Free Real Estate Advice Articles

By Hugh Hardy

I thought would make a list of the ommitments that you make, and of the things you consent to, when you sign an up-to-date Agreement of Purchase and Sale.

I often get people asking me about the merits of having a new home built versus the advantages of buying a resale home. There are a number of points to consider and cost is, of course, one of the most important considerations. But before I discuss cost, would like to go over some of the other considerations.

"What does it take to sell your home?" In my 11 or so years in the real estate business, I've been over this question more than a few times. My experience has led me to some conclusions as to exactly what is needed to do the job - and these conclusions may surprise some of you.

I'd like to talk a bit about timing and the sale of real estate.

I'd like to talk about what you can expect from real estate salespeople.

It's amazing how easy it is to work year in and year out and never have anything to show for it. If this is your situation - then you are in the majority! But it doesn't have to be this way.

Knowing your relative strengths and weaknesses is perhaps the most important aspect of the bargaining process when you are buying or selling a home. If you know the strength of your position, then it is possible to get the best result under the circumstances.

It seems like it's been a while since the commission wars were going on in full force and it looks like things have settled down a bit.

I thought I would talk a bit about how to get the best mortgage. My views regarding mortgages have changed quite a lot in the last few years, and I thought I would share some of my conclusions with you.

Many of the factors that help a house to sell seem obvious, but I will repeat them here because it is amazing how many of these factors - even things that are very simple to do - are often overlooked.

I thought that I would make a list of facts about real estate that you might not know - little tidbits of trivia that have been floating around aimlessly in my brain for the last 10 years or so.

I'd like to discuss some of the different strategies that realtors use in order to solicit listings. Most of the time, we can take a look at these different approaches simply by going to local print advertising.

For many people, buying a brand new custom home is absolutely the best way to go. But much of the time, these plans fall by the wayside...

Today I thought I would discuss one of the cornerstones of real estate sales success - pricing your home right.

The other day, I was called by a potential Purchaser who wanted to view one of my listings. After arranging to meet him at the property, I realized that he had booked appointments on other properties as well - each one with the Listing Agent of that individual property. He had appointments with 5 different Agents to see 5 properties! This started me thinking... "This guy is not acting in his own best interest."

I'd like to discuss the mechanics of "trading up - or, for that matter, trading down or trading even. Basically, any situation where you might be selling a home and then buying.

I'd like to cover a topic that has "slipped through the cracks" - a question that I get asked from time to time, but haven't yet written about. This popular question goes something like ... "what does 'irrevocable' mean with respect to an offer?"

I'd like to cover a few of the distinguishing features of a good buyer's agent - not so much in terms of a personal profile, but more in terms of the specific areas where you should expect assistance.

If you are buying or selling a home these days, you should know a little bit about chattels and fixtures. Many of the minor disputes that come up in the course of real estate transactions are focused on the difference between fixtures and chattels. A little foreknowledge of this topic could sure go a long way to nipping these disputes in the bud.