What is a Home Warranty? A home warranty covers things that your standard homeowner’s insurance policy will not cover. Smart buyers and sellers can look to home warranties as a hedge against unexpected, and often expensive, repairs. A seller can purchase a 6-month warranty for $350-$500. When the house is sold (within that 6-month period) …
Contrary to popular believe, major remodeling projects are not always a good investment. That’s not to say making improvements won’t increase the value of your home. However, it’s important to know there is a difference between cost and value. This is one of the most common misunderstandings in real estate. People want believe that they’ll always …
Cost vs Value: Market Value When purchasing a home, it’s important to understand the difference between cost vs value in real estate. In other words, asking price doesn’t determine market value. The best way to illustrate my point is with an example like this: Buyer #1 pays $350,000 for a house that was listed for …
You’ve done your research to find the perfect house, diligently picking the right school district and a neighborhood that’s relatively close to work, etc. You’ve finally found the perfect home, and your offer has been accepted…now what? The next step in your due diligence process is hiring a home inspector to inspect the home. A …
When it comes to real estate negotiation, be careful what you say and to whom you say it. If you’ve ever watched the TV show COPS, then you’ve certainly heard the police reading someone their Miranda Rights: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you…”. Why …
How Successful Are ‘For Sale By Owner’ Sellers? If you’re thinking about selling your house, you may ask yourself: “How successful are ‘For Sale By Owner’ Sellers? Could I sell my house myself and save the commission?” If that’s you, here’s some information you may find interesting: According to The National Association of Realtors’ annual …
Imagine that you’ve found the perfect house. Congratulations! However, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll be living in your favorite house. There are simple things home buyers do that can ultimately cause them to miss out on their dream home. Do you want to see someone else living in your favorite house? Here are 4 common …
It’s that time of year. The weather is starting to break and people are spending their tax returns like free money. You know what that means…remodeling season has arrived! I was reminded of this last weekend during a trip to The Home Depot. For those who don’t already know, The Home Depot in Merriam is my …
How Accurate is Zestimate in Kansas City? Many people spend a lot of time on Zillow. But most don’t realize how inaccurate and outdated much of the information on Zillow can be. For buyers, finding houses that are already sold is frustrating. For sellers, seeing wildly inaccurate value estimates, or Zestimates, can be misleading. How accurate are …
As a resident of Cunningham Highlands in Overland Park, I like to keep my neighbors informed about real estate in the neighborhood. My wife and I bought a fixer-upper on Hardy Street in June of 2013 and moved in shortly thereafter. There’s a very neighborly feel here, and it’s a great, centrally-located neighborhood. Upon our arrival, the …