5 Fresh Tips to Help You Prepare to Buy or Sell a House with Realtor Heather Malone
Preparing to buy or sell a home can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone! Check out these 5 Fresh Tips for preparing to buy or sell a home with realtor, Heather Malone.
Long Island-born and raised Heather Malone is a licensed associate broker and a licensed attorney. Heather is a real estate broker with Howard Hanna-Coach Realtors. She represents both buyers and sellers locally and out of state. She is also a relocation specialist for those moving out of state or moving to Long Island.
As one of Heather’s clients says, “Heather was able to make me feel like I was in good hands from the start. I always felt like she had my best interests at heart, and was in my corner every step of the way. Heather's attention to detail and personal touches were also extremely comforting. I sold my home while I was living out of state and Heather took care of everything like it was her own home for sale.”
You can learn more about Heather Malone on her Fresh Starts profile.
5 Fresh Tips to prepare to buy or sell a house:
Don’t buy or sell a home without a real estate professional! I know it can be tempting to save money when selling your home, but there are many nuances to a real estate transaction. Statistics have shown that sellers leave more money on the table than a real estate commission when they try and sell their home themselves. Also, some buyers think they are going to get a better deal when they work directly with the listing agent. The listing agent does not have your best interest in mind, and it is always better to have an advocate in your corner. Whether you’re buying or selling, the stakes are very personal to you, you need someone to look at the situation with a clear mind to help you make the best decision possible
Communicate your needs to your real estate agent. We want to help you achieve your real estate goals as best we can, but if we do not know pertinent information about what those needs are, we cannot do our job effectively. When all the parties in a transaction are upfront and honest about what they need, it makes for a smooth and successful closing process for all.
Listen to your real estate agent’s recommendations! You may have never bought or sold a home, or if you have, it may have been years ago. We assist buyers and sellers every single day. Though you may not like or even agree with our advice, it is best to listen and take it into consideration. Your agent is not trying to make this situation more difficult, they want to help you achieve your goals, so do not take their recommendations personally. If you do not like their advice, let them know what your concerns are, and work together for the best outcome.
Stop asking your friends and family for advice! Sure, your cousin may have just bought a home, or your friend sold her house a few years ago, this does not make them knowledgeable about your very specific real estate transaction. Every real estate transaction has something different that your friends and family may not have experienced. Though they may have your best interest in mind, getting everyone else’s opinion, especially if they are not real estate professionals, could just make your decision even more confusing. You have hired a real estate agent, a real estate attorney, possibly a lender and a home inspector, leave your questions and concerns with the professionals.
Market trends should not dictate whether it is a “good” or “bad” time to sell or buy a home. This is something I get often lately. The interest rates are up, so I should not sell or buy a home. Though market trends are something real estate agents look at when we help a seller list a home, it should not be the overall reason why you should sell or buy a property. You need to take your personal circumstances and see if it makes sense for you. Even though interest rates may be higher than we have seen, you may need to get a bigger home for a growing family or a smaller home after a divorce. The market will continually change, you should be educated on what it means for you at this time in your life.