Andrew Robb | Andrew Robb RE/MAX Fine Properties - Part 30 Andrew Robb | Andrew Robb RE/MAX Fine Properties - Part 30

Altamont – Westwing

Camelot Homes in Westwing Interested in discovering today’s value for your Altamont Camelot home? Visit Phoenix Property Value for your free customized color report sent to your email within 24 hours without speaking to anybody!

Altamont, located in the Westwing community of north Peoria, is the Camelot Homes sister community to Canyon’s Edge, located just a few miles away in Sonoran Mountain Ranch. The gated community of Altamont in Westwing boasts many mountainside lots with spectacular city light views and incredible homes built between 2004 and 2006. For such home sites carved into West Wing Mountain, the award-winning builder Camelot Homes charged clients a $125,000 dig premium in addition to lot premiums during the frenzied real estate days when people would line up to buy homes. Consequently, one would have been very hard pressed to find any house in Altamont that was originally purchased for less than $1 million. Fast forward 5 years, knock about 40% off the original build price and now you can settle into incredible luxury at a fraction of the cost. Let Andrew Robb be your guide to searching for Camelot Homes in Altamont at Westwing.

If you are looking to move from Altamont, please talk to me first. As an owner of a Camelot Home since 2007, I am in the ideal position to effectively market the sale of your home. How many agents can say they know so much about our builder? A home such as yours, with all the upgrades and mountain views will definitely stand out. I will ensure your home is marketed with all the attention it deserves, showcasing its best features and doing whatever it takes to put up a SOLD sign.

Why not take me up on my Sold In 67 Days written guarantee? Getting your home sold quickly in today’s challenging real estate market requires a true professional. If you need answers, please feel free to call me as your no-obligation resource. When you are ready to discuss, let me take charge of your Altamont property with professional photography and so much more in my premier marketing plan. Put my local knowledge as a Westwing realtor and the worldwide brand power of RE/MAX to work for you.

Phoenix Home Selling Tips

Get your home SOLD FAST for TOP DOLLAR! With these Phoenix home selling tips you will discover how to protect and capitalize on your most important investment, reduce stress, be in control of the situation and make the most profit possible.

Know Why You Are Selling Your Home
Your motivation to sell is the determining factor as to how you will approach the sales process. It affects everything from your asking price to how much time, money and effort you’re willing to invest in order to prepare your home for sale. For example, if your goal is a quick sale, this would determine one approach. If you want to maximize your profit, the sales process might take longer thus dictating a different approach.

Keep the Reason You are Selling to Yourself
The reason(s) you are selling your home will affect the way you negotiate its sale. By keeping this to yourself you don’t provide ammunition to your prospective buyers. For example, should they learn that you must move quickly, you could be placed at a disadvantage during negotiations. If asked, simply say that your housing needs have changed. The reason(s) you are selling is only for you to know.

Do Your Homework Before Setting a Price
When you set your price, you make buyers aware of the absolute maximum they have to pay for your home. As a seller, you will want to get a selling price as close to the list price as possible. If you start out by pricing too high you run the risk of not being taken seriously by buyers and their agents. Pricing too low can obviously result in selling for much less than you were hoping for.
If You Live in a Subdivision: if your home is comprised of similar or identical floor plans, built in the same period, simply look at recent sales in your neighborhood subdivision to give you a good idea of what your home is worth.
If You Live in An Older Neighborhood: as neighborhoods change over time, each home may be different in substantial ways. Because of this, you will probably find there aren’t many homes truly comparable to your own. In this case, you may want to consider seeking a Realtor to help you with the pricing process.
If You Decide to Sell On Your Own: a good way to establish a value is to look at homes that have sold in your neighborhood within the past 3 to 6 months and including those currently for sale on the market. This is how prospective buyers will assess the value of your home.
Overwhelmed? Let me prepare a free home evaluation on your Phoenix home – with no obligation!

Do Some Home Shopping Yourself
The best way to learn about your competition and discover what turns buyers off is to check out other open houses. Note floor plans, condition, appearance, size of lot, location and other features. Particularly note the asking price. Remember, if you’re serious about getting your home sold fast, don’t price it higher than your neighbor’s.

When Getting an Appraisal is a Benefit
Sometimes a good appraisal can be a benefit in marketing your home. Getting an appraisal is a good way to let prospective buyers know that your home can be financed. However, an appraisal does cost money, has a limited life, and there’s no guarantee you’ll like the figure you see.

Tax Assessments – What They Really Mean
Some people think tax assessments are a way of evaluating a home. The difficulty here is that assessments are based on a number of criteria that may not be related to property values, so they do not reflect your home’s true value.

Deciding on a Realtor
According to the National Association of Realtors, 2 out of 3 people surveyed who sold their own homes say they wouldn’t do it again themselves. Primary reasons include difficulty setting a price, marketing disadvantages, liability concerns and time constraints. When deciding upon a Realtor, consider two or three. Be as wary of suggested list prices that are too low or too high. All Realtors are not the same! A professional knows the market and has information on past sales, current listings, a proven marketing plan and will provide client references. Evaluate each candidate carefully on the basis of their experience, qualifications, enthusiasm and personality. Be sure you choose someone that you trust.

Leave Room to Negotiate
Before settling on your asking price make sure you leave yourself enough room in which to bargain. For example, set your lowest and highest selling price. Then check your priorities to know if you’ll price higher to attempt to maximize your profit or price closer to true market value if you want sell more quickly.

Appearances Matter so Make them Count
Appearance is so critical that it would be unwise to ignore this when selling your home. The look and feel of your home will generate a greater emotional response than any other factor. Prospective buyers still react to what they see, hear, feel and smell even though you may have priced your home to sell.

Invite the Honest Opinions of Others
The biggest mistake you can make at this point is to rely solely on your own judgment. Don’t be shy about seeking the honest opinions of others. You need to be objective about your home’s good points as well as bad. Fortunately, your Realtor will be able to discuss what should be done to make your home more marketable.

Get it Spotless and Fix Everything
Scrub, tidy, straighten, lose the clutter, declare war on dust, repair squeaks and cracks, because these can be deal killers and you’ll never know what turns buyers off. Remember, you’re not just competing with other resale homes, but brand-new ones as well. Think of selling your home as a beauty contest and price war at the same time.

Allow Prospective Buyers to Visualize Themselves in Your Home
The last thing you want prospective buyers to feel when viewing your home is that they may be intruding into someone’s life. Avoid clutter such as too many knick-knacks and personal items. Decorate in neutral colors, like white or beige and place a few carefully chosen items to add warmth and character. You can enhance the attractiveness of your home with a well-placed vase of flowers in the kitchen or potpourri in the bathroom.

Strong Smells Must Go
You may not realize but smells like traces of food, pets and smoking odors can kill deals quickly. If prospective buyers know you have a dog, or that you smoke, they’ll start being aware of odors and seeing stains that may not even exist. Don’t leave any clues.

Be a Smart Seller by Disclosing Everything
Smart sellers are proactive in disclosing all known issues and defects to their buyers in writing. This can reduce liability and prevent lawsuits later on.

It’s Better With More Prospects
When you maximize your home’s marketability, you will most likely attract more than one prospective buyer. It is much better to have several buyers because they will compete with each other whereas a single buyer will end up competing with you.

Keep Emotions in Check During Negotiations
Let go of the emotion you’ve invested in your home. Be detached, using a business-like manner in your negotiations. You’ll definitely have an advantage over those who get caught up emotionally in the situation.

Learn Why Your Buyer is Motivated
The better you know your buyers the better you can use the negotiation process to your advantage. This allows you to control the pace and duration of the entire process. As a rule, buyers are looking to purchase the best affordable property for the least amount of money. Knowing what motivates them enables you to negotiate more effectively. For example, does your buyer need to move quickly? Armed with this information you are in a better position to bargain.

What the Buyer Can Really Pay
As soon as possible, try to learn the amount of mortgage the buyer is qualified to carry and how much their down payment is. If their offer is low, ask their Realtor about the buyer’s ability to pay what your home is worth.

Don’t Sign a Deal on Your Next Home Until You Sell Your Current Home
Beware of closing on your new home while you’re still making mortgage payments on the old one or you might end up becoming a seller who is eager (even desperate) for the first deal that comes along.

Moving Out Before You Sell Can Put You at a Disadvantage
It has been proven that it’s more difficult to sell a home that is vacant because it is perceived as forgotten and no longer an appealing sight. Buyers start getting the message that you have another home and are probably motivated to sell. This could cost you thousands of dollars.

Deadlines Create Disadvantages
Don’t try to sell by a certain date. This adds unnecessary pressure and is a serious disadvantage in negotiations.

Don’t Take a Low Offer Personally
Invariably the initial offer is below what both you expect for your property. Don’t be upset and evaluate the offer objectively. Ensure it spells out the offer price, sufficient earnest deposit, amount of down payment, mortgage amount, a closing date and any special requests. This can simply provide a starting point from which you can negotiate.

Turn That Low Offer Around
You can counter a low offer or even any offer that’s under your asking price. This lets the buyer know that the first offer isn’t seen as final and now you’ll be negotiating only with buyers willing to entertain serious offers.

Ensure the Contract is Complete
To avoid problems, ensure that all terms, costs and responsibilities are spelled out in the contract of sale. It should include items as the date it was agreed to, full legal names of all parties involved, address and legal description of property being sold, purchase price, concessions (if any), where earnest money will be held, date for loan approval, date and place of closing, type of deed, any contingencies that remain to be settled and what personal property is (or is not) included in the sale.

Be sure to request a FREE bonus report entitled “How To Sell Your Home Fast For Top Dollar” when you order the no-obligation detailed free Phoenix home evaluation. Save yourself the $410 appraisal fee and avoid having to speak to anyone!

Phoenix For Sale By Owner Checklist

If you ask anyone who has ever tried to sell their own home they’ll tell you that from the moment the Phoenix “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) sign goes up, the phone begins to ring. Unfortunately, many of those calls will not be from prospective buyers, but rather from real estate agents looking to obtain your listing. Obviously the idea of not having to pay a commission to a real estate agent is attractive to any home seller. But because of all the issues involved in the home selling process, selling a home on one’s own can be quite challenging, as many home sellers will attest to. The key is to be properly prepared. If you are not, your home could remain on the market longer than you expect because you are not attracting offers from qualified buyers. This can be a point where many homeowners become frustrated and consider giving up the idea of selling their home themselves. However, there are sellers who accomplish selling their own homes and you can be one of them. I have assembled this information to assist For Sale By Owner sellers in Phoenix understand the elements involved so you can sell your home quickly and for the most amount of money. To help you get ready, here are 10 tips to be aware of before selling your own home:

Price it Right
Correctly setting your asking price is critical and setting your price too high can be as costly as setting it too low. Home prices are determined by changes in the market, not by what you feel your home is worth or what you paid for it. In order to establish a realistic price for your home, objectively compare the price, features and condition of all similar homes in both your neighborhood and other similar ones which have sold in recent months. It is also important for you to be familiar with the terms of each potential sale. Terms are often as important as price in today’s market. Carefully budget your selling costs and prepare a net proceeds sheet to calculate your best estimate of what you will receive from your home sale.

Prepare Your Home for Sale
First impression is crucial. Make sure your home makes a positive statement by carefully inspecting all details and viewing it through the objective eyes of a buyer. Don’t gloss over needed repairs and maintenance – your prospective buyers won’t! Your job is to ensure your home stands out favorably from the competition and taking great pictures to showcase your home is also a terrific way to start.

Prepare Yourself With Documentation
Not surprisingly, there are many important documents which you must assemble, complete and understand. A partial checklist of forms that you will need includes:
• Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement • Purchase Contract • Mortgage Payoff Statement (caution: do you owe more than your expected net proceeds?) • Buyer Loan Pre-Qualification • Preliminary Title Report • Property Profile Fact Sheet • HUD-1 Settlement Statement • HOA Demand Statement • CC&Rs from your HOA • Personal Property Exclusion List • Property Survey • Addendum • CLUE Report

Market Your Home Effectively
In addition to the sign you will put on your lawn, you should find effective ways to spread the word about your home. Local buyers can be reached through the newspaper, but this is only a small part of the market you are after. Be sure you include the many buyers who could already be working with a realtor. Because out-of town buyers are also an important target, you should create an online presence to reach these people as well. Above all, you should be very service minded and make it easy for pre-qualified buyers to view your home. Ensure there is always someone available to answer the phone, return voicemails, emails and texts promptly, and be ready to give qualified prospects a tour of your home on short notice.

Remain Objective During Showings
Keep emotion out of the sale of your home. The best way to do this during a showing is to remain physically in the background. If a prospective buyer says something negative about your home, it is better to counter-balance this point of view by illustrating the positives rather than becoming defensive.

Pre-Qualify Your Prospects
Don’t waste your time entertaining buyers who could never afford your home. Research their financial ability with respect to job history, salary, debts, liabilities and credit score. Ask for their lender pre-qualification letter.

Negotiate Effectively
There will be many details to resolve before a sale can be considered final: price, terms, inspections, repairs, possession date, buyer concerns and objections. Make sure you fully understand the contract you have written up so you can in turn explain details and ramifications to the buyer and make any amendments to the sale that are necessary along the way. The contract and documents you use should be thoroughly examined by your real estate attorney. Some real estate brokers may be willing to help you do this. While this is going on, manage the buyer’s interest in your home so that it doesn’t deteriorate during negotiations.

Know Your Buyer
Your objective during negotiations is to control the pace and set the duration. Try to determine what your buyer’s motivation is. Do they need to move quickly? Do they have enough money to pay your asking price? Knowing this information will give you the advantage in the negotiations because you will know up front what you will need to do in order to get what you want.

Don’t Move Out Before You Sell
Studies have shown that it is more difficult to sell a home that is vacant. It can look forgotten and often not as appealing. It could even cost you money. If you move, you’re also telling buyers that you have a new home and are motivated to sell this one fast which can give them an advantage in the negotiations.

Know Why You’re Selling and Keep it to Yourself
The flip side of “understanding your buyer” is to “understand yourself”. Your reasons for selling will affect everything from your list price to how much time and money you will invest in getting your home ready for sale. Your motivation will help you determine what is more important to you: the money you walk away with, the length of time your property is on the market, or both. Different goals will dictate different strategies. As someone who wants to sell their Phoenix home without a real estate agent in an effort to save commission, it is likely that money is one of your primary considerations. Whatever your reasons, it is very important to keep them private so as not to place yourself at a disadvantage in the negotiations. If asked, simply say that your housing needs have changed.

How to Calculate Your Net Gain:
To analyze whether or not you will end up ahead by choosing to sell on your own, consider the fact that most buyers do use a real estate agent because it doesn’t cost them anything for this service. Be cautious as buyers and investors who seek out For Sale by Owners are typically those in search of a bargain. The low-ball offers from these types of buyers will often net you much lower in the long run. What you will have to judge for yourself is the following: consider what it will cost you in time to effectively market your home and assemble all necessary materials from the “For Sale By Owner” sign to documents. What price will a buyer offer you as a For Sale by Owner minus the costs identified above. Is this net price higher than the price an experienced realtor could net for you minus the commission? Unsure? Overwhelmed? Let me prepare a free Phoenix home evaluation on your home – with no obligation!

Setting Price to Sell Phoenix Home

When you decide to sell your Phoenix home, setting your asking price is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Your asking price is often your home’s first impression and if you want to maximize your home’s selling price, it is crucial that you make an excellent first impression. Because this is not as easy as it sounds, your pricing strategy should not be taken lightly. Pricing too high can be as costly as pricing too low. Taking a look at what homes in your neighborhood have sold for is only part of the process and this on it’s own is not enough to help you make the best decision.

I will help you understand some important facts about pricing strategy to help you not only sell your Phoenix area home, but sell it for the price you want.

An analysis of what homes have recently sold for in your neighborhood is not enough to help you properly price your home. It is important for you to understand how buyers look for a home. Think about how you conducted your house hunting search to find the home you are now thinking of selling. You most likely did not confine your search to a single neighborhood, but perhaps different neighborhoods to find a home that best matched your needs and wishes. The prospective buyer who will be viewing your home will conduct their search in a similar manner. That means they will be comparing your home to brand new construction, older homes, etc. They will also consider other neighborhoods. You can see, when you’re selling your home, you’re not just competing with the home around the corner, but also with all homes in other areas which have the same basic characteristics as yours. Selling your Phoenix home is a beauty contest and price war at the same time. Already feeling overwhelmed? Let me prepare a free home evaluation on your Phoenix home – with no obligation and without speaking to anyone!

There are 4 common strategies most sellers use to price their homes. It is unwise to assume that a higher asking price will net you a higher selling price. In fact, often this works in reverse if you’re not paying attention to what the market is telling you.

1. Clearly Overpriced
Every seller wants to receive the most money they can for their home and real estate agents know this. If more than one realtor is competing for your listing, an easy way for them to win the battle is to overinflate the value of your home and recommend you price it at 10-20% over true market value. This is not in your best interest because in most cases the Phoenix real estate market won’t be fooled. As a result, your home may languish on the market for months, leaving you with two negatives:
• your home is likely to be labeled as a “troubled” house by other agents, leading to a lower than fair market price when an offer is finally made.
• you have been inconvenienced with having to constantly have your home in “showing” condition, all for nothing.

2. Somewhat Overpriced
These homes will sit on the market longer than desired. There is usually one of two factors at play here: either you believe in your heart that your home is really worth this much despite what the market has indicated OR you’ve left some room for negotiating. Either way, this strategy will cost you both in terms of time on the market and ultimate price received.

3. Priced Correctly at Market Value
Some sellers understand that real estate is part of the system of supply and demand and will carefully and realistically price their homes based on a thorough analysis of other homes on the market. These competitively priced homes will sell within a reasonable time-frame and very close to their asking price.

4. Priced Below Fair Market Value
Some sellers are motivated by a quick sale. These homes attract multiple offers and sell fast, usually within a few days, at or above the low asking price. Make sure your agent is acting in your best interest with this strategy!

Be sure to request your FREE bonus report entitled “How To Sell Your Home Fast For Top Dollar” when you order your no-obligation detailed Phoenix home evaluation. Save yourself the $410 appraisal fee and avoid having to speak with anyone!

Buying New Home Build in Phoenix

New homes offer innovative use of space and style, greater energy efficiency, a choice of options and upgrades, and of course everything is new and modern. Existing (resale) homes on average are less expensive, often tend to be in established neighborhoods with mature landscaping and have already settled in terms of creaks and cracks. As you can see, there are advantages to both. Most buyers consider both new and existing homes before they decide to purchase. Should you be thinking about buying a new build in the Phoenix area, here are 10 tips to save you time and money before you visit your first model home:

Get in Touch with Me
Before you visit your first model home in Phoenix, sit down with a realtor and do your homework. You’ll want to be prepared so that you can determine a comfortable price range for your new home. If you own a home, you’ll first need to know the net proceeds from its sale in order to determine how much cash you’ll have to work with. Don’t simply estimate this: carefully calculate all selling costs. You will also need to qualify your income if the sale proceeds are not enough to cover the price of your next home. Determine the size of your down payment, then let me put you in contact with a Phoenix lender to work out a monthly payment so you can determine the right home price range.

Seller’s Agents vs Buyer’s Agents
Here’s a good point to remember. The sales agent in the model home represents the builder, not you! They are known as seller’s agents. As a buyer you can work with a buyer’s agent (like me) at no cost. It’s my business to best represent your needs by being knowledgeable about the Phoenix home construction process, builder warranties, financing incentives, differences in pricing, quality and even lot selection so that you get the best value for your money.

A Builder For All Reasons
Like all tradesmen, builders vary in their fields of expertise. For example, there are builders who specialize in craftsmanship while some are known for their innovative use of space and others who offer below-market financing. Determine your own needs and preferences then shop around (or ask me) for a builder that will best address your requirements.

Get the Facts About Your Builder
Before making a final decision to build or buy in Phoenix, it is wise to check out the reputation of the builder. Get “spec sheets” on home features covering everything from floor plans to energy efficiency, including lot availability and expected delivery time of your home.

Check Out the Neighborhood
– Learn as much as you can about the community
– Discover what amenities it has to offer
– Find out from local land-use officials what else is planned or could be constructed in the area
– Review the rules for the homeowner’s association (HOA)
– Think of how you will commute to work

Choosing Options and Upgrades
The less expensive the base price of the house is, the more options and upgrades you can add without fear of overpricing it for the neighborhood. Options are items the builder installs during construction, such as adding more usable room space. These features can add the most to the resale value of your home. Upgrading means selecting a quality above “builder standard” such as carpeting, tile, kitchen fixtures and appliances. Be sure to take advantage of Phoenix builder incentives that offer free upgrades or credit off the sales price. Remember you can add items like landscaping later and sometimes for less money.

Negotiations
Often buyers don’t realize that there may be room for negotiating price, upgrades or options. For example, you have some scope for negotiating with the builder if they have a fully completed home but haven’t sold it yet. Also some “premium lots” are priced higher and are typically saved to be sold last. Keep in mind that usually all lots cost the builder the same, so be sure to inquire about lot pricing. Builders may offer discounts or special financing to help close a sale.

Be Sure the Contract Works in Your Favor
When spelling out the particulars of a purchase agreement with your home builder, ensure you protect yourself by having safeguards written into the contract, such as:
– placing your deposit in escrow
– detailing all your upgrades
– allowing you access to the construction site to check on progress
– 30-day advanced notice of the closing date
– explanation of what the fine print means in the warranties from the builder and manufacturer

Financing – What’s Best for You?
Some builders, especially in high-volume communities that place large numbers of loans, can offer special financing packages. However, because Phoenix home loan lending is highly competitive, you have many financing choices other than those being offered by the builder. Shop around for everything from interest rates to lender fees. Appraisals, inspections and closing fees can vary as well.

Just Because it’s New… Doesn’t Mean it’s Perfect
Yes it’s new and typically it’s built with modern materials that are durable, low maintenance, stronger, quieter and safer. But because nothing is perfect, even if it’s new, consider hiring a licensed home inspector. Then create a builder “punch list”, from what you’ve learned to address any problems before closing. Many Phoenix home buyers use a real estate agent to help them negotiate the best price and terms with the builder.

Here’s a fact that you may not be aware of. Some builders have newly-constructed homes available for immediate delivery. Usually these homes are ready to move into within 30 days. Immediate delivery homes may be more desirable because builders offer financing incentives or free options. This may be done in place of reducing prices to appeal to buyers purchasing later in the construction phase. A quick delivery home is an advantageous way to purchase a home if you need to move in soon.

Andrew Robb - RE/MAX Fine Properties, 21020 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale AZ 85255