10 Reasons to Sell Your Home with a REALTOR®

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Selling a home is a big decision, and it’s often one of the biggest financial transactions you’ll ever make. That’s why it’s important to have a trusted advisor by your side throughout the process. A REALTOR® is a professional. They can guide you through every step of the way. This includes pricing your home accurately and negotiating the best possible deal.

Here are 10 reasons why you should sell with a REALTOR®:

  1. Expertise: REALTORS® are experts in the local market. They can help you price your home accurately by analyzing comparable properties and current market conditions.
  2. MLS Listing: REALTORS® have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is a database of homes for sale. This allows them to list your home in front of thousands of potential buyers.
  3. Analysis: REALTORS® will perform a thorough walkthrough of your home and suggest repairs or improvements that could increase its marketability.
  4. Marketing: REALTORS® will market your property through various channels. These include social media, video tours, yard signs, and open houses. They will also network with other REALTORS® to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible.
  5. Screening: REALTORS® will pre-qualify potential buyers. This ensures that they are serious about buying. It also confirms that they can afford your home.
  6. Open House: REALTORS® can facilitate an open house if appropriate and provide lockbox access to the property.
  7. Feedback: REALTORS® will share feedback from buyers’ agents to help you determine if any additional tasks would help the sale.
  8. Inspections: REALTORS® will coordinate property access with inspectors and appraisers.
  9. Review: REALTORS® will review all offers received once the home is on the market.
  10. Contract: REALTORS® will coordinate contract negotiations, including counteroffers, with the buyer’s agent.

These are just 10 of the many tasks that a REALTOR® performs in the duration of a sale.

If you’re thinking about selling your home, I encourage you to contact a REALTOR® today to learn more about how they can assist you.

Jacquelyn Stonehocker (706) 251-7315

Up Close Look At Closing Costs You Need To Know

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infographic look at what closing costs for sellers are.

Closing costs are typically 5%-10% of the sale price of the property. Both buyers and sellers have costs associated with closing. Depending on market conditions buyers may negotiate for sellers to pay closing costs for both sides of the transaction. For sellers, this cost is usually deducted from the closing proceeds. Buyers must pay their closing costs can sometimes be rolled into their loan depending on the lender and loan type.

Things you may see included in closing costs are:

Pro-rated HOA Dues

Transfer Tax

Prorated Property Tax

Real Estate Agent Commissions*

Escrow, Title, and Attorney’s fees

*On the topic of Real Estate commissions, it is interesting to note that VA buyers are not permitted to pay real estate agent fees or commissions. This is why sellers often benefit from being open to paying the buyers agent fees. They should also structure the contract price to compensate as needed.

FSBO vs Realtor: What Every Seller Should Know

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So, you’re thinking of selling your house. Congrats! Now comes the big question: Should you try to sell it yourself (FSBO) or hire a Realtor?

Let’s be real, the idea of saving on those Realtor commissions is tempting. But before you jump in, let’s look at the facts:

  • Higher Prices: Homes sold by Realtors usually fetch a higher price. We’re talking a serious difference, like tens of thousands of dollars.
  • Faster Sales: Realtors have the tools and connections to get your house in front of more buyers, which means a faster sale.
  • Less Stress: Selling a house is stressful. Period. Realtors take on a lot of the heavy lifting, from pricing and marketing to dealing with those tricky buyers.
  • Happier Sellers: People who use Realtors tend to be happier with the whole experience. Makes sense, right? Higher price, faster sale, less stress… who wouldn’t be happier?

The Bottom Line:

While saving on commission is nice, there are some serious perks to using a Realtor. They know the market, they’re skilled negotiators, and they can handle a lot of the headaches that come with selling.

Before you decide, ask yourself:

  • How much time and energy do I really want to put into this?
  • Am I a marketing and negotiation whiz?
  • Is minimizing stress a priority for me?

If you’re still unsure, chat with a few Realtors. They can give you a good sense of the market and help you figure out what’s best for you.

Disclaimer: This is just for fun! I’m not a financial advisor (or a Realtor!).

Hope this helps!

Let me know what you think!

Newsletter: Top 5 Resolutions for Homebuyers in 2025

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Welcome to the January 2025 Edition of Buy Dirt!

The new year is here, and for many of us, that means making resolutions. If your resolution is to buy a home, then this newsletter is for you! We’ll share five key resolutions that can help you achieve your home-ownership goals.

In this issue, you’ll also find:

  • The Best Paint Colors to Sell a House: First impressions matter! We’ll reveal the paint colors that can help your home stand out to potential buyers.
  • 5 Tips for Selling Your Home in the Winter: Selling your home during the winter can be challenging. However, with the right strategies, you can still find a buyer. We’ll share five tips to help you navigate the winter market.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Buy Dirt! Click to download your newsletter.

About the Stonehocker Group:

The Stonehocker Group is a team of experienced real estate professionals dedicated to helping you achieve your real estate goals. Whether you’re buying, selling, or investing, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Contact us today to learn more!

Stonehocker Group
706-251-7315

January 2025 NewsletterDownload

The Perks of Homeownership

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Having a place to call your own is a huge benefit in and of itself. There are more benefits than just privacy and personalization!

Number 1 is credit building. Your credit score is a large factor in your loan interest rates. A higher score usually means lower interest rates. This can save you thousands and tens of thousands of dollars over the life of a loan. Maybe you’ll be one of the few who can pay cash for everything in life. However, there will likely come a time when a loan is necessary for a large purchase. It could even be a business loan. Responsible homeownership helps improve credit scores.

Number 2 on the list is one of my favorite perks of owning a home. When inflation rises, your mortgage payment stays the same. If you have a fixed rate, your payment will stay the same, and your home will continue to gain equity. In contrast, when renting, your rental rate will likely increase at least every few years.

Tax Breaks are our 3rd perk on the list. Did you know the interest charged on your mortgage can be a tax break?? and there are a myriad of other items that can often be counted as a tax break. Speak to your tax specialist to find out more about tax breaks with homeownership.

Item 4 and 5 go hand in hand. Home value appreciation and equity ultimately mean more building wealth, and leaving more for your descendants. If you’ve paid your loan off, and your home has gained 20% of its original value, you will have a nice little nest egg. This provides an opportunity to pass wealth on to future generations.

infographic for perks of homeownership

Mastering SMART Goals for Success

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Setting goals is essential for personal and professional growth. But how do you ensure your goals are actually achievable? Enter SMART goals – a framework that helps you create realistic and attainable objectives.

What are SMART Goals?

SMART is an acronym that stands for:

Time-bound: Your goals should have a specific deadline to create a sense of urgency and keep you motivated.

Specific: Your goals should be clear and well-defined. Avoid vague statements and focus on precise outcomes.

Measurable: Your goals should have quantifiable metrics so you can track progress and measure success.

Achievable: Your goals should be realistic and within your reach. Set ambitious but attainable targets.

Relevant: Your goals should align with your overall values and aspirations.

Why SMART Goals Matter

Following the SMART framework offers several benefits:

  • Increased Motivation: Clear and specific goals provide a sense of direction and purpose, boosting your motivation.
  • Improved Focus: By setting measurable goals, you can stay on track and avoid getting sidetracked.
  • Enhanced Productivity: Time-bound goals encourage you to prioritize tasks and make progress efficiently.
  • Greater Achievement: By setting achievable goals, you’re more likely to experience success and build confidence.

Example of a SMART Goal:

Instead of: “I want to get in shape.”

Try: “I will lose 10 pounds by running 3 times a week for 30 minutes each session for the next 3 months.”

Ready to Set Your Own SMART Goals?

Now that you understand the SMART framework, it’s time to put it into action. Start by identifying your key areas for improvement and setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for each one.

Remember, achieving your goals takes consistent effort and dedication. But with the SMART framework as your guide, you’ll be well on your way to success!

If you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends and colleagues!

Do you have any questions about setting SMART goals? Leave a comment below!

Want more tips on goal setting and personal development? Subscribe to our blog for regular updates!

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice.

Additional Tips:

  • Break down large goals into smaller, more manageable steps.
  • Celebrate your progress along the way to stay motivated.
  • Don’t be afraid to adjust your goals as needed.

We hope you’ll join us for our Polar Plunge on Jan 1, 2025.

Plunge into 2025 at Clarks Hill

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It’s that time of year again! Please join us on January 1, 2025 at 10 a.m. to take the plunge into Clarks Hill Lake. You’ll have a moment to write down your goals for 2025, and then “take the plunge” and commit to your goals. Warm up after your plunge with Hot Chocolate and a toasty fire.

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Polar Plunge 2022/23

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It’s Polar Plunge time! Every year we make a big party of our getting outside of our comfort zone. It started with just a few friends in our pool in Arizona. Everyone came over and we just jumped in the pool. Of course it wasn’t ice but the water was extremely cold. If you remember you’re geography lessons, the dessert gets frigid at night. The low temperatures dramatically drop the temperature of pool water.

Now we live in Augusta GA and whenever I mention Polar Plunge we get an eye roll and a “is the water really that cold?”. Yes!! We had frost on the grass and windows starting in November. It does indeed get cold enough to freeze the water at the edges of ponds and lakes in the early morning hours.

A few years ago we decided to start including our friends and clients in this event, and add a part that we’ve always just kept to our selves. The goal

setting/vision board aspect. You see what started this whole thing was goal setting. Our family always has a big goals setting party, and the Polar Plunge was a way that we could encourage the kids to commit to their goals, and to doing uncomfortable and even hard things. I’ve never been comfortable with the little ones swimming across the pool, or from the dock to the shore, so we always dip the little ones in the water and pull them right out. We never force the kids to participate in the swim, but we do encourage them. One daughter was upset at the end of one party and as we were getting in the car she got pretty emotional. She knew the window of oppurtunity was closing and wanted us to dip her into the water. So we did! She was so proud of herself. Often they get excited and energized and ask to be dipped a few more times.

SO! We’re inviting the community to join us. If you want to try something like this, I think it’s a great low risk opportunity to challenge yourself and doing something outside of your normal routine. The event is free, and we always provide soup and hot chocolate. We need a head count though so registration is required if you want to eat soup.

Now we live in Augusta GA and whenever I mention Polar Plunge we get an eye roll and a “is the water really that cold?”. Yes!! We had frost on the grass and windows starting in November. It does indeed get cold enough to freeze the water at the edges of ponds and lakes in the early morning hours.

You can register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/polar-plunge-2023-tickets-432154143677

VA Loans Explained, and the Assumptions we make

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VA loans are such a great resource for military members. The VA funding fee is low, closing costs are low, and no down payment required? It a win! In the following video I have guest Daniel Yonchak explain the process of getting the eligibility certificate, how a surviving spouse can use the VA loan, and we also talk about assuming a sellers VA loan. Assuming a loan allows you to capture a lower interest rate, which is a big deal in the current market. When you’ve finished watching, download this free VA Buyers Guide.

Post Script- When I was making the thumbnail for the video I was having a hard time choosing an image. I found this picture of my mom and dad headed to military ball, and then remembered this picture from Jayson’s DLI graduation. I actually remember shopping with my mom for that dress when I was about 5, and thinking it was so pretty, and that she was the most beautiful mommy in the whole world.

So many mixed emotions here, but such a sense of connection to my parents and to generations of military service.