Spring is in full swing, and, in many areas, the more we progress into spring, the better the weather gets. And the better the weather gets, the more time homeowners want to spend outside, including on their porch.

Your porch is a great place to relax and enjoy the spring (and summer!) weather. But how, exactly, do you make it into a space you want to lounge and spend time?

A recent article from realtor.com outlined Instagram-inspired tips to spruce up your porch this spring, including:

• Incorporate vintage furniture. You don't have to drop hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars on new outdoor furniture to create a cozy, lounge-friendly porch space. Look for vintage outdoor furniture pieces in antique stores, thrift shops, and online resale marketplaces. Not only can this help you save money, but it can also help you create a more unique, vintage-inspired space.
• Add a garden corner. Greenery and flowers are always a great way to spruce up a porch space. But if you want your plants to feel especially on-trend this spring, consider creating a "garden corner" complete with potted plants, hanging baskets, and vintage-inspired furniture — a trend you'll currently find all over Instagram.
• Go monochromatic. Many people struggle to create an outdoor space that feels cohesive with their home design, but porch design doesn't have to be complicated! If you want to keep things simple, choose a single color that matches your home's exterior paint, and use that color as an anchor for all of your outdoor pieces. This monochromatic look is simple, streamlined, and a trendy way to add visual interest to your porch.

That's not to say your agent needs to be a stand-up comedian! A sense of humor comes in many different forms, so don't think you need an agent who can whip out puns, or have you rolling on the floor with one-liners.

Beyond just making all the time you spend together more enjoyable and memorable, here are 6 ways an agent with a sense of humor can come in handy during some pivotal moments of the home buying process:

1) When You're Disappointed with the Houses for Sale

There's a saying about how pictures speak a thousand words, but sometimes the words they say are more flattering than the reality when it comes to photos of a house you see online. It can be deflating when it seems like so many houses you go see in person don't live up to what you thought they'd be, and make you wonder if you'll ever find a house you like.

So when you have an agent who can make fun of the wall-to-wall shag carpeting in a bathroom, or the closet filled with creepy dolls, it can lift you up when the home is letting you down, and get you through those moments of doubt.

2) When Something Awkward Happens

If you look at enough houses, you're bound to experience something awkward with a homeowner. Whether they overhear you making fun of their creepy doll collection, or you walk in on them naked in their shag-carpeted bathroom when you didn't realize they were still home, an agent with a sense of humor can help defuse a potentially tense situation.

3) When You're Nervous

It doesn't matter if you're a first-time buyer, or have bought multiple homes, it's not only understandable if you get nervous at some point during the process of buying a home, it's almost expected! No matter what makes you nervous, an agent with a sense of humor can calm your nerves and help you feel comfortable making the best decisions even when you're stressed.

4) When Your Parents Want to See the House You're Buying

Many buyers rely on their parents for financial help or just general advice and approval when it comes to buying a house, which means there comes a time when they'll want to see the house you've fallen in love with. Unfortunately, they usually haven't seen all of the other houses you saw that led to you knowing how great this one was in comparison, so they often come in with some less-than-helpful thoughts and advice, which can easily derail the purchase of your dream home.

Parents often see the agent as someone they need to protect their children from, which could lead to some insults and accusations if they feel the agent is trying to push you into a purchase. So having an agent with a sense of humor can make them feel at ease and allow your parents to have open conversation about their questions and concerns, giving you (and your agent) the ability to get them to give you their blessing on the house you want to buy.

5) When They're Negotiating on Your Behalf

Many people picture agents having to be aggressive, using a take-it-or-leave-it approach to negotiating. While that tactic might be useful at times, an agent with a sense of humor can often tip the scales in their clients' favor during negotiations, simply because it makes other agents want to work with them.

6) When You're Upset

Unfortunately, there are times when you might get bad news… Things like hearing that a seller accepted another buyer's offer, major problems were found during the home inspection, mortgage issues, or closing delays can be so upsetting and make you want to throw in the towel.

But if you're working with an agent who has a good sense of humor, they'll be able to help you recover from even the most devastating news quickly, so you can get back in the swing of things in no time!

For many buyers, getting a mortgage is a must-do step on their path to buying a home. But if you're not familiar with the process, applying and getting approved for a loan can feel confusing and overwhelming. If you don't know what you're doing, you could make a mistake that puts your home purchase in jeopardy.

So what, exactly, are those mistakes, and how do you avoid them?

A recent article from realtor.com outlined common ways home buyers mess up getting a mortgage, including:

• Only speaking with one lender. When you're buying a home, getting a mortgage with a better interest rate and terms can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the course of your loan. But if you only meet with one lender, there's no way to know if you're getting the best deal, or if you could find a lower interest rate elsewhere. That's why it's important to shop around for a mortgage and talk to different lenders, so you can compare your loan options, and go with the mortgage that offers the best rate.
• Waiting until you have a 20 percent down payment. For conventional loans, putting down 20 percent as a down payment can help you avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI), which adds on an extra monthly fee, which is typically between .3 percent and 1.15 percent of the total loan amount. But if you wait, you could find yourself facing higher interest rates and home prices in the future, ultimately costing you more money than paying for PMI. If you're ready to buy a home, talk to lenders now and see what your options are, even if you're not quite ready to put 20 percent down.
• Changing jobs. When you apply for a mortgage, lenders are looking for signs that you can reliably pay back your loan. As such, they'll generally look for you to have at least two years of consistent income, which means that if you're considering buying a home, now is not the time to make a major job switch. If at all possible, avoid changing jobs during the home buying process, and wait until after you've closed to make any moves in your career.

Most home sellers want to sell their house for as much money as possible. So, if you've been thinking about selling your house, you'd probably love it if you (or your agent) could predict the perfect day to sell your house in order to do that.

Well, you're in luck!

ATTOM Data Solutions has analyzed more than 59 million single-family home and condo sales that occurred between 2011 to 2023, and have found that two of the best days of the year to sell a house are in the month of May.

According to their data, the sixth best day of the year to sell a house is on May 25th, netting sellers a 15.1 percent premium. And the absolute best day of the year is two days later, on May 27th, with a 16.2 percent premium.

Couple those statistics with the currently low number of houses for sale in many areas, and that may make this the perfect time to sell your house.

When Should You List in Order to Sell on One of Those Days?

Perfectly timing the real estate market in an overall sense is almost impossible, but even with these statistical insights, it's pretty difficult to pinpoint the exact day you should actually list your house for sale. Does it make sense to hit the market exactly on the 25th or 27th? A week before? Two weeks ahead of those dates?

The answers to those questions are really better answered by your local agent. The average amount of time it takes to get a house under contract varies from one area to another, and even from one price range to another in any given area. So you'd need to drill down into how long it's taking between the day a house in your price range gets listed, to the day they typically accept an offer in order to back into an appropriate day to list your property for sale.

But generally speaking, in most areas and markets, if you price your house appropriately, houses are still selling readily — so it's possible to list your house and get it under contract in a week or two.

That said, it can take some time to get your house ready to be listed for sale. There's a lot to do between deciding to list your house and actually having it on the market, such as:

• You'll need time to prep your house. At the least you should give it a good cleaning. But you may also need to do some repairs or touch-ups. If you have a lot of belongings, some decluttering may also be in order.
• It may make sense to have your house professionally staged, in order for it to show as well as possible. It can take time for a professional stager or real estate agent to properly stage a home.
• Professional photography will need to be taken inside and outside of the house, and then edited.
• Once all of that is done, your agent will need to create all of the marketing they employ to build maximum interest the minute the listing hits the market.

So, while you have some time to play with, if you're trying to capitalize on the two best days to sell, you need to get the ball rolling immediately.

What if You Get an Offer Before One of Those Days?

No matter how much you dig into the local statistics and try to time the day you list perfectly, there's a chance you'll get an offer before May 25th or 27th. Should you hold off on accepting offers until those specific days? Honestly, no.

Let's say that, on average, it takes about 2 weeks to get a house in your price range under contract in your area, so you decide to list on May 11th. But rather than it taking two weeks, you get a great offer (or multiple offers) within the first few days of it being on the market. Trying to hold off on accepting one of them until the 25th or 27th, just to see if you get a better offer on one of those two dates, is probably going to produce the opposite results. Your initial buyers would likely lose patience and interest over that amount of time, and may even reduce or rescind their offer.

To make matters worse, you'd probably end up realizing that they were the best buyers and offers you'll see. It isn't like those dates are magical and an unknown buyer will appear out of thin air with a better offer.

As much as the current data is true, it also changes from year to year. Back in 2021, that same company said that the five best dates to sell on were May 16th, 19th, 20th, 23rd and 27th and the 23rd was the best day of the bunch.

The point is, those aren't dates set in stone, so don't put more stock in statistics than the actual offers you have to consider.

But, if you've been thinking about selling, statistically speaking, the next couple of weeks are as good a time as any to list your house for sale!

The Takeaway:

If you want to get top dollar when selling your house, data from the past 13 years indicates that May 25th and 27th are the best days to sell, and will net you premiums of 15.1% and 16.2% respectively.

However, perfectly timing when you list your house in order to sell on those days is tricky. Since local market conditions vary, you should consult with your agent for the best timing. And don't get too focused on those specific dates… they're not magical. The statistically best date to sell varies from year to year, although they are often in May. So, if you're considering selling, the next few weeks are as good a time as any to list your house.

Inspired by exhaustion, caffeine, and a little confusion over Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" lyrics, the ladies at What's Up Moms are back with another smash hit parody video!

This time they're extolling the virtues of coffee, gulping it down to help them grind through another exhausting day with their little ones. So much laundry, and feeding people, and cleaning, and no sleep means it's triple shot latte time.

Don't miss the outtakes at the end!

Via WhatsUpMoms

Spring is officially upon us! While many homeowners think of this as the season to give your house a good cleaning, it's also a great time to refresh your home decor, including in your living room.

But what are this spring's biggest decor trends, and how can you incorporate them in your living room?

A recent article from realtor.com outlined decor trends that are all the rage this season, including:

• Mesh lamps. Spring is a great time to incorporate more organic looks into your living room, and this season mesh lamps are a trending way to incorporate a more organic vibe in your living room. Consider hanging a mesh pendant lamp over your dining room table, which will add visual interest and act as a focal point of the room.
• Potted plants. Nothing screams "spring" more than fresh flowers, but it can be a real let-down when those grocery store bouquets wilt after a day or two. Luckily, one of this season's major trends has a solution. Potted bulbs allow you to grow your own flowers, and not only are they low maintenance, but they'll last significantly longer than cut flowers. For a fun spring look, mix up your display with pots of daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths.
• Botanical-inspired throw pillows. Greenery is also a foundational element of spring that's showing up in this season's decor trends in the form of botanical-inspired throw pillows. Depending on your style, you can go bold or subtle, but either way, adding pillows that pull in a bit of greenery is a great way to refresh your living room this spring.

Listed here are 184 typical actions, research steps, procedures, processes and review stages in a successful residential real estate transaction that are normally provided by full service real estate brokerages in return for their sales commission. Depending on the transaction, some may take minutes, hours, or even days to complete, while some may not be needed.

More importantly, they reflect the level of skill, knowledge and attention to detail required in today's real estate transaction, underscoring the importance of having help and guidance from someone who fully understands the process – a REALTOR®.

Pre-Listing Activities

• Make appointment with seller for listing presentation
• Send seller a written or email confirmation of listing appointment and call to confirm
• Review pre-appointment questions
• Research all comparable currently listed properties
• Research sales activity for past 18 months from MLS and public records databases
• Research average Days on Market (DOM) for this property of this type, price range and location
• Download and review property tax roll information
• Prepare Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) to establish fair market value
• Obtain copy of subdivision plat/complex lay-out
• Research property's ownership & deed type
• Research property's public record information for lot size & dimensions
• Research and verify legal description
• Research property's land use coding and deed restrictions
• Research property's current use and zoning
• Verify legal names of owner(s) in county's public property records
• Prepare listing presentation package with above materials
• Perform exterior "Curb Appeal Assessment" of subject property
• Compile and assemble formal file on property
• Confirm current public schools and explain impact of schools on market value
• Review listing appointment checklist to ensure all steps and actions have been completed

Listing Appointment Presentation

• Give seller an overview of current market conditions and projections
• Review agent's and company's credentials and accomplishments in the market
• Present company's profile and position or niche in the marketplace
• Present CMA results to seller, including comparables, solds, current listings & expireds
• Offer pricing strategy based on professional judgment and interpretation of current market conditions
• Discuss goals with seller to market effectively
• Explain market power and benefits of Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
• Explain benefits of web marketing & IDX
• Explain the work the brokerage and agent do behind the scenes and agent's availability on weekends
• Explain agent's role in taking calls to screen for qualified buyers and protect seller from curiosity seekers
• Present and discuss strategic master marketing plan
• Explain different agency relationships and determine seller's preference
• Review and explain all clauses in listing contract & addendum and obtain seller's signature once property is under listing agreement
• Review current title information
• Measure overall and heated square footage
• Measure interior room sizes
• Confirm lot size via owner's copy of certified survey, if available
• Note any and all unrecorded property lines, agreements, easements
• Obtain house plans, if applicable and available
• Review house plans and make copy
• Order plat map for retention in property's listing file
• Prepare showing instructions for buyers' agents and agree on showing time window with seller
• Obtain current mortgage loan(s) information: companies and & loan account numbers
• Verify current loan information with lender(s)
• Check assumability of loan(s) and any special requirements
• Discuss possible buyer financing alternatives and options with seller
• Review current appraisal if available
• Identify Home Owner Association (HOA) manager if applicable
• Verify HOA fees with manager – mandatory or optional and current annual fee
• Order copy of HOA bylaws, if applicable
• Research electricity availability and supplier's name and phone number
• Calculate average utility usage from last 12 months of bills
• Research and verify city sewer/septic tank system
• Water system: calculate average water fees or rates from last 12 months of bills
• Well water: confirm well status, depth and output from well report
• Natural gas: research/verify availability and supplier's name and phone number
• Verify security system, current term of service and whether owned or leased
• Verify if seller has transferable termite bond
• Ascertain need for lead-based paint disclosure
• Prepare detailed list of property amenities and assess market impact
• Prepare detailed list of property's "inclusions & conveyances with sale"
• Compile list of completed repairs and maintenance items
• Send "vacancy checklist" to seller if property is vacant
• Explain benefits of homeowner warranty to seller
• Assist sellers with completion and submission of homeowner warranty application
• When received, place homeowner warranty in property file for conveyance at time of sale
• Have extra key made for lockbox
• Verify if property has rental units involved. And if so:
  * Make copies of all leases for retention in listing file
  * Verify all rents & deposits
  * Inform tenants of listing and discuss how showings will be handled
• Arrange for installation of yard sign
• Assist seller with completion of Seller's Disclosure form
• "New listing checklist" completed
• Review results of curb appeal assessment with seller and provide suggestions to improve salability
• Review results of interior decor assessment and suggest changes to shorten time on market
• Load listing into transaction management software program

Entering Property in Multiple Listing Service Database

• Prepare MLS profile sheet — agent is responsible for quality control and accuracy of listing data
• Enter property data from profile sheet into MLS database
• Proofread MLS database listing for accuracy, including proper placement in mapping function
• Add property to company's active listings list
• Provide seller with signed copies of listing agreement and MLS Profile sheet data form within 48 hours
• Take additional photos for upload into MLS and use in flyers. Discuss efficacy of panoramic and/or drone photography

Marketing The Listing

• Create print and Internet ads with seller's input
• Coordinate showings with owners, tenants, and other Realtors®. Return all calls – weekends included
• Install electronic lock box if authorized by owner. Program with agreed-upon showing time windows
• Prepare mailing and contact list
• Generate mail-merge letters to contact list
• Order "Just Listed" labels & reports
• Prepare flyers
• Review comparable MLS listings regularly to ensure property remains competitive in price, terms, conditions and availability
• Prepare property marketing brochure for seller's review
• Arrange for printing or copying of supply of marketing brochures or fliers
• Place marketing brochures in all company agent mail boxes
• Upload listing to company and agent Internet site, if applicable
• Mail out "just listed" notice to all neighborhood residents
• Advise network referral program of listing
• Provide marketing data to buyers coming through international relocation networks
• Provide marketing data to buyers coming from referral network
• Provide "special feature" cards for marketing, if applicable
• Submit ads to company's participating Internet real estate sites
• Price changes conveyed promptly to all Internet groups
• Reprint/supply brochures promptly as needed
• Loan information reviewed and updated in MLS as required
• Feedback requests sent to buyers' agents after showings
• Review weekly market study
• Discuss feedback from showing agents with seller to determine if changes will accelerate the sale
• Place regular weekly update calls to seller to discuss marketing & pricing
• Promptly enter price changes in MLS listing database

The Offer and Contract

• Receive and review all offers
• Evaluate offer(s) and prepare a "net sheet" on each for the owner for comparison purposes
• Counsel seller on offers. Explain merits and weakness of each component of each offer
• Contact buyers' agents to review buyer's qualifications and discuss offer
• Submit seller's disclosure to buyer's agent or buyer upon request and prior to offer if possible
• Confirm buyer is pre-approved by calling loan officer
• Obtain pre-approval letter on buyer from loan officer
• Negotiate all offers on seller's behalf, setting time limit for loan approval and closing date
• Prepare and convey any counteroffers, acceptance or amendments to buyer's agent
• Submit copies of contract and all addendums to closing attorney or title company
• When offer is accepted and signed by seller, send to buyer's agent
• Record and promptly deposit buyer's earnest money in escrow account
• Disseminate "under-contract showing restrictions" as seller requests
• Submit copies of signed contract to seller
• Submit copies of signed contract to selling agent
• Submit copies of signed contract to lender
• Provide copies of signed contract for office file
• Advise seller in handling additional offers to purchase submitted between contract and closing
• Change status in MLS to "Sale Pending"
• Update transaction management program show "Sale Pending"
• Review buyer's credit report results — Advise seller of worst and best case scenarios
• Provide credit report information to seller if property will be seller-financed
• Assist buyer with obtaining financing, if applicable and follow-up as necessary
• Coordinate with lender on discount points being locked in with dates
• Deliver unrecorded property information to buyer
• Order septic system inspection, if applicable
• Receive and review septic system report and assess any possible impact on sale
• Deliver copy of septic system inspection report lender & buyer
• Deliver well flow test report copies to lender & buyer and property listing file
• Verify termite inspection ordered
• Verify mold inspection ordered, if required

Tracking the Loan Process

• Confirm verifications of deposit & buyer's employment have been returned
• Follow loan processing through to the underwriter
• Add lender and other vendors to your management program so agents, buyer and seller can track progress of sale
• Contact lender weekly to ensure processing is on track
• Relay final approval of buyer's loan application to seller

Home Inspection

• Coordinate buyer's professional home inspection with seller
• Review home inspector's report
• Enter completion into transaction management tracking software program
• Explain seller's responsibilities with respect to loan limits and interpret any clauses in the contract
• Ensure seller's compliance with home inspection clause requirements
• Recommend or assist seller with identifying and negotiating with trustworthy contractors to perform any required repairs
• Negotiate payment and oversee completion of all required repairs on seller's behalf, if needed

The Appraisal

• Schedule appraisal
• Provide comparable sales used in market pricing to appraiser
• Follow-up on appraisal
• Enter completion into transaction management program
• Assist seller in questioning appraisal report if it seems too low

Closing Preparations and Duties

• Contract is signed by all parties
• Coordinate closing process with buyer's agent and lender
• Update closing forms & files
• Ensure all parties have all forms and info needed to close
• Select location where closing will be held
• Confirm closing date and time and notify all parties
• Assist in solving any title problems (boundary disputes, easements, etc.) or in obtaining death certificates
• Work with buyer's agent in scheduling and conducting buyer's final walk-thru prior to closing
• Research all tax, HOA, utility and other applicable prorations
• Request final closing figures from closing agent (attorney or title company)
• Receive & carefully review closing figures to ensure accuracy of preparation
• Forward verified closing figures to buyer's agent
• Request copy of closing documents from closing agent
• Confirm buyer and buyer's agent have received title insurance commitment
• Provide homeowners warranty for availability at closing
• Review all closing documents carefully for errors
• Forward closing documents to absentee seller as requested
• Review documents with closing agent (attorney)
• Provide earnest money deposit check from escrow account to closing agent
• Coordinate this closing with seller's next purchase and resolve any timing problems
• Have a "no surprises" closing so that seller receives a net proceeds check at closing
• Refer sellers to one of the best agents at their destination, if applicable
• Change MLS status to Sold. Enter sale date, price, selling broker and agent's ID numbers, etc.
• Close out listing in management program

Follow Up After Closing

• Answer questions about filing claims with Home Owner Warranty company if requested
• Attempt to clarify and resolve any conflicts about repairs if buyer is not satisfied
• Respond to any follow-on calls and provide any additional information required from office files.

Whew! That's a long list!

via GIPHY

Did you realize REALTORS® did so many things?

Why Was This List Prepared?

Surveys show that many homeowners and homebuyers are not aware of the true value a REALTOR® provides during the course of a real estate transaction.

The list here is just a baseline since the services may vary within each brokerage and each market. Many REALTORS® routinely provide a wide variety of additional services that are as varied as the nature of each transaction.

By the same token, some transactions may not require some of these steps to be equally successful. However, most would agree that given the unexpected complications that can arise, it's far better to know about a step and make an intelligent, informed decision to skip it, than to not know the possibility even existed.

Based on a list prepared by Belton Jennings, CEO of the Orlando Regional REALTORS® Association. The document is provided online as part of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Surround Sound Campaign.

How cool is it that you can literally just walk on into someone's house and stroll around every single room while they're not home? When you really stop to think about it, open houses are quite a privilege! With that in mind, as you can imagine, there are certainly some unwritten rules of etiquette you should follow.

While there's no formal rule book, for the most part minding your manners at an open house boils down to plain common sense: Don't do anything you wouldn't want someone doing in your house if you were allowing strangers to roam through it. Unfortunately, that still leaves a lot of wiggle room, and the potential for you to break a rule or two without meaning to.

So let's take a look at 8 unwritten rules of etiquette you should know when going to open houses:

1) Don't Bring Your Pet With You…

As much as it may someday be your pet's home, too, bringing your dog (or any other animal) to an open house isn't something you should assume will be OK. While you might feel your pet isn't a threat to anyone, some people are afraid of animals, or allergic to them. And, depending on the owner, some people just don't want animals walking all over their carpets or jumping on furniture.

2) Don't Walk in With an Iced Caramel Half-Caf Latte…

Some agents serve food and drink at their open houses, but even if they do, they probably don't want you roaming from room to room with a plate of hors-d'oeuvres, desserts, and a drink. Feel free to nibble and sip on whatever is offered in the room it's served in, but don't BYOC from Starbucks and walk around with a potential coffee catastrophe waiting to stain their floors or furniture.

3) Don't Get Upset if You're Asked to Wait for Your Turn…

Open houses can get super busy, especially if it's a hot market. Some agents are completely fine with a huge crowd meandering through the house, but others want to keep a closer eye on folks and limit how many are walking around at any given time. In order to keep things under control, you may be asked to wait outside until the crowd clears a bit. Don't get angry or demand to be let in immediately; just wait patiently and understand that the agent is probably just keeping the home (and themself) safe.

4) Don't Refuse to Give Your Contact Information…

Many agents will ask you to provide some info on a sign-in sheet. While you may be hesitant, or tempted to give a fake name and number, please don't. While they might use it as a way to follow up with you and see if you have interest in the house, or would like help finding another one, you can jot a note that you don't want to be contacted or that you're working with another agent. More importantly, these sheets serve as a way for the agent to keep track of who was in the house in case something happens. If you put yourself in the shoes of the agent and owner, wouldn't youwant to know who's been walking around your house?

5) Don't Ignore or Be Rude to the Agents…

Plenty of people master the art of avoiding salespeople while browsing in a store by avoiding eye contact or slipping away to another aisle or department. But even if you desperately want to avoid talking to an agent at an open house, please don't. You don't have to become besties or tell them your life story, but you should definitely be prepared to say hello and make some small talk. In the least, it's just polite. But on another level, just imagine being in charge of keeping yourself and someone's house safe, and you have a person walk in off the street trying to sneak around the house without being seen or spoken to. Being warm and friendly will help agents feel safe and less suspicious of you.

6) Don't Take Pictures Unless You Ask First…

It may sound ridiculous that you shouldn't take pictures inside of a house that probably has high-def images of every room available to see on the internet, but definitely ask before you do. The chances are you'll be allowed to, but it's just good form to ask first.

7) Don't Use the Bathroom…

This is another thing you'd probably be allowed to do if you asked, but you also shouldn't presume you can just use the bathroom at an open house. If you're on an all-day marathon of open houses, try and take a pit stop somewhere in between. But if you really gotta go… well, just pass it by the agent before you do.

8) Don't Show up at the Last Minute…

It never fails: the minute an agent is turning off the lights and is about to pull the open house sign off the front lawn, someone pulls up to see the house. While you could say an agent shouldn't mind because that's what they're there for, keep in mind that they often have busy schedules and may need to get to their next appointment, or simply head home for some family time. But also keep in mind that the homeowner was probably out of their house for 4 to 5 hours, and is probably circling the block just waiting for the minute they can get back in and relax! Try to head to open houses at least 15 minutes to a half hour before the ending time.

A home appraisal is a key part of many home sales, but many sellers make the process harder than it needs to be because they don't know how to navigate the process, and their lack of knowledge can be frustrating to home appraisers.

So, if it was up to appraisers, what advice would they give sellers on how to prepare for an appraisal?

A recent article from realtor.com outlined the top things appraisers wish sellers knew before getting their home appraised, including:

• Prep your space before the appraisal… The appraiser isn't there to judge how clean and/or orderly your home is. That being said, if you want your home to appraise for the highest possible value, you want to show it in its best light, so a thorough deep cleaning and decluttering prior to the appraisal is always a good idea.
• …and the people who live in the home. Just like you prep the space, it's also important to prepare any occupants of the home for an upcoming appraisal, like teenagers or tenants. That way, people are aware that there will be an appraiser walking through the home, and they can make sure they're properly clothed or put off taking a shower until the appraiser is done with his or her inspection.
• Get your paperwork in order. Your appraiser will want to see any and all paperwork related to your home. And so, if you want the process to be as smooth and quick as possible, get that paperwork in order ahead of time. Collect any relevant paperwork (including a list of any major improvements; information about the condition and age of the roof, major appliances, and HVAC system; and original permits for any DIY work) and send it to the appraiser ahead of time. Having all of that information will help them more accurately appraise your home, and will make the process significantly easier for you both.

Everyone thinks spring is the best time to sell a house. But the truth is, any time of year is a great time of year to sell a house — for varying reasons. Every season has a host of reasons and benefits for sellers to put their house on the market.

But October offers up some truly unique advantages for homeowners looking to sell! Here are 5 lighthearted (yet solid) reasons for you to sell your house around Halloween!

1) You'll eat less candy

It's easy to pack on a few pounds in the weeks running up to trick-or-treat night! That bowl full of snack-sized candy is hard to resist every time you walk by.

House hunters aren't immune to the lure of the candy bowl either! So each buyer that comes to see your house is at least one less piece of candy you'll consume.

Pro tip: the more appealing your price, the more buyers come through, which means the less candy you'll eat.

2) Less cleaning

It's pretty basic advice, but you really want to make sure your house is as clean and well-maintained as possible when you're selling it. But if you've got some broken windows, dust, and cobwebs, people may just think you've done a realistic job of decorating!

3) More exposure

Young children are often accompanied by their parents while trick-or-treating. So every costumed kid you get coming to your front door is also an opportunity to expose your house to a potential buyer (who may or may not be drinking alcohol in that red Solo cup they're carrying.) So splurge and buy the full-size candy bars to attract as many kids as possible!

4) Gotta ghost?

Believe it or not, having a ghost haunting your house could actually be a selling feature for somebuyers. But most buyers aren't all that keen on buying an actual haunted house, even if the ghost is friendly. So if you have one, Halloween is a great time to hide your ghost in plain sight! People may just think you sprung for one of those hologram machines at the Spirit Halloween store.

Disclaimer: Consult your local real estate professional as to whether or not you have to disclose the existence of a ghost to potential buyers. It varies by location.

5) Oops! I thought it was a mask…

Some agents aren't great about updating their professional headshots, and the first time you meet them in person, it's easy to be taken aback by how different they look from the picture you saw on their card or website. So interviewing agents around Halloween gives you the golden opportunity to call them out on it by asking them if they just came from a costume party, 'cause it looks like they must be wearing a mask!