Common Questions

1. What’s the difference between an appraisal and an assessment?

   An appraisal evaluates your home for its market value – it’s something you or the buyer will need to pay for and is performed to ensure that the property’s appraised value is in line with its purchase price. By comparison, an assessment is something done by your local or county property tax assessor, to determine the value of your property on the tax rolls. Your assessment may not reflect recent improvements you’ve made to your home, in which case you may want to have an appraisal done to reflect the current value.

2. What happens if I want to cancel my listing?

   If for some reason you’re not happy with your listing, we’re more than happy to work with you to determine the problem. We offer a standard 90-day contract in most cases to help retain flexibility as we assist our clients.

3. I’m moving in from out of state – can you help me find a good home?

   Absolutely! We work with a number of databases and can help you find a home based on general style, square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, specific features and many other options. Contact us for more details.

4. I’ve had two very different prices for my home – which one is right?

   You’ve got a few different options to consider in this case. Is there a particular reason why one or the other seems off? If you’re not sure which one is off, you can consult another realtor or have an appraisal done to determine the best figure.

5. Is a home inspection really necessary?

   Homes, like cars, require maintenance. You don’t want to purchase a home and then realize that the roof, electrical service or plumbing needs to be replaced after the closing is done. A home inspection helps protect you from those situations and gives you a negotiating point for repairs to be completed before or after closing.

6. I need my home to sell quickly, can you help me stage it?

   Unfortunately, we focus on the realty side of the business, but can put you in contact with several excellent home decorators.

7. I’ve never bought a home before. Where do I start?

   Congratulations! Investing in a home is a great way to invest in your future. Consider your budget and credit – how much home can you afford? Think about personal style and what that means for the type of home you want. Are you growing your family? Consider future needs. Once you know what you need and what you want, contact us and we’ll help you find your new home.

8. I’m getting ready to retire and move out of state. What home improvements will yield the most benefit?

   Though it’s hard to determine exactly what the market will do, there are some improvements that regularly pay off. Kitchen and bath improvements often have good benefit. Improving any aging systems, such as electrical, plumbing, roofing or HVAC also pays off in the long run.

9. I want a great house and heard purchasing a foreclosure at auction is a great way to do so. What are the risks?

   Unless you’re a lawyer, you’ll want to work with a realtor. The home may have been illegally foreclosed, could have significant damage or otherwise turn into a bad investment.

10. What if there are problems with the closing?

    The process of buying or selling a home is stressful and closing problems sometimes occur. Entering a closing with deadlines for specific actions and knowing what happens to earnest money if problems arise can help protect you, as can having an experienced buyer’s agent.

11. Can I save money buying a home without hiring a buyer’s agent?

    You can save a little money or spend much, much more. Working without an agent is like representing yourself in court – okay for small things, but not for as large a purchase as a home. A realtor makes sure everything goes smoothly.

12. What if I have other questions about the sale or purchase process?

    Contact us! We’ve helped thousands of home owners over the years and we’d be delighted to help you.