Posts Tagged ‘brooklyn home’
Wednesday, April 18th, 2012
When you see “motivated seller” in real estate listings, does that mean the sellers are desperate to sell their Brooklyn home and are open to negotiation? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Do not assume it means you’re going to get the home at a bargain price.
When you see “motivated seller” in real estate listings, it could mean a wide variety of things including:
- The seller is willing to accept a lower price or give some concessions.
- The Brooklyn home could be near foreclosure.
- The sellers want to see an offer before canceling the listing.
- It’s a marketing strategy. (In other words, it means nothing.)
Here are some tips on how to deal with motivated sellers:
- Decide if you really want to buy the Brooklyn home. Don’t buy it just because you think you might get it at a greatly reduced price.
- Have your agent ask the listing agent why the seller is so motivated to sell. If there is no realistic reason, you could be wasting your time.
- Consider giving a low-ball offer to see how the seller responds. If the seller does not give a counter offer, you have your answer. If they give a reasonable counter offer, they’re obviously willing to negotiate.
- Wait for a price reduction. Most listing agents will ask the sellers to reduce their price when the property hasn’t gotten any offers or sold in the expected time frame.
- Ask if other offers have been made. If yes, find out why they were rejected, and try to overcome the seller’s objections.
Owning a home is the American Dream. Figuring out if it’s the right time for you to buy, and which property is best for you to purchase, is something only you can decide.
When you’re ready to find your American Dream home, I’d love to help. Call me at Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]..
Tags: brooklyn home, Brooklyn home and are open to negotiation, Brooklyn home could be near foreclosure, Charles D’Alessandro, Fillmore real estate, ind your American Dream home, motivated seller, real estate listings, sell their Brooklyn home
Posted in Brooklyn, Buying Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate Professionals, Selling Brooklyn Real Estate | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012
There are many ominous superstitions associated with Friday the 13th. From black cats to broken mirrors, bad luck can stem from almost anywhere and many sellers like to blame it for their Brooklyn home sitting on the market for too many months.
Without casting a single spell, you can banish bad luck this month and sell your Brooklyn home fast by ensuring you’ve fixed all the pesky problems that home inspectors focus on. Below is a list of problems to address to help you turn your bad luck to good.
Electric shock – Faulty wiring, which is especially common in older houses, might spook some inspectors into suggesting that the entire electrical system needs to be replaced. Have your wiring checked and update what you can before putting your house on the market.
- Structural damage – While damage can be minor and not of immediate concern, you can be sure the inspector will point out potential long-term issues. Repair problems early, so that prospective buyers will feel at ease knowing you’ve taken the necessary precautions.
- Water and air infiltration – This is probably the easiest and most inexpensive way to avoid scaring off a buyer. Just replace the caulking around windows and doors.
- Hazards to health – If you live in an older house that contains asbestos or lead-based paint, before you put your house on the market, determine if these are a direct health hazard. If so, check with your insurance provider to see if any of the renovation costs will be covered.
Be proactive and banish bad sales luck this Friday the 13th. Fix the little issues that spook property inspectors. You’ll sell your Brooklyn house quickly and take good luck with you to your new home.
If you could use more information on problems inspectors love to hate, please call Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected].
Tags: brooklyn home, Brooklyn home sitting on the market, Charles D’Alessandro, Fillmore real estate, Friday the 13th, problems that home inspectors focus on
Posted in Brooklyn, Real Estate, Real estate agent, Selling Brooklyn Real Estate | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 27th, 2012
Even though we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day this month, do not count on the luck of the Irish when it comes to selling your Brooklyn home. Finding the right buyer in this housing market can seem about as easy as spotting a leprechaun. However, with a little bit of research, you can identify the type of buyers most likely to purchase your home and develop a marketing strategy to target that group.
Pinpointing the buyers most likely to purchase your home and marketing specifically to that group is a tool that real estate professionals use all the time. Below are two crucial steps to identifying potential buyers of your home, appealing to the people most likely to purchase your property and selling your house quicker — which means claiming your pot of gold.
- 1. Identify the lifestyle fit. Think back to when you initially bought the property and what qualities caught your eye. Were you a single man looking for a bachelor pad or an empty nester looking for a place to retire? Coincidentally, whoever buys your Brooklyn home will probably have a lifestyle similar to the one you had when you bought your home. So, be sure to highlight attractive features, such as a game room for a bachelor or one-level living for a retiree.
- 2. Notice the neighborhood. Once you’ve identified the type of buyer, it is important to examine your Brooklyn neighborhood. People want to live in areas where they have the amenities they need. Do you live close to a desirable school district? Is a new shopping development going in right down the road? Are there multiple parks within walking distance? These can all be things that attract the right buyer, but are often left out of advertising.
Do not count on leprechauns and luck to sell your Brooklyn home! While your buyer could turn out to be the complete opposite of your target market, you are more likely to have house-selling success if you reach out to a specific demographic.
If you could use help developing a marketing strategy to sell your real estate, please call Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected] today.
Tags: brooklyn home, brooklyn neighborhood, Finding the right buyer in this housing market, have house-selling success, purchase your property, real estate professionals, selling your Brooklyn home, selling your house quicker, St. Patrick’s Day
Posted in Brooklyn, Real Estate, Selling Brooklyn Real Estate | No Comments »
Sunday, January 29th, 2012
Charles D'Alessandro your Brooklyn real estate agent!
While we all know the economy has taken a hit on the real estate market, that doesn’t mean purchasing a Brooklyn home and putting down roots has turned into an unreachable dream. In fact, you can grasp it quite easily, and there are many benefits to doing so.
Start 2012 off right by setting new life and financial goals for yourself. If you’ve been renting and are planning to remain in Brooklyn, then it’s definitely time for you to consider buying a house. Here are some benefits you should take into account:
- You’ll build equity. If you take out a loan, you’ll be using someone else’s money to turn your property into a piggy bank and eventually make money as your Brooklyn home appreciates. Plus, when you sell down the road, you won’t have to share the proceeds — what’s not to like about making money with your bank’s money!
- You’ll receive tax breaks. The government supports purchasing homes by giving you significant tax breaks on your federal taxes. And when it comes time to sell, you won’t have to pay capital gains taxes either, until you hit a certain ceiling.
- You’ll be able to count on consistent payments year to year. If you can get a fixed-rate mortgage, you won’t need to worry about an annual increase in your housing payments. When you’re renting, you never know what your payments could be from lease to lease, which makes it hard to determine if your current residence will always be within your budget.
While the appreciation on a house you purchase now might not shoot up as fast as it did a decade ago, buying a home is still a wise long-term investment. Paying rent is no investment at all.
If you’re on the fence about the benefits of purchasing a Brooklyn home in the New Year or you’d like to see what’s available, please call Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate a call at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected] I’m happy to help.
Tags: appreciation on a house, benefits of purchasing a Brooklyn home, brooklyn home, brooklyn real estate agent, Charles D’Alessandro, Fillmore real estate, planning to remain in Brooklyn, real estate market
Posted in Brooklyn, Buying Real Estate, Deal of the Week, Midwood Community, Real Estate, Real estate agent, Rent vs. Home Ownership | No Comments »
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
- Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn Real Estate Agent
If you’re looking for ways to update your Brooklyn home, consider ceramic tile. There are myriad ways to implement tile for a new look.
Ceramic tile is the ideal material to use where water is an issue—think the kitchen, bathroom and plant room. It’s also the best option where fire is an issue—again the kitchen, fireplace and woodstove. For a durable and classic look, consider these possibilities for ceramic tile in your Brooklyn home:
- Flooring. Compared to wood, tile is affordable and more durable. Compared to carpet, tile is hypo-allergenic and more durable. Compared to vinyl, tile is classic and more durable.
- Countertops. If your kitchen countertops have seen better days, you can get a whole new, custom look with ceramic tile.
- Entire bathroom. From the floor to the walls, ceramic tile can withstand the water and steam of the bathroom environment.
- Hearth. Ceramic tile around the fireplace or woodstove equals peace of mind.
- Windowsills. If you have houseplants, you know how easy it is to ruin the woodwork of a windowsill. Tile is a much more forgiving material to host your plants and their watery needs.
- Backsplash. A backsplash is installed wherever you need to protect a section of wall. Above the kitchen or bathroom sink, ceramic tile will protect your wall from water damage. Another place you can install a backsplash is behind the stove, where food and grease splash up. With ceramic tile, clean up is easy and a backsplash will add stunning interest to your décor.
In today’s buyer’s market, you need to make sure your Brooklyn home stands out from the rest. For more tips on how to get your home sold, contact me Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate a call at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]
Tags: brooklyn home, Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn real estate agent, Fillmore real estate, update your Brooklyn home
Posted in Brooklyn, News, Real Estate, Real estate agent, Selling Brooklyn Real Estate | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012
Before you sign on the dotted line for your new Brooklyn home, be sure to get the information you need to make a sound financial decision. That includes getting a thorough home inspection by a qualified professional.
This may seem like one more hoop to jump through, but a detailed and complete inspection can reveal some unpleasant surprises about your new Brooklyn home purchase. It can also impact the price you pay for the property. Remember, part of your offer should include a clause that specifies who will pay for any necessary repairs discovered by the inspection.
When looking for an inspector:
- Ask your friends: Word of mouth is still the best way to go, as their good experience can lead to yours.
- Ask your real estate agent: Agents have worked with many buyers and sellers and have heard the stories of money saved by a solid inspection.
- Ask Google or the Yellow Pages: If no one has a good recommendation, you can always go in blind. Research any prospects you find thoroughly.
No matter how you find inspectors’ names, take the time to check them out.
Once you have a home inspector in mind, be sure to:
- Check licensing: Licensing varies from state to state. Know the rules for your area.
- Check references: Any reputable inspector should have a list of happy former clients. Call a few of them.
- Check the Better Business Bureau: A few minutes can save you some headaches. You don’t want an inspector with 20 complaints lodged against him no matter how wonderful Uncle Eddie says he is.
- Request sample reports: Review sample reports from the inspector. The reports should be thorough.
- Check qualifications: Make sure your inspector has a background in engineering, architecture or contracting work. You want someone who can recognize and identify problems. Ask inspectors about their education, experience and professional association membership (such as the American Society of Home Inspectors).
If you’re looking to buy a Brooklyn home, give me a call Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn Realtor® today at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]. I’ll take you step-by-step through the buying process, including getting the home thoroughly inspected by a qualified professional.
Tags: American Society of Home Inspectors, Ask Google, Ask your real estate agent, Better Business Bureau, brooklyn home, Brooklyn Home Inspector, Brooklyn home purchase, Charles D'Alessandro your Brooklyn Realtor®, home inspection by a qualified professional, looking to buy a Brooklyn home, Yellow Pages
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Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
Within the walls of your house, you’ve probably raised a family, made future plans and created years of memories. Take time this month to be thankful for everything your Brooklyn home has given you if you just Show Your Brooklyn Home Some TLC this Thanksgiving .
With Christmas right around the corner, I know it’s hard to justify spending a lot of money on your Brooklyn home. Below are a few easy and affordable green projects for you to do this Thanksgiving holiday — and they’ll start paying off immediately!
Buy compact florescent light bulbs. You don’t have to do this all at once. As your light bulbs burn out, replace them with these energy savers for around $3 a piece. They last about ten times longer than incandescent light bulbs and can save you close to $40 over their lifetime.
- Use faucet aerators. These only cost about $10 and are incredibly easy to install. Just unscrew your faucet nozzle or showerhead and slip the aerator in. It can cut your water bill in half by making the water squeeze through tiny holes, which makes it feel like there is more pressure. You’ll also reduce water heating bills because the less hot water you use, the less you’ll have to heat.
- Put in ceiling fans. If you don’t have these in your house, then you’re missing out on a huge energy-saver. Starting around $50, ceiling fans push hot air down and help equalize each room’s temperature — just switch the blade rotation for summer and pull cool air up.
- Replace your old toilet. Older toilets can dispense almost 3.5 gallons per flush, while modern low-flow toilets dispense as little as 1 gallon. If you’re in for more of a handyman challenge, you can purchase these for as low as $150. The more people you have in your house, the more savings you’ll see.
Not only will your Brooklyn home and finances thank you for the green upgrades, but the environment will too.
If you’d like more green ideas you can implement this Thanksgiving break, please call me at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected].
Tags: affordable green projects for you to do, brooklyn home, Christmas right around the corner, compact florescent light bulbs, faucet aerators, green ideas you can implement, Put in ceiling fans, Replace your old toilet, Thanksgiving holiday
Posted in Brooklyn, Going Green, Real Estate | No Comments »
Sunday, October 16th, 2011
What to do with those Outdated Items in your Brooklyn Home
If your Brooklyn home is starting to look like a landfill, you’re not alone. You’d like to get rid of all the old stuff you don’t use anymore, but you want to be responsible and don’t know where to take it, right?
Here are some of the most common obsolete items and ideas on what to do with them.
· Technotrash: This is computer-related waste, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs and other obsolete accessories. A company called GreenDisk can handle all your technotrash disposal needs by safely and securely destroying your old data, recovering reusable components, and recycling all of the rest of your accumulated technotrash.
- Old electronics: Also known as e-waste, this includes old appliances, TVs and monitors that contain valuable metals that can be recycled, along with other hazardous heavy metals that need to be handled responsibly. Many communities sponsor an E-waste Day, when everyone can bring their old appliances in for safe disposal. Some retailers have recycling programs where you can earn gift cards by trading in old electronics.
- Shoes: Don’t trash those outdated shoes or ones you just don’t wear anymore. Soles4Souls is a charity that wants all gently-worn shoes. You can find drop-off locations near your Brooklyn home. The shoes will be sent to people in need around the world.
- Old medicines: If you have medications that are past their expiration date or that you don’t want or need any longer, don’t flush them. Drugs are becoming a serious problem in water supplies and groundwater. You can now buy a postage-paid envelope to responsibly dispose of many prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs. The Dispose My Meds program is an online resource to help you find local pharmacies that will take back expired or unwanted drugs.
Now that you know where to take your old obsolete stuff, you’re well on your way to getting your Brooklyn home clean and de-cluttered. If your next step is to get it on the market, I can help with that too! Contact me call today Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected],
Tags: brooklyn home, brooklyn real estate agent, cassette tapes, CDs, Charles D’Alessandro, computer-related waste, Dispose My Meds program, Drugs are becoming a serious problem in water supplies and groundwater, DVDs and other obsolete accessories, Fillmore real estate, find local pharmacies, gently-worn shoes, getting your Brooklyn home clean and de-cluttered, GreenDisk, Soles4Souls is a charity, sponsor an E-waste Day, Technotrash, VHS tapes
Posted in Buying Real Estate, Canarsie Community, Going Green, Marine Park Community, Midwood Community, Real Estate, Recycle Technology | No Comments »
Sunday, August 28th, 2011
Feng Shui your Brooklyn Home
Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of designing space so that energy flows through it in a harmonious way. While it may sound exotic and foreign, the principles of feng shui are based on making people feel secure and comfortable in their surroundings. If you want to try to implement some of the tools of feng shui in your Brooklyn home, here are some first steps to take.
- De-clutter. This is the first and most important thing to do. Think of energy in terms of new opportunities, helpful people, prosperity, happiness, health and movement. If your Brooklyn home is cluttered with stuff, it has a restricting effect, both physically and mentally, on those who live there and on those who visit.
- Eliminate ‘shars.’ Shars are considered ‘poison arrows,’ created by straight lines and sharp angles. For example, if your Brooklyn home sits at the end of a T-junction, with a road pointing straight at it, this is considered unfortunate. Think about it: Any car coming down the road could come crashing into your home! While this is unlikely, it affects you on a subconscious level, making you feel vulnerable. A feng shui remedy would be to plant a hedge or build a fence across the front of the house, to hide the view of the road and remove the subconscious threat. Another type of shar is created by furniture with sharp corners; have you ever bruised yourself on a sharp corner, while dodging clutter? If so, you can see how feng shui could make your home and your life more harmonious.
- Pay attention to your front door. Is it easy to find? Is it clean and freshly painted? Is it easy to open? Is there an open pathway leading up to it? If not, these are some things you can address to make your entrance more inviting.
- Look at pictures of your Brooklyn home, inside and out. We become so accustomed to our own home we can’t see it as a newcomer would. It’s surprising the things that stand out in a photograph of something we look at every day.
- Get a book on feng shui. If you like the sound of these ideas, you should look into it further. This is only a rudimentary glimpse of an ancient philosophy.
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Tags: brooklyn home, Brooklyn home is cluttered with stuff, Charles The Brooklyn Realtor, Feng Shui, feng shui in your Brooklyn home, Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of designing space, Fillmore real estate, Get a book on feng shui, Home More Inviting with Feng Shui, New York City Home, some of the tools of feng shui
Posted in Buying Real Estate, For sale by owner, News, Real Estate, Real Estate Professionals, Selling Brooklyn Real Estate | No Comments »
Monday, August 1st, 2011
Questions for Divorcing Couples
Today’s Brooklyn real estate market has a lot of divorcing couples struggling to decide what to do with their Brooklyn home. Especially when the house is the largest marital asset, the situation can easily become contentious and unclear. Here are five questions to ask yourself before deciding what to do with your shared property.
Does keeping your Brooklyn home make financial sense? Often, once a couple splits, neither party can afford the mortgage payment and maintenance of the house by themselves. If this is the case, selling is most likely your best option.
- Could you manage to keep living together while separated? When going through a divorce, you may not be able to stand each other’s sight. It won’t work in every situation, but you might want to tough it out and continue sharing the house (just with different bedrooms) until the market rebounds and you can make a profit.
- Are your emotions getting the better of you? Many people can’t help but develop a strong emotional attachment to a house. That’s certainly understandable, but it doesn’t always make the most monetary sense. It might help if you try viewing the house like any other asset. You’re unlikely to let emotion come into play regarding the yard tools and bedspreads; try to treat the house the same way.
- How will you split the proceeds? You’ll want to make sure you have a plan in place to split the proceeds when the house does sell. If not, you could be thrown back into a huge argument instead of finally moving on with your life.
- What if one of you won’t agree to a price? The negotiation process won’t go smoothly if it comes down to an argument between the two sellers. Therefore, you should have some sort of agreement as to your bottom-line price. Also, you’ll need to decide how you’ll handle counter offers.
If you need help determining if now is the best time to sell your Brooklyn home, call Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn Realtor® with Fillmore Real Estate at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected],
Tags: brooklyn home, Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn Realtor®, decide how you’ll handle counter offers, develop a strong emotional attachment to a house, Divorcing Couples Selling Their Brooklyn Home, divorcing couples struggling to decide what to do with their Brooklyn home, Does keeping your Brooklyn home make financial sense, Fillmore real estate, house is the largest marital asset, housing downturn has a lot of divorcing couples, Questions for Divorcing Couples
Posted in Buying Real Estate | No Comments »