Get Your Home Show Ready

Here are some tips to get your home in show ready condition.

Clean Everything - Cleanliness signals to a buyer that the home has been well cared for and is most likely in good repair. A messy home will cause buyers to notice every little flaw.

Declutter - The less "stuff" in and around a home, the roomier it will seem.

Let the light in - Open the blinds. Put brighter bulbs in all the lamps. Bright, open rooms feel larger and more inviting.

Let some fresh air in - If the weather is nice, open the windows. Fresh flowers and potpourri can also be used to your advantage.

Paint -There is nothing that improves the value of a home more than a few cans of paint. And it's easier to paint a room rather than scrub it. Stick to neutral colors.

Keep the noise down - Turn off the TV and turn on soft instrumentsl background music.

Saving for a down payment is an important part of the home buying process.  It takes discipline to save several thousand dollars for this purpose, but the more you save, the bigger percentage of your home you will own and the lower your mortgage payment will be.  Most times a first-time home buyer down payment isn't any differnet from an experienced home buyer down payment.

Here are a few things you need to know about down payments:

• If you want to qualify for a conventional mortgage, most lenders recommend a 20% down payment on a home. If the home you want to buy is $200,000 a 20% down payment would be $40,000. There are other conventional home loans that offer just 5% down, which many buyers find much easier when purchasing a first home.
• FHA Loans allow buyers to put down just 3.5% which is why most first time home buyers decide on this type of laon. FHA loans also involve mortgage insurance since the down payment is so low and this will make the monthly payments a bit more.
• Keep in mind that the down payment does not cover other costs associated with closing on your home. Additional money will be needed for home inspections and closing cost fees.
• Of course there are many different loan programs available, including VA loans for buyers that have served in the military and first time home buyer down payment assistance loans.  That's why it is very important to speak with a lender before making a decision on how to proceed with your home purchase.

The Cerreta Team is here to help you find a great lender and explain the buying process.  Just give us a call at

623-266-6888 or email us at team@cerreta.net.  We would love to help.

Here are a few Financial Terms used in the Real Estate world.

• Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARM) Mortgages with interest rates that can change periodically.
• Commission - A percent of the home's sale price paid to the real estate brokers upon a successful close of escrow.
• Debt to Income Ratio - Your monthly minimum debt payments divided by your monthly pre-tax income.
• Down Payment - The amount paid by the home buyer to the lender during closing.
• Earnest Money Deposit - A "good" faith" deposit by the buyer at the time of the purchase and sale to show they are serious about the purchase. It is typically put toward closing costs or returned to the buyer when the transaction is finalized.
• Escrow Account - An account overseen by a trusted third party to hold all monies related to a real estate transaction, such as down payments and closing costs, until the transaction is complete.
• Equity - The difference between what you owe on your mortgage and what your home is currently worth.

22426 W OCUPADO DR, Wittmann, AZ 85361 

BEAUTIFUL BLOCK HOME! This home features a great room floor plan, split bedrooms and a desirable location. A spacious great room sits central in the home and is open to a formal dining area. The kitchen features large neutral tile, tile counter-tops, a beautiful built in light system and a French Door to the patio. Two bedrooms and a full bath are located on the east side of the home. Master Suite is on the west side and has mirrored closet doors and a large bath with double sinks. Arizona Room can be accessed from the great room or the master bedroom and boasts tile flooring and sky lights. The backyard has an open air  patio and plenty of space for play. An RV gate on the west side of the home opens to a great space for parking. Prepare to be charmed when you enter this home. 

20 Step Checklist to Prepare Your Home for Professional Photos

As a Realtor, I know that it is common to show up on the day of a photo shoot to find the sellers frantically trying to finish the last steps. If you have ever been in this position, you understand the stress.

Realtors work hard to help clients get to this point of the selling process without much chaos. They use checklists and offer suggestions on how to make the home look great.

Your home's marketing will dramatically impact your buyers' opinion of your house and your sales price. It would be best if you had the most professional photography and videography possible. Therefore, The Cerreta Team only uses professional photos for all our listings.

One of the most important things to know about your professional real estate photographer/videographer is that they are indeed artists. They can make your home look amazing with their skill sets.

Real Estate Photographers and Videographers Are True Artists. When your real estate photographer shows up, they will walk the house and spend some time searching out the most important aspects to highlight potential buyers. Seasoned professionals have developed a unique ability to identify the home's pros and cons. They know how to showcase the home’s best attributes. Their experience and trade tools allow them to manipulate light and space to make your home look as big and bright as possible.

Since your photographer/videographer is an artist, you will get significantly more out of their services if your house is entirely ready when they arrive. Artists can get distracted if they must rearrange and tidy rooms before a shoot. After all, that's not part of their job description.

You want their attention to be focused on a bright and clean home, not on the work it takes to get the house to that point. They are often on a tight schedule, and time spent doing your job is time they cannot spend doing theirs.

To get the most out of your professional real estate photographer, follow the real estate photography pre-shoot checklist below. It will help ensure that your house is photo-ready and welcoming before you list your home for sale. Use these tips to prepare your home.

o   Clear and Clean Kitchen Counters (Yes this means the coffee maker and toaster)

o   Clear and Clean Bathroom Sinks, Tubs and Showers (Get baskets to keep all your toiletries in and only get it out when you are using)

o   Replace any Burned Out Lightbulbs

o   Turn on All the Lights.

o   Open All Window Treatments

o   Remove Unnecessary Furniture and Décor

o   Remove Floor Mats and Runners

o   Turn off All Ceiling Fans (fans make the photos blurry)

o   Clear Appliances of Magnets and Clutter

o   Make All of the Beds

o   Remove All Personal Photos and Items

o   Put All Shoes and Jackets in Closets

o   Clear All Nightstand Items (especially medications)

o   Remove All Pet Items

o   Tidy Up the Yard and Landscaping

o   Sweep the Porch and Patio

o   Clear All Cars from Road and Driveway

o   Hide all Garbage Cans.

o   Remove Outdoor Furniture Covers

o   Open Patio Umbrellas

With the low inventory of homes on the market, home sellers might think they can just sell their home as is, and they can but they probably will not get top dollar. Here are a few tips to help give your home the “wow” factor and see how many offers you collect in a week or less.

Improve your landscaping. Curb appeal is crucial to a good first impression, so make sure your home's lawn is immaculate. Mow the lawn, prune the bushes, weed the garden, and plant flowers.

Clean the outside. A sloppy exterior will make buyers think you have slacked off on interior maintenance as well. Be sure to clean the gutters and pressure wash your home's siding.

Make repairs. In any kind of market, you want your home to be in the best condition possible. Take care of major defects like broken windows or a leaky roof that could discourage buyers.

Make the front door inviting. A fresh coat of paint, especially in a color that contrasts with the home, will make the front door stand out. Replace faded house numbers so buyers can see them from the curb.

Buy a new welcome mat. Let buyers know they are invited into your home.

Remove clutter and depersonalize. Buyers want to envision their belongings in your home. Clean up by renting a storage unit for knickknacks, photos, extra furniture, and other personal items.

Organize closets and drawers. Messy closets give the appearance that your home does not have enough storage space.

Make every surface shine. From ceiling fans to floors and everything in between, clean your home until it sparkles.

Take color down a notch. You might like your lime-green bedroom, but it may sour buyers. Paint your walls a neutral color that will appeal to a wide range of buyers.

Eliminate bad odors. Hide the litter box and spray air neutralizer throughout your home. When showing the home, fill it with inviting smells by putting out fresh flowers and baking a batch of cookies.