Are you faced with a foreclosure? Losing your home isn't the end of the world, but it's never a pleasant situation.
Faced with an impending foreclosure leaves you knowing every emotion that comes into play in this unfortuante scenario, none of which are good. Fear of the unknown, financial loss, where you will live, where you will come up with the funds to move, what will happen to your credit and will that effect the possibility of renting until you can reestablish yourself in the future?
Fallen behind on your mortgage payments more than 2 months? If there's no hope of playing catch up, your best bet is to reach out to an aggressive foreclosure attorney. Don't be shy. Don't wait. Ask questions. Many of them will know an aggressive real estate agent they work well with.
I'm currently referred pre-foreclosure listings from a local attorney who I really admire. He's very responsive. We communicate well together and I market the heck out of the listings. It's not unlikely for me to have over 100 people through a home within the first week. Time is of the essence. When you interview agents and attorneys, it's vital that you know how they are planning to resolve your situation.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FLORIDA FORECLOSURES
When interviewing agents, you need to ask if they plan on marketing on a daily basis. Where and how are they advertising? Does the agent have the funds for professional photography? Are they planning on a virtual tour? Video? Aerial drone shots? Social media is HUGE these days, and postcard mailings, although expensive can prove to be quite effective. Are they going to local board of Realtor meetings and planning on holding broker's open houses and open houses to the public? How well do they know your neighborhood, local schools and the area in general? Creativity comes into play when negotiating a deal. Ask if they've ever closed a pre-foreclosure and know how to effectively sell a home with challenges that may come into play when your lending is breathing down your neck. Having a team who will work with your lenders opposing council, understanding the closing costs, can give you a forecast of the finances at closing, means there's a very good chance you'll come out of this transaction allowing you to transition to a rental, and the power to repair your credit in a short time.
What you can do to get more money out of your home.
1. CLEAN. And I mean a deep clean. Scrub the baseboards, clean the grout, vacuum and mop the floors, use a magic eraser to wipe hand prints off walls and cabinets. Pressure clean sidewalks, driveways and the house if needed.
2. PACK LIKE YOU'RE MOVING. Because whether or not you like it, you're not going to be in the house forever. The best advice I can give, take out all the large furniture and pack up no less than 50% of the contents of your closets. Buyers WILL take notice. If they see clothes jammed on hangers, they'll question if they have enough room for their personal items and clothes. YES. It sounds ridiculous, but it REALLY WORKS!
3. NICK-KNACKS. Pack, pack, pack. Personal photos, art work needs to be taken down. Nails removed from the walls, holes patched and painted. Minimize. Allow your potential buyers to picture themselves in the home.
4. Look Up! Are there cobwebs, dust trails coming out of A/C vents, layers of dust on ceiling fans? If the answer is yes... just clean it!
If you ignore the advice of your Realtor, you're only making their job more challenging and inevitably reducing the amount of money you'll receive at closing. Don't take offense if your agent asks you to mop your floors again, or move furniture. It's advice given to help you. When I hold broker's open houses and public opens, I have "OPINION SURVEYS" that I have guests fill out for a chance to win a gift card. If your agent does this for you, it's not directed at you to insult you. I always encourage my guests to be open and honest, and opinions may vary. You may read a survey stating the home is lovely, priced right where others may think it's filthy, cluttered and over-priced. Take it with a grain of salt and do the best to remedy the issues that are noted. If there's still not an offer in 7-10 days, then it's time to lower the price!
Denise Samouilidis | Mirsky Realty Group LLC
4580 Donald Ross Road #107, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
561-308-0007
