All Forum Posts by: Stephanie Medellin

I would wait to show it until it's finished.  I'd also advise against finishing it to someone's specific tastes.  Its an invitation for them to start asking for anything and everything.  We showed a home for rent while we were still working on it and one man actually requested that we build a bigger closet in the bedroom.  Being new to the business, we didn't immediately say no, but that couple didn't end up renting the house anyway. So glad we didn't waste extra time and money accommodating them.  The other potential issue is what if they aren't satisfied with the final product.  If they see a finished home and they like it, they are much less likely to ask for extras. 

I completed my 75 hour salesperson course through Real Estate U.  All of the classes are online, and presented by different instructors in videos.  It makes it very easy to get through that many hours of material.  Some sections are presented by attorneys, some by mortgage brokers, etc., depending on their particular area of expertise.  It was inexpensive too - $99.  The school exam is proctored, meaning you need to take it in person, but they have locations throughout the state to choose from (many are libraries).

I would say 3 weeks is too long to get a loan estimate (no more GFE's), since they are supposed to go out to you within 3 days of a loan application.  I wouldn't give up on conventional loans because of it though.  But you also deserve a responsive loan originator.

@Steve Jones Since Homepath has an online offer submission process, I think it would be a lot harder for the listing broker to be unethical in this particular case. I've never been a homepath listing agent, but I always thought the offers went directly to the asset managers, similar to HUD's process.

$25 to install a door is dirt cheap in my opinion, especially if it's an old house.  There are a lot of other things to consider besides the time they physically spent at your house doing the work. 

 I would love to see that episode!

And congratulations on your first listing!!

You only need to repair chipping paint, of course!  No missing flooring, no leaking roofs, no broken window panes.  Anything currently on the property should work properly.  The appraiser will walk through and check for hot running water, proper drainage, turn on the heater, verify there are smoke and CO2 detectors, make sure there is no peeling paint, etc.  It's not a complete home inspection, but if they notice anything is not working properly it will probably end up on the report.  The sellers will have to agree to have it fixed, and then the appraiser can come back out and verify the repairs have been completed and that the property now meets the required standards.  Anything can be fixed for a cost, so it doesn't necessarily have to kill the deal, it will just be a condition of approving the loan.

@Sue Kelly - I like your wording: Does anyone in the household anticipate a reduction in earnings during the lease?

Simple and to the point, and it avoids any potential discrimination issues.

It sounds like a counter offer if they changed some of the terms you offered on the contract.  If they accepted your offer, shouldn't they have signed it as originally submitted?