How Much Below Asking Price Can You Offer on a House?
With homes sitting on the market a little longer these days, one question I'm hearing more often is, "How much below asking price can I offer without insulting the seller?"
The short answer is that there's no set percentage. You can offer 5%, 10%, or even 20% below asking price, but that doesn't necessarily mean the seller will consider it. The right o...
Should I Buy a Move-In-Ready House or One That Needs Work?
Buying a move-in-ready house makes sense if you have limited time, little interest in renovations, or want to settle in without a project list. An outdated home may be worth considerin...
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell? Follow the Buyer’s Path
This weekend, my sister-in-law in New York was thinking about getting her home ready to list. Our conversation started with a question: Should she paint the family room?
Her home ha...
Should You Buy a Home That Has Been Sitting on the Market?
When you're searching for a home, it's natural to pay the most attention to new listings. You get an email alert that a new house has hit the market, look through the photos, and decid...
Should You Replace Your Roof Before Selling in Harford County?
If your roof is at the end of its life, I generally recommend replacing it before listing your home, if your budget allows. An older roof in good condition deserves a closer look b...
If you were selling your car, you would probably give it a thorough cleaning before taking photos or showing it to a buyer. You might even have it professionally detailed. When you’re preparing your home for sale, I recommend thinking about c...
What’s Worth Changing Before You Sell?
As home design trends shift toward warmer colors, sellers may wonder whether they need to make changes before listing. I’m starting to hear that preference for warmth directly from buyers, too. For ex...
Which Home Improvements Are Actually Worth It Before Selling in Harford County?
One of the more common conversations I have with Harford County homeowners is about what they should improve before putting their home on the market. Should they r...
Which Homes Are Most Competitive in Harford County? What Two Years of MLS Data Shows
When people hear that the Harford County real estate market is competitive, it can sound as though every home is selling immediately and attracting multiple o...
Should You Stage Your Home Before Selling? A Realtor’s Perspective
One of the questions I get from sellers is whether staging is really worth the money. My answer is usually that it depends on the home, but in many cases, staging can make a...