Buying a home will probably rank as one of the biggest personal investments one can make. Being organized and in control will contribute significantly to getting the best home deal possible with the least amount of stress. It's important to anticipate the steps required to successfully achieve your housing goal and to build a plan of action that gets you there.

Before you can build a plan of action, take the time to lay the groundwork for your decision-making process.

First, ask yourself how much can you afford to pay for a home. If you're not sure on the price range, find a lender and get preapproved. Preapproval will let you know how much you can afford so that you can look for homes in your price range. Getting pre-approved helps you to alleviate some of the anxieties that come with home buying. You know exactly what you qualify for and at what rate, you know how large your monthly mortgage payments will be, and you know how much you will have for a down payment. Once you are pre-approved, you avoid the frustration of finding homes that you think are perfect, but are not in your price range.

Second, ask yourself where you want to live and what is the best location for you and/or your family. Things to consider:

*convenience for all family members
*proximity to work, school
*crime rate of neighborhood
*local transportation
*types of homes in neighborhood, for example condos, town homes, co-ops, newly constructed homes etc. 

SELLERS: Plan of Action

1) Analyze why you are selling - If you understand your motives, you will be able to better negotiate and to get what it is that you want, whether it be a quick sale, high price, or somewhere in the middle.

2) Prepare your home for the buyer - Maximize the strengths of your property and fix up it's weaknesses. You want the buyer to walk away from your home with a lasting good impression.

3) Find a good real estate agent that understands your needs - Make sure that your agent is loyal to you, and can negotiate to help you achieve your goals. In addition, they should be assertive and honest with both you and the buyer.

4) Be prepared for negotiation - Learn and understand your buyer's situation; what are their motives? Can you demand a big deposit from them? Try to lock in the buyer so that the deal goes through.

5) Negotiate for the best price and the best terms - Learn how to counter offer to get more from every offer.

6) Make sure the contract is complete - Be honest with your disclosures; you do not want to lose the deal because you were lying or diminishing your home's defects. Insist the buyers get a professional inspection. This will protect both you and the buyer.

ENERGY (MONEY) SAVING TIPS

ü Insulate your hot water heater: Take a quick trip to the hardware store or home improvement store for a hot water insulation kit to wrap your water heater and save on water heating costs.

ü Use a programmable thermostat: Programmable  thermostats automatically adjust the temperature of your home while you are away and while you are sleeping.

ü Seal and insulate your home: Sealing and insulating your home will improve comfort and reduce heating and cooling costs. To improve the “envelope” of your home, add insulation, seal air leaks, and choose energy-efficient windows if you are in the market for new      windows.

ü Maintain the right temperature in your refrigerator and freezer: Refrigerators can use up to 20 percent of total electricity in your home. To keep your power bills low, use only as much energy as is necessary. The  refrigerator should be set between 38° F and 42° F.  The freezer should be set between 0° F and 5° F.

ü Upgrade your refrigerator if it is 10 years old or older:  Energy-efficient models can reduce energy   consumption by up to half that of a 10-year-old conventional model.

ü Wash clothes in cold water:  With today’s cold       temperature detergents, most modern clothing cleans just as well in cold water. Wash in cold water on      economy cycles and always have a full load. Keep in mind, 15 minutes of presoaking and 5 minutes of       agitation get clothes cleaner than 15 minutes of        agitation.

ü Take advantage of incentives and rebates: Check with your local utility to see what incentives or rebates are available for the purchase of energy-efficient      appliances, lighting or heating, ventilation, and air     conditioning systems. Or just ask your EcoBroker^®!