Marta Oliveira's blog

Most sellers don’t realize this until it happens to them, but the inspection period is where deals fall apart and where sellers lose thousands of dollars they never planned for.

It happens all the time. A seller gets a strong offer, celebrates, and finally feels like the hard part is over. YES! But then the buyer’s inspection report comes back, and it’s like the reset button on negotiations just got pushed a thousand times. If your home isn’t prepared before it hits the market, inspections commonly turn into round two of negotiating, but worse, because now the buyer has all the leverage.

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If you’re thinking about selling your home, there’s one question you need to ask yourself before you move forward with the selling process: “What’s my goal with this sale?”

It sounds simple, but your answer completely changes the strategy we’ll use to sell your home.
Most people jump right into thinking about list price, prepping the house, or scheduling photos, but honestly, those steps won’t be effective until you know your why. Check out these examples to see what I mean: 

If your top priority is a fast close, maybe because you’ve already bought your next home or you’re relocating for...

When they first start the real estate process, nearly all buyers and sellers tend to daydream about the finish line: that final moment when the seller signs the closing papers or the buyer gets handed their keys! While the finish line is beyond exciting, you can only get there through all the steps of the process that start long before those closing papers are signed.

That’s where the real strategy of real estate happens, and where your real estate agent (hi!) really works their magic. When you’re selling, it might look like I’m just putting a sign in the yard or hosting an open house....

As the leaves begin to change color and the temperature drops, it’s time to get some of those easily forgotten home maintenance tasks done.

Neglecting these often-overlooked tasks can lead to costly repairs down the line, so make sure to do these 4 preventative maintenance tasks this fall! Here they are:

1. Window Wells: The spaces around your basement windows are window wells, and they play an important role in preventing water damage by acting as a drain. Leaves, soil, and other debris can quickly build up in your window wells, which can clog the drain and cause water to pool. This can...

In a perfect world, buying and selling your home at the same time would be a seamless and perfectly
aligned process-you'd sell your home and get the keys to your new home all around the same time.

But let's face it, the real estate market doesn't always cooperate. Fluctuating market conditions, the
process of securing financing, and finding the right property can turn what might seem like a simple
process into a complex timing puzzle.

If you're not prepared, this could leave you with a house that sells faster than you expect while you're
still on the hunt for a new home, giving you a...

Dreaming of that perfect home? Let's turn those dreams into reality! But before you dive headfirst into house hunting, there's one crucial step that'll set you up for success: financial preparedness and getting preapproved for a mortgage.

This is the key to unlocking your homeownership potential!

Understanding your financial landscape is crucial for success in buying a home. Knowing your income, debts, savings, and credit score is like having a roadmap to your homeownership journey. Understanding your finances and getting financially prepared will boost your confidence, empowering you to...

Home appraisers know what they’re talking about when it comes to the upgrades that actually increase your home’s value. After all, they’re the ones who decide what your home’s fair market value is!

You're sure to see a high return on investment with these strategic upgrades recommended by home appraisers:

• Curb Appeal: First impressions matter to buyers and to home appraisers. Enhance your home's exterior with clean landscaping, fresh paint, and eye-catching details. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about upgrading your curb appeal for the summer!
• Creating a Polished Foundation:...

Our real estate market has been changing for some time now due to rising interest rates, shifting home values, and buyer demand. As a result, many sellers have been asking how these changes, especially higher interest rates, are affecting negotiations and real estate deals.

Back in 2022, the Federal Reserve started raising interest rates to stabilize inflation and decrease the amount of borrowing and loans. As a result, we’ve seen rising interest rates for over a year, which has cooled buyer demand in many markets. This was the desired and expected result from an economical...

Buying a home is one of the largest investments you’ll make–so it’s important to make sure that it remains a high-value investment! Keeping your property value high is one way to protect your investment and ensure that, when you decide to sell your home down the road, you’ll make the maximum profit.

But to keep your property protected, you have to stay vigilant about home maintenance. There are several issues that pop up with homes that are huge threats to your investment. Let’s go through the most major ones that you need to keep an eye on as a homeowner.

Systems: Your home’s...

Going through the homebuying journey with your partner can be a relationship-building experience, but it can also be a challenge! Buying a home, especially for the first time, is a complex process with different moving parts and a lot of money–this can be a recipe for a stressful situation for many people.

The secret to smooth out some of those bumps in the road before they happen? A money date! Going on a money date is a great way to get on the same page when it comes to buying a home.

To go on a money date, set aside a specific time that’s just for talking real estate. You may...