1)      When faxing or sending in your paperwork to your lender, make sure that your loan number is printed on every page you are sending in.  Lenders received thousands of papers a day and sometimes the cover sheet gets lost or the fax gets misplaced.  If you have the loan number on every page, they can make sure it gets in your file.

2)      Make sure that ALL of the requested paperwork is included in the file.  If you are missing just one required document, they will show your account is incomplete and your file sometimes goes to the bottom of the pile.

3)      Follow up every week with your lender to make sure all of the documents they have are up to date.   Don’t worry about being a pest; this usually keeps your file moving along.

 These tips are the same tips we use when submitting Short Sales.  The complete packages move along much quicker then the packages submitted with missing documents.  Some lenders even tell us to keep sending in pay stubs and bank statements so the file is kept current at all times.

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Mildew likes organic materials like drywall, wood, paper, wallpaper paste, cotton, linen, leather, wool to name a few.  In addition to food, it will grow best in moist and warm areas with lack of air circulation or light. 

One of the most common areas is the bathroom.  Usually the only thing needed here is the installation of a ventilation fan.  Make sure it is ducted to the outside and not just into the attic.  You should use the fan during and after taking a bath or shower.  If you find your family can’t seem to remember to turn the fan on, you might think about having it wired to the light switch.  If you use the fan regularly, it should remove the moisture and circulate the air.  If you find this isn’t enough to combat moisture then you may have moisture generated from somewhere else.  Hidden moisture problems include, leaking valves or supply pipes, loose and/or leaking drain lines, bad wax rings below the toilet, and water around the tub or shower from excessive splash. 

Other areas inside the home include closets, behind beds & other furniture (especially those placed against an exterior wall, combined with high humidity).  Silica gel can help in closets, as well as making sure your clothes are not densely packed in the closet.  Also, moving furniture away from the wall so air can circulate helps alleviate mildew. 

Outside the home you may see mildew on the siding and roof shingles.  If you have widespread areas of mildew this may indicate a larger moisture problem, one that can usually be traced back to lack of ventilation.  Cut back trees, shrubbery or other landscaping that is overgrown that can be the cause of some problems, as well as adjusting your sprinklers not to hit the side of the house. 

If you think you have hidden moisture you should contact a contractor who has a moisture meter and specializes in water damage restoration.

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The following tips will help you make a great first impression when putting your home on the market.  People decide within 30 seconds of walking into a home whether they might want to buy it, so it is important to make a great first impression.

Curb Appeal

Spend a little money on gardening by cutting overgrown shrubs and weeds and planting new shrubs or flowers.  A bit of gardening can help paint a scene, so buyers can see their kids playing in the yard or can imagine entertaining in the back yard.

Condition of the Home

Make necessary repairs to the home before putting it on the market.  Look for cracks, damaged paint and so on to repair.  Not making repairs can cut the price of the house.

Buyer’s typically ask for $2-$3 off the price for every $1 of repairs that they perceive are needed, so it is crucial for sellers to know that, say, the roof needs to be replaced.  That way, the seller can spend the $5,000 themselves rather than face a buyer demand $10,000-$15,000 off the price of the house.

 Clean and organize the house – including drawers, cabinets & closets.  It’s a good idea to de-clutter these areas so it doesn’t appear that there isn’t enough room in the home. 

Finding the right assistance

Contact a Realtor who often provides their expertise in giving you tips to get your home ready for sale.  They also often provide a list of Handymen, Home Stagers, Painters and Roofers that can assist you in getting your home ready for sale.

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Get Organized:

Winter is a great time to organize your home so that you are ready for a fresh start once spring arrives.  Your home will seem less chaotic once everything is put in its place.

Redecorating:

Update your décor.  By changing the decorative accents in your home it can make a big difference in changing the look and feel of your home. 

Make a Plan:

If you aren’t ready to get organized or redecorate your home, take the time to make a plan.  Planning ahead for any home improvements you are going to undertake once spring arrives.  Take this time to research any projects you are planning on starting; plan your budget and even get a head start on picking out or ordering materials.

 35% – Payment History
30% – Amounts Owed
15% – Length of Credit History
                                                          10% – New Credit
                                                          10% – Types of Credit

Payment History – This is the most important category, it gives the overall picture of how well a person handled loans, credit cards and other types of accounts in the past.  Are the payments made on time versus payments that are delinquent.  Time does play an important factor.  If you have a history of past due amounts, the amount of time should play an important role in how a FICO score will be affected in addition to the number of occurrences.  On the other hand, good payments on your past accounts and the number of accounts that were paid on time will be reflected positively on a person’s credit score.

Amounts Owed – This portion consists of how much you owe, or have a balance on, what types of accounts the amounts owed are a part of as well as the capacity of unused credit a person currently has available to them.  Each type of account is weighted according to the type of loan per se a retail store account versus a mortgage.  This is all taken into consideration when calculating your score.  The amounts owed on card balances and other accounts or loans are totaled and expressed a s a ratio of what you currently owe versus what your currently have avaialbe to you.

Length of Credit History – This portion looks at the length of your overall credit history.  It is calculated by gathering up data on all previous and current accounts and analyzing how long you have had the accounts as well as the time of your most recent activity on the accounts.  Also taken into consideration is the types of accounts that you have been using or have not been making payments on, such as mortgage versus payments on new purchases on your credit card.

New Credit – This section reviews the number of new credit inquiries or new credit that has been obtained and/or applied for, such as new credit cards, car loans, mortgages, etc., as well as any repaired credit or re-established credit for those who have made an improvement on their credit score after their credit score had dropped due to past delinquent account activity. 

Types of Credit – The types of credit has a lot to do with how much of an influence it will have on the actual credit score.  Credit cards or other revolving debt, installment loans, consumer financing and mortgages are all considered when observing the types of credit a borrower has established and/or is currently making payments on.

 Even with the breakdown of categories and the percentages each category bears on your FICO score, it is nearly impossible to figure out on your own.  You can obtain a free credit report online and for an additional fee, you can obtain your FICO score at several sites.

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Some workers are making ends meet by dipping into their long-terms savings. More than one-in-five (21%) say they have reduced their 401(k) contributions or savings to get by; while 33% state they do not participate in any programs such as 401(k), IRA or retirement plans.  30% also reported they don’t put any money aside into their savings each month while 28% set aside $100 or less for savings and 14% save less than $50.

As a result some workers said they have made changes to their living and spending habits as follows:

• Cut back on leisure activities – 54%
• Used coupons or shopped at discount stores – 48%
• Drove less to save on gas – 37%
• Cancelled cable and other subscriptions – 12%
• Used public transportation – 5% 

This survey found that six-in-ten felt that the recession has made them more fiscally responsible.

Here are a few inexpensive tips that will help you stage and sell your home more quickly:

• Wipe down all of the walls and outlets of dirty fingerprints
• Shampoo Carpeting
• Wash the Windows and Screens
• Vacuum and Dust often
• Remove all books from bookcases
• Pack up the knickknacks
• Clean off everything on kitchen counters
• Put items used daily in a small box that can be stored away when not in use
• Re-Organize Closets and Pantry
• Make Minor Repairs – Touch up any holes, scratches or damage to the walls and if you have touch up paint laying around, touch up these areas
• Keep Lawns Mown and Watered
• Trim Shrubs & Plant Colorful Flowers
• Air out House of Musty or Pet Odors
• De-Personalize – Pack up personal photos and heirlooms.  Buyers can’t see past personal artifacts and you want them to see the home.
• De-Clutter – If you don’t need it, sell it, donate it or throw it away
• Get a head start on packing, you will eventually need to do it anyway

If you are still unsure, you should contact a REALTOR to discuss the advantages of purchasing a home and find out how much of a loan you can qualify for. 

Don’t be left sitting on the fence saying should’ve…..would’ve…..could’ve  Act now and contact your Real Estate specialist.