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How to get your home offer accepted: Strategy 4

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Jason Farris
Head YES man at FresYes.com
I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES
Latest posts by Jason Farris (see all)

 

Previously, I talked about how difficult it can be to get your offer accepted on a home you love. This is due to low inventory in the marketplace and high buyer demand.

I told you about three strategies you should use:

  1. Put down an earnest money deposit.
  2. Make sure to write a clean offer.
  3. Consider using a local lender.

Here’s another simple yet really effective strategy to help give you the edge over the competition when trying to get that dream home you’ve been waiting for: don’t ask for personal property up front.

home offer strategy 4

 

Save it for later

Yeah, I get it. You love that chandelier in the dining room but your agent says the seller has excluded it from the sale of the house. Don’t ask for it no matter how much you love it. They’ve already said it’s not included.

A lot of times buyers will write an offer asking for personal property. Just don’t do that. Wait until you get your offer accepted, and then if you’d like to negotiate on some personal property outside of the real estate purchase contract, then fine. Do that. But don’t ask for personal property up front.

Here’s why. Sellers have multiple offers and your offer is identical to another buyer’s offer—except that you are asking for some type of furniture or other personal property item. It’s great to express that you like it. If they’re interested in selling, you’d love to have that discussion. But don’t actually put it in the offer and risk annoying the seller. Don’t make a mistake that could cause your offer to not get accepted over somebody else’s.

It’s a simple but effective strategy. And it’s these little things that can make the difference between you getting into your dream home, and somebody else living there.

Contact me directly for more info

Choosing a great local lender is just one more effective strategy to help you get the edge on the competition, and get you into your dream home sooner. I’ve got more, and I’m going to share those with you in upcoming posts. These are strategies that very few agents in the marketplace know about, but I’m happy to tell you about them!

If you don’t want to wait for a future post, feel free to call me at (559) 708-8768. That’s my direct cell phone number. You can call me on it, or email me at Jason@fresyes.com. I know I can help.

How to get your home offer accepted: Strategy 3

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Jason Farris
Head YES man at FresYes.com
I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES
Latest posts by Jason Farris (see all)

Previously, I talked about how difficult it can be to get your offer accepted on a home you love. This is due to low inventory in the marketplace and high buyer demand.

I told you about two strategies you should use: an earnest money deposit, and writing a clean offer.

Here’s another simple yet really effective strategy to help give you the edge over the competition when trying to get that dream home you’ve been waiting for: Use a local lender.

home offer strategy 3

Keep it local

Look, there’s nothing wrong with choosing Wells Fargo, Citibank, Bank of America, or any of these larger lending institutions. They didn’t get where they are by not doing loans. But in today’s market, you’re looking for every advantage you can get. And one of those advantages is using a local lender.

Why is that important? Because as a listing agent, aka someone who lists a lot of homes, when I have 10 offers, all of them being equal except one or two of them are using a local lender, you know what that allows me to do? I can pick up the phone and call that local lender, who would love to earn my business. It’s not an 800 number where I reach somebody in Kentucky or Miami or wherever. It’s somebody down the street who wants to do a good job, because if they do, they know they have a chance of earning my business.

Additionally, most local lenders will go further down the approval process before actually issuing you that letter of approval for a loan. Meaning, they’ll verify a tax return, they’ll look at pay stubs, they’ll do that extra work up front because they don’t want to get 20 days in and find out you really aren’t qualified to buy the home.

Contact me directly for more info

Choosing a great local lender is just one more effective strategy to help you get the edge on the competition, and get you into your dream home sooner. I’ve got more, and I’m going to share those with you in upcoming posts. These are strategies that very few agents in the marketplace know about, but I’m happy to tell you about them!

If you don’t want to wait for a future post, feel free to call me at (559) 708-8768. That’s my direct cell phone number. You can call me on it, or email me at Jason@fresyes.com. I know I can help.

How to get your home offer accepted: Strategy Two

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Jason Farris
Head YES man at FresYes.com
I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES
Latest posts by Jason Farris (see all)

 

Previously, I talked about how difficult it can be to get your offer on a home you love accepted. This is due to low inventory in the marketplace and high buyer demand.

I told you about one strategy to getting your offer accepted—an earnest money deposit. (Read all about this strategy here.)

Now here’s another strategy that’s often overlooked: Make sure the agent that represents you not only writes a clear, concise offer, but one that’s correct. I know that may sound obvious, but here’s the thing. Oftentimes—and I mean often as in almost every time—I sit down with a seller to review multiple offers, and find ones that are incomplete!

home offer strategy 2

No information, no offer accepted

It never fails. There’s always at least one offer that’s missing information. Who’s going to pay for this, the buyer or the seller? And they don’t put either. Or, they write in something in the additional terms section, and it’s not legible.

Your agent should take the time to type up the offer and make it look nice, so the seller can read exactly what it is the buyer wants. It puts you at a huge disadvantage when your agent doesn’t properly fill out the form. Let’s say every buyer submitting an offer puts in the $300,000 price point, and puts in a $10,000 earnest money deposit. But your offer is missing a vital piece of information. Whose offer do you think the seller is going to choose?

Make sure the agent you choose knows how to write a clear, nice, and complete offer, with all of the questions answered. It helps. Believe me.

Contact me directly for more info

And that’s one more strategy you can use in getting your home offer accepted in a competitive market. I’ve got many more, and I’m going to share those with you in upcoming posts. These are strategies that very few agents in the marketplace know about, but I’m happy to tell you about them.

If you don’t want to wait for a future post, feel free to call me at (559) 708-8768. That’s my direct cell phone number. You can call me on it, or email me at Jason@fresyes.com. I know I can help!

How to get your home offer accepted despite heavy buyer demand

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Jason Farris
Head YES man at FresYes.com
I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES
Latest posts by Jason Farris (see all)

 

There is a lot of frustration in the real estate market right now for homebuyers. There’s so much buyer demand, and very little inventory.

One reason why is because the people who currently live in their home and are looking to sell can’t find a home to buy, so as a result, they don’t sell theirs. So with inventory so low, the competition to have an offer accepted is much more fierce.

There are strategies to having an offer accepted

If you are a buyer, there are strategies that can increase the chance of getting your home offer accepted—strategies I can provide you and help you with, to help you get your offer accepted, to get you a better chance.

Now, I’m not talking about overpaying for a home. Nobody wants to go and overpay, right? I’m talking about simple strategies that we can implement during the process of looking for a home and writing a contract that increase your chance of getting your offer accepted as soon as possible. That’s the important part, because as prices increase, you’re going to be getting less home for more money. And so the sooner we can identify a property that meets your needs, a property you love, at the price you want and the terms you want, and the sooner we can negotiate and get you under contract, the better off you will be.

get your offer accepted

One strategy that works

Here’s one strategy that I know works: Increase your earnest money deposit. As someone who lists a lot of homes every year, I get to see why a seller accepts one offer over another. We get five, six, maybe 10 offers sometimes on the properties I list and sell. So I sit down with the sellers and we look at these offers, and a lot of them have this one thing in common: A strong earnest money deposit often makes the difference between getting your offer accepted and not.

Instead of putting a $1,000 deposit down, or even one-and-a-half to two percent, whatever it is of the purchase price, put that skin in the game. Let the seller know you’re serious. You love the home, and if once you remove your contingencies to purchase, you’re willing to risk that money.

And that’s one strategy you can use. I’ve got many, many more, and I’m going to share those with you in upcoming posts. These are strategies that very few agents in the marketplace know about, but I’m happy to share them with you.

Contact me directly for more info

If you don’t want to wait for a future post, feel free to call me at (559) 708-8768. That’s my direct cell phone number. You can call me on it, or email me at Jason@fresyes.com. I know I can help!

Photo by Russ Hendricks

How updating your home before selling can return thousands on your investment

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Jason Farris
Head YES man at FresYes.com
I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES
Latest posts by Jason Farris (see all)

Recently I watched something amazing happen with one of our listings. Within 48 hours of putting the house on the market, we had 65 showings and received 16 offers.

16 offers in just 48 hours.

The house is now under contract with an offer accepted over asking price. So the question is… why did this happen?

Here’s why.

6 steps yield thousands in return

The homeowners wanted to list their home at the end of December. Their agent, Christine, warned them that their house was in need of some repair and updating. Because of this, they would most likely receive offers less than what they hoped for. 

So she laid it out for them: List the home as is and get less money for it, or make some suggested upgrades to yield the best ROI (return on investment).

The sellers were a little hesitant at first for obvious reasons; namely because they would have to cover the upfront cost of the updates. But they decided to listen to Christine and move forward with the updates.

At this point, the homeowners were in their new home in another state, so Christine rounded up multiple bids for the work that needed to be done. The sellers chose their contractor and the work began.

These are the updates Christine recommended to her clients:

  1. Replace the older carpet throughout the home with laminate hardwood floor except in the bedrooms, which would receive new carpet.
  2. Remove cabinetry that was closing off the kitchen to create an open concept.
  3. Remove dated wallpaper, apply fresh texture and paint, and add new baseboards throughout the entire house.
  4. Update a few light fixtures.
  5. Remove dated curtains to give a new look and a better view to the outside.
  6. Have the home professionally cleaned and power washed, and then stage it.

The most remarkable part? All of this was completed in just 10 days!

updating home ROI

updating home ROI

The home was listed on Sunday, Jan. 28. By mid-morning on Monday, requests for showings and offers started pouring in. The homeowners accepted an offer multiple thousands of dollars over asking price, and the property will be closed in 30 days.

…

This is a great story for homeowners who are worried about making upgrades to a home before listing it. In this example, the clients were concerned about initial out-of-pocket expenses, but they trusted their professional Realtor and, in the end, will receive a lot more return on their investment than if they’d just listed the home as is.

If you’re looking for an agent you can trust with your best interests, I think it’s fair to say you should definitely give Christine Grooms a call! 

 

13535 Academy Oaks Lane: The perfect property for those who like a lot of space

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Jason Farris
Head YES man at FresYes.com
I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES
Latest posts by Jason Farris (see all)

People who like their space (and a lot of it), this one is for you. I currently have an amazing property available at 13535 Academy Oaks Lane in Clovis.

13535 Academy Oaks

13535 Academy Oaks Lane

13535 Academy Oaks Lane

13535 Academy Oaks Lane

Here is a rare opportunity to own a truly magnificent estate. Step onto the grounds of this private, gated estate in the Academy Oaks community and into a world of sublime loveliness. Situated on over 26 acres, this 5,500+ square foot home with five bedrooms and five bathrooms is nothing less than a master class in elegance and grandeur.

Hallmarks of the home include a chef’s-quality kitchen featuring wrap-around granite countertops, commercial-grade gas range, and walk-in pantry. There are new appliances in both the kitchen and the bar. The master suite includes a luxurious bath, shower, and bidet.

This house is set up for modern living. Owned solar keeps energy bills down, while state-of-the-art security cameras keep an eye on the property. Commercial-grade Wifi network and cell phone booster keeps you connected. Control 4 home automation system controls the whole house, including lighting, temperature, locks, garage doors, window shades, and multiple music zones.

Beneath the stars, overlooking the city lights and nestled amid the foothills, lies your very own backyard oasis, complete with stone finishes, outdoor fireplace, large grass area, covered patio, and sparkling pool. The extensive property allows for growing your own grapes or keeping horses—whatever your passion, there’s plenty of room to accommodate it.

All this is only a short drive to Clovis North and the best dining, shopping, and entertainment Fresno and Clovis have to offer.

For any questions regarding this property please feel free to give me, Jason Farris, a call at (559) 795-7995.

Looking to Buy a Home with a Pool? Here Are 5 For Sale Now

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Jason Farris
Head YES man at FresYes.com
I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES
Latest posts by Jason Farris (see all)

With 100+ degree days going on for stretches at a time, it’s not hard to imagine yourself sitting by the pool, sipping a cold beverage, not a care in the world.

If this is your summer dream, but you don’t have the pool yet, I’ve got you covered. Check out these five homes for sale in the Fresno area that feature pools.

8115 E. Paul Avenue, Clovis, CA 93619

fresno pool homes

This large property features two homes, a 1450 sq. ft. shop, in-ground swimming pool, and a paid-for solar system on approximately 2.5 acres in Clovis. The front house features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a two-car garage, and a carport. The second home includes two bedrooms, two baths, an office, and a two-car garage. [More]

11070 17th Avenue, Lemoore, CA 93245

Fresno pool homes
 
This 3278 sq. ft. custom home includes five bedrooms and four bathrooms, and has plenty of room for everyone. The kitchen opens to the family room, separated by an island with breakfast bar and breakfast nook close by. Enjoy the outdoors with the outdoor kitchen, fireplace, in-ground pool, basketball court, and multiple fruit-producing trees. [More]

1825 E. Muncie Avenue, Fresno, CA 93720

Fresno pool homes
 
This magnificent home in the Clovis Unified School District is move-in ready and includes three bedrooms with three full bathrooms, three-car garage, and RV parking. A lovely kitchen opens up to the dining room with a sliding glass door that leads to the backyard with covered patio, breathtaking pool, and well-manicured side yard. [More]

1207 W. Sample Avenue, Fresno, CA 93711

Fresno pool homes

This Tenaya Estates custom home is ideally located in the Bullard area, just steps away from Tenaya Park. The spacious floor plan includes an open kitchen, dining area and two living rooms, both with fireplaces. There are four large bedrooms and three bathrooms. Sliding glass doors off the living room and master bedroom lead to a large covered patio overlooking the pool. [More]

3733 Dockery Avenue, Selma, CA 93662

Fresno pool homes

This beautiful three bedroom, two bath home on a corner lot in Selma has an open floor plan, indoor laundry, and an above-ground pool for those hot summer days. [More]

Bad MLS photos – eek!

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Jason Farris
Head YES man at FresYes.com
I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES
Latest posts by Jason Farris (see all)

It’s the weekend – Time for a giggle or two! Over the course of the week I stumbled upon a handful of funny/strange pictures taken of homes that were advertised for sale in the Fresno Clovis area that I thought you would get a kick out of.

It's a snow owl!

It’s a snow owl!

 

it's Taylor Swift

It’s Taylor Swift

 

It's the agent!

It’s the agent (I see you in the mirror)!

 

It's a Probe Droid?!!

It’s a Probe Droid?!!

 

p.s One of my biggest pet peeves as a Realtor is bad photos. These post are my way of venting, I hope you enjoy it!

(Come across one I missed? Let me know…)