Hoodle Blog


Real estate Is generally the largest investment an individual or family makes financially. As with any investment, it is important to stay on top of how environmental conditions other circumstances affect your investment. Deferred maintenance is when the needed attention is not given to the investment. When basic maintenance and repairs are put off too long or not attended to at all, the cost can add up to get back to working order.

There are many questions that come up in the home buying and selling process that impact how we make our decisions in a real estate transaction. Questions from buyers may be ones such as, Is this the right time? Is this the right house? Is this the best location?, What if another house comes on the market that’s better?  Or, Is this the best investment?.  Sellers also many times have concerns asking questions such as, Is this the only/best offer we will get?, What if we get another showing or offer?, or Is this the best time to sell? 

I am a St. Louis-based Realtor and was recently hired by a couple who were looking to buy their first new home in several years. They were looking for low-maintenance living (there is no such thing as “Maintenance-Free Living”). As we went through the discovery process we determined: where they wanted to live: how big a home they wanted; how many bedrooms and bathrooms; the limits of their budget; whether they want an existing home or a new construction home; etc. They did their homework and had all of the answers. They knew what they wanted. They said they had been driving around and found a townhouse they were interested in. However, knowing they wanted everything on one level I asked if they were sure they wanted a townhouse or villa? They said they wanted a townhouse. So I checked it out and it looked like a villa to me.

Between the tiny-house craze and bestselling books about minimizing your life, we’ve probably all thought about downsizing at one point or another. But is it really the right move for you at this moment in time? Before you decide to move forward with downsizing, it’s smart to spend some time thinking about the possible repercussions and what it’s going to mean for your life so that you can do it the right way — without regrets.

Buying and selling real estate can be a long and involved process or it can be smooth and quick. As with most any situation in life, you get out of it what you put into it.  I would like to share with you some thoughts from both sides of a real estate transaction and why it’s important to do your homework, make no assumptions, and be prepared for anything.

“Is this a good time to sell my house?” That’s one question that real estate agents are used to fielding, but as a homeowner, the answer might not be quite so obvious. Whether or not you should sell your house now or wait a few months (or years) depends on a number of factors, including the current market where you live, but there’s a lot that you can do to help educate yourself about the best time to sell a house and when to make a move.

I gathered seeds in my garden today, carefully removing each one from the dried out pods encasing them. It’s hard to imagine something so small and withered holds so much hope and promise for next year.

We have all heard this as being at the heart of real estate. Location is vital to the decision making process for buyers, realtors, companies, and communities.  This is the number one phrase in real estate and is repeated three times for emphasis of how important it is.

I think we all remember exactly where we were and what we were doing that day. As if it were a slow-motion video playing over and over again in our minds.

Selling your house can be an intensely emotional experience in any market, but it’s particularly nerve-wracking when it seems like other homes are going under contract in a matter of days while your listing lingers. In that situation, sellers can’t help but wonder if there might be something wrong with their place.

Building a new home is a perfect opportunity to customize your space according to your own needs and wants — and it can also feel completely overwhelming. Many homes built from the ground up will require the new owner to make more than one thousand decisions about everything from paint color to what fixtures you want in your kitchens and bathrooms.

Buying and selling can be a very stressful time for many because it involves change. Most of us are not fans of change and more so are creatures of habit. When one changes their surroundings or is in the process of change, it is easy to become overwhelmed and frustrated. With all of the mixed emotions, this may seem like an emotional rollercoaster. These feelings can lead to losing focus on what is important.

As a buyer begins the process of checking in to building a new home, it is easy to get caught up in the moment of emotions. This is where your realtor can be a great asset. Your realtor can help take the emotion out of the equation and focus on getting answers to these questions and others. I have listed some questions that have been asked before or during the process from buyers. It is important to collect as much information upfront as you can, as knowledge is power.

In today’s world of technology and just ever-changing techniques, buyers need to be aware of what is happening as they start the home-buying process. Here are just a few points to make note of and may want to discuss with your agent.

Your home is newly listed. You have worked hard to make it show-ready in a hot buyers’ market. Buyers and their agents are scheduling showings at a rapid pace and, as expected, multiple offers come in. With the help of your listing agent, you compare offers and select the most qualified buyer(s) with the highest price. Ready to go to the closing table, right? Not so fast! Well-represented buyers are going to do their own due diligence and request a property appraisal. Bottom line, your home needs to meet or beat the agreed-upon selling price of the property.