Selling a home can involve a flurry of varied emotions and lots of moving pieces. No matter how you're feeling, you've got to move forward with a plan, and that's why I'm here to help. Here are my top 10 tips for buying a home. 

1. Decide Why You're Selling 

Think about why you want to sell your home in the first place. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Your current home is too small.
• Your current home is too large and more than you want to continue to care for.
• Your neighborhood isn't what you thought it would be.
• You've been offered a job in another state.

Knowing why you're selling your home can help keep you motivated to do everything you can to move your property. It can also help us determine your ideal timeline. 

2. Hire a Realtor

Work with someone who's familiar with Roanoke real estate — the different areas and the market — so you have a professional on your side who knows what steps to take to make your property appealing and most valuable to potential buyers. As a lifelong resident of the valley, I can educate you about neighborhoods, schools and amenities.

3. Determine the Best Time To Sell

Watch your neighborhood to see how quickly property is selling and talk with your Realtor about the market. Real estate sells at all times of the year, so my advice: Sell when it's the best time for you and your life. That said, if you've had that lingering thought in your mind for a while, and you see that houses in your neighborhood are going fast, you should call me. 

4. Take Care of Home Improvements 

Making things as easy as possible for potential buyers is key. Take care of minor home improvements, such as painting, pressure washing, replacing door knobs and drawer pulls, adding new appliances and other small upgrades. When we talk about your selling strategy, we'll talk more about the larger improvements that could help you fetch more at closing. 

5. Stage Your House 

Potential buyers not only need to like what they see when they visit your home, but they also need to be able to see themselves living there. That means you want to stage your property so that there's no clutter or personal items. Your two directives: Remove and depersonalize. Then, make a family plan to keep your home in shape for a viewing at any time. (This also means having a plan for removing pets and any evidence of them when buyers come calling. We love our animals around here, but a potential buyer likely doesn't want to meet your cat or smell the litter box.) 

6. Focus on Competitive Pricing 

Part of your selling strategy will be determining a list price. We won't pull it out of the air or off an online valuation tool. I'll conduct some research about comparable homes in your area. We'll consider those along with the current market and your financial needs. Once your home is on the market, we'll continue to reassess and make adjustments as needed to meet your time goals. 

7. Design a Marketing Plan

It's easier than ever to get the word out about a home on the market, but we want to do it the right way and in the right places. I use digital advertising, social media, my website and more to get homes in front of prospective buyers. You can waste a lot of money and get very little result without a clear idea of your potential market. [See my blog post on the services I provide sellers for more on marketing.]

8. Make Yourself Aware of Potential Closing Issues 

Head a closing disaster off at the pass when possible. Your buyer's financing could fall through, you could receive bad news on your home inspection or the buyer may not receive a loan amount large enough to cover the cost of your home. Let's talk early about your options if something smells like it might go awry.

9. Have a Move-Out Plan

While working on selling your home, cultivate a move-out plan. Get an idea of the costs involved, how long it will take and whether you may need temporary housing if your home sells quickly. 

10. Be Responsive.

I'll be getting in touch frequently to discuss the status of your property and questions from potential buyers. Do your best to answer promptly so we can keep things moving. I'll do the same. 

Deciding to buy a house is one of the biggest decisions you'll make in your life. There's a lot that has to be done before you receive the keys to your new house and move in. To better ensure you do everything right the first time and run into as few real estate roadblocks as possible, here are my top 10 tips for buying a home. 

1. Take Care of Debt

There's no question that owning a home is a financial undertaking. That's why it's best that you pay off as much of your existing debt as possible, so you'll have more money to funnel into your home and be better qualified for a mortgage. Tips for quickly paying off debt include:

• Create (and stick to) a budget
• Focus on one strategy: Either focus on high interest rates first or focus on smaller balances first. There are advantages to both and your financial adviser can tell you more.
• Pay more than the minimum balance on all your debts.

2. Know How Much Home You Can Afford 

Before you explore your options for a home, get a solid idea of how much home you can afford. Consider that number along with mortgage interest rates, home insurance, home maintenance, property taxes and any other costs that go along with owning a home in the Roanoke Valley. 

3. Hire a Realtor 

With the help of a Roanoke real estate professional, you have a well-informed idea of the selection of homes in your area that suit your desires. Realtors also help speed up the buying process. [Read more about the services I provide to buyers and sellers.]

4. Build a Sizable Down Payment 

If you plan on getting a mortgage, put together as large a down payment as you can afford. It's best to aim for at least 20% of the cost of the home, because you can avoid private mortgage insurance. But don't worry. If that's out of reach right now, I can point you to a lender who can talk with you about low- or no-down payment mortgages. 

5. Get Loan Preapproval 

Sellers love nothing more than potential buyers who are fully prepared to follow through on an offer. Help them by seeking loan preapproval. Once you have a preapproval letter, be sure to take it with you to show home sellers. 

6. Prepare for Closing Costs 

As you're budgeting for buying a home, calculate closing costs, including inspections, title insurance and a number of other expenses. [I've got a good blog post about closing costs.]

7. Get inside Your Top Picks

A house has to do more than look good on paper and photograph well for the listing. Let's schedule a showing, or you can attend an open house to get a true feel for a property. 

8. Consider the Neighborhood

You should love the neighborhood your house is in just as much as you love the house itself. Research the area your dream home is in to ensure you find an ideal match for your family's lifestyle. Take a couple of drives around the neighborhood at different times a day to get a sense of the pace.  

9. Get Competitive With Your Offer 

Work with your Realtor to decide what would be the most competitive offer, which could involve negotiations over price, repairs, items that convey, closing costs … you name it. This increases your chances of also remaining within your personal price range. 

10. Get Proactive About Closing 

After you celebrate your offer being accepted, go ahead and shift your focus to the closing process. Keep the process moving by submitting required paperwork on time, getting your inspections scheduled and attending a walkthrough. 

Selling your home is a complex — and sometimes emotional — business. Between the legal and financial aspects, there are a lot of moving parts, and sellers may feel overwhelmed.

If you're looking to sell your Roanoke real estate, I can help. As a Realtor, I'm an expert in both the market and the process. I'm always concerned with protecting your best interests and making the experience as easy as possible. With so much on the line, having someone in your corner can make all the difference.

Productive Property Preparation

Before you sell your home, it's important to get it into shape. This may mean steps as simple as a new coat of paint or as complicated as bringing your electricity up to code.

Over my years working in real estate, I've connected with many construction professionals who can assist with minor and major repairs. You don't have to worry about scammers with my recommendations — I only suggest people I trust to get the job done right. This can save you time you'd otherwise spend researching, which gets your residence on the market that much faster.

Effective Marketing

Even though it involves a very personal subject, selling your home needs to be treated as a business decision, which means we need to add marketing. It's essential that we appeal to buyers, and I have several resources I can use to help us gain interest:

• Digital advertising
• Open houses
• MLS listings
• Flyers
• Social media advertising
• Local newspaper ads

I can also make use of my network of real estate professionals to find potential buyers. This may lead to opportunities that simply aren't available to someone outside the field.

Accurate Pricing

Determining a fair price involves many factors, including fluctuations in the market and details about the home. If you ask for too much, your house could be up for sale for a long time, but if you ask for too little, you're not getting your residence's true value.

My long-time experience in real estate provides me with insight into your home's market value. Since I'm familiar with prices in the same area, I can help you set an amount that truly represents what your home is worth.

Thorough Monitoring

There are a lot of legalities to keep track of when selling a home. Here are a few issues that require careful attention:

• Title
• Financing
• Insurance

Much of it involves jargon or complicated requirements you may not fully understand. My job is to stay on top of the paperwork so you don't have to. I'll keep you informed of any necessary documents or actions you need to take.

Tough Negotiations

If the market is in your favor, you may have a bidding war on your hands. Even without multiple buyers, coming to an agreement on a final price can be a complex process. Here my experience gives me an advantage since I'm familiar with bargaining tactics and even have a few tricks of my own. I'm dedicated to getting you a fair deal, no matter what.

Selling your home doesn't have to be a trying experience. With the right assistance, you can smoothly navigate the selling process and come out on top. If you're interested in my services or want to learn more, contact me today.

Learn more about selling a home on my blog:

Selling your home? 6 listing price errors you need to avoid

Thinking about listing your house 'For Sale by Owner'? Think again.

11 questions to ask a prospective listing agent

Top tips for Roanoke's first-time home sellers

4 reasons your Roanoke Valley homes isn't selling

When you buy a home, you're not just investing in real estate — you're investing in your future. Your decisions about purchasing a house can affect your financial and living situations for years to come. You don't want to make a mistake that can end up costing you in the long run.

As a Realtor, I can help you avoid potential pitfalls while searching for your dream residence. Together, we can find a house that's more than a good investment on paper — it has all the makings of a real home for your family.

Your Real Estate Resource

Choosing a neighborhood that checks all the boxes can be difficult, especially if you're new to the area. My expertise includes keeping on top of the advantages, disadvantages and new developments of Roanoke locales. I even have access to listings that may not be posted on the MLS, giving you a wider range of options than if you tried to go it alone.

Understanding an area's history, current state and future opportunities is essential if you intend to put down roots. My role is to represent you and your best interests, which means I make sure you're informed of all the facts. 

Top-Notch Negotiator

If you try to purchase a home without the assistance of a Realtor, you risk paying more than the real estate is worth. Recognizing a residence's value requires familiarity with the local market. That's a lot to ask of buyers who are trying to juggle work and life responsibilities on top of the buying process. On the other hand, having my finger on the market's pulse is my livelihood. My years of experience in negotiating can ensure you're getting a fair deal.

Objective Advisor

There are a lot of choices to make when purchasing a house, and sometimes compromises have to be made to satisfy your needs. This can be an understandably difficult and emotional time for buyers. As a third party, I can offer an objective perspective on potential problems and trade-offs. My experience also allows me to suggest solutions that aren't obvious to people outside the industry.

This may have advantages when it comes to bidding as well. You may love a place and fear losing it, which can result in overpaying. However, there may be negotiating strategies I can employ to make sure we seal the deal without it becoming too expensive.

Instant Network

When you've been in the business as long as I have, you meet a few people. Over the years, I've built up a network of real estate professionals, including folks in the following fields:

• Title companies
• Home inspectors
• Contractors

In an industry where scammers can leave you with shoddy work and an empty wallet, I only recommend people I know and trust. This can also speed up the closing process since you don't have to spend time researching professionals.

If you're in the market for Roanoke real estate, you don't have to do everything yourself. A great Realtor in your corner can save you time, money and stress. Contact me today to get started.

Learn more about buying a new home on my blog:

Do I really need a Realtor to buy a home? 

9 tips for downsizing into your dream home

Rehabbing an investment property: What buyers need to know

Getting ready to buy a home? Think like a seller

6 keys to buying a second home

Deciding when to sell your home isn't always easy. Most people don't expect to stay in their houses forever, but it can be hard to decide when to place your home on the market. If you're on the fence about selling your home, here are several signs it's time to take the leap. 

You have positive equity

Equity is the difference between your home's value and the amount you owe on your mortgage. One of the most important signs you're ready to sell is that you have positive equity in your home. With a high amount of equity, there's a higher chance of making a profit on the sale. 

To find out how much equity you have, compare the amount you owe on your most recent mortgage statement with your home's market value. Don't re...

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