padding to add weight.
  9. Check with your condo or co-op about restrictions on using the elevator or particular exits.
  10. Have a “first open” box with the things you'll need most—toilet paper, soap, trash bags, scissors, hammer, screwdriver, pencils and paper, cups and plates, water, snacks, and toothpaste.

Plus, if you're moving out of town:

  1. Get copies of medical and dental records and prescriptions for your family and your pets.
  2. Get copies of children's school records for transfer.
  3. Ask friends for introductions to anyone they know in your new neighborhood.
  4. Consider special car needs for pets when traveling.
  5. Let a friend or relative know your route.
  6. Carry traveler's checks or an ATM card for ready cash until you can open a bank account.
  7. Empty your safety deposit box.
  8. Put plants in boxes with holes for air circulation if you're moving in cold weather.
 
 
 

10 Ways to Make Your House More Sellable

  1. 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.
  2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
  3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.
  4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.
  5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.
  6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they'll give buyers the impression that the house isn't well maintained.
  7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.
  8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
  9. Clean your gutters.
  10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.
 
   
 
 
10 Steps to Prepare for Homeownership
  1. Decide how much home you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.
  2. Develop a wish list of what you'd like your home to have. Then prioritize the features on your list.
  3. Select three or four neighborhoods you'd like to live in. Consider items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.
  4. Determine if you have enough saved to cover your down payment and closing costs. Closing costs, including taxes, attorney's fee, and transfer fees average between 2 percent and 7 percent of the home price.
  5. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report.
  6. Determine how large a mortgage you can qualify for. Also explore different loans options and decide what's best for you.
  7. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to pre-approve you for a loan.
  8. Do research to determine if you qualify for any special mortgage or down payment-assistance programs.
  9. Calculate the costs of homeownership, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and association fees, if applicable.
  10. Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help you through the process.
 
 
 

10 Things a Lender Needs From You

  1. W-2 forms or business tax return forms if you're self-employed for the last two or three years for every person signing the loan.
  2. Copies of one or more months of pay stubs from every person signing the loan.
  3. Copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements for both checking and savings accounts.
  4. Copies of personal tax forms for the last two to three years.
  5. Copies of brokerage account statements for two to four months, as well as a list of any other major assets of value, e.g., a boat, RV, or stocks or bonds not held in a brokerage account.
  6. Copies of your most recent 401(k) or other retirement account statement.
  7. Documentation to verify additional income, such as child support, pension, etc.
  8. Account numbers of all your credit cards and the amounts of any outstanding balances.
  9. Lender, loan number, and amount owed on other installment loans—student loans, car loans, etc.
  10. Addresses where you lived for the last five to seven years, with names of landlords, if appropriate
 
 
   
 
 

5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score

Credit scores range between 200 and 800. Scores above 620 are considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. These factors will affect your score.

  1. Your payment history. Whether you paid credit card obligations on time.
  2. How much you owe. Owing a great deal of money on numerous accounts can indicate that you are overextended.
  3. The length of your credit history. In general, the longer the better.
  4. How much new credit you have. New credit, either installment payments or new credit cards, are considered more risky, even if you pay promptly.
  5. The types of credit you use. Generally, it's desirable to have more than one type of credit—installment loans, credit cards, and a mortgage, for example.

For more on evaluating and understanding your credit score, go to http://www.myfico.com .

  
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