Answers by Kristine Livadas

Until you officially close, you do not own the home. Some sellers won't mind you adding your new address but you can't force them, so for the most part, it is not recommended. I would ask and if you receive a NO, then perhaps considering calling the local post office and renting a PO box for the short term. You can pick everything up once you get to town.

Definitely a hand written note sent to a specific home may work. Another option is to work with a local broker in that town with ties to the community. I live in a small town where word travels fast, and as an agent, sometimes I get a heads up early. Or a buyer may ask me to approach the seller which I am happy to do on their behalf. Good luck!

The recent settlement regarding commissions has definitely sparked a lot of questions, so I’m glad you asked. To clarify, you aren't "required" to pay a buyer’s agent commission, as these fees have always been negotiable. However, since the new rules prohibit us from listing a set commission on the MLS, it’s now a key part of our marketing strategy. In our local market, most sellers are still offering a professional fee or a "concession" to the buyer's side to ensure their home remains competitive. If a buyer has to pay their agent entirely out of pocket, they may lower their offer price or potentially overlook the listing. Don't be timid to bring it up to the agent; we get this all the time!

In New York State, you absolutely do not, unless you have some legal actions against each other. Mums the word.

Many times, things like that ARE a scam, so there is risk involved by engaging with them. I've had clients who received these as well. Instead of calling them, we listed the home at a desirable price and ended up with a line out the door, multiple bids and an offer asking sale price. This all happened super fast too, so that's what I would recommend. Just find a realtor you trust or ask one here for a referral in your area. Good luck!

If your home hasn't been updated in a while in terms of things like the roof or mechanicals, it may be prudent to do so. That way, you can either repair things ahead of time OR price the house more aggressively for an"as-is" sale. If your home has been fully updated and maintained, then I would not have a pre-inspection. Best of luck!

I've had a ton of success using AI staging. First of all, we are required to say on each "virtual" photo that it is staged or modified so buyers aren't fooled. It gives them an opportunity to see the potential, and I've used this inside AND outside. On certain listings, like empty ones, I have printed out the Virtual Staging as a poster board and displayed it in the room so the buyers could see "the vision" live too. I say go for it, it helps.