Selling a Damaged House As-Is: 10 Tips for Home Sellers

Posted on January 19, 2023 by kristenherhold

Share:

When it comes to selling a damaged home, it can be difficult to make the best decision. While the ideal scenario is to make all necessary repairs before listing the home, sometimes it is simply not feasible.

When repairs are too costly and time-consuming, home sellers may consider selling their homes as-is. Here are 10 tips to help you make the most of selling a damaged house as-is.

1. Know Your Options

Before making a decision, consider all of your options. Depending on the house’s condition, you may be able to make repairs and list it for sale on the open market. You could also look into a home improvement loan, or even a cash-out refinance to cover the costs of repairs. If none of these options are available to you, selling the home as-is may be your best bet.

2. Research Market Conditions

Before proceeding with a sale, you should research the current market conditions. If the housing market is sluggish, you may be better off waiting until the market improves before selling. On the other hand, if the market is hot, selling your home as-is may be a smart move.

3. Price It Right

When pricing a damaged home for sale, you should factor in the cost of repairs. Avoid pricing it too low, as this will leave money on the table. Instead, you should price it to accommodate the repairs that need to be made.

Accurate house pricing is the number one factor for getting it sold!

4. Find the Right Buyer

When selling a damaged home, you should look for buyers that are interested in a fixer-upper. Look for cash buyers or investors who are comfortable with the repairs that need to be made. A real estate agent may be able to help you find the right buyer.

5. Make the Necessary Disclosures

When selling a damaged home, you must make the necessary disclosures to potential buyers. Be honest about the condition of the home and provide any materials that may be necessary, such as inspection reports. This will help to protect you from any potential legal issues in the future.

6. Offer Incentives

When selling a damaged home, you should consider offering incentives to potential buyers. For example, you could offer to cover closing costs or offer a home warranty. These incentives could be the difference between a successful and unsuccessful sales.

7. Consider an Assumable Loan

If you have a loan on the home, you may consider offering an assumable loan to the buyer. This could be a great way to make the sale more attractive to potential buyers, as they won’t have to go through the process of qualifying for a loan.

8. Make Minor Repairs

It may be worth doing if you can make minor repairs without breaking the bank. This could help make the home more attractive to potential buyers and increase the chances of a successful sale.

9. Leave Major Repairs for the Buyer

Major repairs should be left for the buyer to make. This could be a great way to save money, as buyers may be willing to make the repairs themselves in exchange for a lower price. Major repairs could include replacing the roof, foundation repairs, or updating the electrical system.

10. Consider a Quick Sale

You may consider a quick sale if you need to sell your damaged home quickly. A quick sale is when you sell the home to a cash buyer or investor willing to take the home as-is. This could be a great way to sell the home quickly and begin planning your move.

Selling a damaged house as-is is not always ideal, but it can be a viable option. Before making a decision, consider your options and research current market conditions. You should also make sure to price the home correctly and find the right buyer.

An as-is sale may be the best option if you need to sell the home quickly. Following these tips, you can make the most of selling a damaged house.

Tips For Increasing Your Credit Score By Paying Rent

Posted on January 17, 2023 by massrealty

Share:

Rent payments are usually a tenant’s most significant expense, but they’re not traditionally represented in Americans’ credit history.

However, this has changed — renters today can easily report on-time rent payments to the major credit bureaus so they can be used to improve their credit scores.

In this article, we’ll discuss the financial impact of a credit score and the steps renters can take to improve their credit.

The Importance of a Good Credit Score

An estimated 11% of the U.S. adult population is considered “credit invisible” — meaning they have no credit history — and an additional 8% are unscorable or have fragile credit files.

A lack of credit limits an individual’s financial independence by making it hard to access funding sources like credit cards, car loans, mortgages, and even rental units. Here’s how a low credit score or lack of credit history impacts a renter.

Landlords Prefer Tenants with Higher Credit Scores

As home prices continue to rise, more Americans are renting homes instead of purchasing property. This has put landlords in a position to be more discerning about the types of tenants they rent to.

As part of the rental application, landlords often ask prospective tenants for references from previous landlords, proof of employment, and credit checks.

Without a solid credit history, it’s difficult for tenants to reassure potential landlords that they will pay their rent on time.

Poor Credit Scores May Mean Higher Security Deposits

Security deposits are commonly required at the start of the lease to cover any missed rent payments or potential damage caused by tenants during the lease term.

To protect their investment, landlords may require renters with poor credit scores to pay higher security deposits — meaning the up-front costs of moving into a new apartment are even high.

Renters with excellent credit scores may also have the advantage of negotiating lower security deposits for long-term rentals or even lower rent.

Better Credit Leads to Better Financing Options

Young individuals often rent in the early stages of their career to maintain flexibility and minimize significant expenses — and because they don’t yet have a credit history.

Tenants who take steps to build their credit scores early on can eventually finance a home purchase in the future.

Good credit improves the chances of getting approved for loans and credit cards of all types. Individuals with high credit scores are considered lower-risk borrowers and have better negotiating power when it comes to getting favorable interest rates and loan terms from lenders.

3 Ways Renters Can Improve Their Credit

Use a Rent Reporting Tool

Rent reporting is creating reports of rent payments to the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). It’s a new strategy for renters to improve their credit when they don’t own a home or have other opportunities to build equity.

There are several relatively low-cost rent reporting tools available for tenants, so find one that makes sense for you and your landlord. The effort will pay dividends — one Experian report suggested that reporting rent payments improves credit scores by up to 29 points.

Pay Rent on Time, Every Time

Once you’re reporting your rent, it’s important to pay rent on time to improve your credit score and remain in good standing with your landlord.

Even missing payments once in a while or during periods of economic hardship can affect credit scores if they’re more than 30 days late.

Once a late payment is reported to a credit agency, it stays on the renter’s credit report for seven years — even if all payments after that are made on time. Regular offenders are likely to have their credit score affected enough to limit their rental options for future leases.

Monitor and Dispute Credit Report Mistakes

Even when renters make payments on time or within the grace period offered by credit bureaus, uneven or delayed processing times can lead to mistakes being placed on tenants’ shoulders.

Therefore, renters must look through their statements and credit reports to ensure mistakes are rectified immediately and that the appropriate companies are informed of the error.

This can prevent inaccuracies from showing up on credit reports and can help renters save time and energy if they don’t find it until later.

Complement Rent Reporting with Other Credit-Boosting Strategies

Rental payments can give tenants a good credit boost, but these aren’t the only arrow in their quiver. Always pay your bills on time, and don’t spend beyond your means.

Regular usage and on-time payments of credit cards are other simple ways to improve credit scores.

Why Should Landlords Help Tenants Use Rent Payments to Boost Credit Scores?

Renters Are More Likely to Pay Rent on Time if Payments Are Reported

Recent research shows that 15% of renters in America are behind on rent payments. This impacts cash flow for landlords, so it’s in their best interest to find ways to incentivize paying rent on time.

Statistics gathered by Experian revealed that almost three-quarters of renters are more likely to pay rent on time if their payments are reported to credit bureaus.

This is especially true for younger renters who are in greater need and have less available avenues to build credit.

Younger Renters Prefer Units That Offer Rent Payment Reporting

While landlords can be discerning in choosing the best tenants, these renters are also in high demand. Landlords, like tenants, must show they are collaborative and willing to help renters where they can.

If given a choice between identical rental units, 67% of renters would choose the one that offers rent reporting. Good quality tenants are always highly sought after, and offering rent reporting increases the chances of finding a tenant who pays rent on time.

Improving Credit Scores with Rent Reporting

Americans depend on good credit scores to apply for credit cards, get financing for large purchases, improve rental options, and much more.

Rent payments form a significant part of most American renters’ regular expenses, and tenants can leverage rent reporting as an affordable and simple way to build credit.

About the author: The article on How to Use Rent Payments to Boost Your Credit Score was written by Mike Bang. Mike is Head of Growth at Azibo, the one-stop-shop financial services platform for rental properties, providing a world-class platform for rent collection, banking, lending, insurance, and more.

15 Tips for Attracting More Offers on Your Home

Featured

Posted on January 6, 2023 by kristenherhold

Share:

Selling a house can be stressful and time-consuming, but with the right strategies in place, it’s possible to attract more offers and ultimately get the best price for your property. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

1. Prepare Your Home for Sale

This means decluttering, deep cleaning, and making necessary repairs or updates. A well-maintained home will be more appealing to potential buyers and can also help increase the value of your property.

2. Avoid Selling As Is

One of the more significant mistakes some sellers make is to market their house as being sold as-is. Doing so brings with it a negative connotation. Buyers get the feeling a seller is either trying to hide something or sell a lemon.

3. Set the Right Price

It’s essential to price your home correctly from the start. If it’s too high, you may not receive any offers. You could potentially leave money on the table if it’s too low. Research recent sales of similar homes in your area to get an idea of the market value of your property.

You may also consider hiring a real estate agent or using online tools to help you determine the best price to set your home at.

4. Maximize Curb Appeal

The first thing potential buyers will see when they arrive at your home is the exterior, so making a good first impression is important. This means keeping the lawn well-manicured, power washing the exterior, and adding decorative touches like potted plants or a fresh coat of paint.

5. Stage the Interior

Home staging involves making the interior of your home look as inviting and appealing as possible. This can include arranging furniture, decluttering, and adding some personal touches like throw pillows or artwork.

6. Stand Out from the Competition

Make sure to highlight any unique features or amenities your home offers, like a pool, home gym, home office, or outdoor living space. In today’s market, buyers can scroll through countless options online, and you don’t want yours to get lost in the shuffle.

7. Use High-Quality Marketing Materials

When marketing your home, it’s essential to use high-quality materials like professional photos and a well-written listing description. You may also want to consider using video or virtual tours to give potential buyers a better sense of what your home looks like.

8. Consider Alternative Methods

If you’re having trouble attracting offers through traditional methods, you may consider alternatives like selling to a company that buys homes for cash or listing your home on Airbnb.

9. Consider Rent-to-Own

This can be a win-win situation for both parties, as the buyer can build equity, and the seller can potentially sell their home for a higher price than they could have gotten through a traditional sale.

It also provides a steadier income stream, as the buyer will pay ongoing rent during the lease period. Rent-to-own can potentially attract a wider pool of buyers, including those who may not qualify for a traditional mortgage.

10. Find the Right Real Estate Agent

Working with a skilled and experienced real estate agent can be a great way to get more offers on your home. Look for an agent with a track record of success and consider using a discount real estate broker to save on commissions.

11. Host Plenty of Open Houses

Open houses allow potential buyers to see your home in person, which can be a lot more informative than only viewing photos online. While hosting open houses can be a bit of a pain, it is well worth ensuring buyers get a true feel for your home.

12. Advertise Your Home on Additional Channels

If more traditional methods aren’t getting you the offers you’re looking for, post ads on various channels like social media, local classifieds, and real estate websites. Your perfect buyer may just stumble across it!

13. Offer Incentives

Consider offering incentives to potential buyers, like covering closing costs or offering a home warranty. If you’re having a particularly tough time selling your home and want to sell it quickly, it may be worth sweetening the deal for your buyers to set it apart from the competition.

14. Address Worries

Address any potential concerns or objections buyers may have, such as foundation issues or an open insurance claim. Determining what may deter buyers is a significant first step in figuring out how to put their minds at ease.

15. Offer a Flexible Closing Date

Offering a flexible closing date can make your home more attractive to buyers who may be in a hurry to move, or conversely, buyers who need to wait until a lease is up or their home sells to close on your home. If you can be flexible, your home may be one of very few on the market that buyers with specific time constraints can consider.

16. Use Your Network

Get recommendations from friends, family, and other contacts to help spread the word about your home and attract more offers. You never know whose coworker, friend, or child may be looking to buy a house!

Following these tips can increase the chances of attracting more offers when selling your house and ultimately get the best price for your property.