Your Marchbanks Real Estate Team is committed to providing you with the highest quality of service. Whether you’re looking for your first home or making the move to sell your home, you will have the comfort of knowing that you are working with the most qualified professional who is dedicated to serving your needs and KNOWS the Oxford real estate market.

Buying Tips

  • Download the Marchbanks Real Estate Buyer’s Checklist

  • Are You Ready? Whether you’re becoming a homeowner for the first time or you’re a repeat buyer, buying a house is a financial and emotional decision that requires the experience and support of a team of reliable professionals.

  • Get Mortgage Pre-Approval Most first-time buyers need to finance their home purchase, and a consultation with a mortgage lender is a crucial step in the process. Find out how much you can afford before you begin your home search.

  • Look at Homes A quick search on our site will bring up thousands of homes for sale.  Educating yourself on your local market and working with an experienced Realtor can help you narrow your priorities and make an informed decision about which home to choose.

  • Choose a Home While no one can know for sure what will happen to housing values, if you choose to buy a home that meets your needs and priorities, you’ll be happy living in it for years to come.

  • Get Funding The cost of financing your home purchase is usually greater than the price of the home itself (after interest, closing costs, and taxes are added). Get as much information as possible regarding your mortgage options and other costs.

  • Make an Offer While much attention is paid to the asking price of a home, a proposal to buy includes both the price and terms. In some cases, terms can represent thousands of dollars in additional value—or additional costs—for buyers.

  • Get Insurance No sensible car owner would drive without insurance, so it figures that no homeowner should be without insurance, either. Real estate insurance protects owners in the event of catastrophe. If something goes wrong, insurance can be the bargain of a lifetime.

  • Closing The closing process, which in different parts of the country is also known as “settlement” or “escrow,” is increasingly computerized and automated. In practice, closings bring together a variety of parties who are part of the real estate transaction.

Selling Tips

  • Download the Marchbanks Real Estate Seller’s Checklist

  • Choose a Realtor There’s a reason nearly 90% of sellers use a listing agent: Selling a home takes time, knowledge of neighborhood trends, and negotiating skills. By working with a local Realtor you have the advantage of being able to access all local listings available through the Multiple Listing Service, MLS.

  • The Price is Right The most important thing you can do to speed a sale is to price your home right. After all, buyers have access to the same market data you do. If your asking price is not consistent with the neighborhood, they’ll move on to the house next door.

  • To Renovate or Not to Renovate The two rooms that really sell houses are the kitchen and master bathroom. If your home needs upgrading, focus your dollars here. But remember, the best way to make your home appealing to buyers costs nothing: clean up and declutter.

  • Who’s Home is This? One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff – put it in storage. Consider hiring a home stager to maximize the full potential of your home.

  • Pets You might think a cuddly dog would warm the hearts of potential buyers, but you’d be wrong. Not everybody is a dog- or cat-lover. Buyers don’t want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression that your house is not clean.

  • Always be Ready to Show  Your house needs to be “show-ready” at all times – you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. It’s a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.

  • First Impressions No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal.