Cassi Justiz 7/29/22 Cassi Justiz 7/29/22

5 Tips to Make Your Cozy Home Feel Larger

If you have a cozy home, you know that it doesn’t take much to start to feel cramped. Living in a comfortable environment is important. And when you are looking to sell your home, a spacious feeling home becomes even more important! Buyers want to picture themselves in your home, and the last thing you want them thinking is that your home is too small for them.

Less Furniture
Less is more when it comes to furniture. Choose several larger pieces over a bunch of smaller ones to make your space feel bigger and less cluttered. If you are in the process of selling, a good option could be to take some non essential furniture and place it in storage to free up some space. Think about moving out accent chairs, side tables, or coffee tables if the main living spaces feel tight.

Declutter

Speaking of clutter, declutter, declutter, declutter! Nothing kills a space like too many knick-knacks. Clear table tops and reduce items on shelves and bookcases. Open space = open feeling. Every. Single. Time. A staging professional can help you decide which items to leave for decor and which items to go ahead and pack up.

Paint Choices

Choose light paint colors. Use whites, grays, creams, and yellows on your walls, doors, and trim because of their ability to reflect light and brighten a room. If you are looking for an easy improvement that makes a big impact, freshening up the paint to a light neutral color is usually a good option!

Add Mirrors

Just like light paint colors, mirrors are magic at reflecting light. When planning your wall decor, make sure to use mirrors to expand a room’s feel.

Natural Light

When possible, ditch the window coverings. Open windows or ones with sheer coverings welcome natural light and expand your space to the outdoors. Prior to showings, open your blinds and curtains and let in as much light in as possible. Make sure all of your light bulbs are changed out and turn on any lamps that you have. An easy update to improve your natural light would be to replace your solid front door to one that has a few windows.

Have you mastered small home living? Share your best tip in the comments below with fellow “cozy home" owners!

Cassi Justiz 7/1/22 Cassi Justiz 7/1/22

Looking to Buy BRRR Property?

Looking for BRRR deals in Oklahoma City? We can help!

If you have been in the real estate investing space for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard about BRRR investing. We are lucky that the Oklahoma City market still has solid options for buyers that would like to put in some work and capture a some equity on their investments. Is it easy? No! But it can definitely be done!

So what is a BRRR property? In a nutshell, it’s a distressed property that you buy, renovate, rent out and then refinance to capture that new equity.

Think of it like a flip, except in the end instead of selling the property you keep it and rent it out.

Here are a few common questions we get about the BRRR process:

Can I work with a Realtor or real estate agent with a BRRR deal?
Yes! We can help with all aspects of your BRRR transaction from bringing you the deal, helping with sales/rental comps, coordinating inspections/closings and referring you to fantastic contractors and property managers.
How do I know what work will need to be done?
We recommend having a professional home inspector complete an inspection prior to closing. They will give you an idea of any significant issues that will need to be addressed. We can work with you and your contractor to help you make renovation decisions to maximize your return.
Can you refer me to a contractor or banker?
Absolutely! We have contractor recommendations that specialize in investment properties. We also have multiple banks and mortgage brokers that have fantastic options for investors on both the purchase and the refinance side of things.
Do you have a hard money lender or bank that will lend on the purchase?
Of course! There are several local banks and hard money lenders that can loan based on appraised value or after repair value rather than traditional 20% down payment options that are common for investment properties.

I’m in! What do I need to do to get more information on these types of deals?
Comment on this post or email us at ax.cassi.justiz@gmail.com

Cassi Justiz 6/25/22 Cassi Justiz 6/25/22

Top Questions About Selling Your Home: Answered

If you have a home to sell, you’re probably excited to get the process started. There are many things you need to consider when selling a home, and it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by the task. The good news is we’ve answered the questions that you’re probably wondering:

How will you determine my home’s value?

As a real estate agent, we have access to fantastic market data to help determine your home’s value and set a listing price. I will complete what is called a Comparative Market Analysis and present this to you when we meet to go over the home selling process.. The CMA uses recent sales of homes close in geography, age, size, and features to yours. This will give us the data we need to set a competitive listing price.

Can we list a little higher to see what happens?

Many sellers like the idea of “starting high” to see if they can get higher offers, but I actively discourage this strategy. First, buyers may not see your listing if they use a price filter set to what they expect prices in the area to run. If your listing price puts your home higher than your neighborhood values, your home will likely sit on the market longer as buyers feel like it’s overpriced. A home will typically see the most traffic the first 2-3 days on the market, so we don’t want to miss out on being priced correctly during those first crucial days on market. When a home is competitively priced, more buyers will feel comfortable making an offer and you will be able to choose the strongest offer. It’s best to set a realistic listing price that will bring you qualified buyers quickly. My goal is always to get you the highest possible price and best terms in the shortest amount of time.

What percentage of the listing price can I expect to get?

The list-to-sell ratio is determined by dividing the selling price by the listing price. The ratio is largely market-driven. In the current Oklahoma City market, our list to sales price ratio has been around 99-100% in many price ranges. It’s not uncommon to see homes sell over asking price when they are in excellent condition and priced correctly to begin with. My goal is to get you as close to a 100% (or more!) list-to-sell ratio as the market will bear.

How soon can I get my home on MLS?

Once we agree to work together, we can move as quickly as you’d like! We will sign paperwork and I will enter your property information into the MLS. I will schedule a time for a professional photographer to take photos of the property and coordinate staging if needed. As soon as all the information and pictures are uploaded, your listing can go live on MLS. Depending on your goals, we could list within a matter of days once the listing agreement has been signed and the home is prepared.

What do I need to do to get ready to list?

For your part, it’s a good idea to begin cleaning and organizing as much as possible prior to listing. Take care of any home maintenance projects you’ve been putting off (squeaky doors, sticky windows, leaky faucets, changing out air filters, etc). You’ll also want the exterior to have excellent curb appeal as this will be most buyers first impression of your home. This includes mowing the lawn, freshening up flower beds, pruning bushes, etc. At your listing appointment, we can come up with specific list of to-do items that will help your home show in the best light.

How will showings be conducted?

You and I will agree on the terms you are comfortable with for showings. We want to make the home accessible to buyers without too much disruption to your personal life. We can use a showing schedule, and I will notify you in advance of showing requests. We typically use electronic lockboxes that only active members of our local Realtor association can access. We may also schedule open house style showings to get the most traffic in the least amount of time. We will work with you to coordinate showings in a way that you are most comfortable with.

How will you market my property?

Marketing your listing is one of the most important things we can do!. Most buyers find their properties online through MLS (via their real estate agent,) Realtor, Zillow, or other search engines. Listings in our MLS system automatically show up on these sites within a day of becoming active. In addition, I share my listings with the agents in my network, on my website, and on my social media. We can discuss additional opportunities such as hosting open houses, social media campaigns and localized marketing within your neighborhood.

How long will it take to find a buyer?

When we meet to go over your listing strategy, we will give you market data for recently sold homes in your neighborhood. Several factors influence the time it takes to find a buyer. These include the market conditions, price range (higher-priced or luxury homes typically take longer to sell,) location (whether your home is in a desirable neighborhood or a unique location,) and the condition of the home (is move-in ready or in need of renovations?) In a balanced market, most houses, when priced accurately and without extenuating circumstances, go under contract within a few weeks. Homes sell faster in a seller’s market, while buyers take more time to look when inventory is high.

Will you qualify the buyer?

When an offer is received, I will work with the buyer’s agent to vet the buyer. All offers should be accompanied by either a pre-approval from a mortgage lender or, if paying cash, by verification of funds available to cover the purchase price. I will make sure that we have received all necessary documentation to verify that the buyer is solid and able to purchase the home.

What are the costs involved?

The seller usually pays for the real estate agent fees, which are divided between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent. In Oklahoma, a seller is usually responsible for their own title fees. The seller also pays their share of the annual property taxes and HOA dues. If the full annual amount has been paid, the buyer will repay their portion back to the seller at closing. In some scenarios, a buyer may request for the seller to contribute to some of their closing costs as well. Your realtor will provide you with an estimated cost sheet and can break down costs specific to your sale.

Is your commission negotiable?

The commission that we charge is the amount required to provide the level of service that we feel comfortable providing. As a listing agent, we pay for professional services and marketing for our sellers through the commission that we charge. That commission amount is split between the two sides, and both agents must abide by the structure their brokerage follows. When we meet with you to discuss the home selling process, we are happy to break down the commission costs and the services that include.

Will you also represent the buyer?

If I happen to find the buyer for your home, be assured that I am trained and experienced in handling both sides of the transaction fairly. As a professional, I respect the confidentiality and loyalty required in dealing with both parties. Depending on the preference of you as the seller, I am always happy to have a team member or colleague represent one party of the transaction.

Can I cancel if I find my own buyer?

The listing agreement is a contract between you and me and/or my brokerage. It stipulates the terms for cancellation, which you are encouraged to review. Once we have signed the listing agreement, a prospective buyer that approaches you directly should be redirected to me.

How often will we communicate?

Excellent communication is key to an easy and successful sale. I will keep you updated on events every step of the way. When we go over the listing information, we will discuss our preferred means of communication and expected communication schedules.

My home is in _____ city. Can you help us sell it?

We are active Realtors in the Oklahoma City metro area. We have represented clients in Edmond, Oklahoma City, Moore, Norman, Midwest City, Del City, Yukon, Mustang, Guthrie, Bethany, Warr Acres and more! We’d love to chat and see if your home is in our service area. Not in the Oklahoma City area? No problem! We have a great network of agents that can help out in other areas as well.

Thinking of selling? I'm here to help! Shoot me a message or give me a call today.

Cassi Justiz 6/20/22 Cassi Justiz 6/20/22

Real Estate Affirmations for Buying or Selling Your Home

Buying or selling a home can be stressful. One thing that you have total control over is choosing the right agent to work with. Your real estate agent will there beside you for every step of your home buying or selling process. When things start to get stressful, here are a few affirmations to get you through the home buying or selling process. Screenshot these and save them to your phone. You’ll want to revisit them daily throughout your real estate journey to remind yourself that everything will work out. Which of these affirmations will you be using the most?

Buying or selling a home can be stressful. There are some things that you can control, and other things that will be completely out of your hands. One thing that you have total control over is choosing the right agent to work with. Your real estate agent will there beside you for every step of your home buying or selling process.

When things start to get stressful, here are a few affirmations to get you through the home buying or selling process.

Screenshot these and save them to your phone. You’ll want to revisit them daily throughout your real estate journey to remind yourself that everything will work out.

Which of these affirmations will you be using the most?