How many times have you cringed to take a peek and check if the bathroom was clean? Entering an unkempt bathroom can be quite a stomach churner and can put people off very easily. The size of a bathroom can be important for some, but what has more value is how clean it seems. The level of bathroom maintenance can serve as a good parameter to gauge how well-kept or ill-kept a house is.

If you’re looking for some inexpensive ideas to stage and present your bathroom more effectively, you’ve come to the right place. For more inexpensive ideas on preparing your house for a sale, visit our other blogs.

A spotless clean bathroom done up elegantly with soft lighting.

Getting Ready for Staging:

Even before you begin putting things in place, you need to ensure that your bathroom space looks sparkly and squeaky clean.

Bleaching: That’s right! Start with bleaching and scrubbing all the scruffy areas. If you do not like bleaching agents, you could look for organic substitutes. Let the bleaching and cleaning agents do their job by letting them soak in all the grime and dirt. Scrub the entire space from top to bottom, till you’re satisfied with the end result.

Mold and Mildew: The steam from a hot bath could initiate the growth of mold and mildew in your bathroom. This is an overgrowth of fungus, and is not just unappealing to look at, but could also cause allergies for some people. Make sure that you look for them in crevices and corners, in and around the tiling area. Sometimes, mold also seems to accumulate on painted areas. Also ensure that you keep your bathroom dry as often as possible.

If you are looking for professional help to sell your home, don’t hesitate to contact us. That’s what Express Homebuyers is here for. In the past five years, we’ve sold over 800 homes within the DC metro area, and we’re not done yet! If we can’t sell your house in 60 days, we guarantee to buy it from you, no matter what the condition.

Just call us at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to chat with a representative.

Need more tips on how to sell your home fast? Check out our list of 22 tips.

For more ideas on staging your bathroom for a home sale, keep watching out for this space.

If you have any tips or suggestions that you’d like to share, please feel free to comment on this blog post.

Perceptions, or rather, your emotionally-based feelings about your property can be a huge contributor in making or breaking a sale. But those are not the only mistakes people make.

Here are a couple more popular errors that many homeowners commit. If you want to sell your house fast, you need to pay attention to them too…

5. Making the House Inaccessible

Buying a house is an expensive purchase, and it is highly unlikely a potential buyers will buy a home they did not visit at least once. You want your home well exposed and accessible in the market. Decide whether or not you hold  an open house or not.

A reliable real-estate company like our sister-concern Express Realty Services will ensure that people visiting your house have gone through pre-approval and will see your house without disturbing your schedule.

6. Making your own marketing decisions

Preparing your house for a sale is very important, however one of the critical things that can get you to a closing is often neglected – How you market your home for a sale. Do you have a marketing plan in place to reach out to potential buyers?

Have your efforts to market your home borne fruit? Leave it to the experts at Express Homebuyer...

How successful are your efforts to market your home? Are you attracting true potential buyers or just a stream of looky-loos? If you want to sell you home fast, leave it to the experts at Express Homebuyers. We believe in quality service, so we spend close to a million dollars per year attracting the right buyers for our clients’ homes.

From listing to closing, we promote your home both online and offline. In the past five years we’ve sold over 800 homes within the DC metro area. We can help you list your house for sale. We sell homes fast. If we can’t sell your house in 60 days, we guarantee to buy it from you, no matter what the condition.

Just call us at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to chat with a representative.

This series will be continued. For more insight on what mistakes to avoid while selling your house, continue to read our blogs.

If you have any tips or suggestions that you’d like to share, please feel free to comment on this blog post.

While underestimating competition and overestimating the value of your house can be detrimental to selling your house, they are not the only road blocks.
Other common mistakes people make include:

Is your house located in a prime area?

3. Depending Solely on Location

Is your property located in the heart of city or close to a metro station? Are you in the middle of a well-known school district? Having these perks can work to your advantage, but you cannot rely on location alone!

Buying a home is a huge investment for many people and sometimes interested buyers are not willing to sign on the dotted line till they are convinced that the house is exactly what they are looking for. If the house looks shoddy, you’ve failed to make a good impression. What’s worse, you might have lost your buyer to another home down your street.

Put your house together cohesively. Presentation is key! It’s important that you take time out to get your house ready for a sale.

4. Over-personalizing and over-spending

You might like to collect artifacts from African tribes, but your potential buyer might not like to wake up to a war-marked mask every morning! Leaving signatures of your taste can discourage the buyer from looking at more important things like your floor plan or storage.
A helpful hint: people looking at your house want to picture their lives inside this home. De-clutter and de-personalize wherever possible.

A pool table in the living room might not help sell your house.

Plan to upgrade before selling?  If you spend a lot of money redecorating your house it might sell faster, but it will not necessarily sell for a higher price. Know where to put your money. Avoid making Dramatic custom upgrades. You do not want potential buyers to estimate the cost of re-doing a customized room then deducting that cost from their offer.

Are you looking for professional help to sell your house fast? Express Homebuyers can help. In the past five years we’ve sold over 800 homes within the D.C. metro area. We can help you list your house for sale. If we can’t sell your house in 60 days, we guarantee to buy it from you, no matter what the condition.

Call us at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to chat with a representative.

This series will be continued. For more insight on what mistakes to avoid while selling your house, continue to read our blogs.

If you have any tips or suggestions that you’d like to share, please feel free to comment on this blog post.

Selling a house can be an easy task. It’s the one-size-fits-all approach that could mislead you from doing what’s right for your property. Your property is unique and though you want to gauge your market, your area and your neighborhood, it isn’t always wise to do exactly what every other seller on your street is doing!

Here are some questions that you need to answer to check if you’re doing the right things for your house:

Clear away clutter and depersonalize your home to attract more buyers and sell your house fast.

1. Overestimating the Value

Know what home buyers are looking for. Do your own research. Often sellers look at other houses on their street, and set the home price on structural similarities. A three-bedroom-two-bath home with a hot tub Jacuzzi in the master bathroom and a fully upgraded kitchen is bound to sell for a higher price than a regular three-bedroom-two-bath.

If you decide to sell your house as is, you want to take some of common factors into consideration. Some critical features that buyers have been looking for include: location, neighborhood and community, structural design and size, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, special amenities, availability of schools, privacy and other facilities. Some things are not in your control, but there are areas that can we worked upon.

2. Underestimating the Competition

Your property may be one-of-a-kind, but if a buyer has come to see your house, chances are that they will also check out the other available houses on your street. It’s not a bad idea to go out and investigate all the comparable prices of houses in your area and neighborhood. It’s time well-invested.

How Unique is your House?

Better still; hire an appraiser who would have done your homework for you. They will be able to point out problem areas or asset depreciators that have come in the way of a good sale. Sometimes, just fixing or upgrading a few things in your house could raise its value by a huge amount.

Have you been trying to sell your house for a while now? Think you need professional help to sell yours fast? Express Homebuyers is here for that very reason does just that! In the past five years we’ve sold over 800 homes within the DC metro area. We can help you list your house for sale. If we can’t sell your house in 60 days, we guarantee to buy it from you, no matter what the condition.

Just call us at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to chat with a representative.

This series will be continued. For more insight on what mistakes to avoid while selling your house, continue to read our blogs.

If you have any tips or suggestions that you’d like to share, please feel free to comment on this blog post.

You’re not alone. Many households in the United States share you circumstances. In fact, more than 1 million American households are likely to lose their homes to foreclosure in 2010 – a number estimated by lenders working through the backlog of people who missed, fell behind, or stopped making payments towards their home loans.

It's time to put an end to foreclosures!

We’ve entered the second half of the year already, and the foreclosure problems are hardly behind us. According to RealtyTrac Inc., a foreclosure listing service, 2009 saw a total of about 900,000 foreclosed homes. If you winced at that number, you’re in for a bigger surprise! The first half on 2010 recorded a whooping 528,000 homes reclaimed by lenders, eight percent ahead of last year’s numbers. With another five months to go this year, these numbers will escalate further.

Overall, about 1.7 million homeowners received foreclosure-related notices in the first half of 2010, which equates to one in every 78 homes in the United States!

Around 1.7 million houses in the United States are in the Foreclosure process.

Many financial institutions are using active measures to regulate the current situation. New delinquent payers are not facing foreclosure just yet. Banks are allowing people to stay in their homes for an extended period of time to diminish the surge of foreclosures hitting the market. On the other hand, lenders have been working hard to reach out and clear all the backlog of bank-owned properties on the list.

Do you think you might be facing foreclosure soon? Do you need to sell your house fast? We can help. In the past five years, Express Homebuyers has bought and sold over 800 homes within the DC metro area. We are ready to assist you. If we can’t sell your house in 60 days, we guarantee to buy it from you, no matter what the condition.

Just call us at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to chat with a representative.

17. Mirrors: Another trick to give the illusion of space is to add mirrors. While you don’t want the room to look like a clothing store dressing room, with good judgment, this tactic works well.

An Open-Spaced Kitchen with clean counter-tops and less clutter will help you sell your house faster.

18. Counter-tops: Over time, cooking and baking can create sticky layers of dirt and grime on your kitchen counter-tops. Use a good de-greaser while cleaning the kitchen. Don’t forget to look for debris under the stove.

19: Kitchen: Upgrading your kitchen can bring great return on investment. If you have the resources, put in stainless steel appliances, granite counter-tops, the works! Your house is bound to sell for much more. Even if you decide to let it stay as is, make sure that your kitchen is spotless. De-clutter leaving cabinetry spaces empty. Keep the area dry and avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink.

20: Bathroom: A dirty bathroom leaves a permanent impression! Do you want THAT to serve as the reference point for your home? It is an area of personal hygiene and you want to be doubly sure you present it well. Keep it extremely clean. Check the bathtub and shower panels for grime and leaks. Include fresh towels, a clean shower curtain, nice warm bathroom rugs, and an air freshener.

21: Fragrance: A home with a pleasant fragrance is always more inviting. Don’t use any strong headache-inducing fragrances. Aromatherapy candles or a mild fresh fragrance could do the trick. Also, not everyone who walks into your home is a pet-lover. If you have pets in the house, pay special attention to the carpet and other areas that might reek of pet odor.

Creating a warm ambience in the living room to attract serious home buyers.

22. Presentation: Leave a basket of baked cookies, some snacks and a beverage for visitors. Extra touches go a long way in making the home-buying experience positively memorable. Even if people who come to your house don’t end up buying it, your hospitality and presentation can generate a lot of word of mouth!

In addition, it’s important to know that buyers like to explore houses on their own. If comfortable with the Realtor or visiting prospect, leave the house so that the potential buyers can explore the house to their satisfaction.

That completes the whole list of 22 tips and tricks. Don’t look at this whole process as one big chore. Be creative and you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make your home look nice and shiny.

Still unsure if you can sell your place? Need an expert’s opinion? Talk to us. Express Homebuyers has sold over 800 homes within the DC metro area, in the past five years alone! We are ready to assist you. If we can’t sell your house in 60 days, we guarantee to buy it from you, no matter what the condition.

Just call us at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to chat with a representative.

If you have any tips or suggestions that you’d like to share, please feel free to comment on this blog post.

Imagine visiting a house with a very beautiful colonial exterior. You step in and it looks more like a fraternity home on campus! How would you react?

Surprises are always welcome, but if not done tastefully it can put people off from the get-go.

You’ve put on your charm and worked hard to make your home’s exterior look picture perfect! It’s time to take it to the next step. Create a little story or theme that flows from outside to the walls within. Here are some helpful hints that you could consider while staging your home to sell.

Declutter and stage a room with neutral colors.

INDOORS

11. Packing: Put away everything that you don’t use regularly. To that list add personal mementos, collector’s items and souvenirs. If it distinctly reveals your personality, it’s time to tuck it away in the storage.

12. Interior: Some people recommend leaving the house empty so that people can imagine their own lives in those open spaces. Don’t spend too much money. Make it as minimalistic as possible. Invariably, people would want to bring furniture and pieces that compliment their own style.
However, you could also decorate some areas – like the living room or master bedroom. If you want a few useful tips for staging a home, visit our website for more ideas.

13. Flooring: Whether carpet or wood, make sure you observe the condition of your floors. Look for evenness in color tone and texture. Shampoo or apply wax if needed to make the floor look clean.

14. Painting: Chipped, faded walls could devalue your home. A couple coats of fresh paint will do wonders to a living space! Avoid dark shades; they tend to make the room look smaller. If you want to add color, look at using neutral shades with one accented wall. Also, pay special attention to the ceilings. A nice white ceiling can make your space look a lot bigger.

15. Cleaning Areas: You don’t want anyone thinking ‘you missed a spot.’ People often forget to clean underneath furniture, behind household appliances, ceiling fan blades, light fixtures, and the skirting around walls. Double check to make sure yours are dusted, scrubbed, brushed, washed, or vacuumed as needed.

A living room with wide open spaces and natural light!

16. Lights & Windows: Take a second glance at fixtures, bulbs, and window dressings. Uniformity is key! Look for bright bulbs and replace all with the same kind. If a room has more than one window, it’s nicer to use the same window treatments everywhere. If people come in during the day, keep window treatments open to bring in natural light and make the room feel more airy. If it’s later in the day, put all the lights on to brighten up your space.

Well you could do it all yourself. But if you still think you need a faster way to sell your house, we might be able to help you. In the past five years, Express Homebuyers has sold over 800 homes within the DC metro area. We are ready to assist you. If we can’t sell your house in 60 days, we guarantee to buy it from you, no matter what the condition.

Just call us at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to chat with a representative.

This series will be continued. For more tips to sell your house fast, continue to read our blogs.

If you have any tips or suggestions that you’d like to share, please feel free to comment on this blog post.

Career Opportunities for all! More than 15 Vacancies to Fill.
Tired of applying for jobs? Looking for a job? Trying to change jobs? No matter what phase you feel stuck in, here’s an opportunity to end your search!

We Are:
The Express Companies – the fastest growing real estate and home renovation business in the DC Metro Area. You can become part of our growing team whether you are an experienced professional or this is your first job. All are professionally compensated, most with full benefits including health and dental coverage.

Our Offer:
We have more than 15 sales, administrative and operations-related full-time and part-time positions to fill in our offices. So whether, you’re a highly experienced professional or just someone fresh out of college, we have an opportunity for you in our organization. What we ask from you is not much! Just be yourself.

Your Response:
All you need to do it visit: www.expresscompaniesjobs.com.

If we think you have what it takes to be a part of our highly driven team, we will respond to you immediately. You should receive an email that confirms your spot and a time slot for an interview with our Management team. All you need to do is take a print out of the confirmation and bring it to our job fair this evening, June 17, 2010 in Alexandria – VA. For more details, visit: http://www.expresscompaniesjobs.com/

Please note:  You will not be able to enroll in the job fair post 3pm today!

Hurry up! Spots are filling in quickly!

6. Lighting: Test all the lights outside. Replace all your bulbs to make them look uniform. Ensure that your light fixtures are clean and shiny.

7. Decks & Patios: People often like houses with a deck or patio. But having one with rickety flooring or rotten furniture could be a huge turn off! Replace if necessary. Also, pay attention to loose nails on boards and steps. In addition, power wash the deck if it’s crusty and dirty.It’ll look brand new!

8. Rails & Fences: Are these exterior supporters in good shape? Repair if needed. Tighten loose screws. If they seem to look dull or chipped, consider power washing or applying a fresh coat of paint or stain.

9. Windows: Check for cracks or leaks on windows. If you have large windows facing the exterior, add some potted plants. For more pizzazz, add a little window dressing to the mix.

10. Entrance & Front Door: Check for cobwebs in all the nooks and crannies around your doorway. Sweep away all the dried debris of leaves and soil that might muddle your entrance. Make sure that you have a fully functional doorbell. Doors can be a good lead-in to your house.  Paint or varnish the front door if needed.

You’re almost done. Go right back outside the house, probably even across the street, and look back. Does the property look appealing enough to buy? Would you want to enter this house if you were walking down the street? Ask your friends and neighbors for an unbiased opinion.

Still not sure? Are you looking for a professional assistance that can help you sell your house fast? Express Homebuyers does just that! In the past five years we’ve sold over 800 homes within the DC metro area. We can help you list your house for sale. If we can’t sell your house in 60 days, we guarantee to buy it from you, no matter what the condition.

Just call us at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to chat with a representative.

This series will be continued. For more tips to sell your house fast, continue to read our blogs.

If you have any tips or suggestions that you’d like to share, please feel free to comment on this blog post.

In the previous blog, we discussed cheap and efficient quick fixes under $250 that can make your house look stellar. It’s now time to add finishing touches. Here are some great ideas that can be extremely effective if put together smartly!

OUTDOORS

The exterior of your house is what will draw people to check what’s inside. Here’s a list of tips to help make your house more inviting:

1. Driveway: Pay extra attention to the area that leads to your house. If it’s exceptionally dull, you could add some sparkle by getting the concrete driveway and sidewalk pressure washed. If you’ve an asphalt driveway, don’t forget to put a fresh coat of sealer.

2. Garage: A well organized, spacious garage could add more value to your house. Empty out whatever you don’t intend to use or keep. Double check to see that garage doors work smoothly. And ALWAYS keep garage doors down, especially when people come to see the house.

3. Mailbox: Is it way too fancy to drive people away? Does it look tacky? Keep it simple, straight and upright.

4. Lawn: Maintain your exterior regularly. Pull out weeds, trim bushes and mow the lawn as needed. If you have overgrown trees that cover your house completely,  consider pruning or removing them completely.

5. Landscape: Nothing adds life to an exterior like a well designed landscape. For that added touch of color and vibrancy, consider growing different colored flowers in adjacent beds.

Are you looking for professional help to sell your house fast? Express Homebuyers can help. In the past five years we’ve sold over 800 homes within the DC metro area. We can help you list your house for sale. If we can’t sell your house in 60 days, we guarantee to buy it from you, no matter what the condition.

Just call us at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to chat with a representative.

This series will be continued. For more tips to sell your house fast, continue to read our blogs.

If you have any tips or suggestions that you’d like to share, please feel free to comment on this blog post.

There’s a whole list of things that need to be in place to sell your house. Here’s how you can get started on your house.

• De-clutter: Pack up and put away everything that has a personal meaning to you. You want the new homeowners to be able to picture their lives in this house.
  What you can do: Check out Craigslist for free moving boxes. If you need smaller boxes, go to grocery stores at the end of the day. Often they are more than willing to provide you with recyclable boxes.
  Cost: Free
  
• Clean Clean Clean: Who would like to step into a messy house? The dirt stains can distract people from actually appreciating the lay out and space in your house. Make sure that your house is spotless clean and smells fresh.
  What you can do: Buy two all-purpose cleaning sprays for windows, mirrors, furniture and counter tops. Some of them can also be used to clean kitchen and bathroom tiles. Throw in a room freshener or a fragrance plug-in to the list and you’re all set!
  Helping Hint: Once your house is on the market make sure that you DO NOT cook anything with strong flavors or smells.
  Cost: $10 (two cleaning sprays) + $4 (room freshener). Total – $14
  
• Patch, Paint & Balance: It’s important to take time out and touch up wherever you can. Small fixes can get you so much more money for your house.
  What you can do: Start by using caulk or spackling paste to fill holes or cracks in walls, and then paint over. Paint can be expensive but there are cheaper options available online. Make sure that the paint is a neutral shade. If possible, use at least two coats. Since it’s a one-time use, look to buy brushes at the dollar store.
  Helping Hint: Ensure that all the light bulbs in the house match. Bad lighting could change the perception of space.
  Cost: $3 (caulk tube) or $5 (spackling paste) + $12 to $16 (paint – $4 for per can) + $10 (brushes/paint rollers) + $10 ($1 per light bulb). Total – $35 to $41
  
• Polish & Fix: Creaky doors, scratchy floors, loose cabinets? Who needs a handyman? Some of these quick-fixes are just so simple to work on.
  What you can do: You’d be surprised by what’s available in the market today. A wood filler pen could remove the scratches on your floor. You could also use it on wooden furniture. If you have carpeted flooring, vacuum the house well and use a good carpet cleaner to remove stains.
  Another fun product is the WD40 that can fix creaky doors, and the fix-all adhesive to put small knick-knacks together.
  Helping Hint: Walk around the house with a screwdriver (if you don’t have one, borrow one). Tighten screws wherever possible – kitchen cabinets, bathroom spaces, doors etc.
  Cost: $5 (wood filler pen) + $5 (carpet cleaner) + $5(WD40) + $2 (fix-all adhesive). Total – $17
  
• Landscape: This is probably the most expensive project, but improving your curb appeal will definitely add value to the asking price on your house. Who says you need to hire help to get things done. With a little effort, the exterior could lure people to see what’s on the inside. Believe me when I say that this is one easy do-it-yourself project!
  What you can do: If you take the layout of your house to Lowe’s or Home Depot, they could give you good advice on how to design your landscape for free. Based on your budget, you can decide how much of mulch bed and planters you need to buy.
  Helping Hint: In addition don’t forget to trim the bushes and pull out weeds regularly.
  Cost: $100 to $110 (landscape) + $15 (garden shears). Total – $125

GRAND TOTAL: $197

• Décor: An exotic painting, a bright lampshade, an ornate center piece, a touch of color here and there. These elements could help in adding warmth to your place.
  What you can do: Look for yard sales in your area. A lot of these trinkets can be bought at a cheap price. Don’t forget to haggle.
  Helping Hint: Need some ideas to decorate your place? Check out some of our virtual tours &  renovated houses.
  Cost: Optional. (You have $53 to spare!)

Try these ideas out. You really have nothing to lose. If you have a bigger budget, here’s some more things that your could try. If you need more help on selling your home, reach out to us at Express Homebuyers. We have the lowest days on market in this area, and can ensure you that we can help you sell your house as soon as possible. Just pick up the phone and call us at 1-877-804-5252.

The problem…

You have tenants in your house who pay rent regularly. Can you actually sell the house with renters still living in the property you own?

The approach…

There’s no cut and dry correct answer to this question. First answer the question, what kind of contract or lease did you and your tenants sign? Is it a year-long lease? Is it a month-to-month contract?

With a longterm lease in the picture, you might want to wait for the contract to end. Please be very wary before putting your property for sale. In case your house hasn’t gone through a foreclosure, your signed lease takes precedence. You could cajole your tenants into leaving, or offer monetary incentives, but you cannot force them to vacate your house. Forcibly evicting tenants or not providing enough time for them to move can actually backfire. In the past couple of years, new laws support renters and you might find yourself stuck in a lawsuit.

On the other hand, if it’s a month-to-month contract, you can give your tenants 90 days to vacate. In that case, undergoing a short-sale is much easier.

If you’re really frustrated, feel torn between banks and tenants, and really want to sell your house, Express Homebuyers can help. Your house worries can be behind you in two weeks by calling us at 1-877-804-5252. We buy homes for cash and can have $2,500 in your hands even before your deal closes.

She called me, convinced that they weren’t serious in helping her sell her house. “Don’t people have open houses in D.C.?” she inquired, wondering if her New England agent had just gone under the weather! I laughed and gave her both sides of the debate. It really ends up being a case-by-case deal, but here’s something to help you weigh your odds:

Why Hold an Open House?

Many like Brenda expect an Open House for their home sale. But according to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR’s) Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, nine out of 10 buyers today look for houses on the Internet. People have less time to spend. New technology that allows 360 degree virtual tours make it almost as good as being there.

On the other hand, a virtual tour is a virtual tour is a virtual tour! Slideshows can show a buyer your house, but it misses that personal touch. They can’t feel, smell or experience your house. It’s like buying a car! People won’t just give a down payment on a car without test-driving it! If people have seen pictures of your home online, they are more likely to elevate their interest to the next level. Don’t believe me? Ask NAR. Their survey also suggests that a large percent of buyers definitely go back to Open Houses as a source of information for their home purchase.

Who will an Open House Benefit?

A survey conducted by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University hinted that the people who actually benefit from Open Houses are usually the agents – it’s a place for them to build on their clientele! How come? Home buyers who come to Open Houses are more likely to ask the agent to show them more houses in a similar price range, similar layout or in the same neighborhood.

The other side of the story suggests that an Open House could in fact help you seal the deal. There are home buyers who are curious to explore all available houses in a certain area, and might not ask their agent to accompany them to every house. Open Houses definitely benefit the seller in such cases.

What other Concerns should you Consider?

Sometimes agents might refrain from holding an Open House if they have a solid marketing strategy in place. It’s an added cost, it eats into their weekends and it could be a waste of time – especially when people visiting the house are not even serious about buying one right now!

Then again there are concerns about safety and security. Who are you inviting into your home? Is it a potential home buyer, or just someone who’s trying to swipe the knickknacks off your mantelpiece?

Explore your options well. If you’ve done aggressive marketing for your home and have still not found any buyers at your doorstep, maybe it is time to have an Open House. You could also reach out to agents at Express Homebuyers who will do the selling for you, with or without an Open House!
Just call us today at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to get started with selling your home today!

As there is no law that forces companies to grant credit, much less at a cheap price, the rest of us have to, first, use what it available for us, and then, plan for the future by improving our credit scores. As mentioned in a recent article, those who seek mortgage help by using a government or lender-sponsored program suffer a credit score blow. Those who file bankruptcy or lose their home to foreclosure are penalized for years. However, any of these things can make for a fresh start.

There are a couple of ways that people in trouble can initiate their own fresh start. Many times people cannot afford to be homeowners, even with mortgage reductions. This is why short sales and even deeds-in-lieu have become a popular way of divesting oneself of a home. If the lender agrees to go with either process, you, as a debtor, can put the mortgage behind you. Assuming that you live more frugally, you can work on paying off your other debt. The downside is that the lender can come after you for the difference.

Express Homebuyers offers a similar but often better option: we buy your home for cash.  Unlike short sales, which often take months to complete, you can have your deal wrapped up within a couple weeks. We even offer you $2,500 upfront so you can use to secure your new dwelling.

Want to get yourself a fresh start? Call Express Homebuyers today at 1-877-804-5252 or visit our website for more details. We can get you started on the way to financial freedom with one phone call.  Make today the day you take charge of your future. We will make you an offer on your first call, provide free reports to help you make your selling decision, and we even offer options to chat with one of our helpful consultants.

This is great news, but there is a down side.  In the process of saving your home, you may lower your credit score. Anytime you are delinquent, have your payment adjusted or loan terms adjusted, you take a credit score hit.

Some homeowners who opted into a trial modification under Making Home Affordable are finding this out the hard way.  They make a few payments at the lower amount, only to find out their score has dropped.  Being in the trial program is no assurance they will even be accepted for permanent modification, yet they are penalized about 100 points just for asking for help.

The credit industry is, of course, quick to defend this practice of penalizing those who even ask for a change in loan terms.  The government realizes this is a side effect.  Consumer advocates deplore the practice on the grounds that people should not be zinged for trying to do the right thing.  All of these parties encourage people in trouble to ask for help before their homes go into foreclosure, but the credit score drop is a disincentive to many.

However, for most who seek help, this is an irrelevant side effect, especially if they are already behind on payments and close to losing their home. It’s like telling people on the sinking Titanic that they will be billed more if they chose a red lifeboat instead of a blue one.  If you’re drowning, you might prefer the blue one, however, if the red one is the only one in sight, paying more for red seems pretty reasonable.

Remedies such as loan modification, bankruptcy, and even short sale or foreclosure are last resort remedies that you might choose when you have no other options.  In a perfect world, you would be able to pay your bills without needing help.  In the real world, if you need help, your best option is to use the help accessible to you.  The time to ask is - as soon as you need it.  There may be a credit score impact with any remedy, but the impact is less the earlier you ask.

Express Homebuyers will buy your home for cash.  Call us today at 1-877-804-5252 or check out our helpful website.  We will make you an offer on your first call, provide free reports to help you make your selling decision, and even offer options to chat with one of our helpful consultants.

The 2009 tax credit incentive for first-time home buyers should give you the impetus to hurry up. $8,000 as a tax credit deduction is a significant amount and has already spurred more home buyers to buy houses in the first quarter of 2010.

To get this benefit, it’s sufficient for the buyer to sign a deal with the seller by April 30, 2010 so long as they close the deal by June 30, 2010.

Don’t wait too long to mark your place up for sale! If you’re looking to sell your house fast, Express Homebuyers can help.  Better still, we can you buy your house for cash. Just call us today at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to get started with the process right away!

Here are some tips to help you ensure that you have a buyer knocking on your door:

• Condition of your home: When listing your house you need to evaluate the overall appearance of your property. Often, considering a renovation could draw more buyers to your home. And don’t forget about curb appeal! If the exterior is not pleasing enough, who’ll want to check the interior? This is probably even more critical if the other houses on your block are well updated.
• Presentation & marketing: De-clutter. Fix & clean your house well. You can get some great tips to fix your house for less than $250. Get professional help to showcase your place – take great pictures and a virtual tour if possible. Ensure that you have your ‘for sale’ details spelled out, conduct regular open houses and advertise within your local community through pamphlets/brochures and to outside buyers through the internet.
• Pricing for sale: Focus on your house’s selling points and drawbacks. Do your own research. Find the asking price in your neighborhood, and adjust your own based on the pros and cons. This will help you find that sweet spot which is neither way above the market, nor way below. If you are uncertain, take an appraiser’s opinion to evaluate your property’s worth.
• Hire a good agent: Your listing agent could help you make or break a good deal. While selecting an agent, you don’t only want to focus on how much money you could get, but also understand the agents marketing strategy towards selling your house. A lot of these hassles could be minimized if you worked with a full-service real estate agent.

Need to sell your house fast?  Your house worries can be behind you by reaching out to us at Express Homebuyers.  We are a full-service real estate agency, and we buy homes for cash within two weeks. This means that the ‘for sale’ tag won’t be in your yard for too long! Just call Express Homebuyers at 1-800-SELL-2-US (1-800-735-5287).

The not-so-obvious: We are seeing more deferred maintenance in light of the recession.

Many homeowners these days are putting off doing regular up-keep and repair to their homes. Maybe they can’t afford to replace the roof, or they’re underwater on the mortgage and don’t want to put money into seal coating their driveway when they might not be able to afford the home anymore. They might buy a $5 furnace filter but skip the annual service on the furnace.Whatever the reason, must-do repairs aren’t being done, to the detriment of owners, future owners, and neighbors alike.

We’re seeing the evidence at home improvement stores. Home Depot’s third-quarter 2009 net sales were down 8 percent from the previous year, and Lowes reported a 29.5 percent drop in net earnings in the same time period.  This is interesting as some people who might ordinarily sell their homes are renovating instead. Apparently, this remodeling trend is not enough to offset the effects of the recession.

The homeowner hopes to get by without incident. Sometimes this works out. Other times, something like a simple leak from a pipe in the wall can go from an inexpensive fix the homeowner couldn’t afford to a disaster he really can’t manage.  This situation is adding to the number of distressed properties on the market. Deferring maintenance will only make a home harder to sell and negatively impact its value.

Condo and apartment buildings are affected by recession-inspired deferred maintenance too. When owners don’t pay their condo or homeowner association fees, building maintenance doesn’t happen which brings down the prices of all units in the building. When renters don’t pay their rent in a timely manner, owners may not have the cash flow to do either preventive maintenance or make improvements.

Washington says the recession is over but homeowners with no jobs or shaky finances aren’t buying it. They certainly aren’t buying the goods and services necessary to keep their homes in tip-top shape.  This may be the reality of the current economy, but the resulting deferred maintenance will impact housing prices and neighborhood conditions.

If you need a break from the pressures of home ownership, Express Homebuyers can help you.

We will buy your home as-is and on-time – maybe even before another payment is due.  Contact us today at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to get the process started.  We can wrap up your deal in a couple weeks and even offer you a $2,500 cash advance to help you plan your move.



HAMP was conceived promptly to meet a crisis, so banks had to prepare to implement it quickly.  Participation in the program was voluntary and even banking giants who had developed their own programs for distressed homeowners did not embrace HAMP immediately.

Though banks have been paid incentives through all phases of HAMP, they have been slow to process modifications; the government has only paid $50 million.  Out of 3-4 million homes that Making Home Affordable hoped to saved, there have been only 170,000 permanent loan modifications so far.

There is lots of red tape involved in modifying a loan, but banks are still not set up to handle the waves of foreclosure, despite increased hiring of processing staff.  As a result, it takes a long time to process the paperwork that is justifiably involved in changing loans.

The Underlying Issues…

Banks may be dragging their feet as they, of course, prefer to have borrowers adhere to original loan terms.  In their defense, the ownership of these loans is complicated.  Many are backed by investors, so multiple investors hold mortgages.  How can these investments be valued?  Who loses what and how much?

Almost immediately, an irony shone through.  HAMP could only be successful if banks were on board, but forcing them to comply was (and is) an issue in itself.  In a free society, can a government force private businesses to rewrite loans and thereby threaten their investors’ pocketbooks?

The current crisis requires that banks pick up the pace in their responses and do so in a way that balances their needs as a business, the concerns of their investors, and the plight of distressed homeowners.  This is a tall order, but one that banks must fill if they ever hope to return to business as usual.

Looking to sell your home?  Express Homebuyers buys homes in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.  Call us today for a fair offer.  We buy homes for cash and you could have $2,500 in your hands even before your deal closes.

Under the latest change to the program, banks must offer 3-6 months payment relief to the unemployed. Banks are encouraged (but not required) to cut principle payments, which will be compensated by $75 billion in diverted HAMP funds.

The new guidelines are an attempt to address two major causes of foreclosure: unemployment and negative equity. The crisis started among subprime mortgages that reset but spread to other groups – especially those who lost their jobs or saw their housing values dive. When HAMP was hatched last year, it immediately met criticism because it did not adequately address either problem.

In the original program, HAMP did not demand that principal balances on loans be reduced – even though evidence available at the time showed that this was the most effective way to approach the problem, especially in view of the growing negative equity problem.  Now banks will be offered incentives to reduce principle, but it is still not mandatory that they do so.

The crisis is far from over. Over the next two years, 8 million more foreclosures are anticipated.  Pay-option mortgages will reset, making house payments so large homeowners cannot keep up. Many underwater homeowners finally give up, out of necessity or strategic decision. The current reinvention of HAMP is only expected to help a few hundred thousand people, a couple drops of water in a predicted tsunami of foreclosures.

Feel underwater?  Fearing foreclosure?  Express Homebuyers buys homes for cash in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.