Home buyers and sellers may have false assumptions about the real estate transaction process, believing in myths that could rob them of a purchase opportunity or keep them from selling for more money. Leaders of the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association culled the top myths consumers fall for.

1. The longer a home has been on the market, the more negotiable the deal is. There are many reasons a property may be on the market for a long time that have nothing to do with price or condition. Buyers shouldn’t automatically assume time on market indicates the sellers are more willing to haggle over the price.

2. An open house must be part of the marketing plan for a home. Open houses actually aren’t terribly effective when looking for potential buyers. In reality, only 7 percent of buyers find the home they buy through an open house, according to a 2017 survey by the National Association of REALTORS®.

3. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is the best form of financing. Every buyer’s situation is different, and not everyone will benefit from a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. “If you don’t plan on staying in your home for 30 years, you need to evaluate other options, like a 7-year fixed-rate,” ORRA says.

4. Overpricing your house leaves room for negotiation. While negotiations are a part of most real estate transactions, if you price your home too high, you run the risk of not getting buyers to the table at all.

5. Online evaluations can give you an idea of home value. Automated valuation models don’t take every factor into consideration when determining the value of a property. Environmental hazards, recent nearby sales, and renovations, for example, aren’t calculated into AVMs, but they can certainly affect the home’s price. “The best way to check your house’s value is to ask a real estate professional,” ORRA notes.

6. You have to put 20 percent down on a home purchase. While buyers can save money on financing costs by bringing a higher amount to the table, it’s not necessary to buy a home. Conforming loans will enable your clients to buy a home with as little as 3 percent down. There are other resources for buyers struggling with down payments.

While people focus on spending time with family and friends, shopping for gifts, and traveling during the holiday season, it’s also important for them to pay attention to keeping their homes safe.

Without putting a damper on the holiday spirit, here are some simple precautions from Brian Collins, a writer for Hippo, an InsurTech company, that you can share with your clients.

If you’re home for the holidays:

• Track all your online orders and make sure you’re aware of delivery times and days. Do your best to be home to receive packages when they are scheduled to arrive.
• Even when you’re home, it’s wise to keep all doors locked.
• Keep in mind that gifts under the tree can attract thieves. If you do put gifts out, keep them away from windows.
• Burn or cut up packaging for expensive gifts before discarding it. Some thieves will dig through trash for clues about what valuables may be inside your home.
• When shopping online, shop at websites you trust, create strong passwords for your accounts, pay with credit cards for more liability protection, and be very wary of email scams (don’t open attachments from people or businesses you don’t know).

Read more: Brokers Offer Tips for the Ultimate Holiday Gifts

If you’re away for the holidays:

• Web-based security cameras are the best method to remotely monitor your home. You can see who is coming and going, when packages are delivered, and othre activity that occurs when you’re away.
• Leave a key with a neighbor or make copies for family and friends instead of hiding it outside your home., where a would-be home invader might find it.
• Don’t make announcements on social media that you will be leaving for the holidays.
• Wait until you return home to make holiday-related posts online, and don’t post your location while you’re away.
• Put your lights on a timer and have them turn on during hours when you would ordinarily be home, so your home doesn’t appear unoccupied.
• Make sure mail and packages are held for you until your return.
• Record the make, model and serial number of your valuables (artwork, electronics, firearms, etc.) and photograph or make a video log of your jewelry and other important belongings. Stolen property is much easier to recover if you have solid identifying information.
• Tell a neighbor or friend when you’re going to be out of town, and have them drop by to check on your home.

Fire Prevention

According to the National Fire Protection Association, unattended cooking appliances are the leading cause of house fires in the United States, with Christmas Day and Christmas Eve among the times when these kinds of fires most frequently occur. Decorations, such as candles, are also to blame for many fires in homes.

Here are some tips to help clients to stay safe:

• Keep a close eye on your oven and stove when cooking.
• If possible, opt for a freshly cut Christmas tree, since natural trees are more fire-resistant than artificial ones. Also, be sure to keep your tree watered and away from open flames, radiators, or space heaters. If you’re shopping for an artificial tree, make sure it is labeled as “fire-resistant.” Never use candles to decorate Christmas trees.
• Avoid putting wrapping paper, which can ignite suddenly and burn intensely, in your fireplace.
• Ensure your flue is open before igniting a fire, and remove any decorations from around the fireplace.
• Test your smoke alarms and keep exits from your home clear.
• Don’t overload your circuit breaker or extension cords.
• When you leave the house or go to bed, turn off all your holiday lights to avoid a potential fire.

Millions of consumers may soon see a boost to their credit scores, which could help when applying for a mortgage. One of the largest credit-reporting firms in the U.S., Experian PLC, announced it will give consumers the option to have their cellphone and utility payments factored into their credit scores early next year. About 46 million consumers who have limited credit data could instantly see an increase to their credit scores from the new data being added in, according to Experian.

This marks the first time consumers will be able to have such data factored into their credit reports and scoring. It follows on the heels of several other changes. Fair Isaac Corp., the creator of the FICO credit score, will soon be launching a new credit score with Experian that will take into account a consumer’s history managing their checking and savings accounts. That move also could give consumers a boost to credit scores for those who at least keep several hundred dollars in their accounts and don’t overdraw.

Also, all three major credit reporting firms—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—have all recently removed negative information, like tax liens and judgments, from consumers’ credit reports. This move has also helped lift many consumers’ credit scores.

Experian’s latest change, named Experian Boost, will allow consumers to opt in and link the bank accounts they use to pay their phone and utility providers to Experian. The company can then track their monthly payments to utilities, cellphone, and landline phone and cable TV accounts. It will not track missed payments, according to The Wall Street Journal. Experian will delete the account from its credit report if consumers stop paying their bills for three consecutive months from the accounts linked to Experian Boost. Consumers’ scores will then be recalculated without the additional account. In such cases, that could then cause a drop to the credit score.