QuickTips Index - page 2
Biography of Tim Johnson
Biography of Tim Johnson, managing editor at Relocation.com
Buying in a Falling Market
Strategies for buying a home in a depressed real estate market. When real estate prices drop, here are buying tips on how to deal with a falling market of declining prices.
What is a Home Warranty Plan?
Explanation of home warranty coverage and plans. What do home warranty program protect? What is covered and what is excluded from coverage? How to ask a seller to pay for a home protection plan.
Trends for Home Buyers
What are today's home buyer's hot buttons and trends? Which features and home design do home buyers demand? What types of homes do they buy? What's hot right now?
Outdoor Kitchens
Buying homes with outdoor kitchens - types of grills, sinks, refrigerators, counters, storage, flooring, water features, pizza ovens and more. Points when buying a home with an outdoor kitchen. How to consider the added-value of outdoor kitchens when remodeling.
Selling Before Buying - Concurrent Closings
Which comes first? Buying or selling? What are the advantages to selling a home first and then buying over doing it the other way around? How do market conditions affect the order in which you sell and buy?
Invest in Your Nest by Barbara K - A Book Review
Book Review of Invest in Your Nest, by Barbara K. About how to buy a home, understand its components and remodel it.
Contract Contingencies
Common purchase contract contingencies to use when buying a home. How to make a contract contingent on appraisal, loan and approval of inspections.
Commission Credits to Home Buyers
Facts and myths about agents crediting commissions to home buyers. Should home buyers ask a listing agent to credit part of the commission to make the deal? Do agents owe home buyers kickbacks?
Builder Incentives and Seller Concessions
The story behind builder incentives and seller concessions. How much more do home buyers pay to get incentives and concessions to buy a home? Are incentives and concessions legal?
12 Safety Tips For Women Home Buyers
Safety tips for women home buyers. How to buy homes with increased security measures and determine whether a neighborhood is likely to discourage criminal activity.
Making Offers on a Home
How much to offer to buy a home. Making offers on a home, how much is too much and how much is too little to offer. Tips for figuring out a reasonable price to offer a home seller.
Three Major Home Buying Mistakes - How to Avoid Home Buying Mistakes
How to avoid messing up your real estate transaction. Here are common deal busters that agents often forget to warn buyers about.
Installing Ceiling Fans
Personal account of how to install a ceiling fan that uses a remote control. Installing remote-controlled ceiling fans: installing remotes on wall switch vs. hand-held remote control. Wiring a remote-controlled ceiling fan. How remote-control fans differ from older ceiling fans.
Home Downsizing
Home downsizing: how to buy a smaller home without trading down your lifestyle. Pros and cons to downsizing your home.
Looking at Homes
Looking at homes for sale involves time. Using your agent for looking at homes on your behalf can weed out unacceptable homes. Here's how to get your agent to preview homes for you and the results you can expect.
Home Offers - Making an Offer to Buy a Home
Criteria to use when making an offer to buy a home. Data to help determine the price to pay for a home. Factors that influence home offer prices.
Buyer's Broker Agreements & Buyer's Broker Contracts
Buyer's broker agreements, authorization to represent buyers, types of buyer listing agreements, terms, conditions and duration.
Buying vs. Renting a Home
Not everybody should buy a home. Some potential home buyers should rent and not buy. How can you tell when it's time to buy? Which factors could make renting a better option?
Did the Seller Die in the House?
Would you buy a home if the seller died in the house? Would you feel OK about negotiating a great deal on a stigmatized home? Who buys houses after sellers have died inside? Notorious homes that sold after tragedies.
Pet-Friendly Home Remodels
Home remodeling with pets in mind. Designs and home improvements for home owners who want to pamper pets. Pet-friendly home remodel ideas.
Buying Flood Insurance
Flood insurance protects your home. How to buy flood insurance. Cost estimate to purchase flood insurance and reasons why you might need flood insurance.
Senior Living in Style
Buying a home in active adult retirement communities. Amenities and benefits for seniors offered by active adult retirement subdivisions. Senior living in style for those over age 55. Sample homeowner association regulations for active adult communities.
Open House Etiquette for Home Buyers
Etiquette and guidelines for attending open houses. What sellers and real estate agents expect from open house guests. How to make your open house visit productive by following open house do's and don'ts. How to find out if the listing agent is holding the open house.
Buying Newer or Older Home?
Home buying new or older homes. Differences between new homes and old homes. Should a first-time home buyer buy a newer home or older? Which is more expensive?