Selling Made Simple

Selling your home for a dollar or some other ridiculously low price to family isn't quite the loophole you might think it is. The main reason: gift taxes.

There are a number of factors that can influence your list, including the market in your area, the condition of your home, and even your own sentimentality.

If you sell your house as-is, don't plan on getting top dollar. Still, this is a good option for homeowners who don't have the time or money to fix their house.

Investors are cold calling homeowners to buy their houses. Many of these offers are legitimate, but they probably won’t get you top dollar for your home.

Reverse mortgages let you borrow against your property to receive cash upfront, allowing you to meet living expenses without making a monthly mortgage payment.

Selling a home with tenants is doable, but it can be logistically and emotionally taxing. Learn your options for how to proceed with consideration and care.

The appraisal is a very important point in the home sale process. Still, a low appraisal doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get your desired purchase price.

While there are laws in place to help you avoid paying capital gains tax when selling a home, you may start to run into challenges in certain situations.

You aren’t required to accept the first offer, or any offer, you receive. But there may be financial repercussions, especially if there is only one offer.

While you should do what you can to make your home appealing to buyers, there are some efforts that just don’t get you the most bang for your buck.

If you need to sell your home in winter, there are ways to get around the roadblocks that winter home sellers and their real estate agents worry about.

In a hot market, you can be patient and wait for the right offer to come along. Here, we'll cover the benefits of taking a cash offer over a financed one.

If you’ve made it to closing day, there’s a good chance your real estate deal will go through. However, during the pending and offer periods, things can awry.

You can assume that most offers from home investors will not be for market value, or that you'll otherwise leave money on the table. So why go that route?

In order to officially sell a home, all owners need to be in agreement about the sale. If you can’t come to an agreement, you do have some legal options.

If your home's buyer requests a new closing date, stay calm and ask your real estate agent to walk you through the best options, including a per diem penalty.

Even if you don’t have the time or resources for major home improvements, you can at least try to avoid doing things that bring down property value.

Always check for and get required permits. Failure to do so could result in stopped or stalled renovations, or later complicate or cancel a home sale.

Need some ideas to help your live or pre-recorded virtual open house shine? The last thing you want to do is just hit the record button and wing it.

It’s understandable if you feel anxious about addressing your bad neighbors with potential buyers. Unfortunately, this isn’t a conversation you can avoid.

Most of the time, adding a room or expanding a bathroom, kitchen, or living space is a good investment, but there’s a lot to consider before taking action.

what documents are required to sell your home? Do you need to have them ready before you list your home, or can you gather them when the time comes?

Homeowners ready to sell may have mold on their minds, especially if they fear it will make it harder for them to close the deal.

In theory, sellers should love an escalation clause, as it may drive up the offer price for their home. But there are still some things to consider.

When mold is stinking up your home or you've had pets or visiting smokers leaving a scent, learn how to get things cleaned up and smelling fresh.

Many homeowners forgo permitting because it sounds like a pain. Still, homes with unpermitted work are a liability, especially when you’re preparing to sell.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just sell your house and walk away with a bunch of money? Sadly, there are tax implications.

It’s not a secret that popcorn ceilings are no longer in style, but you shouldn’t write them off so quickly.

Explore the logistical, legal, and financial considerations of selling a piece of property and learn the steps you need to take to do it successfully.

If you’re in the middle of the home sale process, and suddenly you change your mind, what do you do? Is it even possible to stop the process? 

So you’ve sold your house and are ready to move on with your life. But does the buyer just sign the documents and immediately walk into your home?

What can you do if you have lots of viewings but no offers? How long should you expect your house to stay on the market?

Knowing the most common deal breakers and best practices for making an inspection easier will give you a leg up in the process.

Who you hire to sell your house is crucially important — which is why you need to know what to ask a real estate agent before you get started.

From small finishing touches to major additions, there are many ways to improve your home and make it more valuable.

It’s not uncommon to negotiate the sale of select, or all, furniture during closing. Let’s take a look at this process and how to negotiate furniture prices.

How do real estate agents get paid? Though most real estate agents work on commission, the exact amount depends on location, split, and other factors.

You've sold your home, and suddenly, you're getting cold feet. When is it too late to back out of the contract? And what are your options for doing so legally?

Once you sell your old house, it's time to move into your new one. When that's not possible yet, you'll have to find temporary housing.

Painting a room in your house takes some time, but it can do wonders for home value.

Is your house not selling? Are you not getting offers accepted? If you’re worried about your real estate agent, look for these red flags.

You typically don't have to be at the closing of your home sale, even if the closing isn't "remote." There are some other things you'll need to do, however.

Once you know what a square foot looks like, you can figure out how many square feet are in your home, from the basement on up.

Home staging helps your home look its best for potential buyers. Let’s break down the costs to understand what you’re getting.

Though it's rare, in some situations, buyers are allowed to back out after the final walkthrough. Here's how to avoid that.

What fixes are mandatory after a home inspection? Who pays for repairs? And what comes next?

If you're going through a divorce and need to sell your house, just know you've got options.

Should you cash out with a big sale of your house and use that to fund your new life, or turn your house into a rental and collect money every month?

Six months? Two years? Five years? Learn how soon is too soon to sell your home.

Which factors negatively affect your home appraisal, and thus the value of your house? Which factors will the appraiser ignore?

If you need to sell a home in poor condition for whatever reason, how can you make the process easier?

When getting your home ready for sale, there are a number of things you can do to ensure it sells quickly and without issues. This list of tips will help.

Orchard consultations are a great way to determine if working with us is right for you. Learn what is covered in this 40-minute, no-obligation session.

Don't let real estate jargon overcomplicate your buying and selling experience. Our glossary is here to help you understand the most important terms.

Ready to sell your home? But exactly how long does it take to sell a house? Here’s a look at the home selling process and how long it may take for you.

Thinking about selling your house? Here’s a breakdown of your seller closing costs, so you can get an idea of how much you’ll make from your investment.

When it comes to real estate, timing is everything. If you’re looking to sell your house fast in Dallas, Texas, here are some things to watch out for.

Your title company plays a major role in your home purchase or sale. Here’s an overview of what a title company does and how to find a title company near you.

How can you make sure your home buying or selling journey goes as smoothly as possible? This home appraisal checklist for buyers and sellers will do just that.

Wondering exactly what an open house in real estate is? This post walks buyers and sellers through everything they need to know to make the most of open houses.

If you were hoping to buy or sell a home this year, you might be second-guessing things now. Here's why this could still be a good time to buy or sell a house.

If you’re looking to move out of your VA loan home, you might be wondering how long you have to live in the home before selling. Here’s what to know.

A traditional home sale can be pretty stressful, but it doesn't have to be. This checklist for selling a home will help you prepare for the journey ahead.

When you're buying or selling a house, who pays the closing costs? The home buyer or the seller? Let's break down these costs so you know what to expect.

Thinking about selling your home? Here are 3 reasons why getting a pre-listing home inspection could help you sell your home faster and for top dollar.

Are you planning to sell your home with a mortgage this year? Here are the most common questions you should know about selling a house with a mortgage.

Thinking about selling your house? This seller's home maintenance checklist will help you ensure that your home is in tip-top shape once it's time to sell.

If you're a home buyer or seller on a tight schedule, you might be wondering, \"How long does a home inspection take?\" Here's everything you need to know.

Selling your home is a big deal, so you’ll want to make sure the timing is right. When’s the best time to sell a house? Here are some real estate market trends.

One piece of the real estate puzzle that a home buyer and seller will likely negotiate is a seller concession. Here’s exactly what a seller concession means.

What if you want to sell your house quickly, so you can move on with your life? Here are five tips you need to know when selling your house as-is.

If you’re selling your house, you’re probably wondering how much you’ll make, but how much the home sale could cost? Learn the true costs of selling a home.

One real estate element that many of us tend to forget is the earnest money deposit. Whether you’re a buyer or seller, here’s what you’ll want to know.

Are you buying or selling a home in Texas? One feature that’s unique to the Texas real estate market is the option period. So how does an option period work?

Looking for a great real estate agent for your home sale? Here are 4 questions to ask potential candidates before signing a listing agreement.

“How do I sell my house without going crazy?” Home sales can be stressful at times, but these tips can help ensure a smooth experience for you and your family.