All About Real Estate

Refresh, Renew, Revitalize with Spring

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:18:59 -0600

Refresh, Renew, Revitalize with Spring

from care2.com

Stuck winter energies can sap our vitality and leave us feeling pretty low. That’s where these tips come in handy. When we make our homes feel fresh and positive, hopeful and refreshed, we feel that way, too–and we don’t need a lot of time or money to do it. Find out ten simple ways to fill your space with the good energy of spring, here:

1. Move Things Around: Here’s a quick–and totally free–fix for winter stuck-energy: try moving things around! Spring is all about changing your perspective and inviting the hope of positive new life in. How to do that in your home? Just try rearranging one or two pieces of furniture–or changing the placement of a rug or painting. Shake up your old patterns and habits by changing the traffic flow in a room, or encourage seeing things differently by switching the positions of pictures or other accents that have always been in one place.

2. Make an Intention Corner: Give some thought to what you want to bloom and grow in your life this growing season and begin to imagine it. Cut out pictures that express what you hope to create or do and make a small collage. Then make a special place to honor it. This doesn’t need to be elaborate: a shelf with space for a beeswax candle and some object from nature–a stone, a shell, a cup of flowers–are all ways of giving positive energy to our plans and projects. And when we create places in our homes for the unfolding of our soul-processes, we make our homes feel more connected to our spirits, and we make an inner connection to the world of nature that is beginning to bud and grow outside.

3. Quick Pick-Up: Just because we may not have time for a major spring-cleaning, that doesn’t mean our homes couldn’t use a little clearing-out of stuff that adds to clutter rather than pleasure. Try the Just One Step approach: every day, pick up just one thing that no longer “sings” to you and donate it, give it away, or put it in a storage area for later.

4. Clarify the View: Windows are the eyes of our homes, and by the end of winter, they can be pretty grungy inside. It can take less than five minutes to wash the inside of a window: just mix up a batch of this vinegar-based Window Cleaning Formula and spritz it on. Wipe off with a soft lint-free cloth and finish drying with old newspapers for a streak-free, fresh new outlook for your home.

5. Air it Out: It may not be warm enough where you live to start opening windows, but you can close off one room at a time (so you don’t waste energy) and open a window for a few minutes to release stale winter air and invite freshness in. Nothing smells as sweet as fresh air.

6. Lighten Up: Explore some ways to allow more light to enter your home. Ideally, spring windows are lightly dressed in filmy layers–or bare–to let in as much of the cheering light as possible. But if it’s still too cold to put away the heavy drapes, consider using mirrors or small, pretty lamps to add illumination.

7. Freshen Your Things: Periodically fluffing small cushions and throw rugs in the drier is a good idea: it helps to get rid of dust mites and just plain dust. And when you have a sunny day, you can place items outdoors to soak up sun and fresh air. You will smell the difference when you bring them back inside!

8. Bring Blossoms In: I recently had lunch at a friend’s house where a vase of vivid yellow forsythia was blooming on her table, although outside the windows the hillside was still covered with snow. Her husband had simply pruned the bush and placed the still-dormant branches in water–and they burst into flower all by themselves. It was such a sunny, cheering sight! You can try encouraging dormant flowering tree or bush branches to bloom for a lovely taste of instant spring. Or invest in a few bulbs to place in a pot with some stones or soil. Keep them moist and watch them flower, then plant them outdoors once the weather has truly warmed. Many bulbs will bloom again the following year.

9. Think Colorfully: Winter colors tend to be dark, heavy, and more saturated, while spring colors have a refreshing lightness and invigorating freshness. There are many inexpensive ways to bring airy pastel colors into your home: it just takes a little imagination. A robin’s egg-colored plate, a buttercup yellow toss-pillow, or a vibrant yellow-green scatter rug can all brighten up your space and give it some spring-like energy. If you don’t want to break the bank buying new spring-colored accessories, search your local thrift store for bargains: they are often filled with great and inexpensive treasures.

10. Use Spring Imagery: Most of us associate birds, nests, and eggs with spring, and it is great fun to fill our homes with reminders of these lively icons: you can find some great realistic-looking, inexpensive bird nests at craft stores to fill with egg-shaped candies, soaps, or stones. Pictures of birds, and other bird-related accessories–like imaginatively-painted birdhouses, for example–are also fun to have around as the season shifts. And if you don’t already have a birdfeeder outside your window, consider making or purchasing one in time to host the scores of birds returning to your area. Watching birds at the feeder is a guaranteed heart-lifter. Here are some super-easy ways to make your own bird feeder.

Moving Checklist

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:46:30 -0600

Moving Checklist

from allabouthome.com

Moving Checklist
Here’s your moving checklist! Use this checklist to make sure you remember important moving dates and deadlines. We’ve taken the worry out of moving by thinking of nearly everything!

8 weeks before move
•If you are planning a garage sale, set a date.
•Arrange to transfer school records if you have children.
•Discover schools in your new community by visiting www.theschoolreport.com on the World Wide Web.
•Contact insurance companies to notify them of the move.
•Start a “Move File” for all receipts, papers and estimates related to your move.

6 weeks before move
•Select a van line or rental truck company you will use. Give them tentative pick-up and delivery dates.
•If you are moving to a new city, be sure and ask your attorney, doctor and other providers for referrals and any necessary records.
•If you have any pets, schedule a check-up and be sure and get a copy of their records from the veterinarian.
•Set schedules with real estate agents and/or landlords.
•Schedule a home inspection for your new home

4 weeks before move
•Schedule disconnect dates with your local utility company.
•Notify new utility company of connect dates in the new home.
•If you have a lawnmower or any other power equipment, drain them of oil and gasoline. Moving companies will not move them if they are full.
•Cancel newspaper delivery and trash pickup effective on your move date.
•Give your carpet a good cleaning before all of the furniture is moved into the new address

1 week before move
•Clean out refrigerator and defrost freezer.
•Have your car serviced if you will be driving a long distance.
•Confirm connect dates for utilities in your new home.
•Transfer or close your checking account.
•Be sure to get all items from your safe deposit box.

Moving day
•Spend the entire day at home with the movers.
•Carry any valuables or family heirlooms with you.
•Right before the movers leave, take a final tour of your home, making sure nothing has been left in drawers or closets and that all doors and windows are locked.
•Specify a “Do Not Move” area where you place items you do not want the movers to take with them.
At your new address
•Obtain numbers needed in an emergency such as the fire department and police.
•Check with post office to see if there is any mail that is being held for you.
•Register your cars. Also, register to vote in your new area.
•Enroll children in school.

How to Improve Your Home’s Appeal

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:45:00 -0600

How to Improve Your Home’s Appeal

from allabouthome.com

How to Improve the Appeal of Your Home

Selling your home? Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and ask what you can do to give a buyer the ability to visualize his or her own belongings in your home. That means keeping things as neutral as possible. For instance, if you’re going to give the place a fresh coat of paint, choose a neutral hue and keep it consistent throughout the house. Now is not the time to experiment with trendy wall treatments or colors. That could turn a potential buyer off. Don’t forget to take care of the obvious. You live there, so you don’t really notice certain clutter that has accumulated over time. Be sure that you check the inside and do things like:

Tidy up closets, cabinets and storerooms.
Clean the floors and make sure they have a fresh appearance.
Make sure the house doesn’t look cluttered. Leaving a book out makes a house looked “lived in”, but a stack of out-of-date magazines looks like clutter.
Get that kitchen to sparkle. Clean every appliance, every door and the inside of all cabinets and pantries. Is the oven dirty? Is the refrigerator cluttered with old food? Don’t forget that a potential buyer might look anywhere!
Got leaky faucets or faulty-flushing toilets? A loose toilet seat? Fix them. You never know when a potential buyer is going to check out every aspect of your bathroom, including the medicine cabinet and linen closet. How about a new shower curtain and towels?
Clean the windows, inside and out. A bright sunny room is more appealing.
Make sure all light switches and light bulbs work.
Take a tour of your garage and basement. Are they tidy and dry? If not, your potential buyer could be wary of a purchase.
Take whatever steps you need to remove any unpleasant odors such as pet odors or tobacco smoke. There’s nothing worse than a bad smell to turn a buyer off. Why not bake cookies right before the house is shown?

Outdoor Tips for Better Curb Appeal

It’s frustrating if a potential buyer doesn’t like the looks of the outside of your house. Stand on the curb and look at your house objectively. Walk up to the door and see if there is anything that would look unattractive or disturbing if you were considering buying this house. Take care of the following outdoor things:

Landscape to enhance instead of hide the property.
Repair the driveway.
Clean the garage and keep the door closed until the buyer goes to inspect it.
Trim and edge the lawn and make sure to remove all debris.
Replace damaged paving blocks on walkways and repair damaged fencing.
Make sure the front entrance sparkles. Scrub it or paint it if needed.
Take care of broken doorbells, creaky hinges, ripped screens, cracked windowpanes or chipping and peeling paint. These are signs of poor maintenance that might scare a potential buyer off.
Remove any objects lying around the exterior of the home including children’s toys and garden tools.
Sweep the driveway.
Trim the shrubbery. Even in winter it can start to look unkempt.
If you can’t afford to paint the whole house, give the trim and shutters a new coat.

Just Listed

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:38:39 -0600

Just Listed

We’re listing homes all over the area, old and new
Why don’t you give us a call to set up a view

When it comes to real estate, we’re not rookies
We’ll light the candles and bake some cookies

We’ll even stage your home in a special way
Let you know what the buyers have to say

We’ll advertise each home really well
We’ll do everything we can to make the sale

Facebook, Twitter, text or call
We’ll get your homes posted on every wall

We’ll host an open house or maybe two
We won’t stop til the closing is through

Listing and Selling is our forte
It’s what we do each and every day!

Give us a call and we’ll see what we can do
If you’re buying or selling.. WE’D LOVE TO HELP YOU!

Getting a Home Ready to Sell

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:19:41 -0600

Getting a Home Ready to Sell

Getting a home ready for sell

A recent RISMedia article highlights five relatively inexpensive home improvement projects to undertake before listing a home for sale. While doing these projects may take some time and money, they can help sell a home quicker and at a higher price than neglecting to do so.

Garage doors

RISMedia notes that many homeowners overlook their garage doors when getting their home ready for sale. Garage doors often make up a large percentage of a home’s front or side, and they’re often one of the first features potential home buyers notice when pulling into the driveway.

If a garage door is not in good condition, RISMedia recommends replacing it, although repainting is a good option for doors that just need a little sprucing up. The National Association of Realtors also recommends keeping the garage door closed during showings.

Home fixtures

RISMedia recommends considering replacing outdated or worn lighting, plumbing and hardware fixtures. People can change the entire look of a bathroom or kitchen by simply replacing the lighting and plumbing fixtures.

The floors

For homeowners with hardwood floors, RISMedia says that it’s worth it to have them refinished. Potential buyers often put a lot of value on hardwood flooring, and it’s easy to get more money from a sale by having the floors refurbished.

RISMedia also recommends washing and shampooing all the carpets around the home. If any carpeting is stained beyond remedy or worn, replacement is the best option. It isn’t necessary to spend lots of money on an expensive new carpet, states RISMedia, but an inexpensive, neutral-colored carpet looks much better to potential buyers than a ratty old one.

The windows

According to RISMedia, old windows make a home look much more aged. Upgrading old windows around the house isn’t usually cheap, but it can greatly increase the perceived value as seen by potential buyers.

RISMedia notes that first-time home buyers have never had to replace windows before and will often grossly overestimate the cost of doing so, and many buyers will view having to replace windows as a time consuming annoyance.

The National Association of Realtors also notes the importance of inspecting windows for peeling paint and replacing broken or cracked woodwork, moldings and windows.

Taking care of the trim

While it’s usually best to repaint the entire home before putting it up for sale, RISMedia states that if there simply isn’t enough time or money to do so, repainting the trim can have a profound impact on a home’s curb appeal. Repainting the interior trim is just as important, and RISMedia notes that homes with freshly-painted trim look fresher.

From a House to a Home

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:18:19 -0600

From a House to a Home

Once upon a time in a land not so far away .. there was a house who always dreamed of becoming a home.

It sat there centered perfectly on its lot, landscaping strategically placed so it wouldn’t look so bare…
It had hopes that someone would notice, that someone would care.

There was a driveway, paved all in stone
A walk lined with a floral flare that led to a mat at the door with a greeting… “Welcome Home”

The entry wasn’t too small nor too grand
It simply left a statement that whispered softly, “Welcome home my friend”

Granite counter tops and appliances all done in steel
Gave the kitchen a really nice look and feel

A fireplace each, warmed the living room, den and master suite
Freshly laid carpet made the floors soft and comfy beneath your feet

Walk-in closets and storage galore
This house had everything you could think of and a little bit more

There was but one thing missing to make this dream a reality
So it got itself listed by by a top notch realty

A family was in need to make this place a home… not just a house
Come take a look, its easy you see.. by a simple click of the mouse!

_______________________________________

Ready to find a place to call home? Visit one of our offices today!

We have 7 offices located in the Jackson, Nashville and the Middle Tennessee areas, fully staffed with the most knowledgeable and caring agents the industry can provide.

Stop by, give us a call, friend us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter..
When it comes to your real estates needs… We’re here for YOU!

Tax Tips When You’re Selling Your Home

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:16:51 -0600

Tax Tips When You’re Selling Your Home

Tax tips when you’re selling your home

The IRS recently released a list of ten tax tips for those planning to sell a home which could help homeowners understand the tax implications of the home sale process. While each tip does not apply to everyone, they may be useful.

Gain exclusions

According to the IRS, the gain from a home sale can generally be excluded from taxable income as long as the home served as a primary residence for at least two of the last five years before the sale. The amount which can be excluded goes up to $250,000, or $500,000 for a jointly filed tax return.

This does not apply if the home seller has sold another home within two years and excluded the gain from that sale, and any time the gain cannot be excluded it must be reported as taxable income. The IRS also noted that the gain can only be excluded from a single home, even if a seller owns and intends to sell more than one.

The IRS publication on home sales notes that if a home is rented or used for business purposes, the tax status is significantly different. Exclusions may be permitted if the home was also a residence for at least two years out of the previous five, but an amount equal to previously claimed depreciation due to rental cannot be excluded.

Home sale tax regulations

Forbes covered the IRS announcement and reported that despite the gain exclusion, any losses from the sale of a primary home are not tax deductible. The source noted that the IRS makes worksheets available as part of its publication on selling a home, which can be used to help determine the gain or loss from a sale and the possible exclusion.

Another worksheet can be used to help track a home’s basis, according to Forbes. This figure is determined by examining the purchase price for the house and the cost of subsequent changes, like remodeling, which can significantly alter the property’s value.

The IRS also included a reminder that failing to file a change of address when moving may prevent recent home sellers from receiving refunds or other vital correspondence.

In all cases homeowners should consult with a professional tax advisor to be sure they are aware of updated information.

10 Easy Tips to Winterize Your Home

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:14:06 -0600

10 Easy Tips to Winterize Your Home

from realestate.msn.com

So you’ve pulled your sweaters out of mothballs and found your mittens at the bottom of the coat closet. But what about your house — is it prepared for the cold months ahead?

You’ll be a lot less comfortable in the coming months if you haven’t girded Home Sweet Home for Old Man Winter.

With the help of several experts, we’ve boiled down your autumn to-do list to 10 easy tips:

1. Clean those gutters
Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home’s gutters — by hand, by scraper or spatula, and finally by a good hose rinse — so that winter’s rain and melting snow can drain. Clogged drains can form ice dams, in which water backs up, freezes and causes water to seep into the house, the Insurance Information Institute says.
As you’re hosing out your gutters, look for leaks and misaligned pipes. Also, make sure the downspouts are carrying water away from the house’s foundation, where it could cause flooding or other water damage.

“The rule of thumb is that water should be at least 10 feet away from the house,” says Michael Broili, the director of the Well Home Program for the Phinney Neighborhood Association, a nationally recognized neighborhood group in Seattle.

2. Block those leaks
One of the best ways to winterize your home is to simply block obvious leaks around your house, both inside and out, experts say. The average American home has leaks that amount to a nine-square-foot hole in the wall, according to EarthWorks Group.

First, find the leaks: On a breezy day, walk around inside holding a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas: recessed lighting, window and door frames, electrical outlets.

Then, buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or apply tacky rope caulk to those drafty spots, says Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated TV show “Today’s Homeowner.” Outlet gaskets can easily be installed in electrical outlets that share a home’s outer walls, where cold air often enters.

Outside, seal leaks with weather-resistant caulk. For brick areas, use masonry sealer, which will better stand up to freezing and thawing. “Even if it’s a small crack, it’s worth sealing up,” Lipford says. “It also discourages any insects from entering your home.”

3. Insulate yourself
“Another thing that does cost a little money — but boy, you do get the money back quick — is adding insulation to the existing insulation in the attic,” says Lipford. “Regardless of the climate conditions you live in, in the (U.S.) you need a minimum of 12 inches of insulation in your attic.”

Don’t clutter your brain with R-values or measuring tape, though. Here’s Lipford’s rule of thumb on whether you need to add insulation: “If you go into the attic and you can see the ceiling joists you know you don’t have enough, because a ceiling joist is at most 10 or 11 inches.”

A related tip: If you’re layering insulation atop other insulation, don’t use the kind that has “kraft face” finish (i.e., a paper backing). It acts as a vapor barrier, Lipford explains, and therefore can cause moisture problems in the insulation.

4. Check the furnace
First, turn your furnace on now, to make sure it’s even working, before the coldest weather descends. A strong, odd, short-lasting smell is natural when firing up the furnace in the autumn; simply open windows to dissipate it. But if the smell lasts a long time, shut down the furnace and call a professional.

It’s a good idea to have furnaces cleaned and tuned annually. Costs will often run about $100-$125. An inspector should do the following, among other things:

Throughout the winter you should change the furnace filters regularly (check them monthly). A dirty filter impedes air flow, reduces efficiency and could even cause a fire in an extreme case. Toss out the dirty fiberglass filters; reusable electrostatic or electronic filters can be washed.

5. Get your ducts in a row
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home with central heating can lose up to 60% of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well-connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces. That’s a huge amount of wasted money, not to mention a chilly house. (Check out this audit tool for other ideas on how to save on your energy bills this winter.)

Bottom of Form

Ducts aren’t always easy to see, but you can often find them exposed in the attic, the basement and crawlspaces. Repair places where pipes are pinched, which impedes flow of heated air to the house, and fix gaps with a metal-backed tape (duct tape actually doesn’t stand up to the job over time).

Ducts also should be vacuumed once every few years, to clean out the abundant dust, animal hair and other gunk that can gather in them and cause respiratory problems.

6. Face your windows
Now, of course, is the time to take down the window screens and put up storm windows, which provide an extra layer of protection and warmth for the home. Storm windows are particularly helpful if you have old, single-pane glass windows. But if you don’t have storm windows, and your windows are leaky or drafty, “They need to be updated to a more efficient window,” says Lipford.

Of course, windows are pricey. Budget to replace them a few at a time, and in the meantime, buy a window insulator kit, Lipford and Broili recommend. Basically, the kit is plastic sheeting that’s affixed to a window’s interior with double-stick tape. A hair dryer is then used to shrink-wrap the sheeting onto the window. (It can be removed in the spring.) “It’s temporary and it’s not pretty, but it’s inexpensive (about $4 a window) and it’s extremely effective,” says Lipford.

7. Don’t forget the chimney
Ideally, spring is the time to think about your chimney, because “chimney sweeps are going crazy right now, as you might have guessed,” says Ashley Eldridge, director of education for the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

That said, don’t put off your chimney needs before using your fireplace, Eldridge advises. “A common myth is that a chimney needs to be swept every year,” says Eldridge. Not true. But a chimney should at least be inspected before use each year, he adds. “I’ve seen tennis balls and ducks in chimneys,” he says.

Ask for a Level 1 inspection, in which the professional examines the readily accessible portions of the chimney, Eldridge says. “Most certified chimney sweeps include a Level 1 service with a sweep,” he adds.

Woodstoves are a different beast, however, cautions Eldridge. They should be swept more than once a year. A general rule of thumb is that a cleaning should be performed for every ¼ inch of creosote, “anywhere that it’s found.” Why? “If it’s ash, then it’s primarily lye — the same stuff that was once used to make soap, and it’s very acidic.” It can cause mortar and the metal damper to rot, Eldridge says.

Another tip: Buy a protective cap for your chimney, with a screen, advises Eldridge. “It’s probably the single easiest protection” because it keeps out foreign objects (birds, tennis balls) as well as rain that can mix with the ash and eat away at the fireplace’s walls. He advises buying based on durability, not appearance.

One other reminder: To keep out cold air, fireplace owners should keep their chimney’s damper closed when the fireplace isn’t in use. And for the same reason, woodstove owners should have glass doors on their stoves, and keep them closed when the stove isn’t in use.

Check out CSIA’S Web site for a list of certified chimney sweeps in your area.

8. Reverse that fan
“Reversing your ceiling fan is a small tip that people don’t often think of,” says Lipford. By reversing its direction from the summer operation, the fan will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable. (Here’s how you know the fan is ready for winter: As you look up, the blades should be turning clockwise, says Lipford.)

9. Wrap those pipes
A burst pipe caused by a winter freeze is a nightmare. Prevent it before Jack Frost sets his grip: Before freezing nights hit, make certain that the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your house (via a turnoff valve), and that the lines are drained, says Broili. In climes such as Portland, Ore., or Seattle, where freezing nights aren’t commonplace, you can install Styrofoam cups with a screw attachment to help insulate spigots, says Broili.

Next, go looking for other pipes that aren’t insulated, or that pass through unheated spaces — pipes that run through crawlspaces, basements or garages. Wrap them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation, available at hardware stores. If you’re really worried about a pipe freezing, you can first wrap it with heating tape, which is basically an electrical cord that emits heat.

10. Finally, check those alarms
This is a great time to check the operation — and change the batteries — on your home’s smoke detectors. Detectors should be replaced every 10 years, fire officials say. Test them — older ones in particular — with a small bit of actual smoke, and not just by pressing the “test” button. Check to see that your fire extinguisher is still where it should be, and still works.

Also, invest in a carbon-monoxide detector; every home should have at least one.

Real-Estate Myths

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:13:01 -0600

Real-Estate Myths

This is a great article featured on MSN’s real estate section this morning….

Don’t fall for real-estate myths in this market

It’s easy to think that because we’re in a buyers market, buyers can call all the shots: Wait weeks before deciding whether to make an offer on a particular house, find grateful acceptance of lowball offers or scoop up homes for 50% of the asking price.

Your worst real-estate enemy? You

Good luck with that. Clinging to those and other popular myths may keep you from getting the house you want.

I’m always amused to see how unrealistic some of the would-be buyers are on the TV house-hunting shows. But when I was 25, I knew everything, too — even if I didn’t realize my life would never be complete without granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances.

Syndicated columnist Lew Sichelman had a column in last weekend’s Los Angeles Times about some of the real-estate myths that can keep buyers from getting the homes they want.

“… many people believe they can make any bid they want, no matter how ridiculous, because it’s a buyers market. False,” he wrote. “Even foreclosures and short sales are never priced at half their value ‘or anything even close to that type of fire-sale discount,’ says Christina Rordam of Exit Real Estate Results in Longwood, Fla.”

Is the buyers market a mirage?

No one can predict how a particular seller will respond to an offer, whether the seller is an individual or a bank. If the seller doesn’t like you, you run the risk that he will refuse to deal with you.

Here are some other myths that could doom your purchase:

If the house has been on the market a long time, the seller will take a low offer. Wrong. The house could be on the market a long time because the seller not only won’t take a low offer but also won’t take a reasonable offer.
A distressed property is always cheaper. Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t. Lenders aren’t always logical in their negotiations, so you may get as good a deal or better from a realistic homeowner.
If you look long enough, you’ll find your perfect house. Afraid not. The perfect house doesn’t exist, at least not in your price range. And that’s true no matter what your price range.
Your family and friends will give you good advice about real estate. They’ll give you advice, all right. But it is unlikely to be as good as the advice you’ll get from a professional.

We’ll offer one more piece of advice: All real estate is local. Very local.

Don’t fall victim to a lying seller

That means that while it may be a buyers market nationwide, or even in your city, it could easily be a sellers market in your first-choice neighborhood. Do your homework.

Look at houses for sale in your desired neighborhood

If you’re thinking of buying a home, we suggest you dig into the articles in in the homebuyer’s section of MSN Real Estate. That should save you from a few misconceptions and a lot of wasted time.

25 Things NOT to do in Real Estate

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:58:41 -0600

25 Things NOT to do in Real Estate

I found this article at HGTV.com today and boy have they hit the nail on the head with these real estate mistakes. Having been in real estate in one form or another for more than 11 years, I have seen most of these time and time again. Check out these BIG MISTAKES and make sure that when you are ready to buy or sell… you don’t make the same mistakes!

25. Buying a House for Its Decor

Remember that you are buying the house, not the things inside it, so make sure you see beyond the decorations and look at the bones of the home. Focus on the floor plan and the square footage. You also might want to measure the dimensions and graph out how that’s going to work with your belongings.

24. Not Providing Easy Access for Showings

Make your house easily accessible to potential buyers. If there’s nowhere to park or it’s difficult to get into, buyers may just skip it and look at someone else’s property.

23. Not Researching the Neighborhood

It’s absolutely critical that you research the neighborhood before you buy. Check out the area, amenities and the school system to be sure that your address corresponds with the correct school district. Also attend a community meeting, if possible. You’re not just buying a house, you’re buying a piece of that real estate and the land around it.

22. Losing Money With Auctions

While the starting bidding price for a house on auction might be a good deal, it doesn’t mean the final price will be. Make sure that you are very strict with your budget when you are bidding; do not go over your final price because you got wrapped up in the excitement of a bidding war. Another thing to keep in mind is that when you buy a property at auction, you aren’t able to get any of the warrantees or guarantees, and you are not able to do a home inspection. Find out if the auctioneer is going to add those charges on top of the sale price as well as if there are any liens on the property. You could be responsible for paying the property taxes on that house you just bought, which could make what looks like a good deal into a really bad deal.

21. Trying to Make the “Hard Sell” While Showing

If you are selling your house, you really shouldn’t be around at the open house. You might want to try to sell the place on all the reasons you think the house is great, but that might not translate to the buyer. If you leave, you allow the buyers to give unbiased objective feedback to the agent, which is only going to help you in the end.

20. Waiting Until Spring to Sell Your House

Spring is the busiest real estate activity period, but that does not mean that people don’t buy houses 365 days of the year. That doesn’t mean you can’t emphasize your home’s seasonal amenities.

19. Treating Real Estate Like the Stock Market

When the real estate market is really hot and is appreciating really fast, people tend to look at it like it’s the stock market. But playing real estate is nothing like the stock market; when you invest in real estate, you really need to take a long-term approach.

18. Failing to Market Your Home in Different Ways

Don’t market your home with just a “for sale” sign. Explore other marketing tools as well. Talk to your real estate agent about the marketing that he or she will do. It’s something that should be set up from the initial signing of a contract with an agent. Some homes have virtual tours and photographs online. If you choose to go that route, don’t forget to include the floor plans. That way, people can see the layout of your home and know if it’s right for them.

17. Not Thinking About Resale

When you are decorating and renovating your home, you need to think about what is going to appeal to a broad section of buyers when it comes time to sell it. Buying houses and being in the real estate market is like chess: You always want to look two or three steps ahead in the game.

16. Buying Without Actually Seeing the Property

It’s really easy to buy a house without seeing it because of the Internet and virtual tours, but virtual tours can be deceiving. Plus, it’s really hard to actually get a sense and feel of a home by only looking at it online. You need to actually walk through the place yourself. If that’s just not possible, hire an inspector to go look at the property and provide you with an assessment.

15. Trusting Everything a Real Estate Advertisement Says

Don’t assume every ad is fact. Learn to decipher real estate lingo. For example, “cozy” means small, and “as is” means it’s a fixer-upper. If there are a lot of exclamation points in an ad, it’s because there is so little to say about the place. Follow the old adage: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

14. Picking the Wrong Agent

Treat meetings with agents like a job interview because that’s really how it works. Keep in mind that the person is going to be working for you. Talk to your friends who’ve sold houses and had good experiences with their particular agent, and go to open houses and observe how that agent interacts with other people. It’s also a good idea to meet with the agent in their office. It allows you to see how organized he or she is, what kind of environment they work in and whether that’s conducive to being able to do a good job for you.

13. Not Hiring an Agent

There’s a lot more to selling a house than just putting a sign on the front lawn. If you don’t have an agent, you will not get on the multiple-listing service (MLS). That means that other agents are not going to know that your property is for sale. Another thing to consider is if you are willing to show the house each time someone wants to come by and look at it. If you do plan to sell your house on your own, be sure to have a lawyer present at the closing. It’s really important to have someone on your side who understands all the complexities.

12. Buying the Most Expensive Home on the Block

The most expensive house will only depreciate in value over time, rather than appreciate, which is what you want. Also, those houses are often not the first house to sell because they are usually overbuilt to the neighborhood. It’s absolutely critical that you research the neighborhood before you buy to find out what the price point should be.

11. Not Setting a Realistic Budget

Just because the bank prequalifies you for a loan amount of $400,000 doesn’t mean you can afford to make that payment every month. Before hitting the streets for a house hunt, you should sit down and make a monthly budget of what you spend every month. Come up with a number that you are comfortable spending on your mortgage payment, aside from those other expenditures. An easy way to do this is to take a third of your gross income and have that figure be the number you spend on the house. It is also a good idea to have six to nine months of mortgage payments in the bank, plus a little extra if you have any repairs that you might need to do.

10. Visiting the House Only Once

It’s important to visit a house more than once because the neighborhood itself may be very different, depending on the day of the week and the time of day. It’s also a good idea to go home and think about it, even sleep on it, before you go back again.

9. Not Being Pro-Active at Closing

The best thing to do when going into a closing is to get all the paperwork ahead of time. All that information should come from a mortgage broker or banker. They have what they call a HUD (Housing and Urban Development) One form that lists all the charges, and you can legally get it in your hands 24 hours before closing. Schedule the closing for in the morning, so you have a fresh mind and plenty of time to go over everything and to ask questions. The final walk-through is another imperative part of the process. You may want to have a home inspector accompany you.

8. Doing Major Renovations/Remodeling Before Selling

Minor upgrades usually have a higher return on your money than tackling major renovations before placing a home on the market. The main reason? Huge construction projects always cost more than you think they will, and they also take longer than you expect. The best place to spend money is outside. Research shows that increasing the curb appeal often returns the most value on your money. It’s what gets buyers inside the house.

7. Skipping the Loan Pre-Approval Step

When you are pre-approved, the bank is saying, “we will give you a mortgage of up to this amount, so now all you have to do is find your home.” Some sellers only allow real estate agents to show their house if someone has a pre-approved letter. That indicates that the shopper really is serious about buying a home.

6. Falling in Love With the First Property You See

Many homebuyers, particularly first-time homebuyers, fall into the trap of falling in love with the very first house that they see. You need to at least look at three more houses in the area to get an idea of what the comparables are in that price range. You want your real estate agent to show you homes comparable to what you saw. At the end of the day, re-evaluate.

5. Buying a Home Without a Professional Inspection

There are a lot of things a home inspection can reveal about a property that are not visible to the naked eye. Be sure to hire someone who comes with a good referral basis, who’s been in the business a while and knows what to look for. Look up the American Society of Home Inspectors and get a list of qualified home inspectors in your area. Once you find an inspector, insist that they compile a written report, complete with photos. Photographs are important because there are areas a home inspector will go that you might not look at.

4. Overlooking the Extra and Hidden Costs

Buying a home is not just about the money that you spend upfront; it’s about all the rest of the money you have to spend beyond that. Find out what the property taxes are, what your water bill might be and what a standard electric bill is in that home, especially if you have electric heat instead of gas heat. You also need to factor in furnishings you may need to purchase before you can move in.

3. Buying What You Want, Not What You Need

Look at the space that you are already living in. It will help you to realize what you have been missing and what you need in your next home. Make a list of those needs and then ask your agent to start shopping based on those needs. On average, Americans live in a house for about nine years. Remember, you can always trade up a few times before you find the ultimate home.

2. Setting Too High of a Sale Price

As a seller, it’s really important to do your research. To come up with your sale price, look up what comparable homes in your neighborhood have sold for. Figure out what the going price is and try to put yours right in the middle of that, unless you have something extra-special to offer. It’s always better to price a home that way than to start too high and have to reduce. Once you reduce, it always looks like something is wrong with the home.

1. Failing to Showcase Your Home and Making Small Cosmetic Changes

When you are selling your house, you have to really look at it objectively and think about it from the viewpoint of the house hunter. Make minor enhancements to the house and maybe hire a professional stager to come and arrange your furniture. Staging is about decorating your house for the buyers’ taste, not yours. A great place to start is with the front of the home and the main entryway. Home staging is designed to increase the potential selling price and reduce the amount of time the house stays on the market.

Staging for the Five Senses

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:22:30 -0600

Staging for The Five Senses
by Carla Hill
From: http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20110127_stage.htm

Today's sellers are on the hunt for creative ways to ramp up their marketing. It is a necessity in today's tough market to have several tricks up your sleeve.

The idea is nothing new, but more and more sellers are beginning to discover the power of "staging."

In today's article, we will focus on staging for the five senses. Human beings are a sensory species. Our judgement and emotions are strongly influenced by what our senses tell us.

To harness the full power of staging, it's time you covered the basics.

1. Sight: This one is pretty obvious! Your rooms should be tidy and uncluttered. Photos, trophies, and kids' artwork should be replaced with simple, classic decor. A buyer needs to be able to imagine their own life in your home. If your budget allows, you may want to temporarily store outdated and oversized furniture. Rent new, modern pieces to create a simple and clean design.

For tighter budgets, slipcovers are an inexpensive way to neutralize loud patterns and to deter attention from stained and damaged furniture.

2. Smell: Be sure that each room is not only tidy, but that it smells clean. However, avoid harsh chemical smells, such as bleach. Many buyers may be sensitive to these smells and will want to make a quick exit. Consider installing simple room air fresheners or candles (when supervised) to create ambiance.

Pet owners and smokers may have their work cut out for them. Smoke can infiltrate furniture, carpets, and even walls. And with many buyers suffering from allergies, you may need to send Lassie to doggy day care for the day. To remove odors, clean carpets and repaint walls.

3. Touch: Broken and chipped tile, missing and loose handles, and wobbly handrails are all red flags to a would-be buyer. Be sure that you do any minor repairs before showing your home.

4. Hearing: An open house can be an event. For large-scale estates, they may even include musical performances. But for smaller sales, and that is most of us, simply be sure that barking dogs are taken to doggy daycare. Have noisy equipment shut off. Don't leave on televisions or radios. Peace and quiet is a sound, too!

5. Taste: Okay, this can be a hard one, depending on what kind of showing you are having. Open houses, though, are a great forum to provide wonderful food and drink. Many agents set up open houses much like a party. Be sure to have enough finger foods (that aren't messy) for all of your guests. And even small showings can play up the sense of taste by having freshly baked cookies or other goodies filling the air.

The bottom line? Staging is intended to create an atmosphere for the prospective buyer where they can envision themselves in your home. You create a lifestyle with your staging, and through how you stimulate the senses.

Is your home most likely to be bought by a large family? Do you have a downtown condo that will appeal to young professionals? When staging is done right, buyers will pay top dollar for not only your home, but the lifestyle it will afford them.

Staging done right creates ambiance, showcases the highlights of your home, and appeals to a wide range of buyers ... all sure fire ways to make a deal!