SPECIAL SECTION : REAL ESTATE
9 . SELLING : Don ’ t spend earnest money !
Many sellers make the mistake of depositing and spending earnest money before closing day . If the transaction doesn ’ t go through or the buyer pulls out due to repair issues , it is up to the seller to return the cash . It is recommended to have a real estate agent or broker hold the deposit . Most buyers ’ earnest money will be held in an escrow account until the closing day , allowing the money to remain untouched by either party .
10 . SELLING : Consider names and numbers .
Just when you think you ’ ve checked all the boxes for an easy sell of your house , take a second look at your address . According to Zillow , street names and house numbers matter ! If you happen to live at 666 Fanny Hands Lane , you may be out of luck ( however that particular street is in the United Kingdom , so you should be safe ). Innuendo-laden street names tend to not sell as quickly as something like Thunder Road , for example . American numerology says that 666 is bad luck and could decrease the value of your home by 2 to 3 percent . Also , steer clear of the number 4 , considered unlucky in Chinese culture . Stick to the number 8 , or include the lucky digits 316 in your asking price ! n
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