Posted December 31 2013, 9:15 AM PST by Tara Sharp
Add your home to your list of New Year’s resolutions with some of these helpful tips:
Buying:
- Familiarize yourself with the home-buying process
- Learn about the tax benefits that come along with your home purchase
- Check your credit ratings
- Increase your savings for down payment
- Decide how much you need for a down payment
- Get pre-approved for a mortgage
- Decide how much you can spend on a home
- Start your home search online
- Find an architectural style for your dream home
- Search for home with your commute in mind
- Consider downsizing to condo
- Learn the difference between a condo and a town home
- Consider purchasing an investment property
- Choose the right home for your family
- Consider a short sale
- Is a foreclosure right for you?
- Decide if you want an older home or new construction
- Create a moving plan
- Keep new home costs low
- Choose a mortgage
- Consider buying with cash?
- Ask your loan officer these important questions
- Avoid common mistakes
- Win a bidding war
- Perform a mini pre-inspection while touring homes
Selling:
- Decide if your should sell or remodel your home
- Make sure you are ready to sell your home
- Choose your next home with a shorter commute
- Learn more about what a seller’s market means for you
- Familiarize yourself with the home-selling process
- Avoid common mistakes
- Estimate your home’s value
- Make improvements to increase your home’s value
- More tips on adding value to your home
- Consider selling before spring
- Get your home ready for sale
- Find a selling agent you trust
- Schedule a home inspection
- Increase your home’s curb appeal
- Price your home to sell
- How to prepare your home for open houses
- Learn the home staging basics
- Where to store your stuff while showing your home
- Feng Shui tips for preparing your home to sell
- Protect your pets while showing your home
- Get professional photos for your home listing
- Buy your next home while selling your current home?
- In a hurry? Sell your home quickly
- Help your parents make transitional housing choices
- Relocating? Get help from a professional
Home improvements:
- Make your house a home
- Get the best return on your investment for your home renovations
- Access your home energy costs
- Improve energy efficiency (and reduce your energy bills)
- Inspect, repair and increase your home insulation
- Decorate with the new color of the year
- Choose the right paint color for your home
- Redecorate to fit your dream design style
- Paint an accent wall
- Create a healthier home environment for you and your family
- Make your fireplace and chimney safe for use
- Develop disaster preparedness plan & upgrade your emergency kit
- Rid your home of pests
- Upgrade your garden
- Cultivate an indoor garden
- Plant trees for better privacy and increased home value
- Check your home insurance policy
- Do a home inventory
- Protect your home from burglars
- Protect yourself from contractor scams
- Extend your entertaining outside
- If you have little ones, childproof your home!
- Hang some art on the walls
- Pre-pay your mortgage or refinance for extra savings?
- Refinance even if you have poor credit