Ask Your Agent the Right Questions

Odds are the day will come when you need to speak to a real estate agent to help you sell your home. When that day comes, you want to be absolutely sure you have the knowledge you need to choose someone who has the background and skills to represent your interests.

First, you’ll want to work with an agent who represents sellers as the majority of their business. You’ll find that many agents have experience on both the buying and selling side of the situation, but it’s optimal to work with an agent who has dedicated the majority of their time working with sellers.

While rapport is important, it is far from the most important factor. Yes, it is ideal to work with someone you like and someone who will communicate well with you, but there is a much more effective way to sort the amateurs and the pros: The numbers.

Your Moving Day Survival Kit

Moving day has a lot of moving parts. Almost everything you own is stored for transit, and finding one or two essential items can be a major headache, even if you labeled your boxes.

To make the day as smooth as possible, I advise my clients make a “Moving Day Survival Kit.” It’s surprising how awesome having these items at your disposal is when you first land at your new home. From paper plates and plastic flatware for lunch to toilet paper for the obvious reasons, the Moving Day Survival Kit can be a real life-saver as you sort out where the furniture and boxes need to be. Here’s what I recommend you pack in your Moving Day Survival Kit:

Don’t Get Caught Underwater: Flood Insurance

It’s a nightmare situation, and we’ve all seen it on the news before: Water lapping at people’s roofs, furniture floating in inundated living rooms, and entire livelihoods swept away by floods. Almost any waterway can become a flood threat if the conditions are right. What would you do if you found your home facing a rising water line?

Most people don’t realize that basic homeowners’ insurance policies don’t cover flood damage. Think snow damage or hurricanes are covered by your policy? Check again. Many companies will not pay out for repairs from water events such as these.