Real Estate Podcast with John Quinn

Here's what to do when an appraisal is lower than the contract price. What do you do if the appraised value doesn't match your contract price? Does this kill the deal? I get asked these questions a lot, especially in this hot market with many homes selling for above their listing price. It's a legitimate concern, and it's something I deal with all the time. First of all, it's possible for you to get the appraised value adjusted. Remember that adjusters are very busy; the difference might just be a simple typo. If human error isn't to blame and you still disagree with the findings, your Realtor can prepare a rebuttal to get that value adjusted. They will need good comparable sales and a complete list of any updates or upgrades to the home. This can be a difficult and complicated process, but it's not impossible. If your Realtor and lender have exhausted all other possibilities, It's time to go back to the negotiations and see what can be done to keep the deal together. This might mean a different sales price, the buyer providing additional funds, or a combination of both.  If you have any additional questions about appraisals or real estate in general, feel free to reach out to me. I am always available to help with any of your real estate needs.

Investing in Memphis rental properties may be your ticket to financial freedom. With the uncertainty in Wall Street and the overall economy, a lot of people want to know where to safely invest their money. I started investing in real estate more than 30 years ago, and I continue to do so to this day. I purchase rental properties in down markets as well as hot seller's markets. The main thing to remember about investing in rental property is that it's not a get-rich-quick scheme. It is a long-term wealth development program. You will have your ups and downs, and there will be years when the repairs may be more than the entire rent that you collect for the year. However, in the long run, you can change your lifestyle beyond your imagination. I encourage everyone—from my clients to my own children—to invest in real estate. “Investing in rental property is not a get-rich-quick scheme.” Recently, I was asked if rentals were the right way to go since home values have jumped up over 15% in the last year. I referenced to my friend a recent news article that showed how the average monthly rental amounts have increased by 30% in Memphis during the same time frame. It just shows how much investing in the Memphis market is such a great idea.  The local rental market is strong, and I expect it to be so for years to come. With a low interest rate, it only makes rentals even more attractive. Imagine if you picked up enough rentals to replace your employment income! Now that is freedom. If you are considering taking the plunge, let me know. I've been around this rodeo for many years; I can help you locate an excellent property or more to help you get your financial goals set. Call or email me; I'm always happy to help!

Here's what you need to know about Memphis' real estate market. Housing values have appreciated by double digits in the last two years—will this insane growth continue?  The average home price in Memphis is around $240,000, which is an all-time high. This was mainly due to low inventory and great interest rates, but now that mortgage rates are higher, growth will probably slow down. That being said, home values will remain high as long as inventory stays low.  Also, home prices remain reasonable in Memphis, unlike other large southern cities like Nashville and Atlanta. That means you can still purchase a home here and lock in a low monthly payment.  This remains a great time to buy or sell a home. If you have questions, please call or email me. I'd love to help!

Sellers want to get the most amount of money out of their sale as possible. Here are three common mistakes that most homeowners make that prevent them from doing so: 1. Not Pricing Correctly. Do you price the house at, slightly above, or way above market value? That determines how many buyers will come out and take a look at your home. 2. Not Making or Disclosing Needed Repairs. Get any repairs that need to be done out of the way before getting an offer on the house and waiting for the home inspection to catch it. Not doing this can cost thousands of dollars. 3. Not choosing an agent who will represent them properly. Make sure that you get the right agent who will represent you in the transaction and guide you through all the steps in the selling process. If you'd like to know the different steps that we take to ensure you get top dollar, or if you have any other questions, please give us a call at 901-591-8100. We look forward to hearing from you.

When selling your home, you should always get a home inspection, and when you do, electrical or plumbing issues will inevitably come up. Should you do your own plumbing and electrical work? No, hire a licensed plumber or electrician!  Though I've flipped many homes in the last 30-some years, I always hire a plumber and electrician to take care of the home's needs. Yes, I could do it myself, but if anything catastrophic is going to happen to the house, it's likely going to be from broken pipes or messed-up electrical work that catches on fire. Those are two things you don't ever want to happen to the house, whether you are living there or have already sold it. Hiring a professional will cost a bit more, but you'll know it's done right, and you won't have any liability afterward.  If I can ever be of assistance to you, or if you have any questions, please call me or visit my website. I would love to help.

If you're like most homebuyers, you have two primary considerations. First, how can you find the perfect home? Second, can you get that home for the lowest possible price? It takes skill to do both at the same time. To make that happen, you first have to understand how sellers price homes. Sellers want to get as much money as possible. Many sellers would like to price their home way above market value, hoping that a buyer will pay that kind of a price. We want to make sure that when you are shopping for a house, you do your research and find out what it's really worth.  On the other hand, buyers want to get the house for the lowest price possible. In a hot seller's market, a lot of buyers find a perfect home only to end up in a multiple-offer situation. How can a buyer win a multiple-offer situation without breaking the bank? The first step is to call an experienced real estate agent.  We can help you with any real estate-related question, so give us a call at 901-591-8100 or go to our website. We look forward to working with you!

Even in a hot market like this one, there are still homes that go unsold. To make sure a house sells the second time around, it's important to get an agent who can identify what the problem is.  It could be anything from price, to condition, to unknown buyer turn-offs. The fixes could be quick and easy. You might just need a fresh coat of paint or some light staging. Whatever the case may be, if your home went off the market unsold, I'd love to go through the house with you and get an in-depth look at what's preventing the home from being a buyer's top choice and what we need to do to get it there.  If you have any questions for me, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I would love to hear from you.

There are many misconceptions out there about the kind of credit score needed to qualify for a home purchase. In fact, a recent survey showed that 24% of all renters believed they needed a score above 700 to buy a home. That’s simply not the case. We’ve been able to get people in homes with credit scores in the low 600s. Anything below that makes it really tough to get a house. If you do have a high credit score of 750 or above, you’ll be able to qualify for pretty much any type of loan. When your score dips to the 600s or 500s, it becomes more difficult for you to find a mortgage. We’ve worked with a ton of homebuyers and help improve their credit scores. It takes a little bit of time, but it’s worth it in the long run. The higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate will be. If you need help improving your credit or have any questions about buying a home, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We’d love to hear from you.

In many homeowners’ lives, it becomes clear that they just don’t need all the space they have in their homes. Here are a few signs that it might be time to downsize: 1. You’re getting close to retirement. We find that many of our sellers are getting closer and closer to retirement age, and they feel that it’s just time to get out of the house and downsize. After all, all the kids have moved out, so they want something a bit smaller. “You could buy a rental property with that passive income.” 2. It’s difficult to keep up with housekeeping. If you’re getting to the point where there’s just too much work to do around the house, like lawn care and general maintenance, it might be time to downsize. 3. There are financial opportunities. Your home may have appreciated more in recent years than you realize, so selling your current one to buy a smaller one may loosen up a lot of money that you could put toward your retirement or other investments. Or better yet, you could buy a rental property with that passive income. If you find that you’re ready to downsize or you have any questions about the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you.

If you’re in the market for a brand-new home, here are a few tips that will help you through the process: 1. Get an agent to represent you. You can get the agent that represents the seller to help you, but keep in mind that that agent serves the seller’s best interests, not yours. You need someone in your corner to watch out for your best interests. 2. Look at the surrounding neighborhoods. Make sure that the neighborhoods around the one you’re searching in are compatible with your area. Will they have any adverse effects on the brand-new neighborhood that’s being constructed? 3. Research the builder. People often get starry-eyed when looking at the new construction model home and believe that everything will be perfect. Determining the reputability of your builder is important; you might even stop to speak to some of the people who already live in the neighborhood to find out if they’re satisfied with the builder’s work. It’s important to go through these little steps because chances are that you’re going to live in this new home for quite a while, and you’ll want to be satisfied with the purchase you make.  If you have any questions about today’s topic or anything else to do with real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

With inventory as little as it is in our market, it can be frustrating for buyers, and you may be tempted to buy any property you can get your hands on. There’s a better approach to choosing the right property, though, and it starts with these four tips:  1. Write down what you really want in your next home. Make a list of ‘must have’ items and items you like but can do without and give that list to your agent.  2. Narrow down the location. I’m sure you can find the perfect house, but if it’s in the wrong neighborhood, it’s not really the right house for you. I get a lot of calls from people who feel like they need to sell their house only a couple of years after they bought it because they’ve decided it’s not close enough to where they work or their kids’ school. It costs a lot of money to do that, so narrow down which neighborhood you want to live in. You’ll likely be there for a while. “Feel free to ask questions about the houses you visit, and take a good look at them.” 3. Ask questions about the houses you visit. Most of the time, when buyers look at homes, they’re only there for 10 or 15 minutes. In that short time, there’s no way to learn everything you need to know about a home. Feel free to ask questions about the houses you visit and take a good look at them. Also, try checking out the property disclosures, and make sure you order a home inspection once you’ve made an offer.  4. Make sure you choose the right agent to guide you through the process. Any agent can write up a contract, but not everyone will truly have your best interests at heart. A good agent will ensure you get the right house at the right location and the right price so you enjoy it for many years to come.  If you have questions about the home-buying process or there’s anything I can help you with, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

Unfortunately, divorce is one of the main reasons why many people sell their homes. When it comes to getting a divorce, many questions need to be answered: Who will keep the house? Should both of you retain the title, or should you sell it and divide up the proceeds? Another thing that people often overlook when going through a divorce is whether or not one party should refinance the house to get the spouse who is leaving off the mortgage. We can help provide guidance on these fronts. If you have questions or need any assistance, please reach out to us. We’ve helped many people undergo this process, and we would be glad to assist you as well.

When it comes to renovating your home, you can spend a lot of money without actually increasing its value. One of the biggest mistakes home sellers make when remodeling is not taking a moment to reflect on why they want to make renovations in the first place. Ask yourself—are you making renovations because you like them and want to stay in your home or because you want to get your home ready to sell? If you’re renovating to sell, focus on the basics that will appeal to the most buyers. For example, keep your home’s paint colors neutral and avoid adding your own color preferences. “Before you decide to spend thousands of dollars in renovations, give me a call.” Another huge mistake sellers make is overlooking major repairs that need to be taken care of. I once went to a home where the owner remodeled everything but forgot to update the 40-year-old roof. Even though it hadn’t been leaking, it was still going to cost $15,000 to repair, and they already spent their entire renovation budget. This kind of oversight will really hurt you in the long run, so before you decide to spend thousands of dollars in renovations, give me a call. I’d be glad to visit your home, give you a free consultation detailing the necessary steps to sell it, and help you decide which kinds of renovations you should make. As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic or are thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don’t hesitate to reach out to me as well. I’m happy to help.

Over the last few years, Memphis has been in a strong seller’s market. One of the only problems sellers face in this market is what to do when there are multiple offers on the home.  Do you take the highest price? The best terms? Those are really good questions, and it’s one of the reasons why we create an entire spreadsheet for our clients that spell out all the offers they receive and how they differ. We don’t always recommend taking the highest offer. Some offers are too good to be true, and you won’t find out which ones those are unless your agent does their due diligence. “We take pride in our ability to get our clients the best deal possible.” We weigh everything from price to net profit, probability of close, and type of financing. There are so many different factors to consider in an offer to determine which is best for you. The John Quinn Home Selling Team is full of home-selling experts and we take pride in our ability to get our clients the most possible money for their home and the most favorable terms. If you have any questions for us about the market or selling a home, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Here’s a common dilemma: You want to buy a house, but you have one you need to sell, too. However, you don’t want to sell your current property without buying the new one first because you don’t want to end up temporarily homeless. In a hot market, which we’re in right now, it’s fairly easy to find a new house and get your current property sold without worrying whether it will sell or not. However, in a typical market or buyer’s market, that’s one of the main issues sellers face.  This is a classic catch-22. The answers to this problem are complex and depend on many factors. One of the things we do is offer a trade-up program; if you buy a home from us and you also need to sell, this program guarantees a price that your house will sell for or we will purchase it at closing. Then you’re free to buy your next property.  If you’re interested in our trade-up program, please give us a call or visit our website. While you’re there, check out the other programs we offer. One of them may be right for you. Also, if you have any questions, reach out to us. We would love to help you.

Commonly, a home’s price will be run up in a multiple-bid situation. The seller is delighted at first but will run into problems when the appraiser comes into the house and assesses it at a lower price. We recently had a home that was appraised at $30,000 below the agreed-upon purchase price. How do we handle this kind of situation? The very first thing is to look to see if there are any mistakes in the appraisal itself. Was some square footage omitted? It happened to us recently. Another time, the appraiser forgot about a garage workshop in the back that had at least $10,000 of value.  “Just because you have a low appraisal doesn’t mean you have a dead deal.” If there aren’t any, we go take a look at the comparable sales that the appraiser used to justify their value. If we can find more recent or accurate information, we get that information to the appraiser to justify our protest. If the appraiser doesn’t budge, the most common course of action is for sellers to take the appraised value and use it as the sale price. However, you have other options. Maybe it’s your dream home and you have a little extra cash, so you can pay the difference in cash. Not everyone can do this, but it’s a good example of opportunities to negotiate after a low appraisal. Oftentimes, the buyer and seller end up both bringing cash to the table to meet in the middle. Just because you have a low appraisal doesn’t mean you have a deal that’s dead. If you have any questions about appraisal or anything else related to real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

When purchasing a home, there’s more than just the sales price of the house to consider—there are actually quite a few hidden costs that most buyers need to know about before they submit an offer on a home: appraisal fees, moving fees, tax service fees, title insurance, and more. On average, the typical closing cost on a home can equal almost 4% of the sales price. If you’re buying a $200,000 home, those costs can be upwards of $8,000. For a $500,000 home, they can be around $15,000. Suffice it to say that there are many costs involved with the home buying process. If you’d like a quick breakdown of what costs you can expect to pay in the specific price range you’re searching in, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. You can also visit my website at www.JohnQuinnTeam.com, where you’ll find a list of the things you might expect to pay for during a home purchase. As always, if you have any general real estate questions, feel free to contact us. We’d love to help.

When putting your house on the market, one of the biggest deal-killers is often the home inspection. So what do you need to know if you want to pass the inspection? First, check to see if you have any rotten wood that needs to be taken care of. Rotten siding, etc., can be a real stumbling block for the buyers looking to purchase your house. Also, is your roof brand-new or is it a bit older? Most people can tell if your roof is old, so you might consider getting it updated or replaced. If you’d like a complete list of things that will come up during a home inspection that will help you prep your house for the market and pass your home inspection, reach out and give me a call or visit www.TheJohnQuinnTeam.com. We’ll be glad to help.

One question a lot of my seller clients ask me is whether they should accept a contingent offer on their house. The truth is, most offers already have contingencies built into them—financial contingencies, inspection contingencies, etc. Those are pretty normal, but the contingency most homeowners are concerned about is one that’s based on another house selling.  In some cases, this would be a great idea. In other cases, not so much. If your home’s potential buyer has a home to sell, you must ask yourself: Is the house already on the market? Is there any activity? Do they have an offer? Has the house sat on the market for a long time? “These are important factors in determining whether to accept the offer or not.” These are important factors in determining whether to accept the offer or not. Another important factor I always consider with my seller clients is the strength of the buyer in question. Can they buy the house without a contingency? Can the buyer who’s buying their house make things work? With all of these factors in play, make sure you work with a competent agent who can sift through the details and tell you whether a deal looks like it will fall through or not. There’s a lot of money riding on your home sale, and when you accept a contingent offer, your home will most likely come off the market, and all its marketing will cease. If the deal falls apart because the other house didn’t sell, you’ll have to put yours back on the market and regenerate enough market activity to get top dollar.  So keep these things in mind before accepting a contingent offer. If you have questions about this or any real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

In 2020, most predictions were thrown out the window because this year has been very bizarre for everyone. However, I wanted to offer my predictions for how the rest of the 2020 real estate market may go.  I believe our Memphis market will remain strong. Of course, it’s always possible the presidential election could change things. What we do know is that prices are increasing and buyers are receiving historically low interest rates. Though prices are rising quickly and some buyers are waiting for them to decrease, prices will likely either increase more or remain the same.  “I believe our Memphis market will remain strong.” If you’re considering buying a home, now is the time to do it. If you’re thinking about selling a house, now is also an excellent time because buyers will be competing for it. In this market, you’ll get multiple offers, and that’s the best position to be in as a seller.  If you have any questions or need my help, call or email me. I would love to assist you.

Before you hire an agent to sell your house, there are some important questions you’ll need to ask them. The first is, “What makes you different and why?” Other questions include, “What are the terms of the listing contract?” and “What’s your track record?” You want to be prepared before you even interview an agent to hire so you make the right decision. If you have questions about this or any other real estate topic, please reach out to me via phone or email. I’m always here to help.

There’s no doubt about it: The market is hot. This is probably the lowest inventory that Memphis has seen in decades, which means houses are flying off the shelves quickly, often with multiple offers. The best part is that interest rates are historically low; you can get a 30-year loan for just 3% interest—truly incredible if you think about it. Even though prices are going up, these low rates will guarantee you a low monthly payment when you decide to buy. If you’ve been thinking about buying a house, now is the time to move!  If ever I can be of assistance to you or you have questions about buying or selling in this market, please reach out to me by phone or email. I’m always happy to have a one-on-one chat.

Homebuyers all have something specific they’re looking for in a new home and, as it turns out, there are two rooms that homebuyers pay attention to the most when they’re shopping to buy a home: the kitchen and the bathroom. So, if you plan to do renovations on your house to maximize its value before you sell it, you’ll want to concentrate your money and efforts on those two areas. Let’s start with the kitchen. The kitchen is the place where most of your company is going to gather on the holidays and special occasions, so buyers are looking for a nice, spacious, up-to-date kitchen that they can show off to their friends and family. Make sure you have nice cabinets, countertops, and tile/wood flooring; get the old linoleum and vinyl flooring out of there. “Key tip for home sellers: Get rid of any carpet in the master bathroom!” As far as the master bathroom goes, buyers know that they’ll be spending a lot of their time in there, as well. One of the most important things to address in your bathroom if you want to sell your home for the most money possible is to get rid of any carpet you have in there. A lot of older homes also have low countertops; it’s a good idea to take those out and get the higher ones they make nowadays and put a nice slab of granite on top. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll enjoy your bathroom yourself before you sell it. Hopefully, these tips will help you sell your home for the maximum price! If you’d like more tips or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Nowadays, with the internet, it’s so convenient to visit a website to find real estate information. However, the problem that we’re finding with companies like Zillow and Realtor.com is that the information they supply is not very accurate. “Most third-party sites don’t have access to the MLS.” If you really want to find the market value of your home or another home you’re interested in, it’s important to call the real estate agent who listed it or find the information on their website. Almost every real estate agent’s website will have a direct feed to the Multiple Listing Service, which means that the information is accurate. Other third-party sites don’t have access to this, so their information isn’t always up to date. If you need to find a home’s true value, reach out to a real estate agent you trust and talk to them, as opposed to someone from a company that doesn’t actually work in real estate. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Should you get a pre-listing home inspection? Definitely!  If you don’t get a pre-listing inspection, a buyer will have their own inspector come, and they’ll give you a lengthy list of things that need to be fixed on your house. This can botch a home sale for many reasons.  Usually, buyers will demand that professional electricians, plumbers, and so on do all of the work. However, when you get a pre-listing home inspection done, you are in charge of what gets taken care of, how it gets taken care of, and who does it. You won’t have any shocks once the buyer’s inspection happens.  “When you get a pre-listing home inspection done, you are in charge of what gets taken care of, how it gets taken care of, and who does it.” The best thing to do is to get a home inspection on your house before you put it on the market. That way, you’ll know what needs to be done ahead of time. Unfortunately, too many home sellers wait to get things fixed until the buyer’s inspection and are upset by the amount of work that needs to be done and what the price tags are.  If you do your own inspection beforehand, you can go through the list of upgrades, choose the professionals to do the work, you won’t have a closing deadline to worry about, and you’ll end up saving money. Also, your real estate agent can help find contractors with fair prices.  Even if your home is only a couple of years old, it’s critical to get a pre-inspection done. If there’s anything I can do for you, or you have further questions about getting a pre-listing inspection, feel free to call or email me. I would love to help you.

There are a lot of upgrades you can make to your home, but investing heavily in them doesn’t always work out. Spending a lot of money on professional landscaping, for example, won’t result in a dollar-for-dollar return.  Adding a new roof, new gutters, or a swimming pool will raise your home’s value, but it won’t translate into more money for you when you sell. A new roof may take $10,000 to install, but it won’t bring an extra $10,000 of value to your home. When most buyers shop for a house, they expect you to have a good roof in the first place. The same goes for your HVAC and plumbing systems. If you have any questions about what you can do to your home to bring the highest possible return on investment, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I’m asked a lot about credit scores and how people can help them go up. We know that the top possible score is around 850. Only one person out of 200 is going to have that perfect score, with most people’s scores running in the 750 range. Once you start getting into the 600 range, financing gets a bit tougher. If you’re in the 500 range, it’s going to be even harder. If your score isn’t where you’d like it to be, here are a few things that you can do to help it go up: 1. Make sure you’re not overextended. Your credit balance should never be over 30% of your limit. If you have a lot of different cards, you might want to cancel some of them so that you only have a few.  “Once your score goes up, your interest rate will go down.” 2. Don’t be afraid to refinance. If you can refinance your home and get a lower interest rate, it will show that you have paid off one mortgage and now have a new one, which will help your credit score go down. 3. Make sure all your revolving credit is paid regularly. This includes car payments, housing payments, and credit cards. Don’t wait until the day before the late fee is due because even that will hurt your score. You have to pay everything on time. Once your credit score goes up, your interest rate will improve and it will be much easier for you to buy a home.  If you have any questions for me about your situation or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Buying a home can be one of the most exciting experiences of your life. At the same time, committing to a 30-year mortgage can seem like one of the most terrifying things ever.   However, don’t let that mortgage scare you from buying a home. There are many things you can do to make it a lot less stressful. If you can, get a 30-year mortgage that’s fixed, and here’s why:  A lot of the mortgages that got people in trouble 10 to 15 years ago when the market melted down had variable interest rates. They had acceleration clauses, so we saw folks starting off at a 2% mortgage only to reach a 10% mortgage just three years later—their payments nearly tripled, and they were no longer able to own their homes.  Even when I purchase a home for myself, I make sure it’s with a fixed-rate mortgage because that way I know I’m not going to have any surprises.  There’s also a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, allowing you to pay down on your house quicker. Be aware that this type of mortgage will come with higher monthly payments but slightly lower interest rates.  “A lot of the mortgages that got people in trouble 10 to 15 years ago when the market melted down had variable interest rates.” The next step to reducing stress on your mortgage is to try to put as much money down on the house as you possibly can. Yes, there are mortgages out there that allow you to get into a home with 3.5% down or even no money down, but remember: The more money you put down, the less there will be to pay off down the road.  I recommend, if possible, getting a mortgage with 20% or more down. This way, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing your monthly payments from there on out will be manageable. Furthermore, should some catastrophic event occur and you need to sell the house, you’ll know that you have enough equity in the house to sell it and get out from under that large mortgage.  Right now, our interest rates have dropped below 4%, and some buyers are seeing rates below 3%! For reference, when I got into the business, they were closer to 10% and 12%. Though these rates have the potential to drop further, they’ve never been as low as they are now. Here’s the last step to making sure your mortgage doesn’t scare you: Just get to it and pay it down. Keep taking a little bit from each paycheck and putting it toward the principal until you eventually own the house free and clear. That’s always a great place to arrive.

When people are going through the process of getting their home ready for sale, they often overlook a few important steps:  1. Tackle the junk drawer. We all have at least one drawer somewhere in the house where an odd assortment of items ends up, like pens, batteries, papers, tape measures, toothpicks, etc. Be sure to clean out your junk drawer and start decluttering. 2. Clean out your closets. Every day, it seems like we put a little bit more stuff in our storage areas and we become used to it over time.  You’d be amazed how many houses I’ve been through where stuff literally fell out when I opened the closet door. This can be funny, but also off-putting to buyers, so clean out your closets to make your closets look bigger and more spacious. Store the extra stuff in a box and put it somewhere out of the way, like your garage. 3. Clean out your kitchen cabinets. The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a home for potential buyers. They don’t want to see cabinets in a state of disarray—they need to be able to imagine their own stuff fitting in them. So, to ensure your home presents well to potential buyers, clean and organize your kitchen cabinets, including your pantry. 4. Declutter the attic. It’s easy to forget all about the attic during home preparation, but it’s important not to. Before you put your home on the market, sort through all the items you’ve stored up there over time. Put them into piles of things you want to keep, donate, or throw away. 5. Clean up the garage. Your garage doesn’t need to be spotless; after all, you’ll need some place to put the stuff you removed from your drawers, closets, cabinets, and the attic. But, like the other areas I’ve covered, it’s important to go through the garage and straighten it out so that it doesn’t look like a mechanic’s nightmare. Organize and store your tools, lawn equipment, holiday decorations, etc., so that buyers can see the potential of your garage for their own belongings. After the main items on your home staging checklist are all finished, if you take care of these five tasks, you’ll be amazed at how nicely your home will present to potential buyers. If you have any questions about selling your home or can I help you at all, please give me a call at 901-591-8100 or send an email. I’m always happy to help.

One of the biggest concerns for people who need to sell their house and buy a new one is whether they’ll be able to move seamlessly from one house to the next. Moving twice, after all, can be an absolute nightmare.  We help a lot of sellers sell their homes and move into their next one, and it’s part of our job to work toward a simultaneous closing so they only have to move once. What if you’re able to get your home sold but the house you want isn’t quite ready to move into yet? There are many ways to remedy this situation. Sometimes, we use temporary housing. Other times, we’re able to work everything out so they can move from one place to the next without a problem. We’ve also had sellers rent their previous home back from the new owners for a month or two until their new home was ready. After that, the buyers are free to move into the home.  “In a home sale, there are hundreds of moving parts, and it’s important to make sure everything is coordinated.” The best thing you can do is make an offer on the home you want to buy that’s contingent on your original home selling (i.e., a contingent offer). In our current market, however, things don’t always work out even if you do make a contingent offer. Conditions are fast and furious and multiple-offer situations aren’t uncommon. The good news is, I offer a trade-up program that can help you. With this program, if you need to sell your home and you find a house you like that’s one of my listings, I can buy your house so you can buy your next one.  Additionally, we can negotiate with sellers to move the closing date. In a home sale, there are hundreds of moving parts, and it’s important to make sure everything is coordinated. That’s why it’s doubly important to have a skilled agent and negotiator on your side. So keep these things in mind if you need to buy and sell a home at the same time. If you have questions about this or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you. John Quinn901-591-8100

If you listed your home with the wrong agent, what do you do? Can you get out of your contract with that agent? First, a disclosure: I’m not going to advise anyone on how to get out of their contract with their agent. I will, however, let you know that when people list with me, I let them know right up front that we offer risk-free listings. If you’re not satisfied with our work, then you can get out of the contract for free. Most agents don’t work that way; once you sign the contract, you’re stuck for six months to a year. “There’s not a lot I can do if you’ve already signed a contract with an agent who can’t perform.” Before you even put your house on the market these days, you should check with your agent about whether or not you’re allowed to get out of the contract if you don’t get the results you’re expecting. The best way to protect yourself in those situations is to get some form of written affirmation that if they don’t perform, you can leave the contract. That way, you won’t have to call other agents like me for advice on abandoning a contract. As much as I appreciate the calls, there’s not a lot I can do if you’ve already signed a contract with an agent who can’t perform. If you’re looking for an agent to assist you with your next transaction and you don’t want to be locked in if the agent doesn’t perform to your satisfaction, reach out to me. With our risk-free listings, you won’t be locked in a transaction you don’t like, and I promise to deliver on the results you’re looking for. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Many people wonder if they’re able to sell their home as is. The simple answer is yes, but there are a few caveats to this.  When someone lists their home as is, they’re telling buyers that the home has problems. Essentially, buyers see it as a huge gamble — who knows what sorts of awful issues can be hidden throughout the home? People aren’t willing to pay top dollar for these properties. “When someone lists their home as is, they’re telling buyers that the home has problems.” Selling a home as is makes for an easier sale, but it definitely lowers the amount of money you can make. People typically sell their homes as is when they know it’ll cost a lot of money for repairs. If you’re in a position like this, we actually offer a program that helps sellers to make these fixes. This can help you build your home’s worth and fetch a higher price on the market. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our program, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Is Zillow a good resource for figuring out your home’s value before you sell? If you’re shopping for homes, Zillow’s a great place to get information for all homes on the market—a lot of buyers use the site. The reality, though, is that Zillow’s Zestimates are calculations done by an algorithm that’s based on other nearby homes, which means they can be off by anywhere from 5% to 15%.  “Zillow’s Zestimates are calculations done by an algorithm that’s based on other nearby homes.” Furthermore, Zillow doesn’t actually come out to your house and take a look at it. A professional real estate agent, on the other hand, will visit your house and factor in things such as the age of your appliances, or whether your heating and air conditioning unit is up to code.  That’s why, when looking for a true, accurate estimate of your home’s value, you’re better off calling an agent who does business in your area. In addition to your house, they’ll also know about the local schools, neighborhoods, shopping centers, etc. This extra information can add thousands of dollars to your bottom line when it’s time to sell.  If you’d like to know your home’s value or you have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you.

Over the last 10 years or so, a common trend we’ve seen in the real estate industry is more teams doing business instead of individual agents.  Not all of these teams are the same, though. They can vary greatly, but there’s an unfortunate trend within this movement that’s happening: The agent who’s the head of the team doesn’t deal with clients or customers anymore—they let all the brand-new agents handle the buyers and sellers. “You need to make sure you have the right team behind you whether you’re buying or selling a home.” On my team, I’m personally involved in every single transaction when we sell a home. In fact, I’m usually the one who visits the house to see first-hand what the seller has to offer. I’ve been in the real estate business for 30 years and have handled over 3,000 transactions, but I’ve seen teams here in the Memphis area whose head agent doesn’t even have a year’s worth of experience.  Despite this, they still have 20 or so people working under them, which is an easy way to get business, but they’re not actually serving their clients, and those clients aren’t getting the service they’re looking for.  Not all real estate transactions go as smoothly as you’d like, but on a team like ours, with an experienced agent such as myself running things, we know how to resolve problems quickly.  The bottom line is that you need to make sure you have the right team behind you whether you’re buying or selling a home. If you have any more questions about this topic or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

A lot of brokerages say they’ll sell your home with little cost to you. If you can sell a home for only a low $100 to $500 fee, why wouldn’t you? That’s a huge savings! This way of thinking is exactly how discount brokerages draw people in. I’ve seen many of these brokerages come and go throughout the years, and there’s a reason why they aren’t around for long. Their agents provide limited services, which means your home may not even sell. If it does, it likely won’t be for as much as you’d receive from a better brokerage. “By paying a slightly higher rate to an experienced agent who has your best interests in mind, you’ll see better rewards.” Discount brokerages are typically filled with agents who don’t want to do the work. You might get a “for sale” sign in your yard, but don’t expect any further marketing for your listing.  Even worse, since these agents don’t receive much commission for selling your home, they have no incentive to get your home sold at a high price. By paying a slightly higher rate to an experienced agent who has your best interests in mind, you’ll see better rewards. They’ll negotiate on your behalf to ensure your home sells for more. Ultimately, a discount brokerage does little for your home sale. Why pay them when they leave you with all the heavy lifting of marketing and finding buyers? The better option is to take advantage of the services offered by an experienced Realtor. If you have any questions or would like to talk about buying or selling a home, feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Before putting their home on the market, a lot of sellers ask me, “John, should I depersonalize my home?” My answer is always the same: Absolutely.  However, we also don’t want to go overboard and stage it to look like a sterile hospital from the 1970s. To ensure we don’t do too much or too little during the depersonalization process, we’ll need to focus on four categories.  The first category is paint. Your home might have brightly painted walls that fit your personality perfectly, but that’s not what buyers want to see. We want to appeal to the largest number of buyers as possible, so consider painting over those bright colors with more neutral options like a light gray, light yellow, or taupe.   “We want to appeal to the largest number of buyers as possible.” Speaking of neutral, you’ll also want to give your kitchen a more neutral feel. As homeowners, our kitchen is a place for us to put our personal lives on display. We like to hang an assortment of magnets and family photos on our refrigerator and arrange our kitchen utensils and appliances as we see fit. Once your home is on the market, though, it’s best to store personal items out of sight and to arrange kitchenware in a visually appealing way.  Third, clear your walls of excessive family photos. Having a few photos on your walls isn’t a bad thing, but if you have a huge gallery that stretches across your entire hallway, I suggest removing them for showings. The same goes for the collection of photos resting on your coffee table or above your mantle. Last but not least, it’s time to get to work on your garage. While your garage can be a good spot to house items you’ve removed from your closets or attic for decluttering purposes, it’s important not to block walkways and to leave room for buyers to envision parking their cars in the space.  If you have any questions or would like help depersonalizing your home before it’s up for sale, please don’t hesitate to give me a call at 901-591-8100. I look forward to hearing from you!

In the real estate industry, wire fraud has lately become an increasingly prominent issue—especially for homebuyers. It used to be that when you bought a house, you’d just bring cash to the closing table. Later, people began using personal checks, but as fraudulent checks become a problem, we started moving toward cashier’s checks or certified funds. Nowadays, however, most closing attorneys and title companies require homebuyers to have their money wired before they even show up to the closing table. This is a great development, and it usually works out wonderfully.  Usually. “Unfortunately, once that money has been wired, it’s gone, and you’ll never see it again.” For attorneys, the problem now is that hackers are accessing the email accounts of buyers, attorneys, and real estate agents to search for people who are in the process of making a very large purchase—so large that it requires them to wire the money to another party.  For example, suppose an attorney emails wiring instructions to the buyer who’s ready to close on the house; the hackers will pick up that information, change a few details in the document, change the wiring instructions, and then send an exact duplicate of those wiring instructions to the buyer. That buyer will then use those fake instructions to wire the money to the hacker instead.  I’ve seen how much damage wire fraud has caused to some buyers. Generally, we’ll stop the sale of a house in these cases, but the buyers are out likely a lifetime’s worth of savings. That’s why it is absolutely critical to verify where your money is going and that you check all the numbers before you send it to the bank—because, unfortunately, once that money has been wired, it’s gone and you’ll never see it again. If you have any questions about wire fraud or how to make sure that your purchases are secure, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to speak with you more!

With the growing popularity of Airbnb, homeowners I speak with are constantly asking me if they should turn their own property into an Airbnb rental.  Judging by the numbers, having an Airbnb rental property can be a fantastic source for wealth generation. For all its monetary benefits, though, keep in mind that an Airbnb is essentially a glorified rental property. Rather than dealing with tenants on an infrequent basis, be prepared to deal with them full-time.  “Converting your home into an Airbnb can be a fantastic source for wealth generation.” If your home is governed by a homeowners association, condo association, or some other regulatory body, one of the most important things to do before going the Airbnb route is to check your covenants to make sure that there are no rules against it.  This has particular relevance to our Memphis market because we’re starting to see more and more condo associations and homeowners associations amend their bylaws to include a ban on Airbnb rentals.   Imagine purchasing a property and setting it up to be an Airbnb, only to discover that your association forbids this activity. Then, next thing you know, you’re mired in a legal battle that you never saw coming, which is why it’s so important to check with your governing association right from the get-go.  If you’re thinking about seizing this investment opportunity and there aren’t any roadblocks standing in your way, the Airbnb approach might really pay off in the long run. If you have any questions or you’d like to discuss this topic further, feel free to give me a call at 901-591-8100. I’d be happy to speak with you! 

If selling your home has been on your mind, there’s no time like the present. Here are five reasons why you’ll want to do so in 2019: 1. Your home won’t be on the market for long. Buyer demand is through the roof right now, so you won’t have to worry about your home spending weeks or months on the market.  2. You’ll make a handsome profit! Home prices are going up, so by listing this year, you’ll be able to capitalize on that.  “The heavy housing demand we’re seeing is thanks in no small part to this wave of millennial buyers.” 3. Homes priced under $300,000 are selling fast. In particular, there’s a high demand for properties in the $300,000 price point, and they’re flying off the market as a result.  4. Mortgage rates are low.  5. Millennials are flooding the market. The heavy housing demand we’re seeing is thanks in no small part to this wave of millennial buyers.  We have no idea what’s to come in 2020, so don’t let the opportunity to get the most out of the market this year pass you by! If you have any real estate-related questions or would like more information, please give me a call at 901-591-8100. I look forward to hearing from you! 

When I speak with both buyers and sellers, I’m often asked, “Are we in a seller’s market or a buyer’s market?” and “Is inventory going up or down?” I’ll answer those questions and more in today’s summer market update.  We’re now in the heat of the summer market and conditions continue to favor sellers. Right now, there are still around 3,000 active listings on our market—1,500 of which are selling each month. That equates to a two-month supply of inventory. Homes that are well-priced and positioned are receiving multiple offers, which drives prices up even further. That’s good news for sellers, but buyers will need to be prepared for a fiercely competitive environment.  “My best advice is to make sure you put your best forward and make your initial offer the strongest it can be.” If you’re looking to make a purchase, don’t be surprised if you’re up against five, 10, or 15 other offers when you find the property you’re interested in.  My best advice is to make sure you put your best foot forward and make your initial offer the strongest it can be—an attractive price and limited concessions are two keys to success. Always consult your real estate professional before writing your offer. They’ll work with you to craft an offer that the seller won’t be able to ignore. You don’t want to let a great opportunity in this market pass you by! If you have any questions or would like help with your buying or selling needs, please feel free to call me at 901-591-8100. I look forward to hearing from you!

One of the biggest concerns of pet owners when it comes time to sell their houses is what to do with their animal companions during the process. Some homebuyers in the market don’t mind that you have a cat or dog, but there are also those who could be highly allergic to, afraid of, or just generally averse to pets. I once walked a client through a home she was interested in; once she saw the homeowner’s cat, she froze and had to be escorted from the house. You really don’t want to lose out on a sale because a buyer is afraid to go into your house! “If you have exotic pets like snakes or birds, it might be best to move them out of the house during the showing phase of your home sale.” I personally am a dog- and cat-lover. We have three chihuahuas, and yes, when the doorbell rings, they bark like crazy. However, when you’re showing a house, you want to make sure that your little yappers are either put up in a kennel or you can take them out of the house for the showing. We understand that sometimes it’s difficult to balance handling your pets with your busy work schedule, but if you could at the very least put your pets in a separate room with a gate, it might go a long way. A final thing to keep in mind is that just like it might be stressful for a buyer to come through your house and see your animals, it might be even more stressful for the animals to see strangers continuously wandering your home. If you have any questions about handling pets during the home selling process or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you.

I’ve been running the Guaranteed Sale Program in Memphis for approximately 20 years, so when people ask if I can guarantee their home will be sold, I tell them, “Absolutely!” Everyone has different reasons why they want to sell their home, as well as different time frames in which they want to have it done. For obvious reasons, sellers want to be sure they’ll have a successful transaction. John Quinn uses the most advanced marketing systems and tools at our disposal to make sure your home will sell for top dollar. And when you may not need top dollar, but you do need to make sure that your home sells in a given amount of time, we’ve got you covered. “Ultimately, we can guarantee that if a buyer doesn’t purchase your home, we definitely can. Either way, your home will be sold.” So how does the Guaranteed Sale Program work? When you’re enrolled in the Guaranteed Sale Program, we’ll start by coming out to your home for a comparative market analysis, where we’ll let you know what your home’s market value is—in other words, what people would be willing to pay for your house once it goes live on the market. In addition, I’ll also let you know what I would be willing to pay for your house—I do buy houses on a very regular basis, and I pay with cash so that you can move to your new home. Quite frankly, there is a little bit of a discount on the house because once I pay for your home with cash, I’ll put it back on the market and sell it myself. So ultimately, we can guarantee that if a buyer doesn’t purchase your home, we definitely can. Either way, your home will be sold. If that sounds good to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Call us today at (901) 591-8100! Let’s help you reach your real estate goals.

Once your home goes under contract, it’s time for the buyer to begin the inspection process. They’ll be hiring an inspector to come out and look through every nook and cranny of your home, listing every issue they can find along the way.  The fewer things they find, the better the buyer will feel about purchasing your home, which is why you want to prepare as much as possible before the inspector steps foot inside. Here’s what you should do before an inspection: 1. Service your HVAC system. Call a professional to come out and take care of your heating and air units, even if it just means getting them cleaned up and looking good. 2. Change any burnt out light bulbs. If you see any lights that are no longer working, replace them. If the inspector sees a light out, they can easily mark it down as an electrical problem. “If you anticipate there will be a lot of issues, it’s even a good idea to get your own pre-inspection before you list.” 3. Repair the exterior. Take a walk around the perimeter of your home, keeping an eye out for rotting wood and peeling paint. Get these items repaired and repainted. 4. Check your faucets. Turn the faucets in your kitchen, bathrooms, etc., on and off to see if the water starts and stops correctly. Do they stop automatically or do they drip a lot? If the latter happens, you may want to replace some washers. If the inspector finds it, they’ll be asking you to hire an expensive plumber to fix it. 5. Test and check your outlets. Some power outlets might need to be changed, depending on their condition. If there are burn marks anywhere on the outlet, it’s a very good idea to replace it. Completing these tasks around the home will go a long way toward ensuring you get a good inspection report on your property. If you anticipate there will be a lot of issues, it’s even a good idea to get your own pre-inspection before you list. This way, you’ll have a complete idea of what’s wrong with your home and you can make repairs on your terms—not on the terms of the buyer’s inspector. If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Do you want to sell your home without the hassle of listing it? Even with our market as incredibly busy as it is, our new program makes this possible. All we’d have to do is come see what your home is worth and then we can help you find a buyer from our pool of hundreds of potential home buyers who are currently looking. The best part is that it can be done immediately or with flexible terms. To learn all about this new program, watch my video.

Today’s topic is choosing the right agent when looking for a house. Here’s what you need to do to find the right fit. Most buyers start on the internet by looking for houses that meet their criteria. Usually, very little thought goes into hiring a real estate agent to work for them.  However, we have found that if you want to ensure that you earn the best possible terms and price for a home, you need to find an agent who works exclusively with buyers. Not only will they be able to help you track down the house you’re looking for, but they’re also going to negotiate in your best interest.  “Having the right buyer’s agent will go a long way.” It’s also very important to hire an agent who knows how to deal with the home inspection and any issues that come up. Having the right buyer’s agent will go a long way in this situation. When you’re looking for the right agent to help you buy a house, make sure it’s a buyer’s agent who is out there every day working in your best interest. Having the right agent in your corner will save you a lot of grief in the long run. If you have any other questions for me in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

We get this question from homeowners quite a bit: Should I sell my home to an investor?  It might actually be a good option depending on your situation, but we find that most people who buy homes as an investor will generally not pay full market value for your house. Investors are looking for good deals, and that generally starts with them getting the house at the lowest price possible. They’re looking at the numbers to determine what the return on investment would be if they were to rent it out. “Investors are looking for good deals.” If you sell to a traditional homebuyer, you’re likely selling to someone who will be emotionally attached to the property and generally willing to pay much more than an investor would. If your home’s condition isn’t the best and it’s clear that it needs some work, the best option for you might be to sell the house to an investor who is willing to pay cash for the home, buy quickly, and use their own money to fix the house up. If you have any questions for me about selling a home, buying a home, or anything else related to real estate, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you’ve sold your home and are ready to move out, there are a few things you need to do in regard to your utilities. Most of the time, you want to allow the utilities to stay on for a few days after closing, but make sure to let your gas, electric, and water companies know you’re moving out. These extra days give you some breathing room in case things go wrong in your home sale. This also gives the buyer enough time to get things switched over into their name—you don’t want them to be greeted by the dark when they begin their move. “Have all the arrangements taken care of before moving into your new home.” Remember to resolve services outside of your utilities, such as cable, internet, and landline phones. You should either end them or have them transferred to your new home. Have all the arrangements taken care of before moving into your new home so you—like the buyer of your previous home—aren’t left without power. One of your biggest priorities should be getting homeowners insurance. It’s usually required anyway when you get a loan, but you should always shop around to find the best deal. Do not cancel this on your previous home until after closing is complete and you’ve received money for the property. Once the money is in your hand, it’s no longer your house. But if something happens before this and you’ve already canceled your insurance, you’re in a bad situation. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

In a very active market like the one we’re in now, if you price your home competitively, buyers will actually bid your house up. So if you’re concerned about underselling the house, consult with your Realtor about the best price to list your home at in the current market—when you list your home with an experienced Realtor, your home should receive excellent exposure. If buyers think that your home is a few thousand dollars under market value, they’ll beat a path to your door. When they see that other people are also flocking to your house, they’ll bid up on it. Hopefully, this will help you see that aggressively pricing your home is much more profitable than overpricing it. If you have any questions or need my services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Receiving an offer is one of the most exciting aspects of selling your home. Of course, given that today’s real estate contracts can be several pages long, it’s important to have a real estate professional by your side. This way, you’ll know exactly what to expect at closing. But having a real estate professional working on your behalf is important for another reason, too—an experienced agent will help you negotiate with the buyer. When you work with our team, we’ll help you understand every aspect of the offer, and of the deal in general. We will also provide you with a “net sheet,” which is a document detailing exactly how much money you can expect to earn when the home closes. “Whether you receive one offer or 10, it’s important to partner with a Realtor and make sure that it will be a good deal for you.” Money isn’t the only aspect you must pay attention to, though. Terms and conditions are important as well. Things like your move-out date, the course of action to follow the home inspection, and other critical factors of the deal will all be discussed during negotiations. The important thing when you review offers on your home is that you find one that matches up with your goals. Whether you receive one offer or 10, it’s important to partner with a Realtor and make sure that it will be a good deal for you. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

When it comes time to sell their home, some people believe that they’re better off doing it on their own. But is it really worth it to list without the help of an agent? Thanks to the far reach of the internet, most sellers could gain quite a bit of exposure for their listing simply by putting it online. However, marketing is not the only important aspect of a real estate deal. Between interpreting and managing paperwork, negotiating the best price and terms, and overseeing all the other fine details of a deal, there are many more services an agent provides than simply bringing exposure to a home. This is exactly why listing for sale by owner (FSBO) can be a poor choice. Unless you can match the experience, knowledge, and resources that a professional agent brings to the table in any deal, the results you’ll see from listing alone will likely be a far cry from what you could have achieved. “Partnering with a professional Realtor will help you earn more money and will pave the way for a smoother deal.” Agents also make sure that all offers you review come from pre-qualified buyers. The last thing you want to happen when listing is to get your home under contract and then find out the buyer can’t afford your home. With all of this in mind, it’s no wonder why working with an agent is well worth it. Partnering with a professional Realtor will help you earn more money and will pave the way for a smoother deal. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Open houses have been a tool for real estate agents for generations. Before the internet, an open house was one of the few ways that a potential buyer could actually go see the inside of a home for sale without having to schedule an appointment. Those days are pretty much over now, though, because of how easy it is to see the inside of a house just by using the internet. That doesn’t mean that people don’t still do them, though, which is why today I want to talk about the pros and cons of having an open house. If you are considering having an open house, you should know that it comes with some drawbacks. One of them is that there are a lot of unescorted, unqualified buyers going through the house, and if you don’t watch them they may snoop in places they shouldn’t, such as your medicine cabinet. To make it worse, many real estate agents won’t have control over everybody going through the home. Another issue is that you get tire-kickers going through your home. “Ultimately, having an open house is going to be your personal decision.” Of course, there are also advantages to having an open house. You could get someone who is on the fence about buying until they see your house and fall in love with it. If they decide that they want to buy it, that means that the open house actually helped produce the sale. Ultimately, having an open house is going to be your personal decision. We have found that open houses near busy roads get more attention than those homes located on long, deep neighborhood streets. Either way, though, you will get more exposure by holding an open house. If you have any additional questions about open houses or if you’re interested in buying or selling, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to speaking with you soon.