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Branded Email In The Real Estate Industry
You’re in the real estate industry, and that means you’ve got a brand. Chances are, you’ve spent quite a bit of money to build that brand, whether it’s through franchising fees, marketing, websites, business cards, other print materials,...

Help! I've been Robbed
Your home is the most important place. It is the place that you go to after a hard day’s work. It is closely associated with the feeling of warmth, and it is surely not a surprise that so many things rely on the special feeling that your home gives...

"Home Security Systems Do Not Discriminate In Katrina Aftermath!"
Only a few weeks ago, most people never gave much thought about having a security system for their home or business. But, after the looting and violence during and after Hurricane Katrina, sales have grown tremendously. Electronic Home and...

Inspecting a Home
Inspecting a House Before you buy any house, take the time to thoroughly inspect the structure and mechanical systems. Costly repairs can often be avoided or at least anticipated by a preliminary inspection before a purchase offer is signed. If...

Store Seasonal Items in your own Self Storage Unit
For the small business owner, particularly for businesses which require access to tools and heavy equipment, self storage can be a real boon. If you're a landscaper, carpenter, plumber, or electrician, you need easy access to the tools of...

 
9 Home Buyer Traps And How To Avoid Them

No matter which way you look at it buying a home is a major investment. But for many homebuyers, it can be an even more expensive process than it needs to be because many fall prey to at least a few of the many common and costly mistakes which trap them into either:

-paying too much for the home they want, or
-losing their dream home to another buyer or,
-(worse) buying the wrong home for their needs.

A systemized approach to the home buying process can help you steer clear of these common traps, allowing you to not only cut costs, but also secure the home that's best for you.

9 Buyer Traps

This important report discusses the 9 most common and costly of these homebuyer traps, how to identify them, and what you can do to avoid them:

1. Bidding Blind

What price should you offer when you bid on a home? Is the seller's asking price too high, or does it represent a great deal. If you fail to research the market in order to understand what comparable homes are selling for, making your offer would be like bidding blind. Without this knowledge of market value, you could easily bid too much, or fail to make a competitive offer at all on an excellent value.

2. Buying the Wrong Home

What are you looking for in a home? A simple enough question, but the answer can be quite complex. More than one buyer has been swept up in the emotion and excitement of the buying process only to find themselves the owner of a home that is either too big or too small. Maybe they're stuck with a longer than desired commute to work, or a dozen more fix-ups than they really want to deal with now that the excitement has died down. Take the time upfront to clearly define your wants and needs. Put it in writing and then use it as a yardstick with which to measure every home you look at.

3. Unclear Title

Make sure very early on in the negotiation that you will own your new home free and clear by having a title search completed. The last thing you want to discover when you're in the back stretch of a transaction is that there are encumbrances on the property such as tax liens, undisclosed owners, easements, leases or the like.

4. Inaccurate Survey

As part of your offer to purchase, make sure you request an updated property survey, which clearly marks your boundaries. If the survey is not current, you may find that there are structural changes that are not shown (e.g. additions to the house, a new swimming pool, a neighbor's new fence which is extending a boundary line, etc.). Be very clear on these issues.

5. Undisclosed Fix-ups

Don't expect every seller to own up to every physical detail that will need to be attended to. Both you and the seller are out to maximize your investment. Ensure that you conduct a thorough inspection of the home early in the process. Consider


hiring an independent inspector to objectively view the home inside and out, and make the final contract contingent upon this inspector's report. This inspector should be able to give you a report of any item that needs to be fixed with associated, approximate cost.

6. Not Getting Mortgage Pre-approval

Pre-approval is fast, easy and free. When you have a pre-approved mortgage, you can shop for your home with a greater sense of freedom and security, knowing that the money will be there when you find the home of your dreams.

7. Contract Misses

If a seller fails to comply to the letter of the contract by neglecting to attend to some repair issues, or changing the spirit of the agreement in some way, this could delay the final closing and settlement. Agree ahead of time on a dollar amount for an escrow fund to cover items that the seller fails to follow through on. Prepare a list of agreed issues, walk through them, and check them off one by one.

8. Hidden Costs

Make sure you identify and uncover all costs - large and small -far enough ahead of time. When a transaction closes, you will sometimes find fees for this or that sneaking through after the "sub"-total - fees such as loan disbursement charges, underwriting fees etc. Understand these in advance by having your lender project total charges for you in writing.

9. Rushing the Closing

Take your time during this critical part of the process, and insist on seeing all paperwork the day before you sign. Make sure this documentation perfectly reflects your understanding of the transaction, and that nothing has been added or subtracted. Is the interest rate right? Is everything covered? If you rush this process on the day of closing, you may run into a last minute snag that you can't fix without com-promising the terms of the deal, the financing, or even the sale itself.

Purchasing a home can be a huge decision and take a great deal of time and careful planning. It may be a good idea to hire a realtor who can offer expert resources to make sure you make the right decision.


About the Author: Mark Eibner is the cofounder and Broker owner of Realty Oasis. When you hire Mark you also hire an entire team of professionals. Each staff member performs a specialized part of the buying and selling process. This support team helped place Mark among Denver's Top 5 Realtors from 1997 through 1999, and in the #1 position in 2000. If you are looking for professional real estate services in Denver Colorado visit http://www.realtyoasis.com. They have the professional real estate services that help you make the best decision

Source: www.isnare.com

 

Home Security Store - Wireless Security Systems for Home Protection
Home Security Store specializes in home security systems, wireless security systems and home security cameras by top name companies like Ademco, ...
www.homesecuritystore.com
 
SMARTHOME - X10, Remote Control, Lighting, Wireless Security
Home automation including X10 protocol support, home networking, remote control lighting, and security.
www.smarthome.com
 
Home > Security
World's Largest Distributor For Home Automation! Free catalog for X10, home security, video surveillance, audio video, phones, automatic controls, pet care, ...
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Brink's Home Security : Home Security System, Alarm Monitoring ...
Provides customized home security surveillance systems, with services and products including burglar alarms, smoke detectors, intrusion detection, ...
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Home Security – Home Alarms & Home Security Systems Guide
Home Security and Alarms provides information on the current home security devices on the market and monitoring programs from the leading home security ...
www.homesecurityandalarms.com
 
A Guide to Home Security
Home security and DIY shops sell inexpensive, key-operated locks to fit most kinds of windows. You may need more than one window lock, depending on the size ...
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Burglar Alarm Systems at Norco Alarms.com
With today's technology, you can purchase and install a home security ... Whatever your lifestyle, it's easy to choose a home security system that fits your ...
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Howstuffworks "Home Security Channel"
The index to over 400 fantastic 'How Stuff Works' articles!
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#1 Security company for home, business and government - ADT
Security and fire alarm systems for small, medium and large businesses.
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The Brink's Company - Business and Security Services
Brink's Home Security - Residential & Commercial Alarm Monitoring Systems ... Brink's Home Security changed the security industry by making ...
www.brinks.com
 
X10.com - X10 Home Security, Wireless Security Camera, Home ...
The home of X10 and America's Favorite wireless Home Security system with No Monthly Fees starting at ONLY $99.99! X10 is the leader in wireless Security ...
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Home Security and Commercial Security Solutions - Guardian ...
Sells, installs, and monitors residential and commercial security systems.
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Home Security Information + Common-Sense Safety Tips
Home Security Information -- articles to help you make your home safer and explain various types of burglar alarms and systems.
www.homesecurityinformation.com
 
Compare Home Security - Buy Electronics at Bizrate
BizRate has the lowest prices and best customer reviews for Home Security. Compare prices, find store ratings and read Home Security reviews before you buy.
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Get a wireless home security system or home security camera from ...
Protect your home with a wireless home security system or home security camera from SafeMart. Affordable alarm systems from GE, Honeywell, Ademco and more.
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Get matched to local Home Security contractors for your home improvement projects. ServiceMagic's network of Home Security contractors are prescreened and ...
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Security cameras, home security systems, CCTV systems and more. Get color security cameras and other quality video home security cameras or digital video ...
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Home Security - Articles on Home Security Systems
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