Answers by Agni Mitra

Painting, Kitchens and Bathroom update will give you the most bang for your buck in that order.

Hi Santiago, you want to get pre-approved right before you seriously start looking for a home. However it is never too early to start talking to a lender who has a education and helpful mindset so that you know what to expect. Give me a call at 480-878-8650 if you want to talk further. Agni Mitra Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living 480-878-8650

Hi, It might be good to get a second opinion about financial gifts (by the way it is awesome that you have a family member who is willing to help out). Let me know if you need a referral of a great lender to get more information on that. Agni Mitra Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living 480-878-8650

That is a very personal choice. In order to make a decision, talk to your lender and get all the information from them of the various scenarios you are considering in order to make an informed decision. In all cases, you should have an emergency fund of at least 3-6 months of expenses kept solely for any unforseen expenses, separate from the downpayment amount. Hope that helps.

Hi, That is a great question and the specifics of the answer really depends on our market. However, in general it is preferable not to do any renovation if you cannot do the entire property since matching all the upgrades might be difficult for the buyer. Also, in most cases, the buyer will question the reason why only half the property was renovated and will not be prepared to pay the added value of the upgrade. However, I would definitely ask the opinion of an expert in your area: https://www.fastexpert.com/rsp/agni-mitra-78257/ to give a second opinion. Good luck! Agni

Absolutely! It is better to have all your boxes and extra stuff in your garage than in your house. Buyer understand that you have to put all your stuff somewhere :). If possible, arrange the stuff in your garage as neatly as possible and allow access to any equipment (water heater, water softener etc.) that might need to be inspected during the course of the sale. If you need to find a top rated agent you can search for him/her here for your area: https://www.fastexpert.com/rsp/agni-mitra-78257/ Good luck! Agni

Hi, You do not need to replace your roof before you sell. As long as you disclose that there were no leaks you should be fine. However, be prepared to have your agent negotiate any repairs which might come up during the inspection period. For a 20 year old roof there might be some minor maintenance issues which might come up. If you want to know beforehand for your peace of mind you could have a roof inspection done by a trusted roofer (ask your real estate agent for some recommendation). That way you know what to expect and have an idea. However, if you do that and an issue is mentioned in the roofing report (however minor it may be) you would need to disclose it to the buyers. In most cases, I would advise you to let the inspection process take its course. If you want to dispute an inspection report you could get a second opinion prior to your response. A great real estate agent should advice you through this process. If you need recommendation of a great agent in your area you can search on this website: https://www.fastexpert.com/rsp/agni-mitra-78257/

Hi! I always advise my buyers to change all the locks on the external doors no matter how new they are. There are some locksmiths who can just change the core of the locks (much less expensive) - ask a good locksmith in your area. Congratulations on your new home!

Hi Cesar. Absolutely not! You only pay the rate which you agreed upon when you signed to list your property. No matter how long it takes (or not) the commission rate does not change.

In most states a bedroom has to have a closet to be legally called a bedroom. However, there are some exceptions like historic homes which did not have closets in the time period it was built.

In most cases, any upgrades unless the condo is in a terrible shape do not yield a good ROI. Decluttering and a good deep clean followed by painting would yield the best return and help sell your property fast as it would stand out more. If you really want to do some upgrades, spend it for things you can do in the kitchen and bathrooms as those yield the best returns. However, as with most things, get some advice from your real estate agent. For great agents in your neighborhood look them up at this site: https://www.fastexpert.com/rsp/agni-mitra-78257/ Good luck!