Blog - Month: March 2019
Month: March 2019
Four Tips for Your Next Move
You just bought a house! Now, are you packed yet? Many people will start packing their belongings as soon as they know they are ready to sell their homes, but whether you’re ahead of the game or are just starting to prepare your belongings for the big move, there are plenty of time-tested packing tricks to help make sure your move goes smoothly. Here are our four packing tips to help you get ready to move into your new home! Don’t Pack These Essentials It’s easy to get a little packing-happy when you’re ready to move, but there are a few items that you should never package up with the rest of your belongings. Make sure you’re setting these essential items aside, so you have easy access when you need them. 1. Toiletries and Medication 2. Important Documents (i.e. social security card or financial information) 3. Cleaning Supplies 4. Bathroom Essentials (i.e. a shower curtain and toilet seat) 5. Phone and Laptop Chargers 6. Pet Toys and Bedding 7. Wine Make a “For Sale” Pile While you’re cleaning out your closet, attic or basement, you’ll probably find some valuable items you don’t really want or need anymore. Put them into their own pile and set aside a specific day you can start creating some online
How to Write a Winning Home Listing in Cleveland, OH
There are around five million homes sold each year in the United States since 2014. That’s a lot of competition for home sellers who want to put their property on the market. With so much competition and a hot housing market going into 2019, it’s more important than ever to create listings that stand out to homebuyers. For the more successful listings in the greater Cleveland, OH area, check out these three tips for creating impactful property descriptions. Be Exact and Honest The first step to writing a successful listing is being as specific as possible without too many embellishments. You don’t need to get too creative to write with impact! Make sure you’ve included key details like square footage and room count, and don’t feel the need to exaggerate. Here’s an example… Don’t write, “a cozy house that’s great for young buyers. Stunning front yard and great curb appeal!!” Write instead, “a charming, 900 square foot home with one bedroom and one bath. Lovely small garden out front with a red Japanese Maple tree.” Highlight Unique Features and History Every home has some unique properties. Try to find yours! Sometimes, this can be as simple as getting specific with your property description. Look at the “Write instead” sample above. See how there’s information about the Japanese Maple tree in the front yard? That’s all it
Four Tips to Improve Your Credit Score Before Applying for a Mortgage
You probably know that credit history is one of the key deciding factors for getting a good mortgage. Building good credit takes time and good habits, and nothing will improve your credit score like careful financial management over time. However, if you’re looking to bump you score by a few points before applying for a mortgage this year, there are a few steps you can take to improve your credit to try and get a better rate or bigger dollar amount. While there’s no substitute for good financial habits, here are a few tips to bump up your credit score quickly: Look for Credit Mistakes Credit reports aren’t always correct, and it’s a good idea to review your credit report to see if there’s any incorrect information. Some reports have estimated that nearly 20 percent of Americans have some error in their credit history, and five percent of consumers have credit errors that resulted in unfavorable loans. Run a free credit check from a major credit bureau like Experian or Equifax at least once before you apply for a mortgage. If you find a mistake, you can contact that credit bureau directly to correct the error. Corrected errors can help improve your credit in about two months. Pay Down Your Debts Credit utilization is one of the biggest chunks of your credit score, and the more available credit you have the better. For revolving credit like credit cards, your goal should be to get your utilization percentage