6 Money-Saving Strategies for the Holiday Season

Follow These Tips to Keep Your Spending in Check This Holiday Season .

 
 

Part of the fun of shopping during the holidays is the opportunity to nab fantastic deals and offers that aren’t generally available any other time of year. However, it’s also an easy time to overspend if you’re not strategic. “One the best things you can do to prepare for the holiday season is set a realistic budget that can guide and simplify your finances during this busy time of year,” said Kevin Condon, Preferred Rewards executive at Bank of America. “To get even more out of your holiday budget, set time to explore and take advantage of the rewards, discounts and special offers that may be available to you—whether they’re from your bank or favorite retailer. The savings can really add up.”

To save money—and keep your shopping experience as stress-free as possible—follow these steps.

1. Start Now. It’s not your imagination; retailers really are starting their holiday sales earlier and earlier in the year. The practice is known as Christmas Creep, and it means that you don’t have to wait until after Thanksgiving for the best deals. “You can often do better with pre-Black Friday sales than you will on Black Friday itself,” says Edgar Dworsky, founder of the Web site consumerworld.org. 

Many retailers also offer a price drop guarantee for a few weeks after the sale. That means if the price is lowered after you’ve purchased the item, you can go back to the store and request an adjustment for the difference.

2. Get Organized. Before you even begin shopping, write out a list of your gift recipients as well as how much you’d like to spend. Include not only family and friends, but also folks like teachers or coworkers. While you’ll likely spend less individually on the latter group, the cost of all those small gifts can really add up. Sticking to that list while you’re out will help keep you from overspending. An item may be listed at a great price, but if it breaks your budget, it’s not a bargain.

3. Take Advantage of Banking Rewards. If you’re using a credit card for holiday shopping, banking rewards programs such as Preferred Rewards from Bank of America can help your budget go even further this holiday season. Preferred Rewards provides a 25% to 75% rewards bonus on eligible credit cards, and no fees on select everyday banking services.

Bank of America also offers BankAmeriDeals, a free program available through online or mobile banking that lets you choose cash back deals on eligible debit or credit cards.

4. Price Match. Most large retailers will match competitors’ advertised prices, which can save you both money and time. Rather than sifting through circulars or driving from store to store, download an app (like RedLaser or ShopSavvy) that can find the best deal for you, instantly.

5. Never Pay for Shipping. High shipping fees can easily erase the savings on getting an item at a great price. Dozens of stores offer standard free shipping for holiday sales as long as you don’t need rush delivery. You may also be able to find free-shipping coupon codes via sites like RetailMeNot.com. “If you’re still paying for shipping on online orders, you’re doing something wrong,” says Rebecca Lehmann, of BradsDeals.com.

6. Consider Return Policies. Even if you’re confident in your gift-selecting prowess, your recipient may need to return the item. Especially if you’re shopping early in the season, make sure the return policy will extend until after you’ve given the gift. For online purchases, you’ll want either free shipping on returns or the ability to bring the item back to a brick-and-mortar store.

Live in Paradise!- Lovely Paradise Cove-Alpine-Twin Home $ 389,900 3,47 sq ft

http://tour.HomeSmartUtah.com/home/KQLT7P/115-E-PARADISE-S-13-Alpine-UT-1372393

PRICE REDUCED- $389,900
Lovely Twin Rambler in prestigious Paradise Cove, Alpine Utah

See tour above for a peek at this home.




Home Features:
*  Price Reduced to $389,900
* 3,457 Sq Ft- Twin Home
* 55+ Community- Quiet & so clean
* 10 ' Main Floor Ceilings
* 8 '   Main Interior Doors
* Main Floor Living
* Master Suite on main
* Master Bath Heated Tile Floor
* 8' Exterior Door -Formal Entry
* 9' Basement Ceiling Heights
* Large Rooms throughout
* High End Features through out
* Granite Counter Height Bath Vanities
* Mountain Views / large windows through out
* Decorator Window Wells

Call Colleen Santos to set an appt to see this lovely home.
Colleen C: 801-319-8915
Seller would love to see this home sold!

Colleen Santos, award nominee

2015 REALTOR® of the Year

Any Utah Central Association of Realtors member can vote for REALTOR® of the Year via the MLS or at the UCAR office. Use this link to vote today.

2015-realtor-of-the-year-candidates

What an honor to be nominated.  2015 was an amazing year for me in my personal life & in my career. The leadership in Women's Council of Realtors, the exciting commitment of serving and attending Ut Central Association of Realtors events & the amount of REALTOR activities needed to qualify for "Excellence in Real Estate" for another year must be why my name was offered as a candidate. 

"Excellence In Real Estate" is how we measure our activity in the REALTOR brand. Leadership is the result of getting involved. Asking myself everyday, “Is this the best I can do?” delivers results.

I love my job, no matter the title. I have a HUGE heart & give my all to be of VALUE as a local REALTOR. 

 I would be honored to have your support & to ask for  your vote.  

Colleen Santos,  REALTOR®.

HomeSmart Advantage

Testimonials are a way to measure our improvement. Today I want to share a Buyers Agent comments when we completed a 2016 closing that I was the Listing Agent.
Testimonials make me SMILE....

"We did it!!! Congrats! It was so nice to work with you! I really appreciate all of your input and help with getting this done. Its refreshing to meet people that actually care for the their clients and work to get things done. Please let me know if you need anything else."

CNN: Boomtown America, this Utah City’s Job Market is on Fire

CNN: Boomtown America, this Utah City’s Job Market is on Fire

4 Common Building Blunders

4 Common Building Blunders: Building inspectors and energy raters shared with BUILDER online the top complaints about common “construction sins.” Protect your home buyers.



Having a "seasoned" REALTOR that has a passion for new construction is wise when you consider building a new home 2016. We are the skilled set of eyes watching for the build process to be right.

We enjoy parts of new construction that often feels tough for that excited home buyer. Skilled help on your side of the home purchase is so wise. Generally, New Construction does not give the buyer a lower price on their home by being represented with a REALTOR. Consider a seasoned REALTOR that has been a sales agent for New Construction in the past. I hope to hear from you if your family is building 2016!

5 Things to Never Say When Selling a Home

5 Things to Never Say When Selling a Home: Home sellers need to watch what they say to home buyers and their real estate agents. These five phrases should be off-limits.

How Do Real Estate Agents Get Paid?

By
Michele Lerner

6:00 am ET
December 3, 2013

Andy Dean Photography/iStock

Whether you are a home buyer or seller, you’re likely to work with a real estate agent for your transaction.

According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2013 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, just 9% of homeowners in 2012 opted to sell their home without the services of a real estate professional, and many of those “For Sale by Owner” transactions involved buyers and sellers who were related or already knew each other.

On the buyers’ side, 88% of home buyers worked with a real estate professional.

Unlike other professionals who bill their clients at hourly rates or present an invoice at the end of a project, real estate professionals are paid at the end of a sales transaction.

If a real estate agent works with a buyer or a seller for weeks or months without a resulting transaction, they aren’t paid for their time. REALTORS®earn a commission based on the sales price of the home and receive that commission only after the transaction goes to settlemen

 

Commissions are negotiable between listing agents and their clients. Some brokerages offer commission discounts for sellers, but a typical commission is 6% of the sales price.

In many cases the commission is evenly split between the buyers’ agent and the listing agent, but sometimes the split is negotiated unevenly. For example, a seller could agree to pay a 5.5% commission divided so that the listing agent receives 3% and the buyers’ agent receives 2.5% of the listing.

Brokers and Real Estate Agents

While some REALTORS® are also brokers or associate brokers —positions that require extra training and licensing,—commission payments go to the broker who manages the real estate brokerage where the REALTOR® works.

The commission is then split between the broker and the agent according to their agreement. The commission split varies from one agent to another, with new agents sometimes earning a smaller percentage of the commission than experienced agents or successful ones who sell more homes or more expensive properties.

Who Pays the Commission?

Technically, the total commission is always paid by the seller at the settlement table, where the fee is subtracted from the proceeds of the home sale.

However, in a sense, the buyers are paying the commission because they’re paying to buy the house and the sellers have taken the REALTORS®’ commission into account when determining a listing price. The commission is split at the settlement table between the listing agent’s brokerage and the buyers’ agent brokerage; then the agents themselves are paid by their brokers.

Contracts and Commissions

The exact percentage of the REALTORS®’ commission should be spelled out in the listing agent’s contract with the seller so that the listing agent gets paid if the property sells, regardless of who buys it.

Listing agents and their brokers spend time and money marketing a home, advertising and preparing the home for sale, so they’re being paid for those services. Buyers’ agents typically have a contract with their clients so that they are paid when the buyer completes a purchase even if the buyers found that particular property on their own.

Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, the professional support of a REALTOR® who represents your interests should be worth every dollar of the commission.

REALTOR.com article 2016