Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for the first time homebuyer tax credit?

If you and your spouse have not owned a home in the past 3 years you will qualify for the tax credit. The credit will be 10% of the purchase price of your home up to $8,000. There is a very important deadline with this credit. You need to purchase and close on the home prior to December 1, 2009. That means the time to act is now. Don’t wait until October to start looking. This tax credit is a gift you do not need to pay it back. If you would like to arrange a buyer counseling session with one of our experienced Realtors please give us a call.

Why should I use a Realtor to assist me with the sale of my house?

A Realtor knows the market and will assist you in pricing your house properly. A Realtor will provide you with recommendations to make your house stand out among all the other homes for sale. A Realtor is an expert in marketing and knows how to expose your property to the right buyers. A Realtor will make sure buyers who enter your home are financially qualified to purchase your home and a Realtor will negotiate in your best interest and assist with all the details from A to Z. At Thousand Islands Realty we are Bridging the Gap Between Buyers and Sellers, let us put our experience to work for you.

I’m thinking of purchasing a home; should I engage the services of a Buyer’s agent?

Yes, a buyer’s agent will work in your best interest. If you want exceptional representation and service, you should enter into an exclusive representation agreement with your Realtor. The contract spells out the Realtor’s duty to the Buyer and the Buyer’s duty to the Realtor. When you make a commitment to your Realtor your Realtor will make a commitment to you and you will receive a higher level of service. Your buyer’s agent is able to work in your best interest when looking for a home, when deciding what to offer and she will negotiate in your behalf. If you are not working with a buyer’s agent keep in mind that the agent is working in the seller’s best interest not yours! If you are looking for a home and would like to know more about buyer representation please call Thousand Islands Realty at 315-686-5500.

Why can’t we try a high price when listing our home? After all we can always come down in price.

The most excitement and activity comes when a listing first hits the market. The Realtors are excited about new listings and they call their buyers hoping to be one of the first few to see the homes new to the market. Realtors know the value of homes in their area and if they see a new listing that is really overpriced they are not likely to get excited. They know that sellers are often reluctant to take a low offer especially when a property has only been on the market a few days. If your property is severely overpriced the Realtors probably won’t even show your house feeling that it will be a waste of time. They figure if the seller would sell for market value they would have priced the home closer to market value to begin with. Don’t lose out on good buyers by overpricing your home. Price it right the first time! A home priced right generates a lot of activity and sells for more than an overpriced home. If you are thinking of selling your home call us we will be happy to meet with you, view your home and provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis.

What’s all this talk about staging? Does it really help?

The way we live in a home and the way we present our home to buyers for viewing are two different things. Staging a home can be as simple as removing clutter, cleaning and putting away some personal items or it can be as elaborate as a complete makeover with new appliances and furniture. Does staging a home really help? YES! Just about every house can be improved and sometimes simple changes can make all the difference in the world. A few helpful hints to get you started are, clean like you’ve never cleaned before! De-clutter, buy some storage bins and pack away at least half your stuff. Remove personal pictures and keep decorative items to a minimum. A few strategically placed items present a greater wow factor than a room full of clutter. Freshen up the walls with new paint in neutral colors avoid bright pinks and harsh colors. You want to appeal to a wide range of buyers. When you are ready to sell your home call Thousand Islands Realty and we will make an appointment to discuss the entire selling process including staging. We will make recommendations to make your home more appealing to today’s buyers. We know what buyers want!