Hi {first_name},

So in the first email, I promised you the 5 biggest mistakes you can make when buying a home.

#1 Not Hiring a Professional Inspector

Hiring a local professional inspector to check all the pipes, sockets, cracks and wood is an absolute must.

You wouldn’t believe how many times I have seen a house that looks great on the inside and out, but turns out to have rotted wood, leaky pies, bad electrical and other expensive repairs hidden away.

Now, if you really like the home and the neighborhood, there is a chance to strike a deal with the previous owners.

How so, you ask?

• Get the inspector to compile a list of all the snags and repairs to be done

• Get the inspector to estimate the price of the work that needs to be fixed, and have him/her sign it

• Go back to the seller and offer one of 2 options; A) reduce the asking price by said amount, or B) Ask them to hire someone to complete the work before the sale

2. Using an Unrealistic Budget

Do you know how much money you spend each & every month?

I like this app: EveryDollar

You can also use an Excel spreadsheet or another app, as there are quite a few out there.

Track your outgoing expenses for a couple months, and you’ll get a much better idea of what you can afford. If this is something new to you, it might be quite frightening.

#3 Low or No Down Payment

When considering your mortgage options, it’s smart to have money for a down payment.

Basically, the more you can pay in to begin with (20% being really good) the safer the loan.

Without getting too technical, it’s better if you have money set aside for a down payment.

Don’t worry, I will explain how it works in just a bit.

If you are selling your previous property and moving up, reply to this email, and I will explain your options here.

#4 Added Costs

Like I mentioned in #3, you need to know how much you're currently spending, and how much you'll have to pay for the new home.

Utilities, maintenance costs and taxes can quickly take “affordable” properties right out of your budget.

You can even ask for copies of bills and do some research for clues.

Ok… Here’s one I promised to reveal in the last email.

Both sales parties usually FAIL here…

5. The Photos (in other words: bad photos)

This one makes my head hurt.

I have seen far too many people selling their home with bad quality images from a smartphone.  

A fantastic green garden oasis that looks like a snapshot of a bush at the local park.

A large, light, and spacious living room…

But in the photos it seems half the size, cluttered, dark and dirty. And a lot of times, the pictures are taken at an angle!

Here’s a tip...

Whether buying or selling, assume that the photos have done the property absolutely ZERO justice…

If you are buying and like the area or the amount of rooms or the amenities -- go and check the property out in person! You might get a pleasant surprise.

If you are selling -- make sure to get great quality photos by a professional photographer. It will be well worth the tiny investment.

Photos are the single biggest selling point to getting qualified people into your home for a tour, so don't skimp on here.

Interested in learning how to get professional photos for next to nothing?

In the next email, I will reveal a little trick you can use to get professional photos for very little money.

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P.S. If you’re interested in a technique to help you sell quickly, you will not want to miss the email. It'll be in your inbox in a couple days.