Archive for February, 2017

The BEST Time to List Your Home!

Tuesday, February 28th, 2017
Best time to list your home

The best time to list your home is determined by the weather and the housing market in your area. When is the best time to list your home in Brooklyn? Call Charles today!

Welcome to March Madness in the world of real estate! You’ve heard it before: “List your home early in the year. That way, you’ll be ready to close the deal when home sales peak in June.” But what exactly does “early in the year” mean? When is the best time to list your home?

The Best Time to List Your Home According to Zillow

Zillow determined the best time to list your home based on an analysis of supply, demand and sellers’ outcomes. This magic window, they say, is mid-March to mid-April. Think March Madness to The Masters.

The Best Time to List Your Home According to the Weather

The best time and the exact weeks to list your home vary in different parts of the country, because the best time to list follows weather patterns. So in markets with warm climates like Miami, the best time to list is right now. But in places where winters are harsh, like Brooklyn for example, waiting until mid to late April is best. Nationally, the magic window for listing your home is in early May.

The Best Time to List Your Home According the Housing Market

In addition to the weather, housing market dynamics affect the best time to sell a home. A low supply of homes on the market, like we have now, pushes the best time to list your home into late spring. The decline in the number of homes on the market increases competition. This means buyers who start shopping for a home in early spring may need to look at several homes. It also means they will still be shopping a few months later. Then when May rolls around, these buyers may get eager to settle into their new home for the upcoming school year. This eagerness could make them willing to pay a premium to close on the house as quickly as possible.

What Makes the Best Time to List Your Home Magical?

When you list your home within the timeframe of the magic window, your home sells faster and for more money. And who doesn’t want that kind of magic? Data shows homes listed from mid-March to mid-April sell 15 percent faster and for 2 percent more than the average listing. That’s a national premium worth more than $4,000.

Are you selling your Brooklyn home this year? If you’re hoping to sell it quickly and get the most you can for the sale of your home, the best time to list is around May 7th. Data shows homes listed between May 1 and May 15 sell about 18.5 days faster and for 1 percent more than the average listing nationally. That’s an average premium of $1,700 for the seller of a median home. That’s magical, too!

Contact Charles D’Alessandro, your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9700 ext. 206 or email [email protected]. I can answer your questions about the best time to list your home in Brooklyn. Call me today to join in the March Madness of real estate!

How to Choose a Licensed Professional for a Home Inspection in Brooklyn

Wednesday, February 15th, 2017
Home inspection in Brooklyn

A good home inspection in Brooklyn is worth your time and money. Do your research to find a great home inspector for the home you are buying.

“Are home inspections worth the effort?” Yes, they are! “Would you recommend an inspection of the home we are buying?” Yes, I would! A home inspection in Brooklyn gives clear understanding of the current state of the home you are buying, and that’s important. Here’s why.

A home inspection is more than acquiring a list of problems to negotiate with a seller. It is assurance that you know exactly what you’re getting into when it comes to the condition of a home. It’s true that a home inspection could reveal something the seller needs to fix or something that will cause you to want to back out of buying a home. But it’s way more fun to think of it as an owner’s manual with maintenance tips and schedules for your new home instead.

Do Your Research to Find a Licensed, Professional Inspector for Your Home Inspection in Brooklyn

All home inspectors are not the same, nor do they offer the same things. With a little research of their websites, you can create a list of licensed, professional inspectors to choose from. Check their online reviews, study their websites and write down the answers to the following questions:

  1. How long have they been in business?
  2. Do they have testimonials listed on their website? If so, are they from happy clients or real estate agents? How many “5-star” testimonials are listed, 5 or 50?
  3. What are their qualifications and actual home inspection experience?
  4. Is there a sample inspection report available to view? A great home inspector will not hide a sample report from website visitors. Click HERE for an example of a good one.

What to Look for When Viewing a Sample Home Inspection Report

Believe it or not, there is much more than photos and illustrations to look for on a sample report. A good home inspection report will state the problem, explain the significance of the problem, and recommend a course of action.

Further inspections may be needed, and that’s fine. However, such recommendations should never be given lightly. Additional inspections require more time and money.

Finally …

Yes, you should hire a licensed, professional inspector to conduct a thorough home inspection in Brookly. Get recommendations and a sample report to make sure they will produce a thorough report on the home you are buying. Find out what is and isn’t included in the price of the inspection. Refer to this actual home inspector Home Inspection Checklist and ask what they will test for specifically. Be clear on exactly what is and isn’t included in the inspection price. For more tips on how to find a home inspector online, read: How Hard Can It Be to Find a Good Home Inspector?

Contact me, Charles D’Alessandro, your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9700 ext. 206 or email [email protected] for a list of inspectors with reviews in Brooklyn today.

Get a seller’s disclosure statement before the day of your inspection. This statement will help you pinpoint anything you want your inspector to look at. If the sellers disclosed a leaky window that was replaced or repaired, make sure your inspector looks at it.

After you’ve decided on an inspector, book the home inspection in Brooklyn. If you can’t decide between the final two on your list, go with price. Then, plan on being there with your agent on the day of the home inspection for the entire time.

You aren’t being a pest. Think of yourself as a student. Hearing and seeing what the inspector is inspecting is super helpful to you. They will explain your home’s systems and give maintenance tips which will also be in the final report.