Renovating a home can be an adventure. For some, it’s a thrilling opportunity to reimagine their space and build instant equity. For others, it’s the start of a multi-month saga involving uncontrollable delays, budget explosions, and a fine layer of drywall dust that may linger until your next renovation project.

Sometimes the right move is to pick up that hammer and get to work. Other times? You might be better off selling and finding a home that’s already “just right.”

So before you rip out your cabinets or start shopping for tile you saw on Instagram, take this quick quiz to find out if you’re ready to renovate, or ready to relocate:

1) What’s your gut reaction to the phrase “open concept”?

1. Finally! Time to take out some walls! (3 points)
2. I wonder how much it costs to hire a structural engineer… (2 points)
3. Sounds cool, but… what if I just buy one that’s already open? (1 point)

2) You find a leak under the kitchen sink. What do you do first?

1. Shut off the water, grab tools, and start diagnosing. (3 points)
2. Call a plumber and hope they come before next Thursday. (2 points)
3. Start browsing online for homes that say “new plumbing” in the listing. (1 point)

3) How do you feel about living without a functional bathroom for a few days?

1. No problem—I’ll shower at the gym and brush my teeth in the kitchen. (3 points)
2. I’ll survive, but I’ll complain the whole time. (2 points)
3. Forget days…I probably would last a few hours! (1 point)

4) How good are you at making design decisions under pressure?

1. I live for it. Bring on the swatches, and the chaos! (3 points)
2. I can do it, but I may need a therapy session or two to cope. (2 points)
3. I once cried trying to pick out which white paint to use on the ceiling. (1 point)

5) You overhear your contractor say, “This might be a bigger issue than we thought.” You…

1. Thank them for catching the problem and ask how much it’ll cost to fix. (3 points)
2. Hope they were just talking about something in their own personal life. (2 points)
3. Start trying to figure out how much your house is worth “as-is.” (1 point)

6) How confident are you in managing multiple contractors and timelines?

1. I’ve made spreadsheets and color-coded charts. (3 points)
2. No problem… as long as they show up on time and under budget. (2 points)
3. They need to be managed?! (1 point)

7) You watch home renovation shows to…

1. Pick up tips on how to renovate like the pros. (3 points)
2. Be inspired by the before and after transformation. (2 points)
3. Judge the tile choices and mutter “that’s going over budget.” (1 point)

8) The word “permits” makes you think…

1. “Already applied for one last week!” (3 points)
2. “Ugh. They’re a total money grab by the local authorities.” (2 points)
3. “Maybe the town won’t notice the dumpster in our driveway…” (1 point)

9) Your dream kitchen is…

1. Something you’ve sketched, measured, and budgeted for already. (3 points)
2. One you saw on Pinterest, and now you kinda want to rip out a wall. (2 points)
3. The one you saw in the open house last weekend. (1 point)

10) How does your family feel about living in a construction zone?

1. We’ll camp in the backyard if we have to. Bring it on. (3 points)
2. We can manage… for a couple weeks. (2 points)
3. We might need to hire a live-in referee along with the contractors. (1 point)

Your Score:

26–30 points: Born to Renovate
You thrive on blueprints and chaos. Your idea of fun includes demo dust and supply chain delays. Renovation is your love language—start planning and swing that hammer!

17–25 points: Depends on the Day
You might have what it takes, but only if you go in with a clear plan and a backup contractor. You’re not afraid of a little reno—but you also value your peace. Choose projects wisely.

10–16 points: Want the number of a good real estate agent?
You like hot coffee, calm mornings, and a house that isn’t being held together by hope and painter’s tape. Skip the stress and go find a home that already has the kitchen of your dreams.

The post To Renovate or Relocate… That Is the Question (This Quiz Will Help You Answer It) appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Real estate agents often have just a few lines of space to squeeze in every last detail of a home, so over the years, they’ve developed a whole shorthand to keep their word count down.

A seasoned agent could probably read an entire listing written in acronyms alone — but for buyers, those letters can be a little trickier to decode.

Some are easy enough to figure out… BR is bedroom, LR is living room, FP stands for fireplace. But others? Not so obvious to the untrained eye.

Take this 10-question quiz to test your real estate abbreviation IQ and see how fluent you are in Realtor-ese:

1) A home with “CAC” includes:

1. Covered Attached Carport
2. Central Air Conditioning
3. Carpet And Cabinets
4. Custom Accent Ceiling

2) An “REO” property refers to:

1. Real Estate Optimized
2. Realtor Exclusive Opportunity
3. Real Estate Owned (by a lender)
4. Ridiculously Expensive Oasis

3) “HDW” in a listing typically means:

1. Hilariously Dated Wallpaper
2. Hidden Dishwasher
3. Hardwood Floors
4. Heavy Duty Windows

4) What does “POF” stand for:

1. Plenty of Fixtures
2. Please Offer Full Price
3. Proof of Funds
4. Possible Owner Financing

5) If a home includes an “FDR,” what should you expect?

1. Formal Dining Room
2. Finished Downstairs Room
3. French Door
4. Filthy Downstairs Rug

6) A house with a “FROG” has a:

1. Fully Renovated Older Garage
2. Family Room Or Gameroom
3. Finished Room Over Garage
4. Family Room Office Gym

7) What does “SFH” stand for?

1. Super Fancy Hallway
2. Single Family Home
3. Semi-Finished Home
4. Stately Fine Home

8) A home boasting a “FFBR” includes:

1. Fully Fenced Backyard Retreat
2. First Floor Bedroom
3. Fully Furnished Bedroom
4. Fast Flushing Bathroom

9) “DET” is short for:

1. Designer Elegant Tiles
2. Detached
3. Deluxe Entertainment Theater
4. Definitely Expensive Taxes

10) “EIK” in a listing means:

1. Estate-Inspired Kitchen
2. Expanded Island Kitchen
3. Eat-In Kitchen
4. Extremely Impressive Kitchen

Answer Key:

1. CAC – 2. Central Air Conditioning
2. REO – 3. Real Estate Owned (by a lender)
3. HDW – 3. Hardwood Floors
4. POF – 3. Proof of Funds
5. FDR – 1. Formal Dining Room
6. FROG – 3. Finished Room Over Garage
7. SFH – 2. Single Family Home
8. FFBR – 2. First Floor Bedroom
9. DET – 2. Detached
10. EIK – 3. Eat-In Kitchen

How’d you do?

9–10 correct: You’re either a real estate agent… or just really addicted to surfing listings.
6–8 correct: Nice work! Either you’re super sharp—or got your hands on a secret decoder ring.
3–5 correct: Not bad for someone who isn’t in the biz. You’ve clearly browsed a listing or two.
0–2 correct: Don’t sweat it! Even agents have a tough time when they first start out!

The post Can You Decode Real Estate Acronyms Like an Agent? Take the Quiz! appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Thinking about buying a home on your own? Skipping a real estate agent might seem like a great way to save money, but it also means handling the entire process yourself—from negotiating and paperwork to inspections and potential pitfalls.

Before you commit to going solo, take this quiz to see if you’re ready for the challenge or if having an expert in your corner might be the better move.

The Rules:

For each question, pick the answer that best describes you and note the point value. At the end, total up your score and check your results!

1) How confident are you in understanding contracts and legal documents?

1. I read terms and conditions for fun. Bring on the fine print! (+10)
2. I can probably get through them with some Googling and a few deep sighs. (+5)
3. I assume it’s standard and sign on the dotted line. (+1)

2) You find a house you love. What’s your strategy for making an offer?

1. I analyze market data, strategize, and submit a strong, competitive offer. (+10)
2. I write up an offer that feels right and hope for the best. (+5)
3. I call the listing agent and tell them how much I’m willing to pay. (+1)

3) A home inspection reveals some issues. How do you handle it?

1. I review the report carefully, negotiate repairs, and ensure work is done properly before closing. (+10)
2. I ask the seller to fix everything and live with whatever they agree to do. (+5)
3. I demand that everything be fixed or I will cancel the contract. (+1)

4) How comfortable are you with negotiating directly with the seller’s agent?

1. I’m ready to go head-to-head with a seasoned professional. (+10)
2. I’ll give it a shot and hope the agent is a horrible negotiator. (+5)
3. I’ll just agree to whatever they suggest and hope I don’t regret it. (+1)

5) You’re trying to schedule a showing, but the listing agent isn’t responding. What do you do?

1. I follow up professionally and persistently until I get a response. (+10)
2. If they decide to have an open house, I’ll try and go then. (+5)
3. I just presume the house is sold and wait for another house to hit the market. (+1)

6) How do you determine if a home is fairly priced?

1. I research recent sales, market trends, and comparable properties. (+10)
2. I look at the Zestimate and hope it’s accurate. (+5)
3. I just presume it’s overpriced and offer less than they are asking. (+1)

7) You’re in a multiple-offer situation. What’s your plan?

1. I craft a competitive offer with the appealing terms and contingencies. (+10)
2. I offer slightly more than the asking price and cross my fingers. (+5)
3. I write a heartfelt letter and bake cookies for the seller. (+1)

8) You just found out the appraisal came in lower than your offer. Now what?

1. I appeal the appraisal, and if it’s still low, try to negotiate with the seller. (+10)
2. I get mad, blame the appraiser, and hope the seller just lowers the price. (+5)
3. I demand the seller lower the price immediately or threaten to walk. (+1)

9) You find out the home has title issues. What’s your next step?

1. Work with a title company or attorney to resolve the issue before closing. (+10)
2. Freak out and assume I’m losing the house. (+5)
3. What’s a title issue? (+1)

10) The seller’s agent is giving you vague answers about something important. You…

1. Ask detailed follow-up questions and insist on written clarification. (+10)
2. Trust that it’s not a big deal since they don’t seem concerned. (+5)
3. Probably won’t even know whether it’s something important or not. (+1)

Your Results:

80-100 points: You might just be the unicorn of homebuyers! You have the knowledge, confidence, and skills to navigate the process without an agent. But even the best DIY buyers can benefit from expert guidance, so you might want to have an agent in mind to hire if you find yourself a little bit over your head at some point.

40-79 points: You could probably pull off buying a home on your own, but be prepared for some bumps along the way. You might save on commission, but you could also end up costing yourself more than you save if you make a mistake or two. If you try to go solo, definitely have an agent lined up who is ready to step in and help you if things get a little too difficult for you.

10-39 points: Buying a home without an agent isn’t a good decision for you. There are too many details, negotiations, and potential pitfalls to handle alone. A good agent can save you time, money, and stress, so hire an agent as soon as you decide to start house hunting.

The post Is Buying a Home Without an Agent Right for You? Take This Quiz to Find Out! appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

If you’re thinking about moving, you might want to dedicate some of that thought to how you feel about buying a place in a homeowners’ association (HOA). They’re becoming more and more common, so there’s a good chance the house of your dreams may be smack dab in the middle of one.

Love them or hate them, HOAs come with rules, fees, and a unique lifestyle that isn’t for everyone.

Take this quiz to see if HOA living is your perfect match or a recipe for frustration!

The Rules:

For each question, pick the answer that best describes you and note the point value. At the end, total up your score and check your results!

1) How do you feel about uniformity in a neighborhood?

1. I love it! Matching mailboxes and identical landscaping bring me peace. (+10)
2. I don’t care what my neighbors do. (Within reason, of course…) (+5)
3. I’m considering a pink front door and a flock of yard flamingos. (+1)

2) How do you feel about paying HOA maintenance fees?

1. It’s worth every penny to not have to do yard work. (+10)
2. I don’t love the extra cost, but I’ll enjoy having less to worry about. (+5)
3. I can either do things myself, or hire someone to do it for less money. (+1)

3) Your neighbor’s holiday lights are still up (but not lit) in June. How do you react?

1. Wouldn’t happen. I’d have the HOA on speed dial and call on January 1st. (+10)
2. As long as they’re not being lit, I’ll survive. (+5)
3. Sounds like my kind of people! (+1)

4) You want to put up a basketball hoop in your driveway. What do you do?

1. Check the rules and get written approval before even buying a basketball. (+10)
2. Put it up and deal with the HOA if they say something. (+5)
3. Install it and paint a three-point line on the street while I’m at it. (+1)

5) Your HOA sends you a violation notice because your trash cans were left out an hour too long. Your response?

1. Apologize and pay a fine, even if they didn’t fine you. Rules are rules. (+10)
2. Grumble but move them and appreciate the fact that they didn’t fine me. (+5)
3. Throw some leftover fish in the can and leave them out longer out of spite. (+1)

6) How do you feel about community events, like chili cook-offs and movie nights?

1. Can we make it a weekly event?! (+10)
2. Might go, might not. Depends on my mood. (+5)
3. Hard pass. I barely want to see them walking out to their car in the morning. (+1)

7) What’s your ideal approach to home improvement?

1. Submit plans to the HOA, wait for approval, then proceed carefully. (+10)
2. If it’s outside, I’ll check the rules first. Inside is none of their business. (+5)
3. I barely want to file permits with the building department in town. (+1)

8) You have too much junk in your garage and want to park your car in the street overnight. Thoughts?

1. Garages are for cars, not junk. Would never be an issue for me. (+10)
2. It’s just for a night or two, so I’ll just do it and hope I don’t get fined. (+5)
3. They’re lucky I don’t just park it on my front lawn. (+1)

9) How do you feel about security patrols and gated entrances?

1. Love it! It keeps me and all of my neighbors safe. (+10)
2. It’s fine, but I don’t need it. I could just get a security system installed. (+5)
3. My friends shouldn’t need a background check to visit me. (+1)

10) How do you feel about neighborhood meetings?

1. I’ll attend every one and take detailed notes. (+10)
2. If I have time, I’ll go. If not, oh well. (+5)
3. I avoid them at all costs. I’m probably a topic on their agenda. (+1)

Your Results:

80-100 points:
You were born for HOA life! You love structure, rules, and well-maintained neighborhoods. Enjoy your perfectly manicured community and don’t forget to remind your neighbor that their lawn is exactly 0.2 inches too long.

40-79 points:
You could live in an HOA, but it wouldn’t be your dream. Some rules make sense, but others might test your patience. As long as the benefits outweigh the annoyances, you’ll survive.

10-39 points:
You and an HOA would mix about as well as oil and water. The idea of asking permission to paint your shutters makes your skin crawl, and you’d rather be fined than conform. A neighborhood with no HOA (or an underground resistance movement) is more your speed.

The post Is Living in an HOA Right for You? Take This Quiz to Find Out! appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

You certainly don’t have to take classes or pass an exam if you want to sell your house. All you have to do is hire a great real estate agent who had to do both of those things in order to help you sell your house quickly and for the most money possible.

Even if you took the same classes and tests your agent took to become an agent, it’d be difficult for you to know everything you need to know. Much of the insight and knowledge that makes your agent so effective at getting you the best results comes from experience actually selling houses, not from real estate school.

However, the more you know and understand about the best decisions ahead of time, the better off you’ll be. So here’s a quick quiz to help you see what decisions you’d get right, and learn from the ones you get wrong so you will be prepared to listen to the advice of your agent when the time comes.

(The answers are at the bottom…but no peeking!)

1. Before listing your house, you should:
   a) Renovate the kitchen and bathrooms.
   b) Paint every room in the house.
   c) Leave it as-is and let the buyer renovate and fix everything.
   d) Speak with your real estate agent about what is worth fixing up and what is not, and doing those things.
2. How should you determine your listing price?
   a) Use what the Zestimate says your house is worth.
   b) Add 10% to what the Zestimate says.
   c) Use an amount close to what your agent recommends, based upon a thorough market analysis.
   d) Add up how much you owe on the mortgage, how much you spent on renovations and upgrades over the years, and how much more money you want to walk away with, and use the total of those as your listing price.
3. Which agent should you hire from the list below?
   a) The one who had the highest suggested listing price.
   b) The one who is honest with you about the value of your home, even if you threaten to list with another agent who said your house was worth more.
   c) The one who has the nicest car.
   d) The one who is with the biggest company in the area.
4. When filling out the sellers disclosure form about things you know are wrong with the house, you should:
   a) Only list the things you think are obvious and that the buyer or their inspector will actually notice or figure out.
   b) Don’t list any issues you may know about; it’s the inspectors job to find these things, and if they don’t find them, you’re not responsible.
   c) Be honest about everything you know is or has been an issue with the house and disclose them all.
   d) Have your agent fill it out for you.
5. When should you let buyers come see your house?
   a) On Saturdays and Sundays only.
   b) Only when the agent has an open house.
   c) Establish a rigid set of hours on only certain days of the week that work for you, and refuse to let buyers come at a time that works best for them.
   d) Whenever a buyer wants to come see your house…within reason.
6. If your house isn’t getting many showings or offers after being on the market for a while, you should:
   a) Reduce the price.
   b) Get angry with your agent and ask for more marketing.
   c) Give it a fresh coat of paint.
   d) Blame the market.
7. When buyers are coming to see the house, you should:
   a) Be there to show them around the house room by room, and point out all of the upgrades and details they might miss.
   b) Get the heck out of there and let the buyer and their agent have the freedom to look without you breathing down their neck.
   c) Be there, just in case they have any questions, but give them space so they feel like you aren’t there. Try to stay about a room away, so you’ll be able to listen to every word they say.
   d) Not be home, but make sure you have spy cams set up to see and hear them.
8. If you receive a low-ball offer you should:
   a) Get really angry and not respond.
   b) Get really angry and tell the buyer to get lost.
   c) Get really angry and give the buyer a firm counter-offer and tell them they can take it or leave it, but you won’t budge any more than that.
   d) Stay calm and respond with a thoughtful counter-offer and see if you can eventually get them to come up to a reasonable and acceptable amount you’re willing to accept.
9. If a buyer submits home inspection requests for repairs or credits, you should:
   a) Tell them that those things have been like that for years, and you’ve been fine living with them like that, so you’re not willing to fix them.
   b) Hire the appropriate professionals to fix every single thing the inspector noted on the report.
   c) Review the buyers requests and be willing to negotiate which items will be done and which items will not be addressed.
   d) Fix everything yourself, even if they should be done by a licensed contractor.
10. When moving out, make sure to:
    a) Leave it as clean as possible and don’t leave anything behind without the buyer saying (in writing) that it’s ok for you to leave behind.
    b) Leave every single paint can with leftover paint from any time the house was painted since it was originally built, just in case the buyer wants to “touch up” some areas.
    c) Leave piles of trash at the curb because the garbage collectors will definitely pick it all up, no problem.
    d) Wait until the last minute to pack, and expect the buyers to be okay with you coming back to get stuff once they own the house and move in.

OK, let’s see how you did on the quiz! Here are the correct answers:

1. d) Speak with your real estate agent about what is worth fixing up and what is not, and doing those things. (Sometimes it makes sense to renovate or fix things in your house before listing it. But sometimes you’re better off not spending the time or money on something that won’t produce a good return on your investment, or help get your house sold. Your agent can advise you on what to do, and what not to do, in order to maximize your sale price and net profit.)
2. c) Use an amount close to what your agent recommends, based upon a thorough market analysis. (Zestimates—or any other online valuation—are often inaccurate, so don’t put too much stock in any of them when pricing your house. And while the amount you owe on your house, any money you’ve invested into it, and how much you want to clear are relevant for you to consider, they do not impact how much your house is actually worth on the market. Your agent will do what is called a comparative market analysis—also known as a CMA—which compares your house to several others that are similar in size, condition, and location to determine the approximate value your house is worth.)
3. b) The one who is honest with you about the value of your home, even if you threaten to list with another agent who said they’d agree to list your house for more than it’s worth. (It’s not easy for an agent to stay firm about their honest recommendation on a list price when an owner wants to hear that their house is worth more money. But it’s even harder to do so when other agents are willing to let you list it for higher than you should. Sometimes agents will agree to let a seller list it for whatever they want, in order to just get the listing, and then encourage you to lower your price after being on the market a while. Unfortunately, listing for higher than the data indicates will probably lead to you having to reduce your price…and could easily cause you to sell your house for less than the initial recommendation.)
4. c) Be honest about everything you know is or has been an issue with the house and disclose them all. (Your agent can’t even coach you on what to disclose or not disclose, let alone fill the disclosure out for you. And you shouldn’t try to hide anything you know is wrong with the house, unless you enjoy the thought of being sued for failing to disclose a problem. You should be honest and disclose everything and anything you know is wrong with the house, or has been an issue that you have resolved.)
5. d) Whenever a buyer wants to come see your house…within reason. (Buyers don’t only look at houses on weekends or when there’s an open house. In fact, the most motivated buyers will most likely come see your house as quickly as possible, which may be during the week. The easier you make it for buyers to come and see your house at a time that works for them and their agent, the more quickly your house will get sold, and the less time you’ll have to deal with buyers coming in and out of your house.)
6. a) Reduce the price. (You will most likely see all of the current buyers in your price range come through your house within the first couple of weeks of listing. If you don’t receive an offer, or the showings have tapered off after a few weeks of being on the market, you should consider reducing the price.)
7. b) Get the heck out of there and let the buyer and their agent have the freedom to look without you breathing down their neck. (Buyers and their agents need to feel free to look around and talk about what they’re thinking and feeling with each other, without the owner present…in plain sight or otherwise. They don’t need you to show them around or point things out. So make sure you’re not home, and don’t eavesdrop on your potential buyers with any sneaky tech devices.)
8. d) Stay calm and respond with a thoughtful counter-offer and see if you can eventually get them to come up to a reasonable and acceptable amount you’re willing to accept. (Some buyers come in with a low-ball offer just to see if they can get a ridiculous deal. But others do it because they just think they should, or don’t know any better. If a buyer comes in with an unreasonably low offer that has no data to back it up, stay calm and negotiate with them until you get them as high as they’ll go, and you can ultimately decide to take their offer, or tell them thanks, but no thanks…)
9. c) Review the buyers requests and be willing to negotiate which items will be done and which items will not be addressed. (Just because a home inspector found something and put it in the report does not mean you will have to take care of it. Inspection issues are negotiable and your agent can help you decide which things to agree to address, and which things to decline. But whatever you do agree to address should be done by a qualified or licensed professional, such as an electrician, plumber, etc.)
10. a) Leave it as clean as possible and don’t leave anything behind without the buyer saying (in writing) that it’s ok for you to leave behind. (Make sure to give yourself plenty of time by packing and arranging movers well ahead of time. When it’s time to give the buyer possession, the house should be in “broom clean” condition, which is a bit subjective, but basically boils down to being clean and nothing is damaged or broken. Don’t expect the buyers to want any of your stuff you don’t feel like moving, and make sure to get their permission before leaving anything behind in the house.)

The post Quiz: 10 Questions to See If You Will Make the Right Choices When Selling Your House appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

You have to go to school and pass a real estate exam in order to become a real estate agent to help people buy a house, but you don’t need to do either of those things as a home buyer. All you have to do is rely on the knowledge and experience of your agent, and you’ll be fine.

However, your agent can be a lot more effective and help you get better results if you know a few things ahead of time! Some of the “right” things you should do are probably different than what you might think is the “right” thing to do.

Here’s a quick quiz to see how savvy you are without even going to real estate school or spending years in the field! The answers will be at the bottom…but no peeking!

(Don’t sweat it if you get some answers wrong on this quiz; even getting an answer wrong will teach you something. It’s better to learn from mistakes now than to make them when you’re in the process of buying a house!)

1. True or false: You need a 20% down payment to buy a home.
2. True or false: You don’t need perfect credit to buy a house.
3. When you want to see inside a house you should
   a) Call the listing agent to see the house.
   b) Knock on the door and see if the owner can show you around.
   c) Use the virtual tour and submit an offer.
   d) Have a dedicated buyer’s agent you’re working with schedule a day and time to show you the house.
4. When should you get pre-approved for a mortgage?
   a) Before you even start looking at houses.
   b) Once you find a house you want to make an offer on.
   c) Never; it’s not necessary.
   d) After your agent has asked you to do so for the 11th time.
5. Which of the following shouldn’t you go out and buy before your mortgage is approved and you’ve closed on your new home?
   a) Groceries.
   b) A new car.
   c) A nice gift for the agent who is helping you buy a house.
   d) A bottle of champagne to pop open on the day of your closing.
6. How long should you wait to go see a house once it is listed?
   a) Go as soon as you and your agent can possibly go to see the house.
   b) Wait until there is an open house.
   c) Give it a few weeks so the owner doesn’t think you’re anxious, excited, or even all that interested in the house, so you have more leverage to negotiate.
   d) Wait until they reduce the price at least once.
7. Once you find a house you like, which of the following should you do?
   a) Sleep on it, and give it some thought before rushing in with an offer.
   b) Keep looking at every house on the market until you’ve seen them all. Then wait a couple of weeks to see if any more come on. If it’s still on the market, then you can make an offer.
   c) Don’t wait; make an offer on the house right away.
   d) Check your horoscope to see if it’s a good time for you to make an offer.
8. Your home inspection can be done by:
   a) A friend or relative who is a contractor, or has at least bought two homes in their life.
   b) You and your agent, using a checklist of things to look for.
   c) A licensed home inspector.
   d) A real estate appraiser chosen by your mortgage lender
9. Which of the following things found during a home inspection should you ask the homeowner to address?
   a) Carpet that has pet stains.
   b) A furnace that isn’t working
   c) Squeaky door hinges
   d) An old stove that is working fine, but probably going to need to be replaced in a few years.
10. What is the purpose of the appraisal?
    a) So you can see how accurate the Zestimate for the house actually was.
    b) To make sure the house is in good condition and everything is working properly.
    c) For the seller to figure out if your offer is acceptable or not.
    d) For the lender to make sure the house is worth what you’re paying for it, before agreeing to lend you the money to buy it.

OK, let’s see how you did on the quiz! Here are the correct answers:

1. False. You don’t need a 20% down payment in order to buy a house. There are mortgages that require as little as 3.5% down!
2. True. While having excellent credit is helpful, there are plenty of mortgage programs for people with credit scores that aren’t perfect.
3. d) Have a dedicated buyer’s agent you’re working with schedule a day and time to show you the house. (It’s better to have one dedicated agent representing your interests as a buyer, than it is to call the agent who is listing any house you want to see.)
4. a) Before you even start looking at houses. (It helps you know what you can afford so you avoid wasting time and disappointment by looking at houses you can’t buy.)
5. b) A new car. (In fact, don’t make any large purchases or take on any new credit until your loan is approved or closed.)
6. a) Go as soon as you and your agent can possibly go to see the house. (If it’s a house you’re interested in, there’s bound to be other buyers interested. The quicker you can get there, the better…regardless of whether the market is “hot” or not.)
7. c) Don’t wait; make an offer on the house right away. (Refer back to the explanation for #6…)
8. c) A licensed home inspector. (Doesn’t matter how many houses someone you know has bought, or how handy they are, only a licensed home inspector should do your home inspection.)
9. b) A furnace that isn’t working. (Home inspection requests should be kept to issues that are operational or structural in nature, not cosmetic, minor, or a potential future issue.)
10. d) For the lender to make sure the house is worth what you’re paying for it, before agreeing to lend you the money to buy it. (Coincidentally, the appraiser’s value can be as inaccurate as a Zestimate at times, but your agent can help you contest it, or request a second appraisal if it is way off from what you’re paying.)

The post Quiz: Are You Ready to Be a Better Homebuyer than Your Competition? appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Real estate folks send us content all the time (thank you!), and we’re always viewing and judging it. Now it’s YOUR turn to view and judge.

Below are 9 stellar examples of real estate video marketing. We thought it’d be a fun exercise to have you, the viewer, “upvote” the ones you like. Which one will grab the top honors? The onus is on you to decide.

If you liked this quiz, you’ll love these ones too!

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The post Can You Guess The Movies From Seeing The Houses? (Quiz) appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.