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Each year, fire departments across the country respond to home and structure fires caused by holiday decorations. In a study by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in 2011 showed an annual average of 230 structure fires that began with lights and decorations on Christmas trees and another 150 fires caused by holiday lights. Injury, fatalities and millions of dollars in property damage result from holiday fires.

Here are some ways to keep your home safe during the holidays:

Water your live trees

Live Christmas trees require consistent water levels to stay fresh. When purchasing a tree, be sure the needles are green and fresh. If the needles fall off easily, find a different tree … fresh needles are harder to pull out and indicate a freshly cut, healthy tree less likely to catch fire. Once the needles begin dropping, discard your tree.

Buy fire-resistant artificial trees and greenery

Your artificial tree should have a label indicating that it is fire resistant. Greenery should have fire-resistant labels as well. Look for labels from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek, or in Canada, the Canadian Standards Association.

Keep your trees (live or artificial) at least three feet away from heat sources such as furnaces, baseboard heaters, fireplaces, candles or space heaters. Avoid blocking exits (doors or windows) with your tree so that there is not impediment to escape in case of fire.

Choose safe lights

Not only should your tree be fresh and green or fire-retardant, you lights should have safety labels. Avoid using lights that are old, have worn or frayed cords or other signs of excessive wear or damage. Rodents tend to like the plastic coating on stored holiday lights, so carefully check light strands for bite marks if your lights are stored in an area rodents can get to. Turn your tree’s lights off before leaving your home or going to bed.

Do not connect more than three (3) strands of mini lights, or a maximum of 50 bulbs of screw-in type lights. Avoid attaching your lights with staples, nails or tacks. Instead, use insulated light holders.

Outdoor decorations are hazards too

Each year, emergency rooms treat more than 10,000 people injured while putting up holiday decorations. Injuries can include shocks, broken bones from falls, cuts and bruises. Before heading outside to put up those lights, wreaths, bows and garlands, take a moment to make sure the conditions are safe:

• Shovel and deice walkways.
• Remove icicles or dried leaves from gutters and the edges of your roofs, railings and window frames.
• Only plug outdoor lights into a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet. If you don’t have a GFCI outlet, purchase a portable one at your local hardware store that is rated for both indoor and outdoor use. Only use extension cords rated for outdoor use and make sure your cord is not damaged or worn.
• Do not hang your lights from gutters using staples or tacks. Instead, use specially made gutter and shingle clips that will not damage your gutters or lift your shingles. Each bulb or icicle cord drop should have its own clip, so be sure to purchase as many clips as you need for safety.
• Use LED lights. These will save you energy, and because the burn cooler, are less likely to cause fires. Avoid using 7-watt bulbs. Although they are more brilliant, they can get dangerously hot and cause fires. Use 5-watt bulbs instead.
• Stay away from power lines. In older homes, power lines may come into the home from the roof. Keep yourself and your decorations at least 10 feet away from power lines.

Hire a professional

Above all, stay safe during the holidays. If you do not have the equipment, health and tools required to safely decorate your home, hire a professional.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Whether it is your summer vacation cottage, or your recently vacated home put up for sale, proper winterizing prevents your home from deteriorating while it’s empty and saves you money both now and later.

Make a list

Decide what needs to be done and make a list to check off as you do it. Be sure to add these areas to your list.

• Plumbing: Turn off water at the exterior of your home. Make sure the lines completely drain by turning on all the taps until no more water comes out. Water remaining in the lines can freeze, causing your pipes to burst and resulting in very expensive repairs both to the pipes and to floor coverings and walls. If this happens, you can call J&T Dale Plumbing to get it fixed. And to prevent these plumbing issues, you can: Blow water from pipes using an air compressor. Pour RV-type anti-freeze in the traps. Close sink and tub drains to keep out critters and preventing odors. Cover the toilet bowl with plastic wrap to prevent sewer gasses from entering your home. Before the winter months arrive, you may want to inspect your sewer lines so you can work on the necessary sewer repair of any damages. Drain cleaning may also be conducted before the weather freezes your plumbing.

• Appliances: Drain water from your dishwasher, washing machine and your refrigerator’s water lines. Remove your refrigerator’s water filter so that it does not freeze and break inside the refrigerator. Drain and turn off your water heater. Learn the difference between rinnai vs rheem to choose the best one for your home. If your power will be off, completely empty and clean your refrigerator, then prop the door open to prevent mold growth.

• Utilities: If your home has power during the winter, set your thermostat low, but warm enough to prevent freezing and to keep your home dry so that mold does not grow. Also, unplug all appliances, including televisions and microwaves to prevent risk of fire from faulty wires.

• Pests: Remember that mice and rats like warm places. They also like to gnaw on wires. If your home is prone to pests when it is empty, set out bait or traps, or consult a mice pest control professional. Remove any foods stored in boxes or bags, since pests can chew through the cardboard or plastic to get at the stale crackers or cereal inside. The experts at pest control grand rapids will tackle pests with reliable treatment solutions, tools, and knowledge.

• Remove any liquids that might freeze. This includes bottled water, soda or beer in cans or bottles, and even paint.

• Close flues and dampers, windows and vents. Seal any opening that might invite pests or the cold into your home.

• Installing roller shutters Sydney and window drapes will keep the sun from fading your carpet and protect your windows from inclement weather such as hail.

• Wash linens and store them in plastic bags. The vacuum-sealed storage bags repel water, dirt and insects and protect your sheets, towels and blankets from mildew and mold.

If your home is for sale

When your vacant home is for sale, it is smart to leave the power on. If the home uses gas for heating, then be sure to leave the gas on as well. Buyers want to see the home, so if it is too cold or too dark, your home is less likely to sell. Check with us about managing your empty property.

Compliments of Virtual Results

You’ve invited everyone to celebrate Thanksgiving with you in your new home … a joy-filled day with family and friends, good company, great food, celebrating old traditions and creating new ones!  The first holiday gathering in your new home celebrates more than the season, it celebrates the start of special memories in a new place.

To mark your first Thanksgiving in your new home, consider these ideas:

The Decor

Most likely, you’ve spent your decorating budget on long-term furnishings and the perfect patio for your new place.

• To add a little holiday panache, create a centerpiece of beeswax candles, gourds, mini pumpkins and dried leaves.
• Or place some bare branches in a vase. Have everyone write something they’re thankful for on a paper leaf and tie it to the tree. As you gather for the meal, let everyone choose a leaf to read.
• A floral basket with late blooms from you new backyard blend nicely with branches of dried berries and white pumpkins.

For more simple and beautiful centerpiece ideas, check out these great options or search on “thanksgiving decorations” on Pinterest to see what others are doing.

Realize, too, that your new home may be décor enough since many friends and family will be seeing it for the first time.

The Feast

Whether your plans include an elaborate spread or simpler fare, everyone loves to get involved. So, let Great Aunt Lydia bring her famous fruit salad, and let the kids make the green bean casserole. Part of the fun is in the doing and the best memories include both the old traditions and the new.

Speaking of new … try a simple new recipe like Sweet and White Mashed Potato Swirl, or an easy make-ahead fresh cranberry Jello salad or a cranberry mimosa. Simplify the day by making some of your meal in a slow-cooker. If you’re adventuresome, try a Cajun-style deep-fried turkey.

If your new home is smaller, consider serving buffet-style. If you live in a warmer clime, perhaps adding a portable outdoor heater can extend your dining area to the patio.

The best advice?

Enjoy the time with family and friends. Don’t make your menu so complex that all your attention is on the meal preparations instead of your guests. If there are ways to minimize the mess — foil pans, paper plates, etc. — and simplify the cleanup, so much the better. You don’t want to miss out on family tag football in your new backyard because you had dishes to do and pots to scrub.

Need a new home for the next holiday?

If you’re not yet in your new home, we can help you find one for the next holiday. Give us a call … we might even help you find a Black Friday special over the holiday weekend and get you well on your way to celebrating next Thanksgiving in your new place.

Compliments of Virtual Results

To have an open house or not to have an open house over the Thanksgiving weekend: that is the question! Many sellers assume that the Thanksgiving holiday weekends and the week between Christmas and New Years Day are less than favorable times to have an open house. Some real estate agents disagree.

Less competition

Often, because both sellers and their agents assume the holidays are off limits, if you have an open house over the holidays, you’ll have less competition. Typically, the number of open houses during the Thanksgiving holiday is less than half what a normal weekend might have. That means your home may get more exposure than it would with more competition for the same day.

More serious buyers

Since many people have that weekend off, it may be the best opportunity for them to go out and look. When the buyer and seller both are serious, a holiday open house can be effective. When the buyers are motivated, they are more than happy to shirk Black Friday shopping in hopes of finding the right house. A recent survey of real estate agents revealed that two-thirds of them believe a Black Friday home seller is more serious and over sixty-one percent believe Black Friday buyers are more serious.

Year-end timing

If a buyer needs to complete the deal prior to the end of the year for financial reasons, the Thanksgiving weekend is the last opportunity for a big push toward that goal. Homebuyers waiting for their year-end bonuses to add to their down payment often take advantage of the holidays to house hunt.

Proximity

Young couples seeking to relocate nearer to family most often “come home” for the holidays. Since they are in the area anyway, they take the time to see what is available on the market. Exposing your home to buyers during this time may give them the impetus they need to make the move they already want to make.

Winter open house best practices

Holding an open house in winter has both advantages and disadvantages, so here are some best practices to make sure your open house is a success.

DON’Ts

• DON’T over decorate. While buyers may adore your holiday décor, they also want to be able to see the home’s features.
• DON’T forget to remove holiday feast leftovers. This includes airing out the smells of cooking from the day before. When a home is closed up in the winter, those stale odors linger even though those living in the home no longer smell them.
• DON’T hang around. Find a special place to take your family while your agent handles your open house. Buyers, even serious buyers, may be uncomfortable asking serious questions with the homeowner present.

DO’s

• DO put your pet in a safe place. Strangers in the home can make your pet anxious and potential buyers may find animals frightening or off-putting, specially if you own rats or hamsters, try keeping them on a rat cage for 2 rats.
• DO turn on all the lights. In the winter, the sun sets early, and even a daytime open house may find a cloudy day. Potential buyers prefer light bright rooms. That means windows and blinds should be open as well.
• DO keep the heat to a comfortable temperature. Here’s the chauffage radiant le plus efficace. While your family may prefer it cooler, or you choose to conserve energy by wearing sweaters and extra layers, do not assume your potential buyer will appreciate those efforts. You should also inspect your heating system to determine if a repair service or a new heating installation will be required.

If you are considering a holiday open house, contact us immediately so that we have advance marketing in place for the best possible turnout.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Whether Thanksgiving weekend or the full week between Christmas and New Years, the holidays may be the best time, or indeed the only time, you can plan the move to your new house. Here are some tips to make the transition smoother.

Plan ahead

If you have young children, you’ll want to plan a time of holiday celebration, even if it is less elaborate than you normally would.

• Spending the holidays in a hotel: If you’ll be in a hotel over the holidays during your move, find one that is planning a holiday celebration. You might work with the hotel staff to schedule a special time to “use” the hotel’s Christmas tree to open your gifts.
• Make sure you know which restaurants are open or deliver on the holidays. Since cooking utensils may already be packed away, don’t assume your new kitchen will be up and running. If you’re moving to a new city, knowing which restaurants will be open may require some searching on the Internet or a few phone calls.
• Bring along some holiday spirit. Even if you’re foregoing traditional gift-giving during your move, take stockings and a few decorations with you.
• If you’re planning to celebrate in the new home, shop online and have gifts delivered to your new home. Arrange with the local postmaster and delivery services to hold your packages until you arrive, or arrange to have them delivered to a relative or the hotel where you are staying.
• Choose the gift-wrap option during online shopping. The last thing you need is to be looking for tape and scissors in the midst of all your boxes.

Prepare for hidden costs

While some companies charge less to move over the holidays since demand often is lower, others may charge more because paying for movers and drivers on a holiday costs them more. Before choosing your moving company and a holiday moving date, make sure you know what the costs will be when moving over the holidays. Even if the movers are less expensive, some moving costs that could be higher include:

• Cable/satellite installers may cost more or be unavailable
• Plumbers and electricians may charge a premium
• You may not be able to get the lights or heat turned on until after the holiday
• There may be more breakage from slips and falls on icy driveways and sidewalks when loading or unloading a truck.

Other tips and considerations

If you need to move during the holidays and want to celebrate at the same time, consider leaving one room set up for your celebration while packing up all the other rooms, have your moving company from https://www.aaamoversinc.com ready to come in and just take all the things. Alternatively, plan the actual celebration day at a family member’s home or a hotel. Prioritize packing so that non-essentials are packed first, and if space on your truck allows for it use the last-in-first-out rule so that the items you need to celebrate in your new home are readily available when the truck gets there. If you’re moving a long distance and are driving, check along the way to see if you can take advantage of special holiday celebrations, concerts or events in any cities you pass through.

Compliments of Virtual Results

This time of year, leaves turn beautiful shades of red, vermillion, orange and yellow. We enjoy their beauty. We take photographs. We collect them. Our children play in them. For a homeowner, however, leaves pose the possibility of damage to their landscaping, their home and their relationships.

Leaves and lawn-care

If you’re new to homeownership, you may not know that while allowing leaves to lay a thick carpet over your lawn is beautiful, a solid mat of large wet leaves, such as those from oak, maple or sycamore trees, can damage your lawn. They promote mold growth, cause moisture to run off rather than seep into the ground, and hide the grass from the winter sun.

Experts suggest keeping your lawn clear of leaves. Here are some options to consider:

• Raking. This historic method of dealing with leaves is still the preferred method for some lawns. If you have specialty turf, lightly raking and removing leaves protects your lawn from damage. Bag leaves or ad them to your compost pile. Remember that paper bags will decompose much more quickly than plastic ones. If your city offers leave removal, be sure to utilize the appropriate process required.
• Mulching. Many mowers have mulch settings that chop the leaves into smaller bits that you can leave on the lawn to decompose naturally, and add nutrients to the soil.
• Blowing. Many gardening professionals prefer blowing leaves out of flowerbeds and lawns with power blowers into large piles to then “vacuum” them up with large machinery and haul them away. Typically, you would hire a professional to do this since purchasing the equipment for yourself might be cost prohibitive.

If you have unhealthy or dead trees in your property You can hire a tree stump removal service to take care of this for you. This could be a great time to finally get rid of them with the help of a tree removal company.

Leaves and gutter-care

Blowing and falling leaves create problems for your gutters, this is the reason why many home owners don’t have trees, they rather chop them off as soon as they move in to a new house, this way they don’t find themselves dealing with the leaves later on, you can view website for more info. Once most of the leaves have fallen, you should have your gutters inspected for clogs. A clogged gutter is more than just an inconvenience. It can cause water and ice to back up under your roof creating leaks and other damage that may require the expertise of a Business Roofing Services company. If you need new roofing, visit www.stourbridgeroofingpros.co.uk/rubber-roofing/. When rainwater overflows a clogged gutter or plugged downspout, your fascia and soffits are endangered, too. Roofing Contractor Johannesburg are the ones to call for roofing solutions. Water backing up a downspout may dislodge or warp gutters, pulling them away from your house. When water spills down the sides of your home, it damages windows, walls and even your foundation.

Leaving water damage untreated can cause a lot of problems. It’s important to contact a local water damage restoration company as soon as possible to mitigate the damages.

Consider a professional gutter-cleaning service, especially if your home has more than one story, remember that there are plenty of Things to consider when thinking of gutter installation. You might investigate gutter guards if your property is particularly prone to leaf buildup. Your local gutter professional can help you determine what works best in your situation.

Leaves and relationships

Most municipalities consider leaves to be a natural product, so while a homeowner might be responsible for damage to a neighbor’s home from a falling branch, that is not the case with falling leaves. So, when the leaves from your yard blow into your neighbor’s yard, he may not have a legal claim, but it will strain your neighborly relationships. Make sure to talk to your new neighbors about the leaf situation. If she finds them a nuisance, you might offer to rake her yard as well. The best neighbors come up with a solution together.

Compliments of Virtual Results

To help you through your retirement, you took out a reverse mortgage on your family home. Now, several years into your retirement, you son wants to buy his childhood home so you can move to a warmer climate. Can you sell your home?

Reverse mortgage

A so-called “reverse mortgage” is a home loan that offers regular cash payments (in a single lump sum, a monthly advance, a line of credit, or a combination of the three) to a homeowner based on the home’s equity. The borrower must be above the age of 62 (in the U.S.) and the home must be his/her principle residence. Economists proposed the loans as a means of assisting seniors in maintaining a level income, and the IRS does not consider funds from a reverse mortgage to be income, but rather, loan advances.

Repayment

Typically, the borrower can defer repayment of the loan until he dies, sells the home or moves away from the home for more than 12 consecutive months. When the loan comes due, the borrower or her heirs may refinance the loan, pay the loan with interest or sell the home, cashing out any remaining equity. Alternatively, they may turn the home over to the lender of the reverse mortgage, giving up all claims to the property or the equity in the property. With a HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage), available through the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), the borrower can never owe more than the home is worth, so the lender only has recourse on the property, not the borrower or the borrower’s heirs.

Selling the home

The interest on a reverse mortgage compounds over the life of the loan, which means that each month, interest accrues on both the borrowed amount and the unpaid interest. The final mortgage owed may be much higher than the original amount borrowed. If selling the home, here are the first steps to take:

1. Determine how much is owed. You will owe all of the money borrowed to-date, compounded interest on that money, and fees that the lender may charge.
2. Obtain a payoff quote from the lender. This gives you an estimate of the amount required to pay the loan in full. Remember that a payoff quote is for a specific date or date range, so if the sale takes longer than anticipated, the final amount likely will be higher than the quote.
3. Contact your real estate agent. We not only can help you with the sale of your home, we can help determine the fair market value and determine if selling a home with a reverse mortgage is appropriate for your situation.

When the home sells, the reverse mortgage will be paid from the proceeds of the sale. Any remaining monies after paying off your real estate agent and any liens, fees or other loans will be yours.

Remember that the original reverse mortgage loan may be higher than what the property currently is worth. In that case, it may not be in your best interest to sell the home. We can help you determine if selling your home is the right decision for your circumstances.

Compliments of Virtual Results

As we prepare to enter the holiday shopping season, home sellers may think it is too late to sell their home this year. You may have heard that homes sell better in the spring, so you might be tempted to take your home off the market until after the New Year. After all, you have shopping to complete, baking to do, decorating to finish and myriad programs and activities vying for your time.

However, a survey of real estate agents shows that while Thanksgiving Day typically is set aside for families, Black Friday and the remainder of the weekend are days when serious buyers have more time to look for a home. In fact, sixty-eight percent of agents surveyed agreed that the buyers out looking on Black Friday are serious about buying a home.

Motivated Sellers

During the holidays, serious sellers can offer extra bonus items to entice buyers: a new washer and dryer or big-screen TV. Motivated sellers could offer holiday discounts, or offer to cover some of the buyer’s fees. Committed sellers may consider dropping their asking price, thereby lowering the effective tax rate on the home—a terrific value to homebuyers.

Sellers can take advantage of Black Friday sales to upgrade appliances and fixtures to improve their home’s appeal. Tasteful holiday decorations add curb appeal, too! Seasonal accents and colorful baskets of mums or pumpkins add a burst of interest to porches and walkways. Brightly painted doors graced with wreaths add a welcoming touch, and new door hardware and carriage lamps add that extra boost of pleasant hospitality to your home’s exterior.

Remember the little touches. Adding a little pumpkin spice or the smell of fresh baked cookies to your home gives buyers the sense of celebration and warmth. They can imagine celebrating the holiday there next year with their own family.

If you are a motivated seller, talk to your agent about ways to make your home more exciting or enticing to holiday buyers, and how to increase your curb appeal.

Bargaining Power

More than forty percent of agents responding to a survey believe that sellers perceive Black Friday homebuyers to be serious, and would likely entertain or accept offers during this time. Buyers with preapproved mortgages have increased bargaining power, especially when sellers want to close the sale by the end of the year.

If you are in the market for a home, talk to your agent about shopping on Black Friday or the remainder of the holiday weekend. Both you agent and motivated home sellers will know that you are serious and will make time for you. If you have picked out the home you want, consider making your offer during the holiday weekend instead of waiting. In the spirit of the holiday, some sellers may be more inclined to accept your offer, or add other values or incentives to the home … so tell your agent what you want, and what would seal the deal for you.

Compliments of Virtual Results

One of the very first discussions the Founding Fathers had was about how to balance the rights of all individuals with the rights of those who owned property. They knew that if only property owners could vote, the rights of individuals and minorities might be suppressed … but, if voting extended to non-property owners, the rights of property owners could be unfairly overruled. In the end, they left the question of voter rights to the individual states. Now, nearly 240 year later, with suffrage extended to all citizens, with or without property, the question remains:

“Do elections affect property owners differently than non-property owners?”

Levies

Nearly every municipality imposes property taxes on homeowners for, well, owning homes (and other property). The tax authority typically bases these taxes, or mill levies, as a percentage of the assessed value of the property owned. Proceeds from levies on property fund local services including:

• Law enforcement
• Roads, bridges, street lights, and other infrastructure
• Public schools
• Emergency services
• Debris and snow removal

Each locality and school district sets the property tax rates each year to meet the needs of that community. This means that tax rates vary widely from one municipality to another, and even between neighborhoods. They can increase each year, or may even decrease. For homeowners, voting for or against a levy affects property owners in two ways:

1. The actual tax increase affects a property owner’s bottom line. Yearly property tax increases might push the cost of owning a home higher than the owners plan, or higher than their income can bear. Putting stress on property owners’ financial situation may make it more difficult for them to maintain their property. Homes in distress can bring down the value of an entire neighborhood.
2. When homeowners vote to increase levies—such as those that provide local services, upgraded roads, improved schools or increased emergency personnel—they are voting to increase the value of their homes and communities, making them more attractive to buyers.

Voting for or against levies is a delicate balance between increasing an owner’s outgo with increasing the property’s value and the community’s desirability. Researching the fiscal impact of the levy you intend to vote on is an important first step in determining how it may affect your bottom line.

Sales Taxes

Taxes based on the sale of goods typically spread the burden of the tax across both property owners and non-property owners. Sometimes, however, a sales tax increase is for a specific neighborhood or commercial area. If you own property in an area with a higher sales tax rate than one nearby, it can determine how easily you keep your space leased to shop owners since customers may choose to shop elsewhere.

If you are new to home ownership, increases in sales taxes make purchasing furnishings and appliances more expensive. If you are considering upgrades and improvements, renovations or additions, a tax increase may expand your scope costs.

Other Taxes

Taxes specifically affecting homeowners include those like the one embedded in the Affordable Care Act. It taxes the capital gains income of upper-bracket homeowners that sell their home at a sizable profit and even taxes rental income from investment property.

Candidates

Decisions by both national and local elected officials—from state senators to congressional representatives, governors to county commissioners, city council members to school board members—impact the future levies imposed on local property. Knowing your candidates and how they hope to legislate their agenda can affect both your bottom line and your property values.

Not only are elections about national and state officials, international and social concerns or party platforms—they are about local schools, streetlamps, parks and 911 services.

Voting

Do not leave decisions that affect property ownership to others. Take the time to vote in your local and national elections. Balance how a levy can affect your immediate bottom line with the impact it might have on the sale of your property in five years.

Compliments of Virtual Results

While your home is on the market, and you find your dream home (or at least the perfect “next” home), it is tempting to place an offer on the new place to hold it until your home sells. Unless you own the house you are selling free and clear, or can afford two mortgage payments, selling on contingency is the only option.

Or, you’re the seller and a buyer wants to make a contingency offer on your home. Do you accept it?

What is a “contingency”?

A contingent offer means that completion of the sale or purchase does not finalize until a requirement, the contingency, is satisfied. In many cases, the contingency is simply good business practice such as having a home inspection to make sure everything is getting taken care of or making necessary repairs to the home with the team at ColumbusGarageDoorPros.com. In other cases, the contingency waits on an appraisal: mortgage companies rely on an appraisal before approving the amount of the mortgage, so if the home’s appraisal does not meet the asking price, the buyer could back out due to the inability to get a mortgage approved. This is a “mortgage contingency.”

The more difficult type of contingency for both buyer and seller is the one that relies on the buyer selling his own home before completing the purchase of the new home.

How does a first home sale contingency work?

For buyers, this sort of contingency is mostly a win/win scenario. If their current home does not sell, or the sale falls through for any reason, they do not have to complete the purchase of the new home. This protects the buyer from having to pay two mortgages at once. Even so, the buyers typically must place earnest money on the purchase of the new home that they will lose if the sale falls through. They also forfeit costs of home inspections and appraisals, bank fees and other expenses. Without a contingency, however, contractually they would be on the hook for the complete sale price.

Conversely, the seller also has some protection in this case since he can continue to market his home, and if the contingency falls through, he keeps the earnest money. If, during the contingency period, the seller receives a second offer on the home, the original buyers with the contingency have a specified time—typically 24 to 48 hours, or even up to 72 hours in some agreements—to settle the contingency and purchase the new home. If they are unable to do so, the seller is free to terminate the contract and accept the new offer.

A home sale contingency does pose risk to the seller, however, because a motivated buyer may not be willing to risk having her purchase fall through because of the prior contract. Before accepting a contingency arrangement, the seller’s agent will determine the potential buyers’ actual ability to purchase the home:

• Do they have a preapproval letter from their mortgage company?
• Do they have a contract in place on the sale home?
• If not, is their current home already on the market?
• If so, has it been on the market a long time and is it priced to sell?

We can investigate the likelihood of the sale completing, so when you do receive a contingency offer you can be confident in your decision whether or not to accept it.

Compliments of Virtual Results