Free Seller Reports

If you've decided to sell your home, chances are you're caught up in a host of emotions. You may be looking forward to moving up to a new dream house or facing the uncertainty of a major move across country. You may be reluctant to leave your memories behind or eager to start new adventures. Whatever turbulent feelings you're experiencing right now, there are plenty of practical matters that need your attention…

Getting help to spruce up the inside of your home is as close as the phone, mouse or remote control. Today's homeowners have lots of options when it comes to interior design. While hiring a professional to turn your house into a dream home is certainly one way to go, there are lots of other places you can turn for help that won't cost a penny. With enough time and effort, anyone can become a Martha Stewart by turning to Martha Stewart herself…

An appraisal assists the mortgage lender in assessing the value of the house to determine whether a mortgage should be made and in what amount. Generally, the appraisal will analyze the condition of the house, its location, structural soundness and comparable sales in the area. A survey, on the other hand, goes to the question of the marketability of the house. The surveyor determines whether the house is within the property borders, whether there are any encroachments on the property by neighbors and the extent to which any easements on the property may affect legal title…

While it may sometimes appear that your home inspection is the end-all, tell-all, it isn't. Home inspectors occasionally make mistakes, which is why it's important to carefully review everything that comes to light in the inspection process and question findings that don't add up. The average home has more than 60,000 pieces and parts to it. Short of being able to see through walls, predict cracks where none is showing, and test every single element of your home, even the best home inspector has to rely on representative samplings, coupled with experience and up-to-date product and systems information in tracking down faulty points…

If you believe what it says, late night TV is full of great ways to invest in real estate. Most investors - they seem to suggest - are looking at big paybacks with no money down. That's unlikely, like going to the store to buy a watermelon and offering to pay for it with a paperclip (a highly-unlikely feat which my daughter successfully managed to do this summer at camp). It takes forethought and preparation to be successful in real estate. You also need to realize that buying real estate is investing and with investing there is risk: If you don't know what you're doing, you can make a costly mistake…

Generally speaking, and in the absence of a contractual agreement to the contrary, fixtures remain with the house. Personal items can be removed by the seller. As one can see, it certainly makes a difference if an item is characterized "personal property" or "fixtures." For example, can a seller take a removable wet bar from the basement, even though the plumbing is hooked up? Does a window air conditioning unit convey with the property? There are no easy answers to any of these questions…