Immobilien Makler Heidelberg

Foreclosure is never a pleasant experience, so it is important to be aware of where you stand once your property has been foreclosed. Once the proceedings have been put in place, you will have a limited amount of time to catch up on your mortgage payments before your lender accelerates the payments to the point where they will accept nothing less than full payment if you intend to keep the property. The amount of time you have for this will differ depending on the loan provider, but it will usually be no more than a couple of months.

If you are unable to meet these conditions in the timeframe provided, hope is not necessarily lost. There are a number of things you can do to try to maintain possession of the property, particularly if you have maintained a right to redemption on the property.

Your Rights

It is important to note that not every home is eligible for redemption, so it is important to find out if you even have the right before trying to exercise it.

To be eligible, your home will need to have been seized via a judicial foreclose order, in which the lender files a foreclosure suit in court. This process usually takes longer than other types of foreclosure, often lasting up to a year before the lender has undisputed control of the property. This offers you a timeframe in which you can try to buy back the home before it goes to auction.

Timeframe

As mentioned, a judicial foreclosure will often take a year to complete, which usually means that you have about that amount of time to raise the required funds to buy back your home. However, this is not guaranteed and there will be cases where you have far less time to achieve the same outcome.

This is particularly the case if the loan company brings the house to auction quickly and a buyer is found who will pay the full asking price for the property. In these cases you will only have about three months to match the offer ad buy the home back. After this period has passed you lose the right to buy your home.

The Price

The price you will pay to redeem your home is not necessarily going to be the amount that you owed to the lender at the time of foreclosure. In fact, you will often find that you end up paying more to buy the property than you would if you had just maintained the mortgage payments.

In most cases the amount you pay is going to be equal to the amount the lender would ask for if the property was placed in an auction, plus any associated interest charges. Furthermore, you will usually be asked to pay the owner for any repair work undertaken in addition to taxes and insurance for the period in which they owned the home. Furthermore, you will also be required to pay any subordinate liens attached to the property before you can buy back your home.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Bill Len

Whether you are planning to sell your home, rent it out, or even use it as a vacation rental, you will likely market it at some point with an advertisement. Your ad will consist of a description and photos, and spending a little extra time to perfect these elements will pay off.

In general, the idea to keep in mind is that your ad needs to communicate all the vital information, and nothing more. If it’s too long, people won’t read it. If it’s incomplete, people might pass it over.

A good ad has these components:

Description

• Where is your place located? What is it near, and how can people get around? Is a car required, or can people walk or use public transit?
• How many bedrooms, and how big is each bed?
• How many bathrooms?
• How is the kitchen equipped? (Stove, dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker, etc)
• What technology is there? (TV, DVD, Wireless Internet, etc)
• What other key information will people need to know about your home? Describe your home aloud to yourself as though you’re telling someone about it. What are the first 5 things that come to mind?

Photos

Similar to home staging, you want to create a space that vacationers can imagine themselves in.

Take well-lit photos with a good camera (borrow one if you don’t have one). Photos make all the difference in the world, so spend as much time as it takes to get good photos. You can reuse them for years, so it’s worth getting them right. It might seem too obvious a point, but take photos during the day. It’s shocking how many people try to advertise their home with scary, dark nighttime photos. People want to see light, airy, peaceful spaces.

Spend some time cleaning and organizing your home before you take photos. Put away clutter and personal effects. Straighten the bed comforter. Fluff the pillows. People will be scrutinizing the photos to figure out what your home is like, so pay attention to the details and success will follow.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Rebecca R

Let’s get right down to it, shall we:

Best REALTOR Slogans

#5. „My job is your future“– Good. So you understand how big of a deal a home purchase is for me.

#4. „Purveyor of fine homes to fine people“ – Not bad; a little boring, but you have a good command of the language and demonstrate strong commitment to a targeted market.

#3. „Sold in 100 days, or I’ll buy it“– Does this belong in the top 5? Yes – because you stand out, commit, and I know I’ll have a guaranteed sale within 4 months.

#2. „I Never Forget You Have a Choice“– That’s what I like to hear – you’ll always have the right motivations while we’re working together.

#1. „Anyone can sell your home. I can sell it for more.“ – Strong, assertive and straight to the point. Let me put you to the test.

Worst REALTOR Slogans

#5. „A Realtor You Can Trust“– Sounds like something your parole officer told you to say.

#4. „No Fancy Punchlines – Just Great Service“– Does this constitute an oxymoron? (Definitely a moron)

#3. „It’s the Energy!“– What does that even mean? I think your doctor over-prescribes stimulants… Out of curiosity, what’s his name (my friend wants to know…)?

#2. „Everything I Touch Turns to Sold!“ – Ha ha! It’s funny, I’ll give you that. But now that the joke’s over can you introduce me to a real REALTOR?

#1. „Spouses Selling Houses“ – Do you include domestic disputes with showings?

Conclusion

This was a tough article to write because there are at least 20 terrible catch phrases for every good one. Some rules of thumb:

• Use common sense – No one wants to hear you state the obvious – and no one is interested in self-indulgence. There’s also not much room for humor (there are exceptions of course), so keep it professional.
• If you say something bold in your slogan, make sure you’re willing to eat, sleep, and breathe by it.
• If you can’t come up with anything good, don’t worry: Clients won’t notice that you don’t have a catch phrase, but you might lose clients if you have a bad one.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Samuel Prochazka

Despite the rise of LCD digital projectors, overhead projectors are still widely used in different settings such as classrooms and business meetings. They are very sturdy, easy to use, and fairly affordable. In short, an overhead projector can be rightfully considered as a practical tool for presenting visuals to a large group of people.

Read on and learn about the advantages and disadvantages of using this type of projector.

Pros

1. They are easy to operate. The most obvious benefit here is that these projectors are equipped with simple technology. It doesn’t have complicated parts nor does it have too many cables that’s why setting it up is never a hassle. You won’t have to worry about figuring out different settings and requirements such as software troubleshooting and others. This also means you will be able to avoid computer-related concerns which could possibly ruin your presentations.

2. They are less expensive to acquire and maintain. Compared with modern LCD projectors, overhead projectors require lesser amount of money to acquire and maintain. Purchasing from the right resources could lead you to about 50 percent savings and so this makes a nice choice if you are tight on budget. Look around and try browsing the available options. You will likely find projectors that have almost the same price as an LCD lamp.

3. Transparencies are available everywhere. Regardless if you are using an inkjet or laser printer, there are transparency films that are perfect for your device. These transparencies can be bought from nearby stores that carry office supplies and they are often available for a cheap price.

Cons

1. The heat. Although projector cases are designed to endure the heat of internal lamps, you as a user may still find it too hot to touch. Moreover, certain parts could even cause burns if you are not too careful. Also, be extra cautious not to place flammable materials beside it during or after use. This is important so you can avoid untoward incidents.

2. The toxins. There’s always the tendency for the projector’s plastic and metal parts to melt because of its heat level. When this happens, the machine will likely release toxic chemicals which may induce dizziness, skin irritation, and others. In case you suspect that you are are experiencing any of these symptoms after using the machine, then it’s always best to contact a professional technician to perform checks and repairs.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Shaan Berg

Are you looking for foreclosures in your area? Conditions in various seller’s markets may be different but there are still ways in which you can easily find foreclosed homes for your ownership.

Tap the services of real estate agents. Real estate agents are given access to a system which is known as MLS or Multiple Listing Service. It is through this system that the agents are able to find foreclosed homes in a specific area. Thus, tapping such professional is one way to find a foreclosure.

Scout for real estate yard signs. Banks are still into the practice of putting yard signs into properties that have come back to their stables of possessions. There are variations of these signs but aside from foreclosure, included among the most common signs are bank-owned, bank repossessed, and bank repo. Typically, the real estate agent’s name is reflected on the sign. Take the opportunity to call whoever is written on the sign. with advanced thinking, you can already ask about forthcoming foreclosures in your area.

Join social media groups geared towards foreclosure buy and sell. Social media has become habitat to a variety of groups with different purposes and goals. Foreclosure groups are no different. They have thrived and lived on social media. If you are savvy enough, you will be lucky to find some groups over Facebook. Join them. You’ll not only find foreclosures in your area. You will also be up for learning from the experiences, tips, and suggestions that will be shared by other members.

Visit real estate websites. Apart from the real estate agents themselves, a lot of real estate firms maintain official websites. There are firms which concentrate on foreclosures. There are also those which offer the buying and selling of mixed properties along with foreclosures. Either kind, you can browse through their listings and filter those properties that are already foreclosed or those that are nearing repossession.

Make your own ads. Digital marketing, aside from being free, is powerful in terms of the number of reach it can have. A single post can reach multiple sellers. Utilize your social media accounts for free posts that you are looking for a foreclosed property to buy. Just patiently wait for responses, and you’ll be more than happy to see that there are indeed a number of persons who are willing to negotiate for their foreclosed homes.

Foreclosed properties are just near your place. By finding them and giving good offers, you are not only taking a step towards buying a dream house or an investment property. You are also making someone benefit from the amount that will be granted when deal is closed.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Desare A Kohn-Laski

The „Great Resignation“ has been a buzz word we have all talked about now for the past several months and it doesn’t seem to be going away. Just recently reported by the BLS, the Great Resignation reached an all-time high in September with 4.4 million workers quitting their jobs.

What is the cause of the Great Resignation though? Is it workers wanting more flexibility in their work/life balance that their current employer doesn’t offer? Is it wanting to work at home permanently, but not having the option available anymore? Was it being cooped up at home that made workers realize they want a change in their careers when the job market is better? It’s all of this and more.

The fall 2021 Hiring Report released by Monster though indicates that burnout is the #1 reason employees are quitting their jobs. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has become a growing concern. Many employees feel like they are „always on“ and work longer hours when at home. There is also a sense of isolation. There is less comradery and social interaction with co-workers, so more workers are feeling lonely and disconnected. All of this, but not limited to, can contribute to feeling burned out. A survey conducted by Indeed in the springtime even showed that more than half of workers reported they were burned out.

What is employee burnout exactly though? Verywell Mind defines burnout as a reaction to prolonged or chronic job stress and is characterized by three main dimensions: exhaustion, cynicism (less identification with the job), and feelings of reduced professional ability.

Signs and symptoms of employee burnout that Verywell Mind reports include:

• Alienation from work-related activities: Individuals view their jobs as stressful and frustrating. They also may become cynical about their work and the people they work with.
• Physical symptoms: This can include headaches, stomachaches, or intestinal issues.
• Emotional exhaustion: Individuals feel drained and tired. They have a lack of energy to complete their work.
• Reduced performance: It can affect everyday tasks both at work and at home. They feel negative about tasks and have difficulty in concentrating. They also have a lack of creativity.
• Depression: Employee burnout can share similar traits to depression and include feelings of hopelessness and cognitive and physical symptoms.

As we can see, employee burnout is important to combat not only for job resignation purposes, but for the mental well-being of employees. Some may even say that the Great Resignation is causing more employees to burnout due to hiring needs because of the Great Resignation. In some cases, this trickled down effect is probably very true. So, how do we stop the Great Resignation? How can we keep our employees from leaving? One place to start is by investing time and money into your employees to avoid burnout. In this blog, we will take a look at (8) ways to keep employees happy and employed at your company.

1. Check-In with Employees

Frequent check-in meetings with employees are important to see how they are doing. It’s an opportunity for managers to see how their team members are feeling and if they are stressed out with tasks they have at hand. These meetings are probably one of the best ways to detect employee burnout. It also gives employers an opportunity to consult individually with those employees who are beginning to feel burned out and to discuss ways you can help.

Check-in meetings are also an opportunity to discuss employees‘ goals at your company. Harvard Business Review suggests asking employees, „if they could shape their dream job at your company, what would it be?“ This gives employees the floor to share the direction they would like to head into and allows you to begin thinking about shaping this role for them. It also encourages employees to know you are thinking about long-term growth opportunities for them at your company.

Employees also like to know they are valued and are making an impact at the company they work for. During your check-in meetings, be sure to spend time acknowledging their work and the value they are providing. Employees want to know they have a purpose at your company.

Things to consider:

• Some of your check-in meetings you may want to hold off-site, such as at a coffee shop. Depending on how often you meet, you may not do this every time, but meeting outside the office to have some of these conversations is a way to talk in a casual, open environment. It is also a relatively inexpensive way to take an employee out.
• Managers should consider holding weekly 15-minute meetings. Jennifer Moss, author of the new book, „The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It,“ suggests holding short 15-minute weekly meetings. These meetings can be used to discuss the highs and lows of the week and what managers can do to make things easier the next week. It’s a simple task that can pay off in terms of mental wellness and productivity. Jennifer also noted that specific questions should be asked to best assess how an employee is doing. Her research found that an average person says they are „fine“ 14 times a week when they are asked how they are doing; 19% of the time they are lying.

2. Monitor Workloads

Managers should monitor workloads and ensure no one has an unreasonable amount. Workloads may spike at certain times of the year; however, managers will want to make sure employees don’t sustain heavy workloads throughout the entire year. Evaluate employees that have demanding workloads and try to find ways to alleviate that workload from their schedule. Also monitor expectations and goals. Be sure you are setting attainable goals so no one is overstretched and works tirelessly to achieve them. Goals need to be reachable.

3. Provide Mental Health Support

There are a number of ways employers can provide mental health support to employees. Providing mental health days is one way to do so. It allows employees to take time off for self-care and needed time off for themselves. Mental health days may be something to consider implementing in 2022 if it is not already offered at your company.

Employee Assistance Programs that offer wellness counseling is also something to consider looking into as an addition to your benefits package. Some healthcare providers already offer counseling and wellness programs with their health insurance so it’s something to look into if you are unsure if your health insurance provides it. If it is included with your insurance, share this information with employees so they know it is available to them.

You may also think about bringing in a wellness coach a few times a year where they can offer best practices to employees on mental health. This is a nice opportunity for a group lunch and learn. You can even consider doing wellness group activities during the lunch hour, such as yoga, painting, bringing in a masseuse, etc.

Lastly, encourage employees to take a break if they are feeling overwhelmed or stuck with a project. A simple walk or snack break can help them decompress and come back with a fresh mind!

4. Survey Employees About Working at Home vs. in the Office

There are pros and cons to working at home versus coming into the office. A recent survey by Bankrate, showed that 56% of workers preferred remote work or adjustable hours. Having the ability to work from home has been another factor contributing to the Great Resignation. At the same time though, the disconnect from co-workers and lack of socialization problems are real. According to the Buffer 2021 State of Remote Work survey, 16% of respondents reported difficulties with collaboration and 16% also reported loneliness while working at home. Is hybrid the magic fix? From personal experience, it seems like many enjoy the hybrid work schedule because you get the best of both worlds. To see what is best for your organization, consider sending out a survey to your employees to gauge what majority of employees would prefer. The survey will share insight in what schedule would make your employees most happy.

5. Promote Office Camaraderie and Connection

Making time to connect and build relationships among team members is also important. This can go hand in hand with the above topic of working at home. Whether you have employees working at home, in the office, or a hybrid schedule, it is important to promote an environment where people can get to know one another. According to Harvard Business Review, their COVID-Era survey data showed that both blue and white collar workers around the world place a higher priority on having a „good relationship with co-workers“ than on many other job attributes.

If you are not able to hold in-person events, virtual events can be held, such as virtual happy hours or team trivia. You can even have virtual cooking or cocktail making classes. Anything that can help bring the team together for a good time is beneficial for office camaraderie. In-person social events are definitely a better way for employees to get to know one another, however, virtual events are a good alternative if in-person is not possible.

6. Encourage Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance has probably always been important for most workers; however, it’s becoming a greater factor now when deciding to work or stay at a company. As a best practice, encourage employees to take vacation time, especially as you near the end of the year and employees still have vacation time left. This allows employees to know that you care about their well-being and that you want them to be able to enjoy time off.

Another good practice is to shut down the office early for holidays, if possible. This helps enforce the importance of spending time with family, especially over the holidays. It’s also important to offer flexible schedules to accommodate for family or religious events. If someone has a personal obligation, welcome an environment that allows them to tend to important personal events during the work day.

Lastly, some companies even offer a more flexible schedule by allowing workers to start and end work at any time as long as they get in 8 hours a day. If someone is more productive starting earlier or working later, why not allow them if they get in the same hours of work?

7. Upskill Employees

Upskilling employees is a practice that can offer great benefit for employers. It can help employees increase job satisfaction (avoiding burnout) and in return help retain employees. It also has financial benefits for the company.

What is upskilling exactly though? According to AG5, it is the process of taking skills and knowledge in a certain area to a new level. It’s also an opportunity to promote employees and help them grow instead of hiring new individuals.

Monster’s Fall 2021 Hiring Report, showed that 45% of workers would be more likely to stay with their employer if they were offered skills training. It offers a new exciting experience for employees, especially for those that have had the same role for a few years. Instead of finding a different job, this gives them the opportunity for a new role at your company. Financially, a Gallup survey reports that the cost of replacing an individual employee can range from one and a half to two times the employee’s annual salary. This is probably very true when you think about spending money advertising the position, onboarding someone new, and all of the other expenses that goes into recruiting a new employee. Starting salary for that person may even be higher then if you were to promote someone from within.

8. Provide Management Training

Management training may be something to consider offering to new managers as well. Managers play a crucial role in employee engagement and retention. A study performed by Randstad showed that 60% of respondents said they had left a job or would leave over a bad boss, with 58% indicating that they would stay at a job with a lower salary if that meant working for a great boss.

Poor managers can induce stress on employees and drive them out the door. Management training can help managers learn best practices for managing employees. They need to be equipped with skills to provide appropriate feedback, to communicate effectively and clearly, to have the ability to set reasonable expectations, recognize employees for achievements, and be able to delegate tasks. Great managers can make a huge impact on company culture and employee morale!

The Beginning of the End of the Great Resignation

We just took a deep dive into 8 ways to combat employee burnout. Employee burnout is very real and has become an even more prominent problem during the pandemic. It is one area though that employers can try to get under control in order to avoid further resignations. It might not be the only answer to end the Great Resignation, but keeping employees happy and healthy is certainly a good place to start.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Terri Roeslmeier

Tucked up in the north east corner of Bastrop County almost to the Lee County line is the sleepy little „burb“ of Paige. The elevation is approx. 535′, the weather is moderate year round. The school system is Bastrop ISD and depending on where you live kids might attend Lost Pines Elementary, Bastrop Middle School or Bastrop High school. Paige proper is not much bigger than a total of 18 blocks and as is typical of small Texas towns there are still some beautiful old vintage/historic homes and buildings still standing or still in use. The area surrounding Paige is a mix of rural residential properties and farm and ranch land. Horse enthusiasts covet the sandy loam soil that can be found in parts of Paige such as out Old Potato Road, or Old Pin Oak, or Antiock and Cardinal Roads.

Paige was established in 1872 along the Houston and Texas Central Rail. The old abandoned rail line is still there which runs along side parts of Old Highway 20 and would make a great section of „Rails for Trails“ as it is not in use at all now. Paige was named after one of the civil engineers that worked on the railway. There was a rail station in Paige up until 1876 and then it was moved to its present location approximately 3 miles to the east. There is a volunteer fire department which was established in 1982 along with the Paige Community Center, and Paige has had a Post Office in town since1874. In those days the majority of the population was of German heritage as was much of the Central Texas area. The population of Paige has fluctuated over the years. In the late 1880’s the town was said to have had a population of 500. Back then the Paige rail station was a shipping point for livestock such as cattle and hogs. Local industry included a pickle, creamery, and broom factory. Today some of the local businesses include The Old Frontier Store which is on Highway 290 and has a little bit of everything to offer from groceries to a meat counter to a small deli/diner, and Yarnorama a yarn and fiber shop.

Paige is approx. 40 miles outside of Austin on Highway 290. Bastrop is 14 miles away on Highway 21, and has just about everything anyone could want or need with coffee shops, two feed stores, box stores such as Home Depot and Lowes on the way, great restaurants, a movie house and bowling alley. About half way to Bastrop from Paige on Highway 21 is Lake Bastrop which offers campgrounds, swim beaches, boat rental and boat launch on both the north and south shores. If you decide to head to Smithville, the town where the movie Hope Floats was filmed is just less than 13 miles on FM 2104. Just before you get to Smithville on the west side of the road you will find Buecher State Park and Lake. If it is the coast you crave you can get to the Gulf in just under two hours from Paige. Circle D, Pioneer Pines Farms, Pine Valley and Pine Tree Cattle Ranch are just a few of the subdivisions that fall in the Paige area that offer rural residential living in the ‚lost pines“ of Bastrop County. The Paige area is also full of wonderful ranches and recreational properties (great for hunting) and periodically they do come on the market.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Curtis Reddehase

Earning a certificate or degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography can lead to a rewarding career. An important consideration for students is finding a way to pay for their education or cut down their education cost. Sonography scholarships are popular because they do not have to be repaid like student loans or federal grants. Following are some of the quality scholarships funding students taking classes for sonography.

AMVETS Scholarships

Deadline: April 15

Description: Numerous scholarships are available to active military and veterans, and their children and grandchildren. Scholarships include six $4,000 scholarships for high school seniors attending 4-year undergraduate programs or accredited technical schools; three $4,000 scholarships for veterans attending a 4-year undergraduate program or technical school certificate/degree program; and one $1,000 scholarship for a JROTC high school senior. There are numerous other scholarships available for veterans and active military attending accredited schools and are listed on the AMVETS site.

Contact Address: 4647 Forbes Boulevard Lanham, MD 20706

Contact Phone: 877-726-8387

Alan D. Waggoner Sonographer Student Scholarship Award

Deadline: November 30

Description: The scholarship award includes $1,000, registration fee for the Foundation’s Annual Scientific Session, and an amount up to $500 to fund travel expenses to attend the conference. Students must be enrolled in a CAAHEP accredited echocardiography or cardiac ultrasound program. Membership in the ASE is required for scholarship eligibility.

Contact Address: 2100 Gateway Centre Boulevard, Ste. 310, Morrisville, NC 27560

Contact Phone: 919 – 861-5574

Jerman-Cahoon Student Scholarship

Deadline: February 1, 2014

Description: The scholarship awards $2,500 to several entry-level students each year. Students must be enrolled in one of several accredited areas of study, and one of them is sonography. It is a renewable scholarship if students meet requirements each year.

Contact Address: 15000 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123-3909

Contact Phone: 800-444-2778

IFSER Scholarship

Deadline: June 30, 2014

Description: The foundation with the acronym IFSER awards scholarships in an amount up to $500 to students enrolled in a CAAHEP accredited Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.

Contact Address: 929 East Main Street #175, Mount Joy Pa. 17552

Contact Phone: 520 300-2222

Ingham County Medical Society Alliance Health Scholarship

Deadline: January 31, 2014

Description: This is a good example of the many scholarships available to local residents. Two $1,500 scholarships are awarded annually to residents of Michigan’s Clinton-Eaton-Ingham tri-county area or to graduates of the tri-country schools who will enroll in designated Allied Health Programs, one of which is Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Students looking for scholarships should check with local foundations, businesses, and community organizations. Many scholarships are not well-published because they are designed to assist local community residents.

Contact Address: 10034 Oak Island Dr., Laingsburg, MI 48848-8718

Contact Person: Dee Loge-Wacker

Royce Osborn Minority Student Scholarship

Deadline: February 1, 2014

Description: Five $4,000 scholarships are awarded annually to entry-level minority students majoring in sonography or one of several other allied health programs.

Contact Address: 15000 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123-3909

Contact Phone: 800-444-2778

SDMS Foundation Sonographer Advanced Degree Scholarship

Deadline: June 30

Description: Students who have already worked for at least two years as sonographer may be eligible for a $2,500 scholarship to complete sonography training online that leads to a degree. Eligibility requirements include being a SDMS member who is in good standing and who is accepted into or enrolled in an accredited ultrasound technology program.

Contact Address: 2745 Dallas Pkwy Ste 350, Plano, Texas 75093-8730

Contact Phone: 214-473-8057

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Lisa J Parmley

Spuds is what REALTORS call the Seller Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS). It is a multi-page document that sellers typically provide with information about the house and all its major systems (e.g. air conditioning, plumbing, roof, etc.).

In Arizona, sellers are required to disclose any material fact they are aware of regarding the property. The SPDS is a form created by the Arizona Association of REALTORS (AAR) to standardize the way sellers disclose material facts about the property.

The standard AAR Residential Purchase Contract has a provision requiring sellers to provide SPDS to buyers within 5 days of contract acceptance. Buyers have until the end of the inspection period or 5 days from receipt of the SPDS (whichever is later) to provide notice of any disapproved items disclosed in the SPDS.

Contrary to what many people think, the SPDS is not required by law. It is only a provision in the standard AAR Residential Purchase Contract. The law requires sellers to disclose material information. Sellers can do it in any other document they choose.

The other common myth about the SPDS is that once the seller provides it, he has no further obligation to disclose new material facts. That could not be farther from the truth. Seller’s obligation to disclose remains during the whole escrow period. If seller becomes aware of a material fact that was not originally disclosed, he has an obligation to disclose and give the buyer 5 days to review and provide notice of disapproved items. This is typically done through issuance of a revised SPDS.

Many sellers will not accept contracts that require them to provide a SPDS and they will ask buyers to remove the provision from the contract. Banks selling foreclosures will typically ask buyers to waive SPDS based on the claim that the bank has limited knowledge about the property. One important thing to remember is that even when SPDS is waived, the seller still has the obligation to disclose all material facts.

Your REALTOR should review the SPDS, its importance, and implications when sellers ask buyers to waive SPDS. Buyers should understand all the ramifications and make an informed decision whether they are willing to waive SPDS or not.

And before I close this article I would like to leave you with a thought. If you are a seller, I would strongly encourage you to prepare a SPDS when you put the property on the market. You can even make the document available for prospective buyers. It will show them that you are on top of your obligations and that if they decide to submit an offer you will not cause any delays to the process. Very few sellers do that and it usually has such a positive impact on potential buyers. If you do that when you list the property, once you accept an offer all you have to do is re-read the document and make sure that it is still valid and up-to-date. Ask your REALTOR to help you fill the SPDS as soon as possible.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Jose Dias

Buying or selling real estate is probably the most significant transaction you’ll ever make in your life. That’s why it’s important to choose the best Realtor to help you achieve this goal. But before you hire the services of a real estate agent, there are important factors to consider.

Many people have the perception that all real estate agents are the same. Some sign with the first one that comes along. Unfortunately, they realize later on that they should have been more selective before signing an agreement. To guide you in choosing the best Realtor for your needs, below are seven questions to ask your prospective real estate agent.

1) What is your experience in real estate?

The first thing you need to ask a real estate agent is how long they’ve been in the real estate business. It doesn’t mean that you cannot enlist the services of newly licensed real estate agents. Just keep in mind that those who have years of experience under their belts are probably more knowledgeable on what to do, from listing to closing. Aside from the number of years in the business, ask them what segment of real estate they focus on – residential, commercial, luxury, etc. Find out if he/she is primarily a listing agent or a buyer’s agent (or both). Familiarity with the market is also essential, so ask what geographic areas the agent usually covers. You can even dig deeper by asking if the agent has received any awards for outstanding performance.

2) How many and what types of properties have you listed and sold in the past year?

It’s one of the most important questions you should ask a real estate agent. The number of properties he or she has listed and sold in the past year is a valuable indicator how good a real estate professional is in getting the job done. Take note that this question consists of two parts: properties listed and properties sold. Agents may demonstrate their ability to list homes; however, the more important thing is the sales part – the ability to close deals. If they have many properties listed and sold in the past year, it shows that whatever strategy the agent is using, it’s certainly working.

3) What was the average sales price for the properties you’ve sold over the last year?

Asking this will give you an idea in what kind of market the agent specializes. Find out if the real estate professional has experience selling properties in the price range you’re listing at. If a majority of properties sold falls on the low-end market segment, it might take longer for the agent to sell if yours is a higher-end home. Although agents can sell any property regardless of price range, it’s likely that they will have better success in the market and price segments in which they have the most experience.

4) What is your average sale to list price ratio?

The sale to list price ratio (sometimes called the sale-to-list or list-to-sale ratio) is the final sales price divided by the listing price, expressed as a percentage. If it is 100%, it means the sales price was equal to the list price. You can view this ratio in two ways. A skilled listing agent can negotiate sales prices that are equal or close to the list price, and sometimes even greater in a very competitive market. So ideally, listing agents should have sale to list price ratios closer to 100%. On the other side of the coin, a good buyer’s agent can often negotiate a sales price that is lower than the list price. Therefore, buyer’s agent ratios ideally should be lower than 99%.

5) What marketing strategies will you use?

Deciding on what strategies to use can spell the difference between success and failure. A poor marketing strategy will diminish the chances for success. Do your own due diligence by asking how the agent will sell your property. There are lots of options – staging, open houses, joint marketing, print advertising, and of course, online marketing. Whatever approaches are used, they should be designed to bring in the highest number of qualified potential buyers. Higher end properties can also often benefit from professional staging. In any case, your agent should advise you on how to best prepare the property to make it the most attractive to potential buyers.

6) Can you give me some references?

Reputation is important in this line of business. Whether you’re buying or selling a property, you should ask for references (past clients). If possible, call a few and ask them about their experiences with the agent. Were they pleased with the service provided? Also ask if they are in any way related to the agent. A list of references made up of friends or relatives generally won’t provide an objective assessment of the agent’s qualifications.

7) Do you offer any type of guarantee, and will you let me out of my contract early if I am not satisfied with your service?

You can’t say with certainty how things will go, even if you did your due diligence. For this reason, you should ensure that you’re prepared for any eventuality. If you sign a contract and later find that you’re not satisfied with the service, will the agent allow you to cancel the agreement? If things don’t work out the way they’re supposed to, you should have the freedom to choose another agent who can deliver better results.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when choosing a real estate agent. Finding and interviewing Realtors can be a very time-consuming and laborious task. However, now armed with these seven questions, you are on your way in choosing the best Realtor for your needs.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Charles A. Kush III