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Six Things to do if You’re Preparing to Sell Your House

Selling a house is stressful. There just isn’t any way to sugarcoat it. But there are steps you can take to make the process a little easier – and a little more successful. Here are six things you need to do if you are about to put your house on the market.

1. Fix it up

That loose stair that you’re used to skipping every day; those holes in the wall behind the couch that resulted from an ill-fated indoor skateboarding incident – these are great examples of things you will want to address before you take any further steps to sell your home.

Even things that don’t pose a physical danger, like the peeling paint on your front door, still need to be worked on if you want your home to sell. Speaking of paint, now is the time to turn your neons into grays – if you have a lot of brightly painted rooms, consider painting them a more neutral color. Yes, people should look past things like paint color, but they often don’t, and it could make or break your success story with selling your house.

2. Disappear

Okay, don’t literally try to become invisible – what we mean is that you and the personal touches in your home should not be the most obvious thing a potential buyer sees. It may sound a little harsh, but the goal is to help the buyer feel as though they can make their own home in your house, which is hard to do if you have monogrammed throw pillows covering every inch of the couch.

You don’t have to go through your hallways and take down every single photo, but, at least when you know there will be a showing, try to make your home more neutral all around.

3. Keep it Clean

If you have kids and/or pets, you know how difficult it can be to clean your home in a moment’s notice after a realtor contacts you about a showing. If possible, try to schedule showings in advance, rather than having people stop by anytime. However, since you don’t want to miss an opportunity to show off your house to a potential buyer, you should also try to keep your house “showing-worthy” as much as possible.

You can even practice with your family – assign everyone a specific job, and then give them a signal to start cleaning. See how quickly you can get it done, and soon you will all be pros.

4. Take a Walk on the Wild Side

And by “wild side,” we mean your yard. You may be so used to the out-of-control hedges by your mailbox that you don’t even notice them anymore. But a buyer will definitely notice. Ask a friend or neighbor to walk around your yard and point out some areas that may need a little TLC before you put your house on the market.

Addressing the details outside of your home is just as important as addressing the details inside of your home. Keep the yard mowed, pull the weeds, and give your house the royal treatment to help others see its full potential.

5. Practice Some Feng Shui

Your house is set up to perfectly suit you and your family, which makes sense. However, one size does not fit all when it comes to furniture preferences. Take a look at your current living room arrangement, for example – are there any “bottleneck” areas that disrupt the flow of movement through your home? What about the couch and chairs – do they allow for conversation and group gatherings?

Even if you don’t use your home for these things, interested buyers might, so showing them how they can make this house work for them as well as it has worked for you is important.

6. Be Flexible

Everyone has their own opinion about what looks good, right? So you may spend three hours painting a room a neutral color, only to be told the house looks too plain. You may pull up weeds all weekend and learn that someone thinks your yard is too bare. The truth is, you can’t please everyone, so don’t take every piece of feedback from potential buyers to heart.

If you receive the same feedback over and over again, it would be wise to give it serious consideration. But if one person thinks your kitchen is too small, too dated, too blue, or not blue enough, remember that sometimes your house just won’t be a fit for everyone.

The right buyer is out there – if you put the work in on the front end, you and your family can reap the rewards down the line. Give your house its best chance to be seen for all its beauty, and consult your realtor for any other ideas they have seen work for their clients. Happy selling!

Mortgage Loan Process Flow

What is the mortgage process? Georgia’s Own mortgage experts, discuss the mortgage loan process flow.

At Georgia’s Own Credit Union, we’re here to provide our members with an exceptional experience, that’s why we’ve constructed a smooth loan process just for you!

After you and your mortgage loan officer complete the initial application, your loan officer will be given a team to help speed it through to closing. The loan process has three main steps:

1. Your loan processor will verify the data in the file and order required reviews, such as the appraisal, and submit the loan to underwriting.
2. Underwriting will evaluate the information in your file to confirm you meet the guidelines of the loan product.
3. Once approved, your loan will go to closing where they will prepare the necessary legal documents and coordinate with the closing attorney.

Our goal is to ensure that this process flows smoothly and that your closing is a time of celebration. Remember, your Georgia’s Own representative is ready to help you with your mortgage lending needs.

Click here for more information about our mortgage products.

3 Common Misconceptions Before Applying for a Mortgage Loan

Georgia’s Own mortgage experts discuss three common misconceptions you should know about before applying for a mortgage loan.

At Georgia’s Own Credit Union, we’re here to provide our members with an exceptional experience. We know mortgage lending can be a little intimidating so we want to tackle three common misconceptions and telling you what you really need to know before applying for a mortgage loan.

1. “I need a minimum of 20% for my down payment.” – This is actually false. There are loans available with 10% down, 5%, 3% and even 0% down payment requirements.
2. “The details don’t really matter.” – Actually because mortgage lending uses what is called risk-based pricing, the details in a mortgage loan are your best friend. This means the mortgage loan that you qualify for and the rates associated with it are determined by your specific details.
3. “I need perfect credit to qualify for a mortgage loan.” – Here’s the big secret, no one has perfect credit. Yes, some people have excellent payment records, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a challenge. Always assume the best and work your mortgage loan officer so they can help you get what you need.

Don’t let the intimidation factor of the mortgage process get you down or stop you from achieving your dreams. Remember, your Georgia’s Own representative is ready to help you with your mortgage lending needs.

Click here for more information about our mortgage products.

Why Should I choose Georgia’s Own for my Mortgage?

Why should I trust Georgia’s Own for my mortgage needs? Georgia’s Own mortgage experts tell you why.

At Georgia’s Own Credit Union, we’re here to provide our members with an exceptional experience, that means we want to focus on three things for you:

1. Service – We go beyond a friendly smile and establish a set of clear service level commitments so that our members can depend on us to be there ally.
2. Products – Our team has worked hard to develop a wide range of fixed and adjustable rate mortgage products that best suit your financial situation.
3. Cost – In addition to offering low rates, we also work to reduce fees, including eliminating the State of Georgia Intangible Tax.

With a wide variety of mortgage products, Georgia’s Own can get you in the home of your dreams. Remember, your Georgia’s Own representative is ready to help you with your mortgage lending needs.

Click here for more information about our mortgage products.

Home Inspection vs Property Appraisal

Georgia’s Own mortgage experts describe the difference between a home inspection and a property appraisal.

At Georgia’s Own Credit Union, we’re here to provide our members with an exceptional experience. The mortgage process consists of many moving parts and then one thing that towers above them all is the review of the home. This includes both the evaluation assessment and detailed review of the home’s condition. Let’s explore the difference between the home inspection and property appraisal.

A home inspection is a non-invasive visual inspection of the residence, performed for a fee by an independent vendor you hire. The inspection is designed to identify any observed material defects including, but not limited to, the foundation, electrical, plumbing, roof, etc.

A property appraisal is the homes estimated market value based on comparable recent sale of homes in the neighborhood and is conducted by a licensed appraiser. Appraisals are ordered by the lender to protect the interest of the lender.

If you have more questions, remember, your Georgia’s Own representative is ready to help you with your mortgage lending needs.

Click here for more information about our mortgage products.

3 C’s that Help Determine Mortgage Loan Approval

Georgia’s Own mortgage experts discuss the three basic C’s that help determine mortgage loan approval.

At Georgia’s Own Credit Union, we’re here to provide our members with an exceptional experience. While mortgage lending can be intimidating, we’ve broken it down into three things you should know.

1. Creditworthiness – Contrary to popular opinion, this isn’t just a review of your FICO score. An assessment of your credit takes into account the details of all reported debts to determine a pattern of satisfactory payment history and your ability to support debt similar to what you’re requesting.
2. Capacity – Capacity is how much you make, how much you have for a down payment and how much you’ll have when the transaction is done. The goal is to ensure that the home will not be a financial burden for you.
3. Collatoral (Property) – This is the assessment of the home you want to buy which examines zoning, type, general condition, functionality, marketability and location because the home is the asset that secures the loan you’re seeking. The review also determines the value of the home.

Click here for more information about our mortgage products.