Why You’ll Win by Selling with a Real Estate Agent This Fall

October 21, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

There are numerous advantages to working with a real estate agent when purchasing or selling your house. During hard times, like what we confront now, it becomes even more important to have an expert that you trust to help guide you through the procedure.

Your family’s safety should always come first, which is more critical than ever given the present health condition in our country. When you FSBO, it is incredibly hard to control entry into your house. A real estate professional is going to have the proper protocols in place to protect not only your belongings but your family’s health and well-being too. From controlling the amount of men and women in your house at one time to ensuring good sanitization through and after a showing, as well as easing virtual tours for buyers, real estate professionals are equipped to follow the latest industry criteria recommended by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to help protect you and your family.

Recent studies in NAR have proven that, even before COVID-19, the first step 44% of buyers obtained when looking for a home was to search online. During the process, that number jumps to 93 percent. Now, those numbers have grown exponentially. Most real estate agents have developed a strong Internet and social media strategy to market the sale of your residence. Have you?

As a part of their instruction, brokers are instructed how to negotiate every aspect of the real estate transaction and how to mediate the emotions felt by buyers seeking to make what is probably the largest purchase of their own lives.

Possessing a buyer who wants to purchase your home is the first step. Making sure they can afford to purchase it is just as important. As a FSBO, it is almost impossible to participate in the mortgage process of your purchaser.

Further complicating the situation is the way the current mortgage market is quickly evolving due to the amount of households out of work and in mortgage forbearance. A loan program which was available yesterday could be gone tomorrow. You need someone who’s working with lenders every day to ensure your buyer makes it to the final table.

The documentation included in the selling process has improved dramatically as more and more disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. In a litigious society, the agent acts as a third party to aid the seller avoid legal jeopardy. This is only one of the major reasons why the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 8% over the last 20+ years.

Many homeowners believe they’ll save the actual estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the chief reason buyers look at FSBOs is since they also think they can save the real estate agent’s commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save on the commission.The more buyers who view a house, the greater the opportunity a bidding war will take place.

Listing on your own leaves you to manage the entire transaction by yourself. Why do that when you can hire an agent and still net the same amount of money? Before you decide to take on the challenge of selling your house alone, reach out to a local real estate professional to discuss your options.

Preferred Properties of Texas is here for all your real estate needs. Give us a call today.

Selling your home in Stephenville

Buying a home in Stephenville

Homes For Sale in Stephenville Texas

August 19, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Homes For Sale in Stephenville Texas

You can find houses for sale in Stephenville Texas, if you do just a bit of research on the internet at www.preferredpropertiestx.com. Doing this type of study is a great way that will assist you in finding your future home in Stephenville Texas. There are many homes that come to market every day. Some of the homes on the market may be move in ready others may need some work. Make sure before buying you discuss with a Realtor at Preferred Properties of Texas to make sure that you are offering fair market price based on comps of the area and condition of the home.

You need to look in the homes and whenever you are looking for homes for sale in Stephenville Texas. Some of those homes are preowned or “lived-in” other houses are brand new houses which are available to those who are eager to have a brand-new home that requires no work. You might want to have a look at all available homes for sale in the surrounding area, in addition to looking in Stephenville Texas.

Homes for sale in Stephenville Texas could be had quite inexpensively and therefore are great houses that may be perfect for you family for many years to come. You’ll come across a fantastic may come upon the perfect home that is also a great long term investment that you create for your family in your property, Should you take a little time to check around for all these houses for sale. You must try to look at homes with a lot of potential and when possible when looking for houses for sale in Stephenville Texas and in Erath County Texas.

SOLD!!! Horse Lover’s Dream!!!

May 15, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

SOLD!!!

1245 FARM ROAD 1824, HICO, TX 76457

This 93 acre one of a kind property is a must see. From the fantastic views sitting on your wrap around porch to its close proximity to town. It is approximately 10 minutes from Stephenville and within an hour and half of the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex. This property boast 33 acres of coastal acreage and a 500 ft deep well into the second Trinity. The Large barn has four stalls, 2 foaling stalls, grooming area, tack room, covered breeding area and a fly spray system built in. For added convenience there is also a bathroom. The attached work shop has electricity. This property also boast loafing sheds with separate pastures for grazing your horses or cattle and a shooting range!!

If you are looking for a working cattle ranch in Texas, hunting lodge in Texas, or horse property in Texas – Then Preferred Properties of Texas is here to help you make that want a need and we will make you want become a reality!

Get A Jump and List Your Property Now!

April 28, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Spring into Listing Your Home Today

With the release of the latest Economic Pulse Flash Survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), results show that people selling their houses today are holding strong on price. According to the most recent data, 74% of real estate agents noted that sellers are not dropping listing prices to attract more buyers.

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, noted:

“The housing market faced an inventory shortage before the pandemic. Given that there are even fewer new listings during the pandemic, home sellers are taking a calm approach and appear unwilling to lower prices to attract buyers during the temporary disruptions to the economy.”

This inventory shortage, which spread widely throughout the housing market going into today’s economic slowdown, created an environment where there were not enough homes for sale for those who wanted to buy them, and this holds true with the real estate market in Stephenville, TX and Erath county in general. With that backdrop setting the stage, Yun also notes:

“With the current quarantine recommendations in place, fewer sellers are listing homes, which will limit buyer choices.”

So, with buyer choices already limited going into this season, and more sellers removing listings today, if you’ve been thinking about listing your house, it’s a great time to do so. Many others in your neighborhood may be waiting to make a move or removing their listings, so staying on the market – or jumping into it – could work to your advantage.

Buyers in Stephenville, TX and the Cross Timbers Area, today are serious ones, and with prices holding steady in this low-inventory market, you can feel confident about selling today. Embracing the process virtually, where available, could help your house hit the top of an eager buyer’s list. While your neighbors miss out on this opportunistic time, you don’t have to.

Bottom Line

If buyer choices are limited in your Erath county town, city, or neighborhood, selling now may help your listing rise to the top of the pool. Contact on of our Realtors at Preferred Properties of Texas today to make sure you have the expert help you need to succeed in the selling process.

Original article courtesy of https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/

Best Affordable Home Improvement Projects for Your Patio

March 13, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

These home improvement projects will make your patio the coolest feature of your home.

Nothing beats having a patio when the weather starts to warm up, and if you’re looking to put your house on the market, it’s a feature that might just tip the scales for a potential buyer. By taking necessary steps to maintain and improve this space, you’ll be giving your house that extra feature that might get you an offer over a similar house down the street.

Don’t Forget to Finish

Thoroughly clean your patio and seal the surface with a glossy protective coating that can handle the weather in your area. In addition to preventing damage, this will give your patio an attractive, finished look.

The last thing you want is for a buyer to ask for additional repairs as a contingency of the sale, especially when most wear and tear can be prevented by taking simple measures. This is a cheap and easy single-day project that can save you a big headache in the long run.

Work on the View

You probably don’t need to do a major landscaping overhaul to get your backyard into shape. Don’t underestimate the power of details that, at the very least, will make the area look like a great blank canvas, like pulling weeds, re-mulching areas, and getting plants manicured.

Add Some Décor

Subtle decorations can make the area seem like a much more livable space to potential buyers. A couple of hanging baskets and potted plants will make a patio more inviting without cluttering it. Put them in places that are out of the way, and make sure they’re not obstacles.

Aim for classic and comfortable with your patio furniture, and if you’re going to be showing off your patio to potential buyers, avoid plastic and/or mismatched furniture. Stick to a theme when you’re considering fixtures and decorations, with color, material, and style.

Light It Up

While you might have a flood light that brightly shines down on your patio space for safety, this isn’t what potential buyers want to see. Powerful lights like this tend to ruin the ambience of the area. Instead, try to add more subtle lighting, such as string or rope lights, if people will be visiting in evening hours.

Consider Making Additions

Additions like planter boxes, awnings, fire pits, and built-in benches take a significant amount of effort and money to install, but are attractive features that will add value to your home. Having space to entertain is a high priority for many buyers, and a patio that is already well-equipped for those activities is a big draw. These features will be memorable as they consider all of their options and prepare to make an offer.

More Quick Tips

- Choose your focal point. Arrange your furniture so that potential buyers are looking where you want them to be while they’re checking out your patio. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the buyer–where do your eyes go first? If you notice you can’t help but look at the garbage cans you’ve tucked in the corner, do something to change that.
- Define your boundaries. Make sure it’s clear where you patio ends. Use furniture and decorations to create a visual division between your patio and the rest of the yard. Adding form and definition to the space will feature the patio as an asset rather than a standard addition to the house.
- Mind the details. If potential buyers are floating around, tuck that grease covered grill away, and pull anything that looks remotely like a weed. Make sure nothing is stopping visitors from seeing the patio’s full potential.

Regardless of what your budget is, by bringing new life to this space, you’ll be creating a feature for your home that will pay off when you’re ready to sell.

How to Hire a Contractor You Can Count On

March 4, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Whether you’re putting in new cabinets or gutting the whole kitchen, these tips will give you the 4-1-1 on how to hire a contractor you can rely on.

1. Know Who You Need to Hire

Not all remodeling projects require the same professionals. Some require more than one. Your first step in hiring a contractor will be to know exactly who you need to hire. Contractors may include:

General contractors: They oversee all aspects of a project including hiring subcontractors for specialized parts of each project, pulling permits, and making sure everything is properly inspected.
Specialty contractors: These are the contractors who will come out to install products or features. If you buy a new, monster-sized refrigerator that looks more like a spaceship and you need a professional to install it for you, a specialty contractor will do it for you. If you’re only hiring someone to install your new cabinets as part of your kitchen remodel, it will be a specialty contractor.
Architects: When additions, structural changes, and major changes in home layout are involved, architects come in to draw up the blueprints and aid the general contractor in the technical building aspects of the renovation.
Designers: Major remodels, renovations, new homes, and additions usually need a to be completely redesigned. But not everyone has the time or the eye to design properly. Designers will transform your new remodel into the space of your dreams.

2. Ask Around for Referrals

The Digital Revolution might be upon us, but when it comes to hiring a reliable contractor for your remodeling project, nothing beats a good, old-fashioned, word-of-mouth recommendation.

Start by asking friends and family if they have had any renovation or remodeling work done in their home recently and what their experience was like when they hired a contractor. Most people who are close to you won’t mind disclosing costs, but even if they aren’t comfortable with it, they’ll still probably tell you whether or not they were charged a reasonable price. Don’t forget to ask co-workers, neighbors, and have everyone ask around for you, too.

3. Use Reputable Referral Websites

Don’t trust everything you read on the internet. Googling the name of a business isn’t always the most reliable way to check up on their reputation. But there are trustworthy websites that will give you business information as well as reviews on the company and what their experience was like. Sites like Angie’s List have become a popular way for people throughout the country to find dependable and affordable contractors and professionals with confidence.

4. Get More Than One Estimate

A good rule of thumb is to get three estimates for a project, especially when you’re dealing with a bigger job. This will help you to gauge the personalities, work ethic, and price standards of each company and will prevent you from getting ripped off.

If two quotes come back competitive and the third comes back significantly higher, you know you can cut that one off your list. Don’t automatically default to the lowest bidder, though. Make sure to ask plenty of questions about where the money is going.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

When you have each contractor out for estimates, make sure that you ask as many questions that come to mind. A few things to find out include:

How long the project will reasonably take
How many times the contractor or company has completed your specific project
What permits are going to be necessary to complete your remodel and whether or not they’ll be pulling them
Whether or not they take care of clean up or if that will be left to you.

The more you know about the process of your remodel or renovation, the more confidently you can trust in who you hire.

6. Verify Their Insurance

All reputable contractors will be well insured. Ask to see copies of insurance certifications to make sure they are current and include:

Personal liability
Worker’s compensation
Property damage coverage

7. Ask for References

Any good contractor will be able to give you the names, addresses, phone numbers or email addresses of around three clients they have worked for doing projects similar to the one you’re undergoing. Check with these clients and make sure to ask how long it took for their projects to be completed, whether it was completed in time, if they were satisfied with the work done, if the contractor was reliable, and if there have been any problems with the work since having it done. This is a crucial step when you hire a contractor.

8. Make Sure They Offer a Written Contract

Don’t ever agree to a business transaction and, above all, never hand over money without a legally binding contract that you have read and agree to. Remember that contract requirements can vary from state to state and some may not even mandate that you have one in the first place. But when you hire contractor that is reputable they will provide one whether they have to or not. Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure the contract includes:

Who is doing the work; the contractor’s name
Your name and the address of the work being completed
Estimated start and completion date
A price quote for work completed in a specific time frame
The payment schedule
The contractor’s agreement to get any necessary permits
An agreement on how to handle any unforeseen changes, upgrades, or issues
A detailed, itemized list of materials
Any promises or agreements that were made between the two of you
What the contractor will or won’t do, including cleanup and trash removal
Any limitations imposed by the contractor

9. Keep All of Your Records

Get a folder and label it for this specific project. Use it to keep track of any transactions, contract copies, contract changes, receipts, expenses, and correspondence pertaining to the project. To be even more thorough, keep a log of all of the phone calls, conversations, and meetings you have with the contractor pertaining to the project.

If by chance you do have problems with the contractor or their work, this detailed file will become especially important for you and will serve as your best course of action in getting compensated.

10. Keep an Eye Out for Warning Signs

Now that you have a good idea of what you should be looking for to hire a contractor, you should also know what to look for in a bad one. Never hire someone who:

Knocks on your door and asks if you’re looking for a contractor, no matter how much of a discount they offer
Offers to use leftover materials from previous jobs
Offers a discount for you paying in all cash
Pressures you for an on-the-spot answer, or acts too pushy
Asks you to pay for services up front before work is completed
Requires you to get the necessary building permits
Doesn’t have a listed business number listed in a local directory
Doesn’t have an online footprint (not every company has a website, but you should still be able to find a legitimate trace of a reputable business online)

Hope these tips on how to hire a contractor where of help and when you are ready to sell your current home in Stephenville or buy a new one, or looking for a place to build your dream home in Stephenville contact us