• About

The Hanley Home Team Blog

~ "ON TOP" Of Your Real Estate Needs!

The Hanley Home Team Blog

Monthly Archives: November 2012

Should a Seller be at Home During a Showing?

17 Saturday Nov 2012

Posted by The Hanley Home Team in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

home showings, open house, sellers should leave, steer clear of showings

A delicate subject we sometimes have to approach with clients selling their home is the importance of steering clear of showings and open houses while prospective buyers are touring their home.

It can be touchy. After all, how do you kick someone out of their own house? Many buyers are anxious about the showing and open house process. They feel the need to hover in the wings, which I understand. There are several reasons why this is not the best idea.

Four Reasons Why Owners Sticking Around for a Showing/Open House is a Bad Idea:

1. We’ve had experiences where prospective buyers have actually passed on a showing once they’ve found out the current owners were home.

2. It’s important that buyers be able to visualize the home as “theirs already.” They need to be able to imagine living in the house, which is pretty tough to do with the owners making a sandwich in the kitchen.

3. Presence of a seller makes the prospective buyer feel guilty for “judging” the home. If the buyer isn’t given free range to evaluate the home, the doubt is enough to put them off the property entirely.

4. If all goes well, the buyer may want to stay for a time at the house and chat with the agent. This is a good sign (it means the buyer may be moving towards an offer), but with the seller present, it’s all but impossible.

We try not to offend our clients when we ask them to understand these reasons. While we empathize with the nervousness that accompanies the sales process, our goal is the smooth sale of their home. A little space for the prospective buyers is an important ingredient.

Stress-free showings are just one part of our approach to marketing your home to sell. Get in touch and we’d gladly show you what else we can do to get you top dollar for your home: Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS – http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com or http://www.HanleyShortSales.com

Advertisement

Accepting a Gift for a Downpayment

09 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by The Hanley Home Team in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

disclosing the source of your down payment, down payment assistance, down payment gift, down payment help, gift, mortgage loan

Ready to buy your first home? Have a down payment ready to go? Before you apply for that mortgage, here’s something you should know about disclosing the source of your down payment.

Q: Part of my down payment was a gift from my parents. How will this impact my mortgage application?

A: It depends on the type of mortgage you’re applying for.

You should be prepared to explain your gift with documentation. While FHA loans typically will permit a down payment from a family source, your more conventional mortgage will expect at least 5% of the funds to have come from you.

One of the keys to ensuring this process goes smoothly is having documentation to back up your claim. Bank statements showing the source of the money (and when you received it) are a good place to start, along with a letter signed from your generous benefactor declaring the gift.

As a rule, you should be careful of any large deposits to your account (besides your regular pay).

I urge you to talk to a mortgage professional for complete details as they pertain to your specific situation.

Need a referral to a qualified mortgage broker? We’d be glad to share with you the names of people we know and trust. Contact us today for a referral: Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS 904-477-5278 Jennifer@HanleyHomeTeam.com

Never Forget Your Password Again

03 Saturday Nov 2012

Posted by The Hanley Home Team in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

computer password tools, password rules, resetting passwords, simplify passwords

Remember those days long, long ago when you could have one password for everything, and it was as simple as your kid’s name and birthday? (And you left it on a Post-It note stuck to your computer monitor?)

Well, those days are gone. Now you probably have a different password for almost every website you visit, and each of those sites has different rules for how long your password can be, and which characters you can use to make it.

A lot of time is wasted trying to remember (and then resetting) all of those forgotten passwords. Unfortunately, password security is vitally important. With bank accounts, medical information, and vital credit data just a username and password away from any computer, you absolutely must make strong passwords. Passwords aren’t guessed by human beings. They’re hacked by fast, sophisticated programs which can try millions of combinations almost instantly. (Did you know one of the most common passwords people use is actually… password?)

Here are two tools to help you create and remember strong passwords:

1. StrongPasswordGenerator.com – http://www.strongpasswordgenerator.com
This website uses JavaScript to automatically generate random passwords using length and character rules you can control. The passwords are generated right in your browser and are not tied or identified by your computer. You simply set the rules, click “Generate Strong Password” and the site gives you one you can copy/paste.

2. 1Password (https://agilebits.com/onepassword) & LastPass (http://www.lastpass.com)
1Password is an affordable software package that allows you to securely store and “automatically login” to websites using the passwords stored with your 1Password account. It works on iOS, Mac, and Android devices. It can also synchronize its database with Dropbox, meaning you can use 1Password securely on multiple computers. If you’re using Windows (or Mac, too), you should check out LastPass https://lastpass.com/index.php, which is free with an inexpensive premium option.

Protect yourself and save time!

By the way, you can also use these password tools to login and search for properties on our website! http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com or http://www.shoppingjacksonvillehomes.com or call us 904-422-7626 – Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012

Categories

  • #BedroomDecor
  • #buyandhold
  • #Condoliving
  • #DIY
  • #Forrent
  • #HanleyHomeTeam
  • #HOA
  • #HomeBuyer
  • #HomeBuyingTips
  • #HomeOwner
  • #HomeSeller
  • #housegoals
  • #househunting
  • #HurricaneSeason
  • #Jacksonville
  • #JacksonvilleFL
  • #KellerWilliams
  • #Movingday
  • #Passiveincome
  • #Quaratine
  • #RealEstate
  • #Refinance
  • #sellingyourhome
  • #summer
  • #Townhouse
  • #yardtips
  • #yardwork
  • DIY
  • Jacksonville
  • real estate
  • Summer Yard
  • TIPS, HACKS
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • The Hanley Home Team Blog
    • Join 114 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The Hanley Home Team Blog
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar