Today, your first showing will be on the Internet - you are watching this on the Internet, right? Your price, listing descriptionand PHOTOSdetermine whether someone will visit in person. Consider professional staging advice or help. Prep for photo- and video-shootsjust as carefully as real visits. Ask your realtor if they usea professional photographer If they dolook at prior photosand pick someone who understands the job. Photos should make the most of your homes featuresand give prospective buyersan emotional connection that invites them to visit in person. Help them envision their lifestylein the housenot just the counters and walls. If your realtor recommends video,just as with photographystage it carefullyand hire a professionalit will pay off. And look over your listing when it goes liveon a computer AND a mobile deviceto make sure it is accurate, pleasantand compels people to show up. Remember - your first showing these days will be on a screen.

The term "appraisal" has a specific meaning in the home-and-mortgage process. Its not an inspection; it is a professional assessment of thevalue of the property. The companies and individuals that do this assessment are called "appraisers". Its important to understand that the appraiser works for the lender, not the buyer or the seller. While a professional opinion about value seems like a useful thing in negotiating price, thats not their job. Because the property will be used as loan collateral, the lender really needs to know what its worth; thats the job. Appraisers have the training and experience to put numbers on key aspects of a property: Size Condition How it compares with other properties in the local market They have the training to focus on things that will affect value; as the video says, damage and neglect affect value but a sink full of dishes does not. The appraised value can affect transaction details. If the value is lower than the offered price, the offer might have to change — for example, reducing the price, or increasing the down payment. Appraisal results are a good point-in-time thing to know. Just remember that the appraisers customer is the lender, not you.

Knowing the property taxes that you will pay is a key fact in evaluating the cost of owning a home. The listing information on a property usually includes the prior years property taxes. If this information is not included, contact the local assessors office, or ask your real estate professional about obtaining the figure and documentation from the seller. Figures will change tax rates vary, so factor that into your budget. Remember that tax payments and mortgage interest are usually deductible from your Federal income taxes. Your real estate professional may have advice about additional tax liabilities or benefits for a particular property.