How Betsy Sarcone helped us sell our home quickly so we could purchase the home we wanted.

"We were happy with what we found. We found something we liked in our price range and area. We were able to get it very quickly and we were able to sell our townhouse very quickly also. And I know we were, well we sold our townhouse pretty quickly so we could get the new house because there were other buyers that were wanting the new house. Then our first buyer ended up cancelling the agreement on the townhouse, so we had to re-list our townhouse for sale in order to get the new house, so we had to sell it pretty quickly. She was able to find buyers for us to keep the new house."

-Amy Pille

Why Should You Hire a Des Moines Buyer’s Agent?

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value Report

Today our buyer’s agent, Amy Schafer, joins us to discuss the advantages of hiring a buyer’s agent.

As a buyer’s agent, Amy focuses on three main things. First and foremost, she will help you find a home. Buyer’s agents also negotiate on your behalf, protecting your finances and motivation. Finally, a buyer’s agent will get you to the closing table and moved into the home. 

If you want to buy a certain property, don’t just call the agent on the sign in the front yard. Having a buyer’s agent is a free service, so why not take advantage of it? The seller’s agent will not have your best interests at heart. 

You don’t have to pay for a buyer’s agent. When the seller lists a property, they take care of paying their agent and the buyer’s agent because they want the buyer’s agent to bring people to their homes. If you buy a For Sale By Owner property, your agent will negotiate their fee with the seller.

A lot of people start looking at properties online. Where do you go from there? Contact Amy for a 30-minute buyer consultation. She will go over strategies on finding a home and let you know how the whole process will work.

Inventory is incredibly low right now and many buyers are having a hard time finding good properties. A good buyer’s agent will get creative to find you the right home. For example, Amy knows about many homes before they even come on the market. She can match you with the right property before it even hits the MLS. 

If you have any questions, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Why Are Home Inspections so Crucial in Des Moines?

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value Report

 Today, J.D. Nelson, a new team member with an extensive background in home inspections, joins us to discuss that very topic. He has some incredible insight. They are so important for buyers and sellers alike in the surrounding Des Moines area.

Sellers should consider a pre-sale inspection. This is a proactive approach before listing. You will know about any issues and have the opportunity to fix them before potential buyers view your property. The pre-sale inspection helps with the closing process and avoids surprises.

The pre-sale inspection also gives the seller peace of mind. Plus, if you resolve a few repairs before listing the property, you will most likely save money. When a buyer gets the inspection back and wants to negotiate repairs, they tend to overestimate the costs. If you fix something for $200, odds are that the buyer will request a $500 allowance to make the exact same repair.

Doing the pre-sale inspection saves you money in the long run. If you have to make substantial repairs that increase the value of your home, we can also build that into the listing price.

On the buyer side, 80% of buyers invest in a home inspection. This goes over the same things as the pre-sale inspection and lets you know everything about the house before you close on the property. The general inspection will cover things like your HVAC system, roof, electrical system, and more. If the home inspector notices any major issues, they may recommend having a specialist come out to inspect the property.

You can also add a radon and termite inspection to the property. Depending on the square footage of the home, a general home inspection typically runs from $310 to $400. This is a great investment so that you’re aware of any issues with the property before purchasing it.  

One of the benefits of working with J.D. is when he walks into a house, he goes into inspector mode. J.D. saves clients time by pointing out big ticket items that might need to be addressed. He helps them make educated decisions when looking at homes.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!