August 2017 - Bill White HomesBill White Homes

Monthly Archives: August 2017

Aug

Renting vs. Owning: What You Need to Know

There’s always the question out there on deciding whether you should be renting or buying a home. With every large decision, there are definitely pros and cons on each side of the situation. Here are some ways where you could be at a great place to purchase a home or just rent one for now.

Do you travel a lot? If you answered “yes” here, renting might be the right option for you. When it comes to taking care of a home and all of the issues that may arise, being around for those things can be difficult if you’re traveling quite a bit.

Are you planning on staying in your current location for more than 10 years? If you’re planning on staying in the current location you’re in for another 10 years or more, buying might be the right option for you. Having a long-term plan in place for where you want to end up could mean that buying is the right situation for you.

What’s your credit like? If you have credit that isn’t as great as it should be currently, both renting and purchasing a home will be difficult for you. Many times, landlords do require a credit check to see what your payment history looks like so they can determine if you’re a good fit to live there. Additionally, finding a mortgage is difficult with a poor credit score too.

If you’re looking for more information on Naperville houses for sale, turn to the professionals at BillWhiteHomes.com today.

Aug

Why You Should Never Skip the Inspection

Often times when looking for a home, first time buyers might skip their home inspections to speed up their closing process. While this makes sense when it comes to shortening the timeframe of you getting into your new place, it’s not wise in the long run. Here are three reasons why you should never, ever skip the inspection process to speed up closing on a home.

It allows you to make up your mind – When it comes to buying a home; you want to make sure you have all the facts on the table before you sign on the dotted line. A part of making up your mind is having a pre-sale home inspection by a professional, which helps to see things that maybe you don’t see as the buyer. This includes things like a faulty septic system, heating issues, and other problems.

It keeps you safe – If you’re thinking about skipping the pre-sale inspection, think of your safety. Many times, having a professional come in and inspect the home is crucial because it identifies hazardous issues that a seller might not be aware of or expose. This helps to keep you, your family, and anyone who comes into your home safe.

It allows you to see everything for what it is – When you’re home shopping, it can be tough to see things that could be potentially dangerous, hazardous, or costly in a home you really love. An inspection by a professional allows you to see the home for exactly what it is – flaws and all – and really put your potential purchase into perspective.

If you’re looking for Naperville houses for sale, turn to the professionals at Bill White Homes. Contact us today at BillWhiteHomes.com.

Aug

Increasing Your Home’s Value on the Market

If you’re considering selling your home but aren’t sure if it’s worth the time, effort, and money, there are things to consider. Many people are concerned that their home is modern enough for today’s market and that they need to remodel their entire home for added value, but that’s not always the truth. Here are some things you can do to increase the value of your home.

Take it one room at a time – If major renovations need to happen to your home, make sure you take each project room by room. Breaking down the renovation projects into pieces will help you increase the value of your home because you’ll be working on it one room at a time.

The little things mean the most – When it comes to focusing on improving your home’s value, take into consideration the small, quick projects too. These little renovations or upgrades can pay off in the long run, adding significant value to your home without a full remodel.

Pay attention to curb appeal – When you’re working on adding value to your home, don’t forget about curb appeal. It happens often that people neglect the outside of their home for adding value to the inside instead. Make sure you’re tidying up outside of your house and doing small projects there as well.

If you’re looking for Naperville houses for sale and are unsure of where to turn, contact our team at BillWhiteHomes.com today.

Aug

Why Staging Your Home Before Selling It Is Important

If you’re getting ready to sell your home, chances are you’ve heard about staging from your realtor. Staging refers to taking your lived in home and making it more aesthetically pleasing to the potential buyer. It also refers to adding a clean-looking, blank slate look to the home so the buyer can imagine their own life in it someday. While it seems like staging could be a large project to take on, it is worth it in selling your home. Here are some reasons why staging your home for potential buyers is crucial in the selling process.

It wipes out personal touches to your home – While this may seem like a bad thing, staging your home erases all of the quirky and more sentimental things your home has in it. Many times when buying a home, a potential buyer wants to see their type of personality in a home. Staging removes the personal touches to a house and leaves only the characteristics that would be seen when it’s empty.

It clears clutter – One common thing that realtors hear when they put a house up online for sale is that it seems too “cluttered”. While staging can be quite the undertaking before a move, it does help when you’re clearing any clutter or cramped areas in your home. It also shows the exact size of a home, allowing only for the bare-minimum furniture to take up space.

If you’re looking for a realtor in Naperville, IL to help sell your home, we can help. Contact us today at bill@billwhitehomes.com, and we’ll be sure to help you sell your house the right way.

Aug

Remember the Golden Rule

In today’s highly competitive seller’s market where there are more buyers than there are homes for them to buy, some sellers may feel like the ball is in their court.

And they would be right when it comes to choosing which offer to accept, the closing date, or even which improvements they are willing to make to their house prior to selling.

One thing to remember though, is that there is always a line that shouldn’t be crossed.

Interest rates can change, financing might not go through, the appraisal might not come back at the price that you have agreed to. These are all opportunities to work with your buyer to make sure that the sale still happens.

You may think that, because buyer demand is so high right now, you can choose to make your buyer jump through hoops. But what happens if they reach their limit and need to walk away? You’re starting over… weeks, maybe months later… and other buyers may wonder what’s wrong with the house since the last deal fell through.

The Golden Rule

We were all taught from a young age to “treat others as you would like to be treated.” This shouldn’t change once you have a buyer who seems as though they would do anything to buy your home.

If you’re in the market for real estate in Naperville, IL, turn to Bill White Homes as your expert team of realtors. Contact us today and see how we can help you find the home you’ve always wanted.

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