Category: Blog

Flipped houses are common in today’s real estate market. Many individuals have taken them on as DIY passion projects, and some companies have even created entire business models around them. 

If you were to browse a listing for a flipped house, you’d likely find yourself in awe of their beautifully modern appeal. You may not even recognize that it was a flipped home and that it used to look much different a short while ago. 

For these reasons, buying a flipped home can be a highly rewarding experience. However, there are some important things to be aware of before making that down payment. We’ll talk through them below. 

What Is a Flipped House? 

A flipped house is a house that someone (or some company) buys, renovates, and sells in hopes of making a profit. Before purchase and renovation, the house is generally in poor condition — something like what’s commonly referred to as a “fixer-upper.” 

The results of house flipping are often impressive. The flippers take something that used to be outdated, damaged, and/or dysfunctional and turn it into a modern, livable space. This process is typically completed on a short timeline, too, with some house flips just taking a few months to a year.  

Is Buying a Flipped House a Good Idea? 

There is no all-inclusive answer to this question. It depends on the house at hand, as well as your specific needs and wants as a homeowner. The truth is that buying a flipped house could be one of the most rewarding or detrimental decisions a prospective homeowner can make. 

In the following sections, we’ll discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of buying a flipped house. This will help you know what to look out for and how to make the decision that are right for you and your family. 

Advantages of Buying a Flipped House in West Michigan

Let’s start with the advantages. Under the right circumstances, buying a flipped house can be a great move. Here’s why. 

• It’s move-in ready. Flipped houses are fully renovated (in most cases by professionals), so you won’t need to make any changes before moving in.
• It’s outfitted with modern appliances and finishes. The flipping process usually involves the installation of upgraded, modern appliances. You shouldn’t have to worry about anything not working properly for a long time. 
• It comes with fewer contingencies. Since nobody is living in the home while it’s being renovated, there’s usually no delay in terms of when you can move in. 
• It can be a more cost-effective option. A flipped house gives you the opportunity to have a newly renovated home without spending the time, energy, and money building one of your own. 

Disadvantages of Buying a Flipped House in West Michigan

There are some risks to buying a flipped house as well. These aren’t relevant to every flipped house on the market but can pop up if you’re not buying from a trusted, professional home remodeling company. Here are a few things to look out for. 

• Cosmetics may cover problems. Many house flippers are trustworthy and value good craftsmanship, but it is possible that some could be covering up large issues (e.g. structural damage or water damage) with cosmetic touch-ups. 
• Renovations may not be compliant. There are many home renovations that require building permits. If the person or company who flipped the house didn’t obtain them, you’ll be responsible for bringing your home up to code. 
• You don’t get to pick the design. If you have a particular design style in mind for your home, it may be best to build your own. Flipped houses are newly renovated, but may not match your exact style. 

Questions to Ask Before Buying a Flipped House

To ensure you’re buying a flipped house you can trust to look beautiful and hold up for years, you may want to ask some questions before signing the contract. Here are a few that we suggest. 

• Who renovated this house? How much renovation experience do they have? Do they have a license?
• What was the scope of work?
• Was the work properly permitted?
• How long did the renovation take? 
• Which appliances and systems were replaced?
• Has the home undergone a professional inspection? 
• Are there any warranties that come with the home? 

By asking these questions, you can get more information on the history of the home and whoever renovated it. This may help clue you in on whether or not it’s a rewarding investment for you. 

Buy a Flipped House From or Sell a Fixer-Upper To Hometown Development

Interested in buying a flipped house, or ready to sell your fixer-upper home? At Hometown Development, it’s our mission to purchase, revitalize, and sell homes in the West Michigan neighborhoods we love. Our team consists of construction professionals with great craftsmanship skills and a commitment to doing honest, quality work. We don’t take loopholes and try to sell homes we’re not proud of; we build with integrity. 

As one of our area’s top real estate investment companies, we do the restoration dirty work so you can minimize your effort and maximize your investment. For more information on our process, contact our team. 

In a traditional home sale, it typically takes about two months to sell a house from listing to closing, even in today’s hot real estate market. For some homeowners, that’s the perfect timeline. For others, it’s a bit too long. 

There are many reasons to sell a home quickly, including (but not limited to): 

• Foreclosure
• Divorce
• Too much damage
• Unwanted inheritance
• Job relocation

If you’re experiencing any of these circumstances, you might feel stuck and wondering what steps to take first. You want to be out of your house and you want to move on with your life, but the whole process can feel overwhelming. 

The good news is that we’ve worked with hundreds of West Michigan homeowners just like you, and we’ve helped them sell their homes in as little as five days! Keep reading to figure out how to make that a possibility for you. 

How to Sell Your West Michigan House Fast: 4 Ideas

The most important thing to remember here? Just because you want to sell your home fast doesn’t mean you lose the flexibility of options. There are a few different ways you can get your home on and off the market quickly — you just have to be a bit more creative. 

From your local real estate experts, here are four of the best ways to sell your home fast in West Michigan. 

1. Lower Your Listing Price

First, and probably most obvious, you could lower your home’s listing price. Underpricing can be a good strategy to generate more buyer interest. You can hope for multiple offers that will eventually bid up to your home’s actual market value, and you can always turn away offers that are too low. 

However, lowering your listing price isn’t a foolproof strategy. If your home’s listed too low, there’s a chance it attracts buyers who have budgets that cap well below your desired price. You’ll likely find yourself wasting your time sorting through offers that are way too low or actually accepting one of them and not getting as much from your home as you want. 

2. Offer a Creative Incentive for Buyers

In some circumstances, even a good listing price isn’t enough. If your home isn’t selling quickly due to any number of factors (unusual features, much-needed repairs, etc.), you may need to think a bit outside of the box to draw interest. 

Some common examples would be paying for repair or improvement costs, paying for the buyer’s closing costs, or offering to pay for updated systems or appliances. Adding one or more of these incentives to your listing can help your home stand out among the rest. 

Not interested in any of the ideas listed above? We’ve also heard of some seriously out-of-the-box incentives like: 

• Offering discounts to students, teachers, doctors, veterans, etc. 
• Covering the cost of a moving company
• Letting a potential buyer test drive your home and stay there for a weekend
• Including some of your existing large appliances/electronics in the sale

The problem with this idea? The incentives aren’t always enough to seal the deal, and you might have to pay extra to include some of the incentives. 

3. Try a Short Sale

If you’re trying to sell your home quickly as a way to avoid tax foreclosure, a short sale may be the right option for you. A short sale is when a homeowner struggling with financial difficulties sells their home for less than the amount they owe on the mortgage. This can help get out from under debt and avoid foreclosure. 

Although foreclosure is the main motivator for short sales, they can also work for other circumstances. However, while some short sales go through quickly, others take a long time to process. Short sales come with a lot of paperwork and waiting periods for vendor approval, so you’re at the mercy of your lender as far as the timeline goes. 

4. Sell Your Home As-Is to an All-Cash Buyer

Last but not least, you could sell your home as-is. Selling your home as-is means that you do minimal cleaning, no repairs, and no staging before starting the selling process. It’s by far the fastest way to sell your home, even compared to the options listed above. Many homeowners aren’t even aware that this is a reasonable option, but there are actually a lot more as-is home buyers on the market than you’d think. 

If you can find the right buyer, selling your home as-is is often the most lucrative way to sell your home quickly as well. This “right buyer” is most often a local real estate investment company that buys homes as-is for cash, then flips them for resale and to uplift the community.

At Hometown Development, that’s our passion. We’re an all-cash home buyer that purchases West Michigan homes in any condition, then remodels them to professional standards. We have a track record and company commitment for closing on homes in as little as five days — and, yes, we’re completely legitimate! We offer fair prices based on current market trends and the condition of your home. If you don’t trust us, trust the stunning reviews from past customers we’ve worked with. 

Here are a few of the steps to our process: 

• Initial meeting — Either through email or phone, we chat with the homeowner about the condition of their home and their selling goals. Based on that information, we offer a ballpark range for what an offer may look like. 

• Property visit — We schedule a 30-minute appointment to meet the homeowner at their house and take a look around the property. We get a better understanding of the condition of your home. 

• Cash offer — In just 24 hours, we reach back out to the homeowner with an all-cash offer you can trust. We guarantee that 24-hour timeline, otherwise we’ll pay you $100. 

• Closing — If the homeowner chooses to accept the cash offer, we schedule closing in as little as five days (or whatever timeline works for them). They pay no realtor commissions, closing costs, or hidden fees throughout the process. 

And just like that, we’ve helped a homeowner sell their home in as little as five days! Could you be the next?

Ready to Sell Your West Michigan Home As-Is? Contact Hometown Development

If you’re eager to sell your home, we’re eager to buy it from you! At Hometown Development, we specialize in buying as-is homes for cash — getting them off your hands and making them better for community growth. 
We’ll visit your home and provide a cash offer in just 24 hours, no matter what condition it’s in. To get the process started, request a free, no-obligation cash offer from us today.

As a homeowner, problems like leaky pipes or cracked window frames are typically minor inconveniences. They can be resolved quickly, and your house can be back to looking and operating as normal in no time. Structural problems, on the other hand, can be a major cause for concern. 

Structural damage is any type of damage that puts the overall integrity of your home at risk. This could include anything from a sagging roof to a cracked foundation or uneven flooring. It’s more serious and more expensive to fix than smaller home improvement projects. 

If your home has structural problems, it can be scary and unsafe to live in. But it can also be pretty intimidating to sell. In this article, we’ll walk you through some steps to better prepare you. 

Can You Sell Your House If It Has Structural Problems?

Yes! You can absolutely sell your house, even if it has structural problems. In fact, no problem is too big to make your home unsellable. 

However, selling a home with structural problems is a different process than selling one without. It might leave you with questions like: 

• Do I have to spend time and money on repairs before selling my home?
• Do I have to sell my home for a much lower price? 
• Will anyone even be interested in buying my home?

Fortunately, we’ve got answers to each of those questions in the sections below. 

Common Signs of Home Structural Damage

The first step to selling your home with foundation problems is noticing that there are problems. In many cases, you’ll be able to identify signs that point to foundation issues without the help of a professional inspector. Here are a few of the most common signs of structural damage to look out for on your own: 

• Cracked, bulging, or bowing walls
• Leaning chimney
• Cracked bricks or masonry
• Unaligned and difficult-to-open/close doors
• Sloping, uneven, or cracked floors
• Cracked foundation
• Damp basement

If you notice any of these signs within or outside of your home, don’t ignore them. It’s best to act quickly and find a solution so that the problem doesn’t escalate — even if the solution is to sell the home and get it off your hands.

5 Tips for Selling a House With Structural Problems

Selling a house with structural problems is possible. Getting a fair price for it is possible too. Here are some tips to get you started. 

1. Determine the Severity of the Problem

First thing’s first: figure out the severity of your home’s structural problems. This involves identifying the issue (and hopefully the source of it), then documenting the extent of the damage surrounding it. Knowing what you’re working with can help you make informed decisions regarding repairs, estimates, and potential listing prices. 

2. If Needed, Get a Professional Opinion

Having trouble identifying the cause or severity of your home’s structural damage? You may consider getting a professional opinion. Calling a structural engineer to inspect your home can give you a better idea of what you’re working with. 

In some cases, a professional can even help you identify “false” signs of structural damage. Things like hairline cracks in concrete and popping nails aren’t always true indicators of larger structural damage at play. 

3. Check Your Homeowners Insurance Policy

If your house’s structural damage was a result of a natural disaster like a storm or tornado, it may be covered under your homeowners’ insurance policy. If so, your insurance provider will likely cover a portion or all of the costs for repair. Then you could sell your house repaired, for a better price. 

Every policy differs and has different conditions, so it’s worth a look before getting too far ahead with this plan. It’s also important to remember that most homeowners’ insurance policies don’t cover damage or aging due to everyday wear and tear. 

4. Disclose Any Structural Problems to Potential Buyers

In most states, including Michigan, you must disclose what you know about your home’s damage to potential buyers. This includes anything from small imperfections to big issues like structural damage. If you or your buyer choose to work with a real estate agent, they’ll require a home inspection as part of the process just to make sure nothing was missed in your disclosure. 

5. Make Repairs vs. Negotiate Repair Costs vs. Sell As-Is

This is where things start to get trickier. If you want to sell your home with structural problems, you need to choose the selling option that works best for you. Generally speaking, you have three different options: make repairs before selling, negotiate repair costs in the listing price, or sell as-is to an investment buyer. 

• If you choose to make repairs before selling, you’ll likely add value to and get a better price for your home. You’ll also probably be able to attract more buyers who place competing bids you can choose from. However, if the extent of your damage is large (it usually is with structural problems), you’ll have to invest a lot of time and money into the project. Some homeowners don’t have the time or budget for that. 

• If you choose to negotiate repair costs in your listing, you won’t have to spend the time on repairs, but you’ll still have to spend the money. Even though it won’t seem like money coming out of your pocket, you’ll still get less for your home overall. 

• If you choose to sell as-is to an investment buyer, you won’t have to handle any of the repair work or associated costs. While homes with structural damage typically sell for less, you’ll make up that money in saved repair costs and time. Plus, many investment buyers offer cash and can have the whole process completed in a matter of days. For many homeowners struggling with structural damage, this is the most lucrative, convenient route — allowing them to move on quickly to something better. 

Sell Your Structurally Damaged Home to Hometown Development

If your home has structural problems, you can still get a fair offer for it. How do we know? Because we’re one of the West Michigan all-cash home buyers that will take it! 
At Hometown Development, we’re passionate about giving homes like yours the TLC they need — taking a huge weight off of your shoulders and uplifting your community as a whole. To learn more about our passion and process, give us a call at (616) 379-3099 or contact us online.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — July 21, 2022: Hometown Development Company has welcomed two new team members: Lance Poelman and Ray Brechting. Both Lance and Ray started on July 5th. 

Lance Poelman joined the team as Director of Construction. Formerly with Timberline Construction in Colorado, he brings many years of experience as a construction and business leader to Hometown Development. 

Ray Brechting joined the team as Project Manager. Formerly with Modernistic’s Fire & Water Damage Restoration division, he brings many years of construction and project management experience to Hometown Development. 

“I’m excited to have Lance and Ray join our team,” said Jeremy Duprey, Founder of Hometown Development. “I’m confident that they’ll add incredible value to the company, helping us continue to grow and add value to all of the projects we take on. They’ll help us restore more beautiful homes in the West Michigan neighborhoods we all love.”

With the additions of Lance and Ray, Hometown Development’s team of real estate and construction experts grew to consist of 14 employees. The company is looking to continue this growth trajectory, so anyone with construction experience and a passion for West Michigan real estate is encouraged to apply to open positions. They can be found here.  

About Hometown Development Company

Hometown Development Company is a leading real estate investment company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since its inception in 2016, the company has renovated nearly 200 homes in West Michigan. Its mission to improve the community’s neighborhoods and help homeowners sell their homes quickly for fair cash offers is shown in every project Hometown Development completes. For more information, please visit www.hometowndev.com.  

We’ve heard it before, and we’re sure we’ll hear it again: “My house needs SO much work.”

Homeownership comes with quite a bit of maintenance. While some of the smaller tasks can be completed easily, others can become more difficult to manage over time. As the years go on, many homeowners find themselves with more work than they can find the time or money for.

If you relate, you might be wondering what you can do. You don’t want to live in a house in disrepair, but you also don’t have the time or money to commit to fixing all of it. We’re here to help you find a solution.

What To Do If Your House Needs a Lot of Work: Your 3 Options

If your home is in need of more repair than you can manage, you have options. We’ll discuss a few of them, along with their pros and cons, below.

1. Do the Repairs (-$$)

The most obvious option is to complete the home repairs, but that’s also probably the least appealing option. Let’s be honest — home improvement isn’t everyone’s favorite pastime, and there’s likely a reason you didn’t get to it in the first place.

But on the chance that this is the route you choose to take, you have two more options: do all of the repairs and fix your house completely or just attend to the most pertinent repairs. While you may not get the exact results you wanted, you won’t have to live with safety hazards like leaky plumbing and structural issues.

If you have some DIY skills, you could try to tackle the job on your own. It’d save you some money on labor costs, but you’d still have to pay for any materials you need — not to mention the time, energy, and possible frustration you’ll spend throughout the long process. So, again, this definitely isn’t the best solution for most homeowners.

2. Hire Someone to Do the Repairs for You (-$$$)

Another option is to hire someone to complete the repairs for you. Whether that’s a reputable contractor or your friendly neighborhood handyman, there are many people out there that’d be willing to help.

Having an experienced professional complete the work could help expedite the process, but it’ll cost you more money. You’ll pay for the convenience in both material costs and labor costs. Depending on the scope of work, you may also have to find alternate living arrangements while your home is under construction.

So although this option seems more convenient than the first, it might not actually turn out to be.

3. Sell Your Home As-Is (+$$$)

For many homeowners who are struggling with the “my house needs so much work” problem, the best solution is to sell their home as-is.

An as-is sale is exactly what it sounds like: a homeowner sells their home exactly as it is without any remodeling, repairing, cleaning, or staging. Even homes with extensive water damage, structural damage, fire damage, etc. can be sold as-is.

There are many benefits to the as-is selling process, including:

• You don’t need to spend money, time, or energy on repairs
• You can sell your home fast, often without a realtor
• You can move on to something better in less time
• You can finally relieve yourself of a burden you’ve held onto for a while

One drawback of selling your home as-is is that you might receive a lower offer than if you sold it in perfect condition. However, you make up for that loss by saving time and avoiding the costs of selling traditionally, such as making repairs. And, if you’re selling to a reputable real estate investment company, they’re likely to give you a fair offer in all cash.

Learn more about the offer comparison between traditional and as-is home sales in this blog.

Does Your House Need A Lot of Work? We’ll Buy It As-Is for Cash

If your house is in disrepair and you don’t have the time, energy, or money to bring it back to life, Hometown Development can help. We’ll happily visit to take a look at it, then provide you with a fair all-cash offer in just 24 hours. That way, you can quickly get it off your hands and move on to something better.

Yes — it’s really that easy! For more information on our home buying process, contact our team online.

The past few years have brought record-high home prices and record-low home inventories across the country, including West Michigan towns. This has made the selling process a quick, simple, and lucrative one for many homeowners. Unfortunately, we can’t always say the same for those looking to buy a home.

Buying a home in a competitive seller’s market can be difficult — but it isn’t impossible. Here are some helpful tips to get you started.

5 Tips for Buying a House in a Competitive Market

Ready to start your home buying journey? These five tips will set you up for success, no matter how congested your local real estate market is.

1. Do Your Research

Doing your research is an important first step in any home buying process, but it becomes even more important when you’re dealing with a competitive market. Even though you feel like you need to move quickly, moving too quickly can do you more harm than good.

Take some time to gain a good understanding of your local real estate market. While you may have heard things in the news or online about the nationwide market, it’s important to know what’s going on in the specific place you’re looking to move. This could mean doing a number of the following activities:

• Talking with a local real estate agent
• Driving around to scope out different neighborhoods in the area
• Touring a number of homes in the area (physically or virtually)
• Chatting with friends, family, or coworkers in the area

Regardless of how you choose to do your research, spending that time getting to know your market can give you the knowledge and confidence you need to start making solid offers.

2. List Out Your Needs & Wants

Once you’ve done your research, the next step is to list out your needs and wants — and yes, those are two different things! If you’re hoping to buy a home in a competitive market, it’s likely you’ll have to make some compromises. Having an upfront understanding of what’s negotiable and non-negotiable is important.

Your needs are non-negotiable features you must have in your new home. Your wants are negotiable features you’d like to have, but that you could also compromise on if need be. For example, you may need two bathrooms and office space. You may want a finished basement and a fenced-in backyard.

Knowing your needs and wants — and the difference between them — can help you more easily determine if a home meets your standards or if it’s time to walk away. It’ll help you act faster in a market that requires quick decision-making.

3. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

The majority of home buyers need some sort of financing. If you’re in the same boat, getting pre-approved for a mortgage is important.

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage before you start house hunting allows you to make smarter decisions about your financial investment. You’ll have a better understanding of what price range you can afford because all your financial information will be in front of you, including:

How much you can borrow
How much you can spend overall
How much your monthly mortgage payments may be (based on your income, credit score, and down payment)
How high your interest rate may be

All of this information can help you narrow down your home options and make informed financial decisions about what you can and can’t afford. And when homes are selling for $5,000-$50,000 over the asking price, that’s an important number to know.

4. Avoid Panic Buying (& Overpaying!)

That brings us to our next tip: don’t get sucked into panic buying! It can be easy to feel overwhelmed in a competitive real estate market, but it’s important to stay as calm and patient as possible. Panicking and rushing into a home purchase can result in overpaying for a home and regretting your decision.

Unless it’s really a perfect match and a price you’re comfortable with, don’t purchase the first home you see. One benefit of a congested market is that you’ll likely find another one you like on the market in no time.

5. Consider Investing in a Fixer-Upper

If you’ve been exclusively looking at new homes, try broadening your search to include some older fixer-uppers. These properties are typically priced much lower than new homes, and there typically aren’t as many people flocking to buy them.

Investing in a fixer-upper home can be extremely rewarding, even if you don’t have the DIY skills, time, or energy to complete renovations by yourself. Nowadays, there are many real estate investment firms (including our team at Hometown Development!) that purchase fixer-upper homes for cash, then work their magic to remodel and transform them into gorgeous living spaces.

Having a real estate investment firm professionally remodel your home comes with many benefits. You can have the price savings and longevity of a new home without having to commit to the remodeling work yourself. Also, these houses are usually located in growing neighborhoods close to schools, businesses, restaurants, and other amenities, so you can enjoy an equally fulfilling life outside of your home. It’s truly a win-win process, especially when new homes are overpriced and hard to get your hands on — just ask some of our past clients!

Trust Hometown Development to Flip a Home You Love

In a competitive real estate market, it can be tricky to find a home that you adore and that you can afford. At Hometown Development, we’re here to make that process easier for you. We’ll take an affordable, fixer-upper property and transform it into a home your family will love for years, allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds. To learn more about how and why we do what we do, contact our team online.

You’ve likely seen the billboards, TV commercials, and social media posts:

• We buy homes for cash!
• Sell your home for cash in just one week!
• Sell your house FAST 4 cash!

And if you’re like any skeptical homeowner, those ads probably had you thinking that process sounds too good to be true — but is it? No.

Most “buy homes for cash” companies are legitimate, in West Michigan and beyond. They’re not there to lowball you, rip you off, or take advantage of you. They’re there to help you out of an unwanted living situation, make a profit, and leave a positive impact on your community all at the same time. Below, we’ll learn more about these companies, what they can do for you, and how to find one you can trust. 

What Is an All-Cash Home Buyer?

“Buy homes for cash” companies are commonly referred to as all-cash home buyers. An all-cash home buyer is a person or business that has all the funds available to purchase your home in full, right then and there. They don’t go through the process of going to the bank to apply for a mortgage loan or other type of financing. 

In the real estate world, all-cash home buyers are more popular than you may think. Typically, they’re real estate investors who are focused on finding homes with potential and transforming them into something beautiful, whether that’s a remodeled home or rental property.

This process of “house flipping” has the potential to be quite lucrative for all-cash home buyers — but it can be pretty rewarding for the seller as well. In fact, selling your home for cash can come with many benefits. 

What Are the Benefits of Working With an All-Cash Home Buyer?

Want to know what working with an all-cash home buyer can offer you? Below are the main five benefits homeowners get out of the deal. 

1. You Can Sell Your Home Quickly

When you sell your home for cash, you get to choose the timeline. In fact, most as-is cash home sales can be completed within just five days. You don’t need to worry about your home sitting on the market, holding you back while you’re trying to move on with your life and start fresh. 

2. You Can Sell Your Home Without Making Any Repairs

When most homeowners sell their home for cash, they sell it as-is. This means they don’t have to make any repairs, even if the home has a few significant issues. This can help you save a ton of time and money you’d rather spend on the next chapter of your life. 

3. You Can Sell Your Home With Minimal Risk Involved

From appraisal issues to mortgage rejections, there are many ways a traditional home sale can go wrong. But when you sell your home as-is to an all-cash home buyer, you can avoid the risk of anything falling through. No surprises — just a quick, smooth process. 

4. You Can Sell Your Home Without Hiring a Realtor

While working with a realtor can be beneficial in some circumstances, it can be a burden in others. Most notably, it can extend your selling timeline and add to your expenses. If you’re looking to sell your home quickly on your own, selling to an all-cash home buyer is the way to go. 

5. You Can Get Out of a Tough Financial Situation

If you’re facing foreclosure, are behind on mortgage payments, or are in some other kind of difficult financial situation, selling your home to an all-cash buyer can help. Many close on deals in less than a week, leaving you free of future mortgage payments and with a sum of cash to use however you need. 

Is Selling Your Home to an All-Cash Home Buyer Right For You?

Selling to an all-cash home buyer isn’t the right move for everyone. However, depending on your situation, an all-cash offer could be the best choice for you. Below are a few circumstances where selling your home to an all-cash home buyer could be especially beneficial: 

• Your home needs serious repairs, which you either can’t afford to do or don’t want to do. 
• Your home is at risk of foreclosure and you need immediate debt relief. 
• You don’t want to hire a realtor, either to save on time, costs, or both. 
• You need to sell your home quickly for any reason — from divorce, to inherited property, to a new job, and beyond. 

How to Find an All-Cash Home Buyer You Can Trust

Approaching an offer from an all-cash home buyer with a bit of skepticism is healthy because, just like in any industry, there are some people and organizations that don’t operate honestly. In order to find a reputable all-cash home buyer you can trust, be sure to look for the following qualities:

• They’re communicative and display great customer service. 
• They inform you of their buying process, so you know exactly what to expect.
• They’re looking out for your best interest and want you to get value out of the sale.
• They provide a cash offer that’s fair based on the condition of your home.
• They’re active in the area you live.
• They have a positive reputation for remodeling homes that benefit the community.
• They have good reviews from past customers they’ve worked with.

By using this list as a checklist, you can vet “buy homes for cash” companies to make sure they’re legitimate. And once you’ve found one that works well with you, you’re on your way to selling that house and moving on to bigger and better things! 

For Fast Offers at Fair Prices, Trust Hometown Development.

At Hometown Development, we’re committed to two things: helping you move on from your home, and adding value to the West Michigan community. With those goals in mind, we’re here to offer you a fair cash offer for your home, no matter what state it’s in. We’ve worked to establish trust with many previous sellers, and we’ll work to establish trust with you too. To learn more about our process, contact us online.

Water damage is an unfortunate, yet common issue in many West Michigan homes. With heavy amounts of snow and rainfall each year, it’s a tough problem to avoid. It can also be a pretty messy and expensive one to fix.

That said, if you’ve noticed signs of water damage in your home, you may be concerned about what your next steps should be. The good news is you have options that don’t involve spending a ton of time, energy, and money on repairs. We’ll take a look at one of them below.

Can You Sell a House With Water Damage?

Putting the time and money into repairing water damage can be a huge investment. If you’re not quite ready to take that project on, but you’re still looking to make a move, you might be wondering if it’s even possible to sell a house with water damage — and it is!

It’s completely possible to sell a house with water damage. Although the damage may pose a few unique challenges in the selling process, such as an extended timeline or lowered price, it’s still a viable option that many homeowners have chosen.

How to Sell a House With Water Damage

So what does the process of selling a house with water damage look like, and how can you get it to go as smoothly as possible for you and your family? Here are a few steps and tips to keep in mind.

1. Identify the Issue Quickly

If you’re able, it’s important to identify the source of your home’s water damage quickly. Be on the lookout for telltale signs that something’s wrong, especially after snowy or rainy days. Here are a few things to keep an eye out for:

• Pooling water or puddles on your floors
• Wet spots on your ceiling or walls
• Mold on your ceiling or walls
• Cracking or bubbling paint
• The sound of dripping or rushing water
• A musty, moldy smell
• A sudden increase in your water utility bill, without other explanation

Once you’ve found the issue, do your best to find a solution for it, even if it’s temporary. Then clean up any damage that’s already occurred. The more you can clean and dry up, the less long-term damage brought upon your home.

2. Price Your Home Appropriately

Now determine the extent of the damage and set your price fairly and accordingly. If your home has water damage, you should understand that its value has been reduced and you need to set a lower price to account for how much repair work it needs. If there’s only minimal damage, this price shouldn’t be much lower, but if the damage is extensive and has been there a while, your listing price may take a bigger hit.

Again, this doesn’t mean you can’t sell your home. You just have to sell it at a fair price, for what it’s really worth. If you need help doing so, you may choose to hire an appraiser to come and take a look around.

3. Disclose Damage to Potential Buyers

When your home has water damage, it’s important to disclose the damage to any potential buyers. More often than not, buyers will ask for a home inspection before making an offer anyway, so it’s in your best interest to be upfront about any issues. This way, you can both have an honest, clear understanding of what kinds of work needs to be done, and how much it may cost. And you’ll be surprised to find the number of people who’d be willing to buy it and go through the repair process!

4. Consider Selling Your Home As-Is to an All-Cash Buyer

Does your home have signs of extreme water damage? It may be tough to find a buyer who’s willing to pay a fair price. Your best option could be to sell your home as-is to an all-cash buyer. This is a person or company that has all the funds needed to purchase your home in full, right now. From home renovation hobbyists to established real estate investment companies, there are plenty of all-cash buying options out there.

There are many benefits to selling your home as-is for cash — most notably being immediacy. All-cash buyers will close on your home sale quickly, so you don’t need to spend any time or money fixing it up and staging it. In some cases they’ll close on the deal in just days, helping you get out of your damaged home and into newer, better living accommodations in no time!

Stuck With a Water-Damaged Home? We’ll Take It!

Looking to get out of and move on from a home with water damage? We can help! At Hometown Development, we purchase damaged Michigan homes like yours that need a little extra TLC. We’ll stop by to take a look and provide you with an all-cash offer in less than 24 hours after we meet. To learn more about our process and if it’s right for you, contact us online.

Finding a buyer is only part of the process in selling your home. There are several legal considerations you must factor in to ensure the transaction goes smoothly with no delays or hidden issues. Here are five steps to take to sell your home easier and faster.

Take Care of Financial Issues

If your property has a lien on it or any other debt, you’ll want to take care of that before you sell. If there’s a lien or other obligation on the property, it will need to be satisfied before you receive any money from the sale. These issues complicate the transaction and can scare away buyers.

Get Documents Together

Make sure you know where your deed is and any surveys and appraisals you’ve had done. You should also be prepared to show documentation of any improvements or repairs that you’ve had done. If you’re selling a rental property, you need the lease agreement with the tenants.

You must also disclose any covenants or restrictions on the home by a home association or subdivision. You will need to provide that to your agent or buyers. There may be other documents needed, depending on your location and specific property. Your real estate agent should be able to provide you with a list of necessary documents.

Make Sure Deed is Correct

You’ll want to look at the deed before you sell your home. You want to make sure the name on the deed is accurate. If another person is listed jointly with you on the deed, they will have to give consent to sell. Sometimes sellers are taken by surprise when they find out that the deed isn’t correct. Perhaps the name is misspelled or a parent is still listed as the owner on an inherited property.

Create a Home Sale Agreement

If you live with a partner but aren’t married, you may need an agreement to show that you are part owner. Otherwise, the court will have to side with the party named on the deed. This is also important if you are a co-owner of a rental property and not listed on the deed.

Get Approval of All Joint Tenants

If you have been tasked with selling an inherited property that is owned jointly by you and your siblings, you’ll need to get their agreement to sell in writing. This is also required if you get a divorce and both parties decide to sell.

Selling a home doesn’t have to be complicated. For a simple as-is for cash sale, reach out to Hometown Development. We prefer to close on home sales quickly for a simplified sale process for everyone – often in as few as five days. 

If you’re thinking about selling your home, staging is one aspect of the process. Learn what staging is, how to do it correctly, and how to avoid the hassle to sell your home faster.

What is Staging a Home?

Staging a home to sell means that you’re showcasing the best features of the home through the use of furniture, décor, and other items. Many times, a realtor will ask you to remove certain things in your home, such as that comfy old recliner that has faded over time or photos of your family hanging on the living room wall.

They will suggest that those items be put in storage or even in the garage while your house is being shown. The realtor will recommend certain piece of furniture to keep on display. They may even rent furniture to use in your home for staging. If you have already moved out of the home and into a new place with your belongings, the realtor may rent furniture to make the home more appealing over an empty property.

How to Do Staging Right

You can hire a staging expert, someone who knows the local market and knows what buyers are looking for. This is the best option if you want to sell your home quickly. Of course, you’ll pay for such expertise, and you may not have the money for a professional.

You can do the staging yourself to save money. Before you start staging, you should visit a few open houses in your area. Look for the top houses in your market and notice how their homes are set up. Take notes and go home and follow those guidelines for your own staging.

Here are a few general tips on staging:

• Get rid of clutter
• Highlight the positive features of the home
• Remove old and worn furniture or cover it
• Pack away any personal items
• Set the table with dinnerware
• Add flowers and plants around the house
• Pull back any curtains or open up blinds to let in more natural light

The challenge with staging is that you must keep it this way for all showings and open houses. If you’re still living in the house, it can be difficult to function with most of your stuff packed away.

Sell Your Home Faster

Staging, preparing, and selling your home the traditional way is expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. If you’re looking for an easier way to sell, reach out to Hometown Development. Our real estate investment firm is looking for properties like yours for a quick cash sale. We will make you an offer based on your home’s market value- no staging required.