ocean edge condo – Leighton Team | Condo Sales and Vacation Rentals at Ocean Edge

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6 To-Do’s Before You Move Into Your Ocean Edge Condo

Buying your very own Ocean Edge condo is an exciting experience. All of the time and effort you put into preparing yourself to buy a property of your own has finally paid off. So celebrate your accomplishment, but before you relax and settle into your new space, there are some things that you need to do first. Here is our list of the 6 to-do’s when you move into your Ocean Edge condo.

Change Those Locks

Your first stop before you arrive at your new home should be the hardware store to pick up new locks for your doors. Before you spend the night and move into your Ocean Edge condo, you should change the locks. The former owner of your home brought their keys for you, but there could be more copies of your key out there. If the property was used as a seasonal rental, who knows how many people have a copy of the key to your new home in their possession. Instead of taking the risk, give yourself piece of mind and change the locks on the doors. Changing the locks is easy enough that almost anyone could do it themselves. Check the package of the locks you are purchasing to make sure that you have the tools necessary to do the job so you do not have to make multiple trips to the hardware store (without a lock on your door!).

Ditch the Popcorn

Popcorn is great for movie nights, but it should never be on your ceiling. Popcorn ceilings got their start in the 1950’s hiding imperfect ceilings in homes throughout the country. Fortunately, popcorn ceilings are easy enough to fix that most people are able to fix on their own without hiring a handyman (or woman). Here are the three easy steps you need to do in order to remove that terrible popcorn ceiling and bring it up to date. Always remember to wear safety masks and eye wear when performing this do it yourself project! First, scrape the popcorn off of the ceiling. Next you need to cover the ceiling with drywall. Once the drywall is up, use plaster to create a new and smoother texture. For more tips on how to update your property, check out our blog “Find Your Bargain Ocean Edge Condo By Looking Beyond The Seller’s Odd Choices.”

Give the Walls a Makeover

When you first laid eyes on your home during the open house or private showing, you may have visualized painting the rooms in the home different colors to make it feel more your own. Before you move into your Ocean Edge condo, do yourself a favor and tackle the painting projects ahead of time. So often home owners have a vision of what they want their home to look like, have every intention of doing it in a reasonable amount of time, but then life gets in the way. If you have the ability to make your home exactly the way you want it before moving in, do it! Give the walls a makeover and make yourself at home. If you are planning to replace the flooring, remember to do the painting before you replace the floors. This is key because if you splatter paint on the old floors, it is not a problem. If you wait until after replacing the floors, you will have to be extra careful to not spill and ruin the new floor.

Check the Flooring

Replace the flooring before you move into your Ocean Edge condo to save yourself the trouble of moving your furniture in and then out down the road. Completing big projects, such as replacing the flooring while the house is empty saves yourself the headache of trying to figure out how to make it happen once you have already moved in. Even if the floors do not need a total overhaul or replacement, it is a good idea to have any floor work done before moving in. Whether you plan on resealing your floors, buffing them or even just steam cleaning your carpets, it is easier to do so before you are settled in your new home.

If It’s Broke, Fix It

Before you move into your Ocean Edge condo, you might have an idea of certain things that need your attention and repair. Make a list of things that need to be fixed in your home and prioritize what needs your attention right away and what can wait a little while. For example, a leak in your plumbing should be addressed sooner than later. A leak does not get better with time, it can only get worse and more costly to fix. A cracked baseboard would be lower on the list of necessary repairs, but should be on a to do list so that it is addressed at some point once the other necessary repairs have been completed. Storage problem in your Ocean Edge condo? Check out our blog, “5 Ways to Maximize Your Storage Space.”

Kid Friendly

If you have children or a small furry dog child, make sure that your new home is safe for them before you move into your Ocean Edge condo. Childproofing your home before you and your little ones move in is so important because you are all learning your new property. There could be an electrical outlet you were not aware of, or sharp corner that could hurt your little ones. If your little one is of the four legged furry variety, make sure that any carpeting you have in the home is not coming up in a corner. A carpet coming undone in the corner could be appealing to them, and could cause some digestive problems, and destruction to your new home. Before you settle your family into your Ocean Edge condo, do a run through with a sharp eye to make sure that it is ready for your family.

Move Into Your Ocean Edge Condo

Before you move into your Ocean Edge condo, make sure it is ready for you! Buying a home of your own is a huge accomplishment and a milestone that many Americans strive for. Make sure that your home is ready for your lifestyle so that you can begin your life in your new place on the right foot. Moving in to your new home is an exciting time, so take it in and celebrate your accomplishment, then get to work!

July 8, 2017/by Leighton Team

Buying

5 Tips to Prepare Yourself Financially to Buy Your Ocean Edge Condo

Purchasing a home is a huge financial commitment, how do you know if you are ready? There are a number of factors to take into consideration when you are thinking of buying a home. You need to prepare yourself mentally, physically and financially. Mentally you need to get yourself ready for the amount of responsibility that comes along with owning your very own condo. Physically, you will find yourself doing a lot of projects around your new home that you have never done before to save yourself the money of hiring someone else to do it. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty! Financially, you need to make sure that you are able to pay your mortgage on time along with your other expenses. How do you make sure you are financially ready to handle purchasing a home? Here are our 5 tips to prepare yourself financially to buy your Ocean Edge condo.

Create a Budget

Buying a condo comes with a lot of set expenses. You have your condo fees and your mortgage that unless you have a variable rate mortgage, should be set expenses. In addition to these set expenses, you also have expenses that are associated with your new home that typically stay the same but fluctuate. These expenses are your gas, electric, cable and other utilities for your home. These are all new expenses that need to be accounted for in addition to the expenses that you currently have to pay every month. Your current expenses include your car payment, student loans and credit cards. Creating a budget for yourself is the only way you can set yourself up financially to buy your Ocean Edge condo. Budgeting for a down payment can be tricky. Check out our blog, “How to Save for a Down Payment on an Ocean Edge Condo” for tips on how to put aside some money to make your purchase.

Pay Off Your Debt

Paying off your debt before you buy your Ocean Edge condo takes care of two birds with one stone. Eliminating debt will give you more money in your budget for non essential items such as splurging on some fun or updating your Ocean Edge condo. Paying off your debt also helps you boost your credit score so that you can get a better mortgage product when you meet with a lender for a loan to purchase your home. The higher your credit score, the lower your interest on your loan, which means you will pay less every month. Want to learn more about how your credit score impacts your ability to purchase a home? Check out our blog, “Clean Up Credit Score Before You Buy.”

Look at Your Spending Habits

In order to create a true budget, you need to take an honest look at your spending habits. With mobile banking and credit card apps, it is easy to take a look at your spending to see where most of your money goes. This will give you an idea of where your money is going that you might not be aware of. Your findings when going through your financial statements may surprise you! You may have only budgeted $75 per month to fun, which could be going out to dinner or going to the movies, but when you check your statements you may find that you pay 3 to 4 times that amount per month. Looking at your actual spending habits will help you create your budget so you have a more realistic idea of where your money is going and what you can do to cut down these expenses so you can buy your Ocean Edge condo.

Make Some More Money

It may not seem like it is possible to do more than you already do now, but you may be surprised. Saying yes to a couple extra shifts at work, or a couple of overtime hours will make a difference in your overall budget. If your job does not offer overtime, picking up a part time job could be the answer. Serving or hostessing in a restaurant a couple hours a week can line your wallet with a little extra cash so you are not living paycheck to paycheck. It can also help you save up the money that you will need for a down payment to buy your Ocean Edge condo. Take advantage of living on Cape Cod in the summer time and see if you can find a part time job that fits your current schedule to make a little extra money.

Save Your Money

Once you have decided that home ownership is your ultimate goal, you need to start saving your money. When buying your home, you need to have money for a down payment. This amount varies depending on the type of mortgage product you will be eligible for. A down payment is one of the expenses you will be expected to come up with when closing on your condo. For more information on what expenses you are expected to come up with at the closing of your home, check out our blog “Hidden Costs of Buying a Home.” The down payment is not the only cost you can expect to have to pay up front at closing, so it is best to be prepared. Closing on your home can be stressful, and it can have its issues which could cause delays when purchasing your home. Check out our blog, “5 Closing Day Problems and How to Fix Them,” so you can see what could potentially go wrong and how to deal with it. Knowing the worst case scenerio can help you prepare so it doesn’t happen to you and you could get into your condo sooner!

Prepare Yourself Financially to Buy Your Ocean Edge Condo

Preparing yourself financially to buy your Ocean Edge condo is essential in setting yourself up for success as a homeowner. For more tips on how to get ready to make the transition from renter to homeowner, check out our blog, “Renter to Homeowner – How to Make the Leap.”

June 26, 2017/by Leighton Team

Buying

Credit Score in the Toilet? Fix It Before You Buy Your Ocean Edge Condo.

If you’re thinking of buying your Ocean Edge condo, make sure you do your homework and check your credit score. So many people do not know their credit score, or how important it is in determining your ability to purchase a home. If you do check your credit score and it is low, what can you do? There is no need to worry if you check your score and it is low. There are many ways that you can fix your credit score before you buy your Ocean Edge condo. However, you do need to work quickly because it can take time to correct credit issues. Here is how you can fix your credit score before you buy your Ocean Edge condo!

What is Your Credit Score?

Your credit score is a number that can range from 300 to 850. A score of 300 is the worst score you could get, and 850 is excellent which is the best score you could possibly get. Typically people have “Good” or “Very Good” credit, it takes discipline and work to get an “Excellent” credit score. The work involved in maintaining and increasing your credit score is monitoring it regularly and making sure that you are on top of your finances.

Sometimes information will be given to the credit bureaus that is false, so if you find information on your report that is not true, you need to correct it as soon as possible. Taking care of this incorrect information will help to fix your credit score before you buy your Ocean Edge condo. Foreclosures and bankruptcy are two of the major factors that will severely impact your credit score. It takes time to bring up your credit score when you have one of those issues on your financial history. Smaller issues such as unpaid bills or being late paying your bills also add up and can really lower your credit score. What other factors go into buying a home? Check out our blog, “Top 6 Home Buying Questions – Answered.”

Where Does Your Credit Score Come From?

The credit score comes from a variety of sources. It is developed from information obtained from a number of sources of credit given to you by different agencies. For example, credit card companies, car loan agencies and banks are all types of agencies that lend money to you on credit. This money is lent to you with the understanding that you would pay it back in addition to an interest fee that is charged for lending the money to you in the first place.

This line of credit will be used to judge your ability to pay back money that is lent to you. Your credit score is similar to your grade point average in school, but for borrowing and paying back money. A person’s GPA (or grade point average) was a vital tool in determining what type of college you will be eligible for, and your credit score is a vital tool in determining what type of mortgage you will be eligible for to purchase your Ocean Edge condo. This credit score is then reported to the big three credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax who manage this information.

How Do You Fix Your Credit Score?

So you checked your credit score, and it is not high enough to get you the mortgage that you need for your dream condo at Ocean Edge. What should you do now? The first step is taking a look at your credit score. Are there cards or lines of credit still open that you have closed? Was a payment you made misreported as delinquent? If you spot a mistake on your credit report, take care of it right away. It can take time to disappear from your credit report, so the sooner the better. A mistake on your credit report will stay with you, so it is important that you nip it in the bud and fix it. For more information on how to improve your credit score, check out our blog “Clean Up Credit Score Before You Buy”

Set reminders in your phone to remind you of when your bills are due so that you do not miss a payment. A lot of companies allow you to set up automatic payments so the money is automatically deducted from your checking account every month. The trick is remembering to have the money in that checking account for your payment to be made on time. It can be tempting to sign up for store credit cards because many of them offer a discount on purchases when you are checking out. However, applying a line of credit impacts your credit score. When a credit company or car dealership runs your credit to see if you qualify for their store credit card or if you qualify for a car loan, they make a hard inquiry on your credit. This hard inquiry knocks down your credit score, so before you have your credit run ask yourself if it’s really worth it.

How Do I Monitor My Credit?

Websites and apps such as Credit Karma or certain credit cards offer you free credit scores that you can check daily without impacting your credit score. Although websites such as Credit Karma are reliable, they are sometimes based on two out of three of the big credit companies reports on you so it is not always your exact score. Websites like those give you an idea of where your credit score is at, but you can request your complete credit score to know exactly where you are on the credit scale. Monitoring your credit will prevent you from having to fix your credit score before you buy your Ocean Edge condo, you will be ahead of the game.

Fix Your Credit Score Before You Buy Your Ocean Edge Condo

There are so many factors that go into buying a home, and your credit is a major one. The better your credit score, the better your chances of getting the mortgage you need to buy your Ocean Edge condo. Before you start the home buying process, do yourself a favor by checking your credit score so you can fix your credit score before you buy your Ocean Edge condo. Knowing your score will give you the upper hand because then if you do need to fix your credit, you have the time because it won’t happen overnight!

May 18, 2017/by Leighton Team

Selling

10 Ways to Keep Your Ocean Edge Condo from Selling

Sometimes you need to look at things from another angle to get a clear view of what you should do to be successful. That is why we are going to look at how to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling. If you have a clear idea of what not to do to sell your home, it may help you to be more successful in selling your home and gain some perspective on how buyers see your Ocean Edge condo. Here are the top 10 was to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling!

Real Estate Agent

If you want to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling, DO NOT consult a real estate agent. A full time real estate agent is a professional that is skilled and knowledgeable in their field. If you do not want your condo to sell, do not get a real estate agent involved, especially one that specializes in properties at Ocean Edge. Michael Leighton knows Ocean Edge so well that he has been named the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004. He and his team know Ocean Edge properties and can help you sell your condo quickly and for the best price. Therefore, if you want to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling, do not consult a real estate agent! If you do want to sell your home, check out “5 Reasons to Be Thankful for a Great Real Estate Agent.”

Price Per Square Foot

If you are a fan of shows such as Million Dollar Listing on Bravo, you are familiar with the practice of pricing a home by the square footage. The real estate agents on the show typically use the size of apartments to help determine the price they will set for the homes. However, they take in a number of other factors in addition to the square footage of the homes. Pricing your home by square foot does not take into account the location of your condo, amenities available with your Ocean Edge condo, upgrades and condo style. You could over price your home or price your home under what it is really worth by using this method of pricing.

Use Zillow to Set Price

Pricing your home based on the Zillow estimate is a great way to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling! Zillow is typically 3 weeks behind the local real estate market, so it is not a current and reliable tool to determine the price you should list your condo. A tool that could help give you an idea of what your Ocean Edge condo might be worth is the Free Home Valuation tool on the OceanEdge.net website. Plug in your information and find out what your home is worth today!

Price Above Market Value

Listing a home for above the market value will keep a lot of buyers away from your home, so if you’re hoping to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling, this is a great place to start. A home priced above market value will typically sit on the market longer and once it does finally sell, it sells for well under the fair market price of the home. However, it is not always impossible to price your home above market value, check out our blog “5 Tips to Sell Your Condo Above Market Price.”

Repairs

Neglecting repairs such as broken fixtures, doors and windows is a great way to make a terrible first impression. Home buyers are less likely to buy a home that is in desperate need of repair if it is not priced with the cost of repair taken into account. Therefore, if you are looking to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling, do not repair a thing and price it as if it was in perfect condition. Minor repairs that would be easy to fix yourself or major repairs left make buyers wonder what other issues have been ignored and what potential issues will arise when they buy the home.

Cleaning

Along with neglecting repairs, neglecting to clean your home is a great way to make a poor first impression on a potential home buyer. Leave the dishes in the sink, the toys all over the floors and dust on the blinds for potential buyers to see in order to turn them away from your home. A home that is not kept up will give buyers a difficult time visualizing themselves in the home, which is exactly what you want if you do not want to sell it.

Pets Out

Make potential home buyers feel at home and leave your pets out to greet them at the open house! Some buyers might have allergies, aversions to animals or find having animals out and about while looking at your home distracting. To keep from selling your Ocean Edge condo, leaving your pets to roam your condo is a great way to turn buyers away.

No Showings

Open houses or showings are a great way to get people in the door of your home, and could possibly generate offers to buy your home. If you really want to keep from selling your Ocean Edge condo, do not have open houses or showings! When a home buyer sees a condo for sale at Ocean Edge, they typically like to go see the home before presenting an offer. Stop buyers in their tracks and do not have an open house at all so buyers do not try to buy your home. Home buyers will sometimes request showings of a home if they are interested in the online ad or paper ad marketing the property. Deny the buyers the opportunity to see the home to keep them from snatching it up!

Stay for the Open House

It’s your home after all, why not stay for the open house? If you want to keep from selling your Ocean Edge condo, you should absolutely attend your open house. During an open house, home buyers walk around your condo to see if hey can envision themselves living in the home. However, if you do want to sell your home, check out our blog, “Top 7 Open House Mistakes Sellers Make” so that you are prepared for your next open house!

Highest Offer Wins

Your home’s appraisal is what the buyer should expect to pay for the home. If an appraisal comes in lower than the high offer, they could walk away. This is great news if you really want to keep from selling your Ocean Edge condo. What can you expect from the appraisal process of your home? Check out our blog, “Ocean Edge Brewster Condo Appraisals: What to Expect.”

How to Keep Your Ocean Edge Condo from Selling

Obviously you want to sell your home, and you do not really want to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling. Seeing what you should not do in order to be successful in selling your Ocean Edge condo will help you make the right choices and sell your home quickly. For more tips on how to sell your Ocean Edge condo, check out our blog, “Ocean Edge Brewster – How to Sell Your Condo ASAP.”

May 4, 2017/by Leighton Team

Selling

How to Let Go of Your Ocean Edge Condo – A Seller’s Guide

There are a number of reasons that cause people to sell their home. Regardless of their reason, it is never an easy or light decision. You could be selling your Ocean Edge condo due to divorce, an empty nest, new job which causes you to relocate or outgrowing your condo because your family expanded. For whatever reason you decided to put your condo on the market, it is typically a well thought out decision that is not made lightly. Your home is your comfort zone, where memories were made and that can be difficult to walk away from. So how do you let go of your Ocean Edge condo and move on? Here are our suggestions to make the transition smoother and easier to handle.

How to Deal

Your home is more than brick and mortar. It is a part of you that defines a time in your life. Moving on can be really difficult because of all of the emotion and all of the memories attached to your home. However, you do need to find a way to let go of your Ocean Edge condo and move on with your life. Before you move out of your home, take a lot of pictures so you can look back on them once you move into your new home. Take a handful of dirt from your yard and use it in a planter to plant some potted flowers. There are plenty of ways to take a piece of this home with you once you leave.

Value and Love are Different

You have worked hard for your home, and you have every right to take a lot of pride in the home that you have made. Sometimes a home owner’s value of their home is different than what the true market value of their home is, and this can be upsetting. The details and work that you have put into the condo might not get you the return that you wanted when it is time to sell. It is important that you take the emotion out of selling your home and trust that your real estate agent is an expert in the field, and wants to give you the most money for your condo. On the other hand, there could be someone that comes into your condo and absolutely falls in love with it. They might be willing to pay more than what you are asking, but you want to make sure you listen to your real estate agent regarding price and not overprice your home. Check out our blog, “Why Overpricing Your Ocean Edge Condo is Never a Good Idea.” However, there are things that you can do to increase the perceived value of your home to generate higher offers. Ask your real estate agent what improvements you can make to your condo to generate more interest and higher offers. Our blog, “7 Tips To Becoming the In Demand Condo at Ocean Edge Brewster” will give you plenty of ideas to get more buyers interested in your home.

Be Flexible

Just because your home is on the market, it does not mean that your life stops, and that is understandable. However, do not make your busy life an excuse as to why you can’t do certain things to sell your condo. Carting your children to an from sporting events, work obligations and family responsibilities should not prevent you from hosting an open house or allowing showings of your condo. If you need to enlist a cleaning service to come in and clean your home occasionally to accommodate your life needs with the demands of having your house on the market, do so. However, your home was put on the market for a reason and selling your home should be your top priority. Letting your condo sit on the market too long because it is not being seen by buyers will make your listing stale and hurt you in the long run. Buyers will not wait around for you to make time for them to see your home, and they are not interested in a home that has been sitting on the market for a long time. They will move on to a home that is available for them to see and is the latest and greatest on the market. Free up some time so your condo can be viewed by buyers so you can let go of your Ocean Edge condo and find your new home.

It’s Nothing Personal

At one time or another, most sellers have to deal with a potential buyer that makes a low ball offer. Sometimes those low ball offers are a little on the low side, and other times they are flat out insulting. The trick is not taking those low ball offers personally. The potential home buyers is not trying to personally attack you by making the low offer, the majority of the time, they are simply trying to see how low you will go. Everyone loves a good deal, and that is what the potential home buyer is trying to do, score a deal. Do not take the low ball offer as an insult and flat out reject the deal. Instead, take it as a starting point for negotiations. If they walk away, they walk away. Never shut down a potential deal because you feel insulted by a potential buyer’s starting offer. For more tips on how to sell your condo, check out our blog, “Ocean Edge Brewster – How to Sell Your Condo ASAP.”

How to Let Go of Your Ocean Edge Condo

Your home is more than just a warm place that shields you from the elements. It is the place where memories are made, holidays are celebrated and children are raised. Selling your home and starting over is an emotional decision that can fog judgement. It is important that you put your emotion aside and learn how to let go of your Ocean Edge condo and move on with your life. When selling your home, it is also important that you go with the experts. Michael Leighton has been the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004 and the #1 Agent in Brewster since 2007. Recently he was named a top agent for the Lower Cape. Contact Michael and his team today to see what your condo is worth, or check out the free condo valuation to get a rough idea of what your condo could be priced today.

April 5, 2017/by Leighton Team

Selling

5 Signs the Bathroom in Your Ocean Edge Condo Needs an Update

The bathroom is the most frequently used room in your condo, but it is often overlooked when you think of remodeling your home. Typically a kitchen or living room remodel are on the top of the list, but updated bathrooms are very important to home buyers when looking to buy a home. How do you know if your bathroom is in good enough condition to sell as is, or if you should invest the money because the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update? Here are 5 signs that will tell you that it is time to renovate:

Mold

Mold is a huge issue, especially on Cape Cod. If your bathroom is not properly vented, the moisture from the shower could cause mold to pop up. Leaks in your pipes or cracks in your bathtub surround could cause moisture to get into the ceiling, floor and walls. Inspect your shower, bathtub, ceiling and wall for dark spots. These dark spots could possibly be mold. If you do spot what you think could be mold, do not panic. Sometimes small and inexpensive repairs could remedy what is causing mold in your home, eliminating the problem. However you should get the mold situation checked out by a professional. Large areas of mold or certain types of mold can be dangerous and should be handled with caution by a skilled professional. If there is mold in your bathroom, that is a major reason that you should have your bathroom remodeled for the safety of the people who will be buying your condo from you. If you do not do it now, it has to be disclosed to potential buyers if you are aware of the problem. It is better to take care of the problem instead of hoping that a buyer would not be turned off by the idea of mold being in the condo. Mold is a scary problem to potential buyers which could cause your home to stay on the market for a long time, costing you money instead of just resolving it right away. Discovering mold is a major sign that the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update.

Leaks

Leaks in your bathroom may be obvious, or they might not be. If you notice a leak, it is best to take care of it right away before it becomes a bigger problem. It is wise to check your pipes and faucets to make sure there aren’t any subtle leaks that could compromise the structural integrity of your bathroom. As mentioned, mold is a big problem when there is a leak in the bathroom. Leaks are often present due to corrosion or rust of the pipe and can just happen over time without anything causing the damage besides old age. A less obvious sign that there is a leak in your pipes is an increase in your water bill. If you notice your water bill go up and do not believe that you have not increased your water usage, you should check your pipes for a leak. Discovering a leak is a sign that the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update

Damaged

Bathrooms are the most utilized room in the home. With that being said, there is bound to be some wear and tear in the bathroom with the amount of use it gets day in and day out. Cracked glass, damaged tile and chipped flooring are all signs the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update. Faucets, light fixtures and knobs are used multiple times a day and can show it after time. Discolored paint and grout between your tiles, peeling wallpaper and missing vanity knobs are all signs that your bathroom is in desperate need of a remodel before your home is listed for sale. Want to learn more about making your condo stand out among all of the other Ocean Edge condos for sale? Check out our blog, “7 Tips To Becoming the In Demand Condo at Ocean Edge Brewster.”

Outdated

When selling your home, it is always best to make your living space as neutral as possible so you appeal to more buyers. How can you tell your home is outdated? Some signs the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update are obvious, while some are not. If you have a bright pink toilet in your bathroom or avocado colored bathtub, it is quite clear that your bathroom is dated. While you might find it fun and retro, the majority of buyers will see it as something that they will have to spend money on remodeling, turning them away from your property. If you want to sell your home quickly, you can not wait to find the right buyer that will find your outdated bathroom appealing. To sell your Ocean Edge condo quickly, it is important to paint your bathroom in neutral colors along with updated flooring and fixtures. The more buyers that can picture themselves living in your space the more likely you are to generate offers. Interested in learning more tips on how to sell your condo quickly? Check out our blog, “Ocean Edge Brewster – How to Sell Your Condo ASAP.”

Selling

Kitchens and bathrooms are the two rooms that home buyers look at when buying a home. Renovated kitchens and bathrooms are very appealing to home buyers, as they are the two rooms that are used the most in a home. An outdated bathroom will not generate interest in your property. Whether you are thinking of selling your Ocean Edge condo tomorrow or some time down the road, you might want to consider renovating your bathroom. If the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update, it is better to start on it now instead of waiting until you are just about to put it on the market so you have the time and money to make it appealing to buyers. However, if you are in a rush to sell your home, there are quick updates you can do yourself or hire a professional to do to make your Ocean Edge condo more appealing to buyers.

Signs the Bathroom in Your Ocean Edge Condo Needs an Update

If you discover that the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update, it is best to make your bathroom as neutral as possible to appeal to more buyers. Michael Leighton has been the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004 and the #1 Agent in Brewster since 2007. Contact him today if you are considering selling your home so he can help you sell it for what it is worth. Check out the free condo valuation to see how much you could sell your Ocean Edge condo for in this market.

March 29, 2017/by Leighton Team

Buying

Find Your Bargain Ocean Edge Condo By Looking Beyond The Seller’s Odd Choices

Almost all buyers are looking for that turn key, ready to move in property when buying a home. Most home buyers do not have a desire to buy a property that needs work because they do not want to spend the money on having a professional do it or spend the time to do the work themselves. Little do they know that some properties might be worth the time checking out if they look beyond the seller’s odd choices, because they could find their bargain Ocean Edge condo by doing so. Sometimes it just takes a change of paint or moving a few things around to make a home more comfortable and suit your style. It’s important to keep in mind the big picture when shopping for a home.

If the layout is desirable, it is in the Ocean Edge village you would like to be in and the condo is in good structural shape, maybe you need to give it a chance. The Ocean Edge villages were all built around the same time, only a couple of years apart. Investing some time and a little money, you could find a real bargain Ocean Edge condo that will be perfect for you with some minor adjustments. Sometimes the seller is not really motivated to sell, or is too overwhelmed to make their home appealing to buyers. Try to see beyond the small issues with the property and look for the potential in the property to see if you can make the condo a home. There are bargain Ocean Edge condos put on the market once in a while. Check out our blog, “Find Your Ocean Edge Condo for Under $200,000” and see for yourself!

Old Carpets and Tired Walls

Typically, when a seller puts their home on the market, sellers do what they can to make their home more appealing to potential buyers. This could be replacing dirty old carpets or painting the walls a more neutral color if they had previously painted their walls more bold colors. However some sellers do not do this, leaving it to the buyer to change when they purchase the property. If you are skilled in minor home repair, have family or friends that are capable of changing out flooring, price out what it would cost you to buy these materials yourself and make the improvements you need to make the condo more desirable. This can be a negotiating factor when purchasing the property. However, if the home is the right price it may be worth making these improvements on your own and covering the expense if the seller is unwilling to move on price. This could still be your bargain Ocean Edge condo if you look at comparable units after making the renovations yourself.

Sometimes you can ask the seller to pay to replace tired flooring or to have the home painted a more neutral color. It is a good idea to ask your real estate agent when previewing a property if that is something that they feel could be brought up to the home owner’s real estate agent as a bargaining chip. Your real estate agent will help you determine whether this property is a wise investment after making the desired changes. This is why it is really important to find the right real estate agent to guide you in the process. Check out our blog “5 Reasons to be Thankful for a Great Real Estate Agent” to see just how important a role they play in purchasing your Ocean Edge home. If you are concerned with the time it takes to make these improvements, keep in mind that typically it only takes about a week for old flooring to be replaced with new flooring, so it could be taken care of before you plan on moving into the property. A simple paint job could take even less time if you find the right contractor. If the sellers do not agree to cover the cost of having the floors replaced or painting done on the property, ask your real estate agent or people you trust such as family or friends if they have anyone they recommend to give you a quote on how much it would cost to have these changes done to the property. If you’re already getting a deal on the condo, it may be worth a little more money to make the condo the home of your dreams.

Rooms Used for Other Purposes

Sometimes home owners decide to use rooms for purposes besides what the room was originally intended or how you would expect a home owner to use the space. A second bedroom is converted into an office. A dining room becomes a gym because the home owner likes to work out and watch television at the same time. The current home owner could have run out of room and that is the reason behind the move, so a bedroom maybe have sprouted up in a room (such as a living room). While this can be shocking at first, it is important that you do not let these odd choices discourage you from snatching up this bargain Ocean Edge condo.

Try your best to picture the condo as a blank space. Do not get distracted by the seller’s odd choices and focus on what you can do with the condo. Envision your furniture and decor in the home, and how you would make it your own. If it is priced right, you could have more wiggle room in your budget to make the space even better than a “turn key” property that is priced above this condo. Keep in mind that this could potentially be your home.

Find Your Bargain Ocean Edge Condo

If you keep an open mind, you might find your bargain Ocean Edge condo that can easily be transformed into your dream home. Ocean Edge in Brewster is a very desirable place to purchase whether you are looking for a home to call your own on Cape Cod or a Cape Cod investment property. Check out a couple of properties that are not in turn key condition and see if you can save some money by turning them into your ideal space on your own (or with the help of a skilled contractor). You might be surprised! When buying your Ocean Edge condo, work with an expert in the area. Contact Michael Leighton and his team, he has been the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004.

January 24, 2017/by Leighton Team

Buying

What to do if the Ocean Edge Condo Seller Rejects Your Offer

Searching for the right Ocean Edge condo can be exhausting. You have a list of must haves, and when you find a condominium that fits all of your criteria it is exciting and a huge relief at the same time. You’ve toured the home, made sure every item of your list was checked off and put in your offer. Your offer might have been your best and final or it could have been a low offer expecting to negotiate with the seller to find a price both of you were comfortable with. You have already made a big decision by choosing a condo at Ocean Edge. The amenities, different floor plans and location make condos at Ocean Edge a very desirable place to buy. See our blog “5 Reasons to Buy a Condo at Ocean Edge” for more reasons why buying a condo at Ocean Edge is a wise decision. When you hear back from your real estate agent, they tell you that the Ocean Edge condo seller rejected your offer. The seller did not want to make a counter offer, they just flat out rejected your offer. Rejection without explanation can be difficult regardless of the situation, whether it be when in a personal relationship or when buying a house. However, the bottom line is that the Ocean Edge condo seller has the right to accept your offer, counter your offer or reject your offer.

Don’t Think too Much

Just like with any rejection, you may be left standing there wondering what you did or said to cause the deal to completely fall through. Was it something you said during the open house that offended the Ocean Edge condo seller? Sometimes owners like to be present among the potential buyers to see what kind of feedback they can get for their property. Although it is not encouraged, it does happen. Some sellers do not take the criticism of their property too well, causing them to hold a grudge and potentially the seller rejects your offer as a result. Check out our blog “8 Things You Should Never Say at an Open House” to avoid that problem.

Keep in mind that people sell their homes for many reasons. Some Ocean Edge condo sellers are motivated because they need to move for their job or can no longer afford their home and need to sell it as soon as possible. Others are selling but really don’t have that motivation behind their decision to sell. The owner could be selling during an emotional time in their lives and are not quite ready to give it up just yet. This could cause them to make irrational decisions such as the seller rejects your offer for little to no real reason. It’s important not to take the rejection personally and move on.

Best and Final

If the offer you presented to the Ocean Edge condo seller was not your best and final offer, or the most money that you can pay for the property, it might be a good time to present the highest number you are willing to offer. It is a last ditch attempt to get the property, which the home owner might accept or once again reject. If this is a property that you just can’t get out of your mind and that you feel you need to have, presenting your best and final offer is your only option. After all, what’s the worst thing they can say? No again? Now that the sting from the first “no” has dulled, a second rejection shouldn’t hurt as badly.

On the other hand, they might accept your second offer, realizing that you really are serious about their property. Sometimes when a home owner realizes that someone loves their home as much as they do, they are more willing to accept offers. If you are not working with a real estate agent, it might be a good idea to hire one to represent you. They can speak to the seller’s agent to find out what the sellers might accept, if there are any conditions that would be especially appealing to them to encourage them to sell to you. Check out our blog “Buying an Ocean Edge Condo? Why You Should Consider a Real Estate Agent” for more reasons why it is a good idea to have someone represent you when buying a home.

Forget About It

If the Ocean Edge condo seller rejects your offer and you’ve offered your best and final number, it is time to just walk away from the condominium. Overthinking what happened with this home can distract you and waste your energy that could be better spent on looking for another home. One of the perks of buying a condo at Ocean Edge is that there is a variety of floor plans to choose from throughout the property. If you find that you prefer a certain floor plan, there are multiple units that offer the same layout, increasing your opportunities to buy that style condo. A condo that might even be better than the one you made your original offer on could be put on the market any day, so do not completely give up on your search.

It is important to work with a real estate agent that is familiar with Ocean Edge so they can match you with a unit that is similar to the one that you had fallen in love with initially. They can show you similar and even better units. If a condo comes on the market that can match your list of needs with only a few improvements, your agent would be able to guide you on how to make it happen. Michael Leighton has been the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004, so he is an expert on Ocean Edge properties. Contact Michael Leighton and his team to see how they can help you find your dream condo at Ocean Edge.

The Ocean Edge Condo Seller Rejects Your Offer

Finding the perfect home can be an exhausting task, but once you do find it and the Ocean Edge condo seller rejects your offer, it can be crushing. If you do find yourself in that situation, the best thing you can do is lean on your real estate agent to make one last push to buy the home and if that doesn’t work, move on. Your real estate agent can help you find a similar or even better property to buy once you move on as long as you are able to put the property behind you and focus your energy on your home search.

January 16, 2017/by Leighton Team

Selling

Why Overpricing Your Ocean Edge Condo is Never a Good Idea

After some careful consideration, you have decided to list your Ocean Edge condo for sale. You have made some renovations to your condo, it is in great condition. When you look at the commission percentage your real estate agent would take from your home sale price, along with the commission of the buyer’s agent, you decide it would be a smart option to price your home above the fair market value. There is a difference between listing your home above market value and overpricing your Ocean Edge condo. If you have done some improvements to your home that makes it stand out among the other comparable units, you should price it higher than the others. Find out how you could sell your condo by pricing it above market value by checking out our blog “5 Tips to Sell Your Ocean Edge Condo Above Market Price.”

In regards to overpricing your Ocean Edge condo, you may wonder what could possibly go wrong by asking for more money? In real estate there is always some negotiating on either end and you may end up with more of a profit if you price your home a little higher. Why don’t more people do this? While it seems like a no brainer, overpricing your Ocean Edge Condo is never a good idea. If you want to sell your home quickly and for a reasonable profit, do not list your home for much more than it is worth in the local real estate market. An overpriced home sits on the market longer than a reasonably priced home, which ends up costing the seller in the end. A home that sits on the market for 2 months, which could easily happen to a home that is overpriced, typically sells for 5% less than its asking selling price. Still not convinced? Here are the reasons why overpricing your Ocean Edge condo is never a good idea if you want to sell your home.

Your Agent Knows Best

Anyone could research the prices of condos that have gone up for sale and sold in their area to get an idea of what their unit could sell for. When you consider your renovations and key features of the property, you may feel that you have a good grasp on how much you could list your home for before even meeting with an agent. However, ultimately your real estate agent knows best. They are the professionals in this field and they bring with them not only knowledge of the market, but experience selling properties that can help sell your home. It is easy to overprice your own home as the home owner, because there is some emotional attachment and involvement there. A real estate agent is an unbiased professional that has seen the other Ocean Edge units and knows what is of value to a buyer and what is not all that interesting. When looking for a listing agent, it is important that you know what to look for in a listing agent. Check out our blog, “Selling Your Ocean Edge Condo? Qualities to Look for in a Listing Agent.”

You may feel that the tile choices in the bathroom or kitchen counter top increase the value substantially, but if it’s not the latest and greatest option that buyers are looking for now, the real estate agent will know this and perhaps price your home a little lower than you had expected. When choosing your real estate agent, make sure you go with an agent that is an expert in your area. Ocean Edge is a unique market that requires a real estate agent that is familiar with who buys the condo units and how to market effectively to those buyers. Michael Leighton has been the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004, so he is an expert on listing properties in Ocean Edge and how to sell them quickly without overpricing your Ocean Edge condo. Get a free no obligation Ocean Edge Condo Valuation of your property to make sure that you are not overpricing your Ocean Edge condo.

First Impressions Last

When a home first hits the market, a lot of excitement is generated about the property. This is the time when there is the most interest in the home. Typically, buyers look at homes within 5% of their budgets. If they are looking at properties at Ocean Edge, they are waiting for the right property to pop onto the market for them to snag. When a condo comes on the market at an unreasonable price, it will turn buyers off right away. If the home is priced just above their expected price or the fair market price, they may entertain the idea of negotiating their budget. However, a condo that is overpriced will not get any attention from buyers. This is why overpricing your Ocean Edge condo is never a good idea. By the time you drop your price (because it has been sitting on the market for so long), your condo will be old news for buyers. They will think there is something wrong with the property or only solicit low ball offers because buyers will assume you are desperate at that point. It is vital in the success of your listing that you price your condo accordingly when you first list your property in order to spark interest in your condo and sell it at a reasonable price.

Overpricing Your Ocean Edge Condo: Never a Good Idea

When listing your Ocean Edge condo on the real estate market, it is important that you get the opinion of a seasoned professional when pricing your home. A well priced home will move in any market if you have the right real estate agent at your side. Pricing your home well instead of overpricing your Ocean Edge condo could potentially lead to a bidding war, increasing your selling price without scaring off buyers. There are also measures you could take to increase the value of your home that could increase your asking price just above market value without intimidating buyers. In the end, it is important that you seek the assistance of a professional real estate agent when making decisions based on pricing your Ocean Edge condo.

January 9, 2017/by Leighton Team

Buying

Buying an Ocean Edge Condo: How to Prevent Buyers Remorse

We have all experienced buyers remorse at one point or another in our lives. You see something in the store, you feel like you just have to have it so you buy it. When you come down from your little shopping high purchasing this coveted item, you start analyzing your purchase. Did you really need it? Did you need to spend the amount you spent on it? What are you going to do with it? How could you have spent your money better? Why didn’t you comparative shop before making the leap? All of these questions swimming in your head could leave you feeling buyers remorse. Although it’s not a desirable feeling to get after making a purchase, at least you are typically able to return your purchase for a refund or at least store credit if you realize your purchase was a mistake. When you buy a home, you can not just return your condo if you determine that your purchase was a mistake. Avoid feeling homeowner buyers remorse and ask yourself these questions before you pull the trigger on purchasing your Ocean Edge condo.

Is It All About Winning?

When a property has many desirable features, is priced competitively and marketed well, many times a bidding war will ensue. Sometimes people get so caught up in trying to outbid the other person to “win” the home that they don’t really think about whether the home is worth it or not. They also don’t consider whether they would be able to afford the home now with that the price has gone above their original offer. It always feels good to win, but if you’re winning a home that you spent way too much money on and suddenly realize it, that feeling will definitely turn into buyers remorse. Keep a clear head if a bidding war starts. Determine what you are comfortable spending and stick with it. You might be able to pay a little more on the condo than you originally thought if the home is in good shape and you don’t need to do any major upgrades or remodeling to make it your dream home. If the condo does need some work, it might be a good idea to hold back and let this property slip by. New properties will be listed on the market. The perfect condo that fits your needs and budget could be just around the corner. Check out our blog “Find Your Dream Condo at Ocean Edge.”

How Familiar with the Condo are You?

One of the major reasons people feel buyers remorse after purchasing their home is because they are not completely familiar with the property before purchasing it. Sometimes surprises are fun, but when it comes to a home, unexpected surprises are not a good thing and can make you question why you bought your home. It’s important that you visit the condo multiple times, and that you inspect it thoroughly before purchasing the home. How many times have you visited the house you are thinking about purchasing? Buying a home is a huge investment, and you want to make sure you are making the right decision. Take someone you trust to see the home, whether it be a family member or friend. Try to see the home unfurnished so you can imagine yourself and your belongings in the space. You want to be confident in your purchase, so take your time and visit the home as often as you need until you are sure that it is the right home for you.

Have You Seen the Condo Alone?

Go to the home and tour it alone so you can really pay attention to the condo and see how you feel about it without anyone else’s opinion. If you’ve only been through the home with your significant other, trusted family member or friend, you might be feeling their excitement about the condo instead of your own. Are they talking you into what a great purchase this home is or do you believe it is the best place for you? Having your real estate agent there with you one on one to point out the positives and negatives of the property is always helpful. Their unbiased opinion and knowledge of the property and local real estate can help you make a more clear headed decision regarding the condo. After doing a walk through with your real estate agent, do a walk through by yourself. This will give you time to process what they said and see if it is a home that you can live with, flaws and all. When you’re done with your walk through it is helpful to have your real estate agent there to ask any questions that may have come up during your home tour. Not sure if you are working with the right real estate agent? Check out our blog “5 Reasons to be Thankful for a Great Real Estate Agent” to make sure yours is making the grade.

Do You Have a Contingency for That?

When buying a home, it is important to have a safety net just in case things do not go as planned in the inspection, appraisal or while securing your mortgage. If you are working with a real estate agent, they will likely recommend that you put in a contingency for the home inspection for the property. This is the only way that you can walk away from purchasing the condo if there is something really wrong with the property that is found during the home inspection. If you do not include the contingency regarding the home inspection, the property could be a total loss but you would still have to purchase it. If there is something wrong with the property that the inspection uncovers and you have that contingency in place, you have the opportunity to then walk away from the sale. Check out our blog “Top Home Buyers Fears and How to Face Them” which will discuss contingencies and other ways to protect yourself when buying your home.

How to Prevent Ocean Edge Buyers Remorse

Buyers remorse is a feeling that no one likes to get when they are making a large purchase. A home is most likely the largest purchase you will make in your life, and it is the worst purchase to regret because you can not return the home if you decide it was a bad idea. By taking the time to ask yourself the above questions, you could save yourself from living with regret over making the wrong purchase or the hassle of trying to sell your condo once you realize that it is not for you.

December 16, 2016/by Leighton Team