Question: What kind of improvements should I make to my house before putting it on the market? Answer: That’s a simple question that can have a lengthy answer. It seems to us that fewer buyers are looking for a project these days; rather, more buyers want a home that is move-in ready. Maybe we are
Question: How important is it to have an open house? Answer: Very. It’s the best way to get the most traffic through your home. And even in our age of the online video tour, there’s nothing quite like letting potential buyers into your house to let their imaginations begin to percolate. Let’s review the two
Question: What is a title commitment? Answer: A title commitment is a commitment by a title company to issue title insurance. We discussed title insurance and why it is necessary in 2019. Today let’s take a closer look at the four parts – called schedules – of the title commitment. They are Schedules A, B,
Question: What is a CMA? Answer: A CMA – or comparative market analysis – is an excellent way to determine the sales price of your house or the value of a house that you wish to buy. It’s a data-crunching exercise that compares recent sales of similar properties while taking in account house square footage,
In 2017 we began a new feature on our blog called Ask the Agents. Since then, we have answered many, many questions from clients, friends and perfect strangers. This is our 20th installment of questions and answers. Question: What is a sellers’ market? Answer: Typically, a sellers’ market is one in which there is six
Question: We are in contract on a house and had an inspection done. Among the inspector’s findings: wood rot around windows, cast iron pipes under the house and missing shingles on the roof. Doesn’t the seller have to make the repairs? Answer: No. There is no requirement for a seller to make any repairs, unless
Question: Are open houses actually useful? Answer: The short answer is, yes. Oh, we’ve heard many of the arguments against public open houses: Only nosy neighbors come. It’s a weekend amusement for people who could never afford my house. Dishonest people might be checking out my stuff. Real estate agents want them in order to
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) regularly tweaks the various contracts, agreements, notices and addenda that home buyers and sellers and their agents use. The common One to Four Family Residential Contract – that is, the contract typically used to resell a home – has had a number of changes that will soon go into
Cameron and Teresa are working now on the next edition of the River Oaks Market Report, set to go to press next week. The “Outlook” edition will drill down into the River Oaks real estate market for 2020 – what sold where and for how much? – plus offer thoughtful insight as to what to
Question: What precautions should be taken for an open house? Answer: Despite six months of COVID-19, the real estate business has not ground to a halt. Or, to put it more accurately, after a hard stop last spring, it is once again percolating along. People feel more comfortable going out, and there remains a pent-up