Business students often relocate upon graduation to move closer to a new employer. This can be an exciting experience for anyone. Unfortunately, relocation is also expensive. You are going to have a lot of costs to cover.
One of the best ways of getting the money you need is to profit from the sale of your home. Here are 10 home selling tips that will help you get the type of profits you need:
Interview Several Agents
You can't get a job without an interview and an agent shouldn't be able to either. Before you sign a contract, interview at least three to four different listing agents. Ask about experience, marketing plans, and how much they think they can sell your house for. Then, go with the agent who is the right fit for you.
Study the Market
Even though you will be gathering opinions on the market value of your home from a few different agents, you should also try gathering your own information. Search the Internet for local stats, check the newspaper to see the asking price of similar homes, and talk to some of your neighbors to see if they can supplement your findings. After a clear evaluation of the market, you will have a good idea of how much money you will be able to pocket after the home sale.
Hire a Home Inspector
Before handing over their cash, most buyers will bring in a home inspector to evaluate the property and look for potential problems. By hiring your own inspector, you can get a head start on any repairs that may be required. For only a few hundred dollars, you can get a certified home inspection, and possibly eliminate your chances of missing out on a sale due to an unexpected problem or silly repair issue.
Make Repairs
No matter how bad a buyer wants a home, they will be looking around to see what's wrong with the place. Any repairs that need to be done will be reflected in the buyer's offer and will inevitably affect your bottom line. This is why it is a good idea to make both minor and major repairs before selling.
Clean, Clean, Clean
A dirty, cluttered space is an instant turn off for buyers. Before putting your home on the market, make sure everything shines. Wash the walls, clean the windows, scrub the floors, and pay special attention to bathrooms and kitchens. Although it might be a lot of work, it will pay off in the offers you get from potential buyers.
Paint, Paint, Paint
Some spaces need more than a little cleaning—they need a coat of paint. With only a small investment, you could completely change the look of your home's interior. A fresh coat of neutral paint will impress buyers and net you higher profits.
Move the Furniture
Move the furniture so that it suits the room and not you. When selling your home, your comfort is no longer important. What is important is that the spaces look as big as possible. If this means putting some of your furniture in a storage unit or renting new furniture, then that's what you have to do.
Show Off Your Storage Space
Buyers love to look inside closets to see how much room they will have for their stuff. Make sure that they can find what they're looking for by emptying the closets as much as possible. This will make them look bigger and more impressive. You might also want to consider installing closet organizers in the bedrooms or in kitchen pantries. This small investment will be a great selling point.
Pay Attention to Curb Appeal
Buyers will begin making judgments about the home as soon as they pull up. This is why it is essential to make sure your home has the type of curb appeal that will make a good impression. You can improve on curb appeal by making sure the porch and walkway is clean and neat. Nice landscaping, appropriate lighting, and a sharply painted front door will also help.
Negotiate with Buyers
The market is very competitive nowadays. You will be extremely lucky if someone gives you your asking price right off the bat. You will be much more likely to get an offer that forces negotiation. This is where all your business training will pay off. Get what you can from the house, but make sure you don't miss out on a sale because of a couple of hundred dollars, or worse, stubborn pride.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
How to Sell in A Buyer's Market
Beside price, the best way to sell your home in a down market is to:
** Hire an aggressive agent who shows you a plan for selling your house - and make sure they follow through.
** Give your house a facelift with new paint and repairs.
** List it online with such sites as eBay and Craigslist.
** Offer to pay the buyer's closing costs.
** And finally, take any reasonable offer.
** Hire an aggressive agent who shows you a plan for selling your house - and make sure they follow through.
** Give your house a facelift with new paint and repairs.
** List it online with such sites as eBay and Craigslist.
** Offer to pay the buyer's closing costs.
** And finally, take any reasonable offer.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Placing a Bid on a Short Sale
A lot of things in life are risky and scary the first time you do them, like going skiing, dancing in public and playing the stock market. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.
Notice that I didn't put falling in love on this list, since that's what you shouldn't do with this house. A short sale, which involves buying a house for less than the amount the seller owes the lender, can be time-consuming, frustrating, and --- if the lender refuses your offer -- ultimately unsuccessful. But if it works, you could be getting a very good deal.
Short sales also require some sophistication, skill and patience on the part of a real estate agent, so keep that in mind if you decide to bid on this type of house.
A short sale usually occurs when a seller can't make his loan payments because of death, divorce, job loss or other hardship. When homes are rising in value, owners can sell the house and pay back the lender. But when home values are dropping, like they are in many places today, and the owner hasn't built up much equity, that's not an option. So some lenders will accept less than the amount owed to avoid the hassle and expense of auctioning the house, providing the owner proves that he doesn't have other assets to make up what he owes.
Even with experienced people at your side, it pays to arm yourself with facts before you make an offer. Don't assume that the house is a bargain, since the owner may have bought the house at the peak of the housing cycle and may owe so much that he can only discount it to current market prices. Find out what comparable houses are selling for, whether a foreclosure notice has been filed for the property, who owns the loan or loans, and how much is owed -- you'll have to deal with them all.
The seller may eagerly accept your offer, but he isn't the final arbiter of the deal -- the note holders are. So make your offer contingent on the acceptance of the lender or lenders. Since the lenders want to know that you can back up your offer, include as much information as you can on your financial resources, as well as a preapproval letter from a lender.
Although the property may be advertised as-is, make sure the deal gives you the right to have and approve home and pest inspections by qualified professionals. Short sellers usually have given up maintaining and repairing their homes; you need to know what other expenses to expect.
Also, place a time limit on your offer -- ask your agent what is customary in your area --since lenders will sometimes drag their feet, hoping to get a better deal. Short sales rarely take a short time to complete, but you shouldn't have to wait around forever.
Notice that I didn't put falling in love on this list, since that's what you shouldn't do with this house. A short sale, which involves buying a house for less than the amount the seller owes the lender, can be time-consuming, frustrating, and --- if the lender refuses your offer -- ultimately unsuccessful. But if it works, you could be getting a very good deal.
Short sales also require some sophistication, skill and patience on the part of a real estate agent, so keep that in mind if you decide to bid on this type of house.
A short sale usually occurs when a seller can't make his loan payments because of death, divorce, job loss or other hardship. When homes are rising in value, owners can sell the house and pay back the lender. But when home values are dropping, like they are in many places today, and the owner hasn't built up much equity, that's not an option. So some lenders will accept less than the amount owed to avoid the hassle and expense of auctioning the house, providing the owner proves that he doesn't have other assets to make up what he owes.
Even with experienced people at your side, it pays to arm yourself with facts before you make an offer. Don't assume that the house is a bargain, since the owner may have bought the house at the peak of the housing cycle and may owe so much that he can only discount it to current market prices. Find out what comparable houses are selling for, whether a foreclosure notice has been filed for the property, who owns the loan or loans, and how much is owed -- you'll have to deal with them all.
The seller may eagerly accept your offer, but he isn't the final arbiter of the deal -- the note holders are. So make your offer contingent on the acceptance of the lender or lenders. Since the lenders want to know that you can back up your offer, include as much information as you can on your financial resources, as well as a preapproval letter from a lender.
Although the property may be advertised as-is, make sure the deal gives you the right to have and approve home and pest inspections by qualified professionals. Short sellers usually have given up maintaining and repairing their homes; you need to know what other expenses to expect.
Also, place a time limit on your offer -- ask your agent what is customary in your area --since lenders will sometimes drag their feet, hoping to get a better deal. Short sales rarely take a short time to complete, but you shouldn't have to wait around forever.
Friday, November 7, 2008
5 Tips: Selling a house in a buyer's market
House prices are falling in much of the country, and a report by Merrill Lynch says a record 2.2 million single-family homes and condos are on the market -- almost 1 million above normal levels.
It's a buyer's market, but don't despair.
Selling in a buyer's market:
You can increase your chance of selling your house in a reasonable time by following a few good guidelines.
5 tips for sellers
1. Play the cards you're dealt.
2. Scope out other houses for sale.
3. Make it a turnkey, not a turkey.
4. Offer incentives.
5. Be realistic.
1. Play the cards you're dealt.
A successful poker night begins before you reach the table, when you resolve not to chase after hands that you have no realistic chance of getting. Similarly, a successful home sale begins before the house is listed, when you decide not to expect to make a killing.
"All you can do in a falling market, if you have to sell, is have the best possible product out there at the price it should be," says Diane Saatchi, an agent with Corcoran Group in East Hampton, N.Y. "Not what you wish you could get, not what the neighbor got two years ago, but at the price you should get now. That's the reality."
It takes discipline to face that reality. Humility, too. For many sellers, "the only disappointment is that their friend, six months or a year ago, got more than they're getting," says Bill Christiano, a loan officer with MortgageIT in White Plains, N.Y. "Ego gets in the way when they're trying to sell. Or stubbornness, I should say."
2. Scope out other houses for sale.
Break through your ego and stubbornness by looking at the good deals that your neighbors are offering. "The most important thing is to really shop the competition on the market right now," says Elizabeth Razzi, author of "The Fearless Home Buyer," published in 2006, and of "The Fearless Home Seller."
Put on your shopping shoes and look at everything from a buyer's viewpoint. "Get out in the car and spend a weekend looking at everything you can," Razzi says. "Visit some weekend open houses. Just get a feel for what your buyers are looking at."
Visit newly built houses and find out which amenities and incentives builders are offering. Eavesdrop on other visitors to open houses to find out if there's something in particular they're looking for -- something you should do to make your house more presentable.
3. Make it a turnkey, not a turkey.
The word "turnkey" is used in commercial real estate. It means a property is ready for immediate use. Your house has to be that way when buyers have a cornucopia of houses to choose from. "You have to make it a 100 percent turnkey situation," Razzi says. "Everything has to be ready to roll, because buyers never want to buy a house that needs a lot of work unless it's an absolute bargain. You have to take away all their opportunities to say no."
Saatchi says that when buyers outnumber sellers, you can get away with selling a house with ratty carpet, smelly furniture and walls that need painting. The market was like that two years ago, but not now. Saatchi suggests hiring a house inspector before putting the house on the market. "Know now, and fix it," she says.
4. Offer incentives.
After you have put your head on straight, spied on the competition and fixed up your house, it's time to figure out what goodies you will dangle before buyers and their agents.
Besides a low price, incentives for buyers include paying discount points to lower the mortgage rate, paying closing costs or providing flexibility about the move-in date.
Consider offering a premium to the buyer's agent. Add a half-point or a point to the commission, or give the agent a cruise or a big-screen TV. "It may not cause the deal to happen, but it can just attract a little more attention and make your deal stand out," Razzi says.
Don't mix up incentives to buyers and their agents. Buyers focus on price and the house's amenities, so buyers' incentives should address those issues. A Caribbean cruise is a distracting gimmick to a buyer but might be an attractive incentive to a broker, Razzi says.
5. Price realistically.
Finally, "Don't get greedy," says Pam O'Connor, president and CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, a national network of 700 regional and independent firms. "Just because it went up to some astronomical value and it went down from there, you have to be realistic that there has been moderation in the market."
It takes research, often conducted by a real estate agent, to come up with a realistic asking price, and discipline to abide by it.
It's important that you, as the seller, understand the dynamics of pricing enough to build a defensible argument. It's not enough just to throw out a figure," says Mario Villena, vice president of sales and marketing for HomeKeys, a Miami-based online real estate brokerage.
Using tools on sites such as HomeKeys, Zillow and Redfin, buyers can get an accurate idea of your house's market value. You and your agent can't bamboozle buyers because they have so much information about comparable house values.
In a seller's market, sellers typically ask for 10 percent to 20 percent more than they expect to get, Villena says. You don't have that luxury in a buyer's market, and Villena suggests asking for just 3 percent to 5 percent more than you realistically expect to get. Setting an aggressive asking price attracts more prospective buyers to your door, discourages lowball offers and saves negotiating time. "You'll know fairly quickly whether they're willing to meet you or not," Villena says.
In a market where prices are falling, asking prices must fall, too, "which is a whole new concept for sellers right now," Saatchi says. For example, if the Smiths sold their house early this year for $700,000, you might have to ask just $695,000.
It's a buyer's market, but don't despair.
Selling in a buyer's market:
You can increase your chance of selling your house in a reasonable time by following a few good guidelines.
5 tips for sellers
1. Play the cards you're dealt.
2. Scope out other houses for sale.
3. Make it a turnkey, not a turkey.
4. Offer incentives.
5. Be realistic.
1. Play the cards you're dealt.
A successful poker night begins before you reach the table, when you resolve not to chase after hands that you have no realistic chance of getting. Similarly, a successful home sale begins before the house is listed, when you decide not to expect to make a killing.
"All you can do in a falling market, if you have to sell, is have the best possible product out there at the price it should be," says Diane Saatchi, an agent with Corcoran Group in East Hampton, N.Y. "Not what you wish you could get, not what the neighbor got two years ago, but at the price you should get now. That's the reality."
It takes discipline to face that reality. Humility, too. For many sellers, "the only disappointment is that their friend, six months or a year ago, got more than they're getting," says Bill Christiano, a loan officer with MortgageIT in White Plains, N.Y. "Ego gets in the way when they're trying to sell. Or stubbornness, I should say."
2. Scope out other houses for sale.
Break through your ego and stubbornness by looking at the good deals that your neighbors are offering. "The most important thing is to really shop the competition on the market right now," says Elizabeth Razzi, author of "The Fearless Home Buyer," published in 2006, and of "The Fearless Home Seller."
Put on your shopping shoes and look at everything from a buyer's viewpoint. "Get out in the car and spend a weekend looking at everything you can," Razzi says. "Visit some weekend open houses. Just get a feel for what your buyers are looking at."
Visit newly built houses and find out which amenities and incentives builders are offering. Eavesdrop on other visitors to open houses to find out if there's something in particular they're looking for -- something you should do to make your house more presentable.
3. Make it a turnkey, not a turkey.
The word "turnkey" is used in commercial real estate. It means a property is ready for immediate use. Your house has to be that way when buyers have a cornucopia of houses to choose from. "You have to make it a 100 percent turnkey situation," Razzi says. "Everything has to be ready to roll, because buyers never want to buy a house that needs a lot of work unless it's an absolute bargain. You have to take away all their opportunities to say no."
Saatchi says that when buyers outnumber sellers, you can get away with selling a house with ratty carpet, smelly furniture and walls that need painting. The market was like that two years ago, but not now. Saatchi suggests hiring a house inspector before putting the house on the market. "Know now, and fix it," she says.
4. Offer incentives.
After you have put your head on straight, spied on the competition and fixed up your house, it's time to figure out what goodies you will dangle before buyers and their agents.
Besides a low price, incentives for buyers include paying discount points to lower the mortgage rate, paying closing costs or providing flexibility about the move-in date.
Consider offering a premium to the buyer's agent. Add a half-point or a point to the commission, or give the agent a cruise or a big-screen TV. "It may not cause the deal to happen, but it can just attract a little more attention and make your deal stand out," Razzi says.
Don't mix up incentives to buyers and their agents. Buyers focus on price and the house's amenities, so buyers' incentives should address those issues. A Caribbean cruise is a distracting gimmick to a buyer but might be an attractive incentive to a broker, Razzi says.
5. Price realistically.
Finally, "Don't get greedy," says Pam O'Connor, president and CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, a national network of 700 regional and independent firms. "Just because it went up to some astronomical value and it went down from there, you have to be realistic that there has been moderation in the market."
It takes research, often conducted by a real estate agent, to come up with a realistic asking price, and discipline to abide by it.
It's important that you, as the seller, understand the dynamics of pricing enough to build a defensible argument. It's not enough just to throw out a figure," says Mario Villena, vice president of sales and marketing for HomeKeys, a Miami-based online real estate brokerage.
Using tools on sites such as HomeKeys, Zillow and Redfin, buyers can get an accurate idea of your house's market value. You and your agent can't bamboozle buyers because they have so much information about comparable house values.
In a seller's market, sellers typically ask for 10 percent to 20 percent more than they expect to get, Villena says. You don't have that luxury in a buyer's market, and Villena suggests asking for just 3 percent to 5 percent more than you realistically expect to get. Setting an aggressive asking price attracts more prospective buyers to your door, discourages lowball offers and saves negotiating time. "You'll know fairly quickly whether they're willing to meet you or not," Villena says.
In a market where prices are falling, asking prices must fall, too, "which is a whole new concept for sellers right now," Saatchi says. For example, if the Smiths sold their house early this year for $700,000, you might have to ask just $695,000.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Profitable Home Selling Tips
Even if you’ve never been involved in the sale of house before and yours is about to go on the market, you probably know enough about the process to be able to repeat, like a litany: clean it; paint it; fix it. But do you find yourself asking: How clean does the house have to be and how do I tackle the job? Do I really have to paint? What are the best colors to choose? What do I need to repair?
When considering these questions, it’s good to remember that most prospective home buyers are an unimaginative lot. Your house may be immaculate but if the rooms are cluttered, crowded, and dark, they may appear to be less clean and much smaller than they really are. Picture this: an old, seven-piece mahogany dining room suite plus a rocking chair and seven boxes of books packed in anticipation of your move are wedged into a dark green room with a brown rug and a window covered by heavy velvet drapes. Why is this decorating scheme a mistake? It’s because most people are unable to imagine how big and beautiful the room would look if painted off-white, everything removed but the dining room suite, a pastel tablecloth and a fresh flower centerpiece on the table, curtains stripped from the window, the rug removed, and everything spotlessly clean. In the words of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, you must "make it so"; otherwise, it might take you a very long time to sell your house and the offers to buy will not only be slower, but lower.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Your best friend when cleaning your house for resale will be tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) or its equivalent. TSP is one of the home products that top the list of must-haves, and it’s not expensive. Roll up your sleeves, put on your rubber gloves and scrub your walls and ceilings, and anything else that needs your elbow grease. Unless you can afford professional cleaners, there’s no way out of this one.
Carpet cleaning is another must and there are home products for the do-it-yourselfer or you can hire a cleaning company to take care of this job. If you have shabby rugs scattered throughout the house, forget cleaning them; it’s probably better to remove them altogether.
There are home products to clean things that require special care – ceramic tile, porcelain, stainless steel, wood cabinets, aluminum siding, etc., and you can find whatever you need at your neighborhood hardware store. Ask questions and read labels. When using commercial cleaning products, wear gloves and a mask. It’s wise to be careful.
Paint for a Pristine Finish
As thorough as your cleaning job is, it won’t have much impact on sagging, faded wallpaper, gouges in the walls, or cracked and peeling paint. Repainting is the solution, and interior painting jobs start with stripping off old wallpaper, attacking cracks and gouges with filler, and then getting to work with your roller and brush. This is also the time to do all the small repairs that need your attention: hammer in nails; repair the broken step; replace the broken glass.
When selecting paint, the best colors for your walls and ceilings are white, off-white, cream, creamy off-white – you get the picture. A light, cool, neutral color can fit into everyone’s decorating scheme. (You want that young couple to see your home as the perfect setting for their red plush love seats.) If you have recently painted one or more rooms in quite dramatic colors, leave them as they are. As long as the walls and trim are clean and fresh, prospective buyers won’t mind a bit of repainting if they want to change the colors – the main thing is not to overwhelm them.
If you need to paint the outside of your house, it’s not necessary to restrict yourself to neutral colors for exterior paint; however, a bright color is not a good choice. Something fairly subdued is better, but be creative when painting the front door; a dramatic touch might be needed to make your house memorable. It’s easy for a buyer to repaint a door if he or she doesn’t share your love of Christmas red or purple passion.
Remove the Clutter
It’s time to say goodbye to your high school chemistry notes, the clothes you outgrew five years ago, the playpen your twelve-year-old no longer needs, and everything else your family will never use again, read again, or wear again. Be tough! Do it! Take it to the dump; hold a garage sale; donate it to your favorite charity. Don’t let it take up any more of your storage space – you’re going to need it all to store the things that are currently stacked on shelves and floors and cluttering up counter tops throughout the house.
Important home products that can help you deal with this part of your preparation are closet organizers. They come in every size and style imaginable, and you are sure to find something suitable. When you have everything neatly stored in your closets and cupboards, walk through the house and pick up and put out of sight everything else on your counters and table tops that don’t need to be there. "Clutter-free" means clutter-free and it won’t kill anyone in the family to have to reach under the counter for the dishwashing detergent or the toothpaste for the next few days or weeks.
You probably don’t think of furniture as "clutter," but clutter is anything that unnecessarily crowds a room, a doorway, or a hall. If your home has very small rooms and you can manage without some furniture items for awhile, arrange to use a friend’s garage or basement to store them. It will "open up" the rooms and make your house appear larger and brighter, and that’s a good thing.
Let There be Light
Sunlight is a friend to the house seller, and you should try and let as much of it into the house as you can. Wash windows inside and out and wash or dryclean the window coverings: curtains, drapes, and blinds. Before showing the house to a prospective buyer, replace burned-out light bulbs, turn on the lights, open the windows, lift the blinds, and pull back the drapes.
Final Touches
Ask a non-smoking, non-pet-owning friend to come into your house when you have finished cleaning and painting. Are all the pet odors and smoking odors gone? If the house passes the sniff-test, place some potpourri in open dishes to add a fresh, clean scent; otherwise, get back to work.
Finally, step outside and see what a prospective buyer’s first impression of your yard is likely to be. Mow the lawn, trim the hedges and bushes, weed the garden, edge the flowerbeds, and sweep and clean the walkway, deck, or patio. Your yard is another selling feature of your house, and must be clean and tidy, too.
Home products can help make your house appear big, bright, clean, and ready for a prospective buyer to move right in, which is exactly what you want.
When considering these questions, it’s good to remember that most prospective home buyers are an unimaginative lot. Your house may be immaculate but if the rooms are cluttered, crowded, and dark, they may appear to be less clean and much smaller than they really are. Picture this: an old, seven-piece mahogany dining room suite plus a rocking chair and seven boxes of books packed in anticipation of your move are wedged into a dark green room with a brown rug and a window covered by heavy velvet drapes. Why is this decorating scheme a mistake? It’s because most people are unable to imagine how big and beautiful the room would look if painted off-white, everything removed but the dining room suite, a pastel tablecloth and a fresh flower centerpiece on the table, curtains stripped from the window, the rug removed, and everything spotlessly clean. In the words of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, you must "make it so"; otherwise, it might take you a very long time to sell your house and the offers to buy will not only be slower, but lower.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Your best friend when cleaning your house for resale will be tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) or its equivalent. TSP is one of the home products that top the list of must-haves, and it’s not expensive. Roll up your sleeves, put on your rubber gloves and scrub your walls and ceilings, and anything else that needs your elbow grease. Unless you can afford professional cleaners, there’s no way out of this one.
Carpet cleaning is another must and there are home products for the do-it-yourselfer or you can hire a cleaning company to take care of this job. If you have shabby rugs scattered throughout the house, forget cleaning them; it’s probably better to remove them altogether.
There are home products to clean things that require special care – ceramic tile, porcelain, stainless steel, wood cabinets, aluminum siding, etc., and you can find whatever you need at your neighborhood hardware store. Ask questions and read labels. When using commercial cleaning products, wear gloves and a mask. It’s wise to be careful.
Paint for a Pristine Finish
As thorough as your cleaning job is, it won’t have much impact on sagging, faded wallpaper, gouges in the walls, or cracked and peeling paint. Repainting is the solution, and interior painting jobs start with stripping off old wallpaper, attacking cracks and gouges with filler, and then getting to work with your roller and brush. This is also the time to do all the small repairs that need your attention: hammer in nails; repair the broken step; replace the broken glass.
When selecting paint, the best colors for your walls and ceilings are white, off-white, cream, creamy off-white – you get the picture. A light, cool, neutral color can fit into everyone’s decorating scheme. (You want that young couple to see your home as the perfect setting for their red plush love seats.) If you have recently painted one or more rooms in quite dramatic colors, leave them as they are. As long as the walls and trim are clean and fresh, prospective buyers won’t mind a bit of repainting if they want to change the colors – the main thing is not to overwhelm them.
If you need to paint the outside of your house, it’s not necessary to restrict yourself to neutral colors for exterior paint; however, a bright color is not a good choice. Something fairly subdued is better, but be creative when painting the front door; a dramatic touch might be needed to make your house memorable. It’s easy for a buyer to repaint a door if he or she doesn’t share your love of Christmas red or purple passion.
Remove the Clutter
It’s time to say goodbye to your high school chemistry notes, the clothes you outgrew five years ago, the playpen your twelve-year-old no longer needs, and everything else your family will never use again, read again, or wear again. Be tough! Do it! Take it to the dump; hold a garage sale; donate it to your favorite charity. Don’t let it take up any more of your storage space – you’re going to need it all to store the things that are currently stacked on shelves and floors and cluttering up counter tops throughout the house.
Important home products that can help you deal with this part of your preparation are closet organizers. They come in every size and style imaginable, and you are sure to find something suitable. When you have everything neatly stored in your closets and cupboards, walk through the house and pick up and put out of sight everything else on your counters and table tops that don’t need to be there. "Clutter-free" means clutter-free and it won’t kill anyone in the family to have to reach under the counter for the dishwashing detergent or the toothpaste for the next few days or weeks.
You probably don’t think of furniture as "clutter," but clutter is anything that unnecessarily crowds a room, a doorway, or a hall. If your home has very small rooms and you can manage without some furniture items for awhile, arrange to use a friend’s garage or basement to store them. It will "open up" the rooms and make your house appear larger and brighter, and that’s a good thing.
Let There be Light
Sunlight is a friend to the house seller, and you should try and let as much of it into the house as you can. Wash windows inside and out and wash or dryclean the window coverings: curtains, drapes, and blinds. Before showing the house to a prospective buyer, replace burned-out light bulbs, turn on the lights, open the windows, lift the blinds, and pull back the drapes.
Final Touches
Ask a non-smoking, non-pet-owning friend to come into your house when you have finished cleaning and painting. Are all the pet odors and smoking odors gone? If the house passes the sniff-test, place some potpourri in open dishes to add a fresh, clean scent; otherwise, get back to work.
Finally, step outside and see what a prospective buyer’s first impression of your yard is likely to be. Mow the lawn, trim the hedges and bushes, weed the garden, edge the flowerbeds, and sweep and clean the walkway, deck, or patio. Your yard is another selling feature of your house, and must be clean and tidy, too.
Home products can help make your house appear big, bright, clean, and ready for a prospective buyer to move right in, which is exactly what you want.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are going to take up the most visual space. They are eye level, and they hold everything that people are looking for (except cold food and drinks). They are the elephant in the room. Every cabinet remodel is a project in either attracting the best attention to your cabinets (because who wants their eyes caught by ugly cabinetry?), or to downplay the cabinetry with some softer colors in order to highlight some great countertops like granite, brushed steel, or butcher block.
So the real question becomes do you want to highlight or tone down?
Highlighting Your Cabinets
The best idea is to have your kitchen cabinet remodeling project one of function from the beginning. What good are sharp looking cabinets if they are constantly falling apart or aren't big enough for your dishes?
So first things first. When you are shopping for cabinets (particularly wall cabinets), take a dish with you so that you can show your cabinetmaker the exact depth that you need. If you have old cabinetry that you are looking to spruce up, just make sure that the structure of the cabinets is in solid shape.
Hardware and Doors
The two things that people are going to be looking at, with respect to your cabinet remodel, are the hardware and the doors. No one is going to be eyeballing the sides, the insides, the kickplates, or the backs. The doors are where most of the cabinet budget will settle, especially with wood cabinets.
To get your cabinets to be eye catching, they need to either be darker or brighter than the walls behind them and the counters. Most people choose to have a dark stain on their wood to draw the attention. However, lighter-colored woods, like maple, can also stand out without having such a dark feel to the room. If you have painted cabinets, then the same theory still applies. Use brighter colors that will pop out from the color of the walls and appliances.
Hardware. This is can one of the most deceptive areas of hidden costs for cabinet remodels. Good hardware isn't cheap, and if you want your kitchen cabinet remodeling to be high end, then you need to get the right hardware to go with it. Research the market and cabinet stores for what is out there to determine what you like. If you can't find what you like, you can have your cabinet pulls custom made. Remember, the price goes up for the cabinet remodel, but then again nobody else will have hardware quite like yours.
Downplaying the Cabinets
If you are particularly excited about the kind of counters that you are going to get, and you don't want the cabinets hogging all the attention, using a smart design scheme will tone down the cabinets while still giving you enough cabinet space.
Paint is Better than Stain. If you want your cabinets to ease back into the wallpaper, then it is best to have painted cabinets. I know, I know, everyone loves the look of stain, but paint is no less classy. If you go with a closed grain wood species, like maple or cherry, then the paint will be flat and smooth, giving the cabinet doors a very clean appearance.
To downplay the cabinets, paint them the color of the walls or close to the color. Whites and pastels really help to draw the cabinets back out of dominance and allow your flooring or counters to have all the glory.
Hardware. Here you might consider having painted pulls that are fairly unobtrusive. Small circle pulls or longer pulls that run up and down with the side of the cabinet doors are best. However, if you don't like the look of painted pulls, there are literally hundreds of options for subdued hardware. The best idea is to test out a few different models. Tape one to your cabinets, walk out of the room, and then back in and see if it grabs your eye. If so, take them down; if not, you're good to go.
Also, cabinet hardware can also be used as a nice tie-in between the counters and the cabinets, no matter which one you are trying to show off.
So the real question becomes do you want to highlight or tone down?
Highlighting Your Cabinets
The best idea is to have your kitchen cabinet remodeling project one of function from the beginning. What good are sharp looking cabinets if they are constantly falling apart or aren't big enough for your dishes?
So first things first. When you are shopping for cabinets (particularly wall cabinets), take a dish with you so that you can show your cabinetmaker the exact depth that you need. If you have old cabinetry that you are looking to spruce up, just make sure that the structure of the cabinets is in solid shape.
Hardware and Doors
The two things that people are going to be looking at, with respect to your cabinet remodel, are the hardware and the doors. No one is going to be eyeballing the sides, the insides, the kickplates, or the backs. The doors are where most of the cabinet budget will settle, especially with wood cabinets.
To get your cabinets to be eye catching, they need to either be darker or brighter than the walls behind them and the counters. Most people choose to have a dark stain on their wood to draw the attention. However, lighter-colored woods, like maple, can also stand out without having such a dark feel to the room. If you have painted cabinets, then the same theory still applies. Use brighter colors that will pop out from the color of the walls and appliances.
Hardware. This is can one of the most deceptive areas of hidden costs for cabinet remodels. Good hardware isn't cheap, and if you want your kitchen cabinet remodeling to be high end, then you need to get the right hardware to go with it. Research the market and cabinet stores for what is out there to determine what you like. If you can't find what you like, you can have your cabinet pulls custom made. Remember, the price goes up for the cabinet remodel, but then again nobody else will have hardware quite like yours.
Downplaying the Cabinets
If you are particularly excited about the kind of counters that you are going to get, and you don't want the cabinets hogging all the attention, using a smart design scheme will tone down the cabinets while still giving you enough cabinet space.
Paint is Better than Stain. If you want your cabinets to ease back into the wallpaper, then it is best to have painted cabinets. I know, I know, everyone loves the look of stain, but paint is no less classy. If you go with a closed grain wood species, like maple or cherry, then the paint will be flat and smooth, giving the cabinet doors a very clean appearance.
To downplay the cabinets, paint them the color of the walls or close to the color. Whites and pastels really help to draw the cabinets back out of dominance and allow your flooring or counters to have all the glory.
Hardware. Here you might consider having painted pulls that are fairly unobtrusive. Small circle pulls or longer pulls that run up and down with the side of the cabinet doors are best. However, if you don't like the look of painted pulls, there are literally hundreds of options for subdued hardware. The best idea is to test out a few different models. Tape one to your cabinets, walk out of the room, and then back in and see if it grabs your eye. If so, take them down; if not, you're good to go.
Also, cabinet hardware can also be used as a nice tie-in between the counters and the cabinets, no matter which one you are trying to show off.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Spruce Up Your Home to Sell
Anyone forced to move out of a home faces a challenge: How do you get the best price for your humble abode, especially when buyers can be pickier than a diva in a shoe store?
To make your home seem more attractive than all the rest, consider, well, making it seem more attractive than all the rest. The experts call this "staging." You can hire a professional to do the job for you, or you can do much of the work yourself.
If you have a few good friends (who doesn't?) and a couple of free weekends, you can make major improvements without shelling out a lot of money. Think of it as one of those home-and-garden television shows -- just without the chummy banter among thin, well-dressed designers.
Start with some criticism
Start by asking particularly opinionated friends to come over and walk through the house as though they were potential buyers. Ask them to point out anything that might turn off a house shopper. Don't take their comments personally. Everyone who comes to look at your home will walk through a critic. Better to hear the bad news now than suffer the consequences by settling for a lower price, or watching your house sit on the market too long.
With your friends' list of complaints in hand, tackle the job. Next, get rid of clutter. We all have it, and we get used to looking at it. It's time to banish it. Think in terms of making your home look like the picture-perfect rooms in those glossy magazines. What makes them so alluring? To begin with, your husband's shoes aren't strewn all over the floor, and the dining room's not piled high with junk mail and dusty knick-knacks.
Empty it out
Remove things that overwhelm visitors with your personality. We know your collection of porcelain dalmatian dogs is charming, but it may interfere with buyers' efforts to imagine themselves living in the house. Along these lines, experts recommend removing all your family photos. It's my humble opinion that one or two well-placed snapshots give the warm impression that your home made your family happy, and that it can do the same for others.
Consider removing some furniture if your house is stuffed to the gills. To keep costs low, resist the urge to put everything in self-storage. Give away or sell anything you know you won't use in your new home. Don't pile it all into the basement or into a closet. Buyers will look in your closets, your kitchen cabinets, your garage, your basement, and probably even your underwear drawer. Almost nothing's off limits.
Scrub-a-dub-dub
Then, clean. Clean like you've never cleaned before. Pretend Martha Stewart and your mother-in-law will stop by at the same time to inspect for cobwebs in the corners, dust on the mini-blinds, and streaks on the windows. Your potential buyers will consider your house well-maintained if it looks sparkling. Even old kitchens and bathrooms can look newer if they're scrubbed to a shine.
Also go through your home with a bloodhound's nose. Now is the time to eliminate the musty odor in the bathroom and eradicate any scent suggesting that Misty the cat likes to hang out in the basement. I recently found myself charmed by a house for sale in my neighborhood, for no other good reason than the scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies hanging in the air.
Freshen it up
If you've been to many local open houses, you've probably realized that first impressions count, and that means your front yard and front door should be inviting. Even if you don't have a green thumb, planting a few colorful annuals can cheer up an entrance. (Just pull them out if you can't keep them looking healthy.)
Anything, including the front door, can look fresher with a new coat of paint. Even urbane city dwellers who know a screwdriver only as a drink with orange juice can usually manage to paint. If you're not that handy, this can be one of the less expensive jobs for a professional. Make your priority any room that has decor you can date. Take note if your opinionated friends say something like, "That's so mid-1980s country kitchen."
Now is also the time to fix all the "quirks" that make your house your home. Fix the leaky faucets and running toilets, the broken stair rail, the loose doorknobs, and all the other little things that buyers won't want to do themselves.
Watch your budget
Like many household improvements, this one can get expensive quickly if you let it. Before you know it, you could be thinking about buying that new sofa you've been eyeing, or upgrading all of your kitchen appliances.
But remember -- you don't want to spend all your potential profits. Don't get carried away if you don't want to spend a lot of money on this project. Put some elbow grease into the job -- by cleaning and getting rid of clutter -- before you start the projects that cost you money. Then set a budget, and do whatever gives you the most bang for your buck. Put painting and repair jobs for obvious problems at the top of the list. Flip through some of those glossy magazines for inspiration.
Staging is not glamorous work, but sprucing up your home can mean a faster sale -- and a heftier selling price.
To make your home seem more attractive than all the rest, consider, well, making it seem more attractive than all the rest. The experts call this "staging." You can hire a professional to do the job for you, or you can do much of the work yourself.
If you have a few good friends (who doesn't?) and a couple of free weekends, you can make major improvements without shelling out a lot of money. Think of it as one of those home-and-garden television shows -- just without the chummy banter among thin, well-dressed designers.
Start with some criticism
Start by asking particularly opinionated friends to come over and walk through the house as though they were potential buyers. Ask them to point out anything that might turn off a house shopper. Don't take their comments personally. Everyone who comes to look at your home will walk through a critic. Better to hear the bad news now than suffer the consequences by settling for a lower price, or watching your house sit on the market too long.
With your friends' list of complaints in hand, tackle the job. Next, get rid of clutter. We all have it, and we get used to looking at it. It's time to banish it. Think in terms of making your home look like the picture-perfect rooms in those glossy magazines. What makes them so alluring? To begin with, your husband's shoes aren't strewn all over the floor, and the dining room's not piled high with junk mail and dusty knick-knacks.
Empty it out
Remove things that overwhelm visitors with your personality. We know your collection of porcelain dalmatian dogs is charming, but it may interfere with buyers' efforts to imagine themselves living in the house. Along these lines, experts recommend removing all your family photos. It's my humble opinion that one or two well-placed snapshots give the warm impression that your home made your family happy, and that it can do the same for others.
Consider removing some furniture if your house is stuffed to the gills. To keep costs low, resist the urge to put everything in self-storage. Give away or sell anything you know you won't use in your new home. Don't pile it all into the basement or into a closet. Buyers will look in your closets, your kitchen cabinets, your garage, your basement, and probably even your underwear drawer. Almost nothing's off limits.
Scrub-a-dub-dub
Then, clean. Clean like you've never cleaned before. Pretend Martha Stewart and your mother-in-law will stop by at the same time to inspect for cobwebs in the corners, dust on the mini-blinds, and streaks on the windows. Your potential buyers will consider your house well-maintained if it looks sparkling. Even old kitchens and bathrooms can look newer if they're scrubbed to a shine.
Also go through your home with a bloodhound's nose. Now is the time to eliminate the musty odor in the bathroom and eradicate any scent suggesting that Misty the cat likes to hang out in the basement. I recently found myself charmed by a house for sale in my neighborhood, for no other good reason than the scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies hanging in the air.
Freshen it up
If you've been to many local open houses, you've probably realized that first impressions count, and that means your front yard and front door should be inviting. Even if you don't have a green thumb, planting a few colorful annuals can cheer up an entrance. (Just pull them out if you can't keep them looking healthy.)
Anything, including the front door, can look fresher with a new coat of paint. Even urbane city dwellers who know a screwdriver only as a drink with orange juice can usually manage to paint. If you're not that handy, this can be one of the less expensive jobs for a professional. Make your priority any room that has decor you can date. Take note if your opinionated friends say something like, "That's so mid-1980s country kitchen."
Now is also the time to fix all the "quirks" that make your house your home. Fix the leaky faucets and running toilets, the broken stair rail, the loose doorknobs, and all the other little things that buyers won't want to do themselves.
Watch your budget
Like many household improvements, this one can get expensive quickly if you let it. Before you know it, you could be thinking about buying that new sofa you've been eyeing, or upgrading all of your kitchen appliances.
But remember -- you don't want to spend all your potential profits. Don't get carried away if you don't want to spend a lot of money on this project. Put some elbow grease into the job -- by cleaning and getting rid of clutter -- before you start the projects that cost you money. Then set a budget, and do whatever gives you the most bang for your buck. Put painting and repair jobs for obvious problems at the top of the list. Flip through some of those glossy magazines for inspiration.
Staging is not glamorous work, but sprucing up your home can mean a faster sale -- and a heftier selling price.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wrought Iron Gates
Wrought Iron Gates are the Ultimate in Stylish – And Can Definitely Improve the Look of Any Home
In a world full of chain link and wooden fences, wrought iron gates are a great hiatus from the ordinary and can make your home look many times more attractive than it may already be. Furthermore, unlike other types of gates, wrought iron gates can be used in nearly any setting, from encircling your home to fencing off your pool from accenting certain areas of your front or back yard.
Wrought iron gates can even be combined with other types of materials, including brass for accent, and can be mixed with nearly any type of wall for a regal look. As driveway gates and garden gates, wrought iron performs as an excellent product which will give you both a high class look as well as an incredibly durable product which will last for years without any major problems.
If you wish to accent your standard wrought iron gates, there are plenty of products to allow you to do so. First and foremost, for just pennies you can purchase a huge variety of different gate latches, hinges and handles to make your gate look as good as it possibly can. These are relatively cheap products and can range from the simple to the highly complex, depending on how much security you want and what type of style you are looking for. Alternatively, if you have iron gates secluding your home from the street, you can purchase an automatic gate opener so you do not have to open your gate by hand each time you want to come or go from your home.
Aside from all of the add-on parts you can purchase for your wrought iron gates, you will also find that you can replace a standard set of gates with some professional crafted works of art. Many up and coming metal sculptors work with wrought iron as one of their canvases, allowing them to create superb designs with their artful techniques. Melding wrought iron with brass allows some of these professional artisans to create some mind blowing gates which you would expect to cost tens of thousands of dollars but can actually be purchased for relatively cheap prices. So, if you are into high style for any home’s look, then check out handcrafted iron gates.
In a world full of chain link and wooden fences, wrought iron gates are a great hiatus from the ordinary and can make your home look many times more attractive than it may already be. Furthermore, unlike other types of gates, wrought iron gates can be used in nearly any setting, from encircling your home to fencing off your pool from accenting certain areas of your front or back yard.
Wrought iron gates can even be combined with other types of materials, including brass for accent, and can be mixed with nearly any type of wall for a regal look. As driveway gates and garden gates, wrought iron performs as an excellent product which will give you both a high class look as well as an incredibly durable product which will last for years without any major problems.
If you wish to accent your standard wrought iron gates, there are plenty of products to allow you to do so. First and foremost, for just pennies you can purchase a huge variety of different gate latches, hinges and handles to make your gate look as good as it possibly can. These are relatively cheap products and can range from the simple to the highly complex, depending on how much security you want and what type of style you are looking for. Alternatively, if you have iron gates secluding your home from the street, you can purchase an automatic gate opener so you do not have to open your gate by hand each time you want to come or go from your home.
Aside from all of the add-on parts you can purchase for your wrought iron gates, you will also find that you can replace a standard set of gates with some professional crafted works of art. Many up and coming metal sculptors work with wrought iron as one of their canvases, allowing them to create superb designs with their artful techniques. Melding wrought iron with brass allows some of these professional artisans to create some mind blowing gates which you would expect to cost tens of thousands of dollars but can actually be purchased for relatively cheap prices. So, if you are into high style for any home’s look, then check out handcrafted iron gates.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wall Paper Removal
Whether you plan to repaper or to paint, you need to get rid of the old wallpaper. Here are some helpful ways to remove the paper and the paste.
Removal Methods
Materials:
Drop cloths to cover floor
Ladder
Safety goggles
Crowbar
Wallpaper scorer
Wallpaper steamer
Protective gloves
Chemical wallpaper stripper
Wallpaper scraper
First use a crowbar to remove any corner or doorway trim. Then proceed to the wallpaper-removal phase of the project.
Run the Paper Tiger lightly over the wall to score the paper, not the wall surface itself.
Scoring
In order to allow chemical stripper or steam (the choice of method is up to you) to saturate the wallpaper, you must first score it with a special tool called a Paper Tiger. The tool is used in a circular motion (be careful not to press too hard, as too much pressure can score the wall as well as the paper.) Then apply the technique you have chosen.
Wallpaper Removal
After the paper has been scored, use one of the following methods to remove it from the walls:
Chemical stripper: Be sure to wear protective gloves whenever using a chemical product. Spray the wall with a chemical stripper, which will dissolve the glue under the paper. Let the chemical soak in for about 15-20 minutes, and then use a wallpaper scraper to remove paper.
Steaming: A wallpaper steamer can be rented at any home-improvement store. First cover the floor with drop cloths. Fill the steamer unit with hot water and wait about 30 minutes. Place the steamer on the surface of the wallpaper and hold while the steam dissolves the glue (figure A). Then use a wallpaper scraper to scrape off the wet paper.
Tip: Using a steamer is effective, but the device tends to drip hot water, so be sure to wear rubber gloves.
Removing Wallpaper
Materials:
plastic sheeting to tape to the shoe molding to cover the floor
spray bottle
putty knife or thin scraper
good sponge
small bucket
trash can
Removing Wallpaper
* Removing wallpaper is one of those home improvement jobs that can get a little messy, but it is not as difficult as it appears. The first thing you want to do is lay plastic on the floor.
* Your local home improvement store will have a device called a wall paper scorer. It has little teeth (figure A) that dig into the paper and allow the water to seep behind the paper and help dissolve the glue. Depending on the texture of the paper, sometimes you will need the help that this can provide, but use it with caution because if you apply too much pressure on it you will have teeth marks all over your wall. Either way, you will want the paper to get saturated with the solvent and the paper will begin to peel away. You can help coax it by using the putty knife.
* You need to cover any outlets that are exposed with plastic and tape. But, all-in-all you shouldn't drench the walls that much.
* You cannot pull the paper directly from the wall. You need to coax it by spraying the paper with a mixture of vinegar and water. You use two parts vinegar and four parts water. Spray or sponge the vinegar solution on the wall. Work one section at a time. Depending on the age of the paper, you may need to wait about ten minutes.
* Using a 2" putty knife gently ease back a corner of the paper (figure B), slowly peel away the paper with your fingers while pushing the putty knife along the wall behind the paper. Depending on the direction you begin, you will be able to gradually roll the paper up or down the wall in one large sheet as you proceed.
* A bucket comes in handy because you will need to give the un-papered wall a clean wipe.
Spray the wall again with the water/vinegar mixture. This will remove any residue of glue that has stuck to the wall. Although you may not see the residue now, it will dry to the wall and create a texture you will be able to see if you are planning on repainting.
Painting Over Wallpaper
Change the look of a room with outdated wallpaper by simply painting over it. Two coats of stain-killing paint, followed by a top coat in your desired color, allow you to skip the messy job of stripping the old wallpaper. Note that painting over is suitable only for wallpaper that's in good condition and securely in place.
Materials:
Stain-killing paint
Interior wall paint in desired color
Paint roller
Fine emery board
Strong glue to repair loose seams
1. Prepare the wallpaper for painting by securely gluing down loose edges. Wallpaper with holes and peeling patches can't be painted over, but if the wallpaper's secure except for a few loose edges at the seams, seal each seam with a very strong glue and press down securely.
2. Apply two coats of stain-killing paint to completely cover the wallpaper pattern. Let dry between coats.
3. If the wallpaper seam is visible after two coats of paint, lightly file the seam smooth with a very fine emery board.
4. Apply the top coat of paint. Our top coat of yellow paint shows no hint of the wallpaper pattern beneath.
Removal Methods
Materials:
Drop cloths to cover floor
Ladder
Safety goggles
Crowbar
Wallpaper scorer
Wallpaper steamer
Protective gloves
Chemical wallpaper stripper
Wallpaper scraper
First use a crowbar to remove any corner or doorway trim. Then proceed to the wallpaper-removal phase of the project.
Run the Paper Tiger lightly over the wall to score the paper, not the wall surface itself.
Scoring
In order to allow chemical stripper or steam (the choice of method is up to you) to saturate the wallpaper, you must first score it with a special tool called a Paper Tiger. The tool is used in a circular motion (be careful not to press too hard, as too much pressure can score the wall as well as the paper.) Then apply the technique you have chosen.
Wallpaper Removal
After the paper has been scored, use one of the following methods to remove it from the walls:
Chemical stripper: Be sure to wear protective gloves whenever using a chemical product. Spray the wall with a chemical stripper, which will dissolve the glue under the paper. Let the chemical soak in for about 15-20 minutes, and then use a wallpaper scraper to remove paper.
Steaming: A wallpaper steamer can be rented at any home-improvement store. First cover the floor with drop cloths. Fill the steamer unit with hot water and wait about 30 minutes. Place the steamer on the surface of the wallpaper and hold while the steam dissolves the glue (figure A). Then use a wallpaper scraper to scrape off the wet paper.
Tip: Using a steamer is effective, but the device tends to drip hot water, so be sure to wear rubber gloves.
Removing Wallpaper
Materials:
plastic sheeting to tape to the shoe molding to cover the floor
spray bottle
putty knife or thin scraper
good sponge
small bucket
trash can
Removing Wallpaper
* Removing wallpaper is one of those home improvement jobs that can get a little messy, but it is not as difficult as it appears. The first thing you want to do is lay plastic on the floor.
* Your local home improvement store will have a device called a wall paper scorer. It has little teeth (figure A) that dig into the paper and allow the water to seep behind the paper and help dissolve the glue. Depending on the texture of the paper, sometimes you will need the help that this can provide, but use it with caution because if you apply too much pressure on it you will have teeth marks all over your wall. Either way, you will want the paper to get saturated with the solvent and the paper will begin to peel away. You can help coax it by using the putty knife.
* You need to cover any outlets that are exposed with plastic and tape. But, all-in-all you shouldn't drench the walls that much.
* You cannot pull the paper directly from the wall. You need to coax it by spraying the paper with a mixture of vinegar and water. You use two parts vinegar and four parts water. Spray or sponge the vinegar solution on the wall. Work one section at a time. Depending on the age of the paper, you may need to wait about ten minutes.
* Using a 2" putty knife gently ease back a corner of the paper (figure B), slowly peel away the paper with your fingers while pushing the putty knife along the wall behind the paper. Depending on the direction you begin, you will be able to gradually roll the paper up or down the wall in one large sheet as you proceed.
* A bucket comes in handy because you will need to give the un-papered wall a clean wipe.
Spray the wall again with the water/vinegar mixture. This will remove any residue of glue that has stuck to the wall. Although you may not see the residue now, it will dry to the wall and create a texture you will be able to see if you are planning on repainting.
Painting Over Wallpaper
Change the look of a room with outdated wallpaper by simply painting over it. Two coats of stain-killing paint, followed by a top coat in your desired color, allow you to skip the messy job of stripping the old wallpaper. Note that painting over is suitable only for wallpaper that's in good condition and securely in place.
Materials:
Stain-killing paint
Interior wall paint in desired color
Paint roller
Fine emery board
Strong glue to repair loose seams
1. Prepare the wallpaper for painting by securely gluing down loose edges. Wallpaper with holes and peeling patches can't be painted over, but if the wallpaper's secure except for a few loose edges at the seams, seal each seam with a very strong glue and press down securely.
2. Apply two coats of stain-killing paint to completely cover the wallpaper pattern. Let dry between coats.
3. If the wallpaper seam is visible after two coats of paint, lightly file the seam smooth with a very fine emery board.
4. Apply the top coat of paint. Our top coat of yellow paint shows no hint of the wallpaper pattern beneath.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Home Affordability Tips
So you're looking to buy a home soon or in the near future? What affordability steps should you take:
Start Saving Money:
You will need at least 5% down and another 5-6% of the home purchase price for closing costs.
Maintain Good Debt Ratios:
It's called the 28/36 rule - it measures the amount of total debt-to-income that lenders will approve. The higher the ratio, the less likely you will be approved for best financing.
Clean Up Your Credit Report:
The higher your credit score, the lower your financing costs.
Start Saving Money:
You will need at least 5% down and another 5-6% of the home purchase price for closing costs.
Maintain Good Debt Ratios:
It's called the 28/36 rule - it measures the amount of total debt-to-income that lenders will approve. The higher the ratio, the less likely you will be approved for best financing.
Clean Up Your Credit Report:
The higher your credit score, the lower your financing costs.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Making an Offer
Once you’ve found your dream house, it’s time to get started with the financial and contractual side of the purchase. Let me guide you through this process. Purchase contracts vary in length and terms from state to state, and within a state, from locality to locality. Because you and the seller have different goals, rely on your my experience and expertise. I can bring order and calm to the process and will know what questions you may not know to ask to help you reach a favorable outcome.
Multiple offers on the same home are not uncommon, so you may only get one chance to make an offer that the seller will consider. That's why it's important to think carefully about your strategy. In most cases it is better to have your real estate professional negotiate the offer. If you have any personal interaction with the homeowner, don't give out any information about your move, your current housing status, financial status or your feelings about their property - positive or negative. This could hurt you in future negotiations.
Multiple offers on the same home are not uncommon, so you may only get one chance to make an offer that the seller will consider. That's why it's important to think carefully about your strategy. In most cases it is better to have your real estate professional negotiate the offer. If you have any personal interaction with the homeowner, don't give out any information about your move, your current housing status, financial status or your feelings about their property - positive or negative. This could hurt you in future negotiations.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
When Your Selling Price is Too High, Beware!!
What Happens Behind the Scenes
If you start out with too high a price on your home, you may have just added to your stress level -- and selling a home is stressful enough. There will be a lot of "behind the scenes" action taking place that you don’t know about.
Contrary to popular opinion, the listing agent does not usually attempt to sell your home directly to a homebuyer. That would be inefficient.
Listing agents market and promote your home to the hordes of other local agents who do work with homebuyers, dramatically increasing your personal sales force. During the first couple of weeks your home should be a flurry of activity with buyer’s agents coming to preview your home so they can sell it to their clients.
If the price is right.
If you and your agent have overpriced, fewer agents will preview your home. After all, they are Realtors, and it is their job to know local market conditions and home values. If your house is dramatically above market, why waste time? Their time is better spent previewing homes that are priced realistically.
If you start out with too high a price on your home, you may have just added to your stress level -- and selling a home is stressful enough. There will be a lot of "behind the scenes" action taking place that you don’t know about.
Contrary to popular opinion, the listing agent does not usually attempt to sell your home directly to a homebuyer. That would be inefficient.
Listing agents market and promote your home to the hordes of other local agents who do work with homebuyers, dramatically increasing your personal sales force. During the first couple of weeks your home should be a flurry of activity with buyer’s agents coming to preview your home so they can sell it to their clients.
If the price is right.
If you and your agent have overpriced, fewer agents will preview your home. After all, they are Realtors, and it is their job to know local market conditions and home values. If your house is dramatically above market, why waste time? Their time is better spent previewing homes that are priced realistically.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
How to Make a Great Impression
Selling your home is probably one of the more important major financial transactions you will make. Like everyone else, you want to sell as fast as possible and for the best possible selling price.
These "TIPS" have proven to be of
great assistance in preparing homes
for a more SUCCESSFUL SALE!
1) OUTSIDE APPEARANCE:
* Your front door is the first thing buyers will see, so be sure it is fresh and clean.
* Make sure that your lawn and landscaped areas are well manicured.
* Be sure that your yard is free of refuse and leaves.
2) SAFETY:
* During winter, make certain to remove all ice and snow on walkways and steps.
* Keep all indoor and outdoor areas, especially stairways, clear and uncluttered.
3) LIGHTING:
* Open drapes and curtains as much as possible to let in natural light.
* Make sure that the windows are clean so your home appears as bright and cheery as possible.
* Turn on all of your outside and inside lights when showing your home at night so as to make your buyer feel welcome.
4) FIXTURES:
* Fix any leaky faucets. Dripping water discolors sinks and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing.
5) IMPORTANT AREAS:
* Make sure doors, windows, and cabinets don't stick or have loose knobs. By fixing these minor flaws, you can increase your home's value.
* Closets can be an important selling point. Make them look bigger by organizing them neatly to display that your home has ample closet space.
6) ROOMS:
* In general, try to replace faded walls and worn woodwork with new wallpaper and fresh paint. It will increase the appeal and value of your home.
* Bathrooms can sell homes. Check and repair any damaged or discolored caulking around the bath-tubs and showers, and be sure that the towels and area rugs are bright and clean.
* Display the full value of your attic, basement, and other utility space (including crawl spaces) by removing all unnecessary articles and debris, and repainting if necessary.
* Bedrooms should appear bright and cheerful. Remove all excess furniture, and be sure that bedspreads and curtains are freshly laundered and attractive.
7) ATMOSPHERE:
* Don't have too many visitors or family members present during a home inspection, as this can make the potential buyer feel uncomfortable and want to hurry through your house to get away from the crowd.
* Turn off the stereo and television so the potential buyer and salesperson can discuss your home in a relaxed environment, free of distractions.
* Keep pets from disturbing potential buyers by restricting them to the backyard or an alternative location, such as a friend's home, while conducting an open house.
8) APPROACH:
* Be courteous and friendly, but don't insist on conversing with the potential buyer.
* Never apologize for the appearance of your home. Should any objections or derogatory comments be offered, let a trained salesperson answer them.
* Let the salesperson emphasize the virtues of your home to potential buyers. If you can help with any questions, the salesperson will call you.
* Avoid trying to sell potential buyers furniture or furnishings which you are not taking with you before they have purchased the home. This can potentially lose the sale.
9) NEGOTIATIONS:
* Let your real estate salesperson discuss the selling price, terms, possessions and other factors with the customer. I have been trained and am experienced. Let me bring your negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion.
10) PROCEDURE:
* Cooperation on your part will be sincerely appreciated and will help me sell your home more quickly.
These "TIPS" have proven to be of
great assistance in preparing homes
for a more SUCCESSFUL SALE!
1) OUTSIDE APPEARANCE:
* Your front door is the first thing buyers will see, so be sure it is fresh and clean.
* Make sure that your lawn and landscaped areas are well manicured.
* Be sure that your yard is free of refuse and leaves.
2) SAFETY:
* During winter, make certain to remove all ice and snow on walkways and steps.
* Keep all indoor and outdoor areas, especially stairways, clear and uncluttered.
3) LIGHTING:
* Open drapes and curtains as much as possible to let in natural light.
* Make sure that the windows are clean so your home appears as bright and cheery as possible.
* Turn on all of your outside and inside lights when showing your home at night so as to make your buyer feel welcome.
4) FIXTURES:
* Fix any leaky faucets. Dripping water discolors sinks and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing.
5) IMPORTANT AREAS:
* Make sure doors, windows, and cabinets don't stick or have loose knobs. By fixing these minor flaws, you can increase your home's value.
* Closets can be an important selling point. Make them look bigger by organizing them neatly to display that your home has ample closet space.
6) ROOMS:
* In general, try to replace faded walls and worn woodwork with new wallpaper and fresh paint. It will increase the appeal and value of your home.
* Bathrooms can sell homes. Check and repair any damaged or discolored caulking around the bath-tubs and showers, and be sure that the towels and area rugs are bright and clean.
* Display the full value of your attic, basement, and other utility space (including crawl spaces) by removing all unnecessary articles and debris, and repainting if necessary.
* Bedrooms should appear bright and cheerful. Remove all excess furniture, and be sure that bedspreads and curtains are freshly laundered and attractive.
7) ATMOSPHERE:
* Don't have too many visitors or family members present during a home inspection, as this can make the potential buyer feel uncomfortable and want to hurry through your house to get away from the crowd.
* Turn off the stereo and television so the potential buyer and salesperson can discuss your home in a relaxed environment, free of distractions.
* Keep pets from disturbing potential buyers by restricting them to the backyard or an alternative location, such as a friend's home, while conducting an open house.
8) APPROACH:
* Be courteous and friendly, but don't insist on conversing with the potential buyer.
* Never apologize for the appearance of your home. Should any objections or derogatory comments be offered, let a trained salesperson answer them.
* Let the salesperson emphasize the virtues of your home to potential buyers. If you can help with any questions, the salesperson will call you.
* Avoid trying to sell potential buyers furniture or furnishings which you are not taking with you before they have purchased the home. This can potentially lose the sale.
9) NEGOTIATIONS:
* Let your real estate salesperson discuss the selling price, terms, possessions and other factors with the customer. I have been trained and am experienced. Let me bring your negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion.
10) PROCEDURE:
* Cooperation on your part will be sincerely appreciated and will help me sell your home more quickly.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Showing Your House
Your house should always be available for show, even though it may occasionally be inconvenient for you. Let your listing agent put a lock box in a convenient place to make it easy for other agents to show your home to homebuyers. Otherwise, agents will have to schedule appointments, which is an inconvenience. Most will just skip your home to show the house of someone else who is more cooperative.
Most agents will call and give you at least a couple of hours notice before showing your property. If you refuse to let them show it at that time, they will just skip your house. Even if they come back another time, it will probably be with different buyers and you may have just lost a chance to sell your home.
Try Not to be Home
Homebuyers will feel like intruders if you are home when they visit, and they might not be as receptive toward viewing your home. Visit the local coffee house, yogurt shop, or take the kids to the local park. If you absolutely cannot leave, try to remain in an out of they way area of the house and do not move from room to room. Do not volunteer any information, but answer any questions the agent may ask.
Lighting
When you know someone is coming by to tour your home, turn on all the indoor and outdoor lights – even during the day. At night, a lit house gives a "homey" impression when viewed from the street. During the daytime, turning on the lights prevents harsh shadows from sunlight and it brightens up any dim areas. Your house looks more homey and cheerful with the lights on.
Fragrances
Do not use scented sprays to prepare for visitors. It is too obvious and many people find the smells of those sprays offensive, not to mention that some may be allergic. If you want to have a pleasant aroma in your house, have a potpourri pot or something natural. Or turn on a stove burner (or the oven) for a moment and put a drop of vanilla extract on it. It will smell like you have been cooking.
Pet Control
If you have pets, make sure your listing agent puts a notice with your listing in the multiple listing service. The last thing you want is to have your pet running out the front door and getting lost. If you know someone is coming, it would be best to try to take the pets with you while the homebuyers tour your home. If you cannot do that, It is best to keep dogs in a penned area in the back yard. Try to keep indoor cats in a specific room when you expect visitors, and put a sign on the door. Most of the time, an indoor cat will hide when buyers come to view your property, but they may panic and try to escape.
The Kitchen Trash
Especially if your kitchen trash can does not have a lid, make sure you empty it every time someone comes to look at your home – even if your trash can is kept under the kitchen sink. Remember that you want to send a positive image about every aspect of your home. Kitchen trash does not send a positive message. You may go through more plastic bags than usual, but it will be worth it.
Keep the House Tidy
Not everyone makes his or her bed every day, but when selling a home it is recommended that you develop the habit. Pick up papers, do not leave empty glasses in the family room, keep everything freshly dusted and vacuumed. Try your best to have it look like a model home – a home with furniture but nobody really lives there.
Most agents will call and give you at least a couple of hours notice before showing your property. If you refuse to let them show it at that time, they will just skip your house. Even if they come back another time, it will probably be with different buyers and you may have just lost a chance to sell your home.
Try Not to be Home
Homebuyers will feel like intruders if you are home when they visit, and they might not be as receptive toward viewing your home. Visit the local coffee house, yogurt shop, or take the kids to the local park. If you absolutely cannot leave, try to remain in an out of they way area of the house and do not move from room to room. Do not volunteer any information, but answer any questions the agent may ask.
Lighting
When you know someone is coming by to tour your home, turn on all the indoor and outdoor lights – even during the day. At night, a lit house gives a "homey" impression when viewed from the street. During the daytime, turning on the lights prevents harsh shadows from sunlight and it brightens up any dim areas. Your house looks more homey and cheerful with the lights on.
Fragrances
Do not use scented sprays to prepare for visitors. It is too obvious and many people find the smells of those sprays offensive, not to mention that some may be allergic. If you want to have a pleasant aroma in your house, have a potpourri pot or something natural. Or turn on a stove burner (or the oven) for a moment and put a drop of vanilla extract on it. It will smell like you have been cooking.
Pet Control
If you have pets, make sure your listing agent puts a notice with your listing in the multiple listing service. The last thing you want is to have your pet running out the front door and getting lost. If you know someone is coming, it would be best to try to take the pets with you while the homebuyers tour your home. If you cannot do that, It is best to keep dogs in a penned area in the back yard. Try to keep indoor cats in a specific room when you expect visitors, and put a sign on the door. Most of the time, an indoor cat will hide when buyers come to view your property, but they may panic and try to escape.
The Kitchen Trash
Especially if your kitchen trash can does not have a lid, make sure you empty it every time someone comes to look at your home – even if your trash can is kept under the kitchen sink. Remember that you want to send a positive image about every aspect of your home. Kitchen trash does not send a positive message. You may go through more plastic bags than usual, but it will be worth it.
Keep the House Tidy
Not everyone makes his or her bed every day, but when selling a home it is recommended that you develop the habit. Pick up papers, do not leave empty glasses in the family room, keep everything freshly dusted and vacuumed. Try your best to have it look like a model home – a home with furniture but nobody really lives there.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Marketing Your Home
A REALTOR® can offer you many suggestions to prepare your home so it looks its best when being shown to a buyer. Use the following checklist as a guide when preparing and showing your home for sale.
* Do everything you can -- inside and outside --to make your home as attractive as possible in the eyes of the buyer. First impressions last. Homes that look their best tend to sell faster and command every dollar they're worth.
* A fresh coat of paint for home, garage, even fences-may be the one improvement that creates the most positive first impression.
* Lawn trimmed, clear of debris.
* Gutters sealed and downspout clean.
* Tidy front entrance. Door brass polished, worn trim or rusty mail box painted.
* Storms and screens cleaned. New doormat put out. If possible, keep curbside free of parked cars.
* Painting inside walls can pay dividends far beyond the time, effort and expense involved.
* Tend to "little things"-oil squeaking doors, tighten loose cabinet knobs, take out removable stains, replace damaged floor tiles.
* All windows, doors and drawers should open and close easily. Fasten loose tread plates, clean soiled carpeting.
* The kitchen is one place in the home that buyers look at closely. Tighten leaky faucets, repair or replace faulty wall switches, outlets, light fixtures and any appliances that will "go with the home."
* The bathroom gets close scrutiny, too. Keep it spotless. Tiles scrubbed and grouted, faucets polished, toiletries and medicines in their chest. Laundry items in closed hamper.
* Cleaned windows and clear, uncluttered closets and basement contribute to a more attractive home.
* Clear out accumulated items from closets, cabinets and under counters-also from the garage. Consider holding a garage sale prior to showing your home.
* Make home as light, airy and spacious as possible. Draw back drapes. Turn on a few extra lights.
* Keep pets out of the way. Soft background music can contribute to a relaxed mood, but a loud radio or TV, like pets, will tend to be distracting.
* Fresh bread or cookies baking in the oven help create a "homey" atmosphere.
* Let your broker work for you. This real estate professional can answer questions on price, terms, possession, etc., and maintain objectivity in responding to buyer objections.
* Do everything you can -- inside and outside --to make your home as attractive as possible in the eyes of the buyer. First impressions last. Homes that look their best tend to sell faster and command every dollar they're worth.
* A fresh coat of paint for home, garage, even fences-may be the one improvement that creates the most positive first impression.
* Lawn trimmed, clear of debris.
* Gutters sealed and downspout clean.
* Tidy front entrance. Door brass polished, worn trim or rusty mail box painted.
* Storms and screens cleaned. New doormat put out. If possible, keep curbside free of parked cars.
* Painting inside walls can pay dividends far beyond the time, effort and expense involved.
* Tend to "little things"-oil squeaking doors, tighten loose cabinet knobs, take out removable stains, replace damaged floor tiles.
* All windows, doors and drawers should open and close easily. Fasten loose tread plates, clean soiled carpeting.
* The kitchen is one place in the home that buyers look at closely. Tighten leaky faucets, repair or replace faulty wall switches, outlets, light fixtures and any appliances that will "go with the home."
* The bathroom gets close scrutiny, too. Keep it spotless. Tiles scrubbed and grouted, faucets polished, toiletries and medicines in their chest. Laundry items in closed hamper.
* Cleaned windows and clear, uncluttered closets and basement contribute to a more attractive home.
* Clear out accumulated items from closets, cabinets and under counters-also from the garage. Consider holding a garage sale prior to showing your home.
* Make home as light, airy and spacious as possible. Draw back drapes. Turn on a few extra lights.
* Keep pets out of the way. Soft background music can contribute to a relaxed mood, but a loud radio or TV, like pets, will tend to be distracting.
* Fresh bread or cookies baking in the oven help create a "homey" atmosphere.
* Let your broker work for you. This real estate professional can answer questions on price, terms, possession, etc., and maintain objectivity in responding to buyer objections.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
12 Beautiful Bulbs Deer and Rabbits Don't Eat
Daffodil
One of the most recognizable bulbs, daffodil is also among the easiest to grow. Most gardeners know the cheery golden-flowering types, but keep an eye out for extra-special varieties that offer blooms in shades of white, orange, pink, and red.
Name: Narcissus selections
Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil
Size: To 16 inches tall
Zones: 3-8
Native to North America: No
Crown Imperial
Spring's most dramatic blooming bulb, crown imperial looks a bit like a pineapple wearing a Hawaiian shirt: The colorful red, yellow, or orange flowers are topped by a crown of leaves.
Name: Fritillaria imperialis
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: To 3 feet tall
Zones: 5-9
Native to North America: No
Siberian Squill
Siberian squill offers some of the best colors of the spring: Its true-blue flowers are truly first rate. This adaptable bulb spreads quickly and is great for planting in your lawn for a carpet of no-maintenance blue color in early spring.
Name: Scilla siberica
Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil
Size: To 8 inches tall
Zones: 4-8
Native to North America: No
Allium
It's tough to have a favorite allium -- there are so many wonderful choices. Most offer globe-shape blooms in shades of white, pink, yellow, and purple.
Name: Allium selections
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: To 4 feet tall
Zones: 4-9
Native to North America: No
Fritillaria
This uncommon gem looks like a confection; the chocolate-brown flowers have a candy-yellow tip. Happily, they're not the least bit appetizing to hungry critters.
Name: Fritillaria michailovskyi
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: To 6 inches tall
Zones: 5-8
Native to North America: No
Grape Hyacinth
This little charmer resembles a cluster of grapes in bloom -- the blue, purple, white, or yellow flowers appear in tight clusters. This is one of our favorite spring bulbs.
Name: Muscari armeniacum
Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil
Size: To 8 inches tall
Zones: 4-8
Native to North America: No
Bluebells
Perfect for romping through a woodland garden, bluebells produce hanging clusters of blue blooms. Look around and you can find pink- or white-flowering types, as well.
Name: Hyacinthoides hispanica
Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil
Size: To 20 inches tall
Zones: 4-9
Native to North America: No
Dog-Tooth Violet
A charming woodland plant, dog-tooth violet bears lily-shaped flowers in shades of white, cream, yellow, and pink. Many selections also offer speckled foliage.
Name: Erythronium grandiflorum
Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil
Size: To 1 foot tall
Zones: 4-9
Native to North America: Yes
Checkered Lily
We love the charming, intricate flowers of this uncommon bulb. As the name suggests, the purple flowers bear a distinct checkerboard-pattern overlay. The pure-white selections are just as beautiful.
Name: Fritillaria meleagris
Growing Conditions: Shade and moist well-drained soil
Size: To 1 foot tall
Zones: 3-8
Native to North America: No
Glory-of-the-Snow
A charming little bulb that deserves to be a lot better known, glory-of-the-snow blooms early and bears cheery pink, blue, or white star-shape flowers. It's great for letting pop up throughout your yard.
Name: Chionodoxa luciliae
Growing Conditions: Sun or shade and moist, well-drained soil
Size: To 6 inches tall
Zones: 3-9
Native to North America: No
Winter Aconite
One of spring's first bloomers (often before the snow melts) winter aconite bears cup-shape sunny yellow flowers.
Name: Eranthis hyemalis
Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and moist, well-drained soil
Size: To 3 inches tall
Zones: 4-9
Native to North America: No
Snowdrop
Snowdrops often greet spring before the snow has gone. These beautiful little bulbs offer butterfly-shape white flowers and are great for growing in the lawn or garden.
Name: Galanthus nivalis
Growing Conditions: Sun or shade and moist, well-drained soil
Size: To 4 inches tall
Zones: 3-8
Native to North America: No
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
How to Clean Your RainGutters
During a rainstorm, gutters route runoff from a very large surface—a home’s roof—to where it can drain away from the house. By doing so, they protect siding, windows, doors, and foundations from water damage and help prevent flooding in basements.
To do their job, gutters and downspouts must be clear of leaves and debris. If they aren’t, drain outlets will dam up and rainwater will fill the gutters, back up, overflow, and eventually pull gutters loose from their mountings. Water that pools in troughs will rot wood gutters and rust sheet metal ones.
You can hire a service to clean your gutters, but doing the work yourself can save you $100 or more.
Plan to clean gutters at least twice a year—more often if the roof is directly beneath trees. But only take on this task if you know you can work safely from a ladder or the roof. If your roof is higher than a single story, you’re better off hiring a professional.
Choose a sturdy ladder, and place it on a firm, level base. A tall stepladder can be easier to use than an extension ladder. If you must lean an extension ladder against a gutter, protect the gutter from bending by placing a short piece of 2 by 4 inside it. Stand on the ladder with your hips between the rails, and don’t lean out over the sides. Never stand on the top two rungs.
If you’re comfortable working from the rooftop and your roof has a very low pitch, this can be easier than working from a ladder. But only do this under extremely safe conditions. Never work on the roof in wet, icy, or windy conditions. Wear non-slip shoes, and never lean over the edge or work near power lines.
When cleaning gutters, wear heavy work gloves to protect your hands since gutters often have sharp metal parts or screw points sticking out into their troughs. Also wear safety glasses or goggles.
The conventional method for cleaning gutters is discussed below. A method sometimes used by home handymen on low-sloped roofs is to blow dry debris out of gutters with a leaf-blower. If you use this method, wear goggles and a dust mask!
Leaf-catching gutter systems are highly touted by manufacturers, but most are not a complete solution. Debris eventually settles through them, and the screens must be removed to clean out the gutters. Some systems are very expensive. If you opt to buy a leaf-catching system, be sure it can be easily removed for cleaning.
To clean gutters:
1) Scoop out loose debris
Starting at a drain outlet at the low end of a gutter, use a narrow garden trowel to scoop out loose debris, working away from the drain outlet. It’s usually easiest to do this when the debris is slightly damp and pliable, not soggy or dried and encrusted. To minimize cleanup later, you can scoop the debris into a plastic garbage can liner.
2) Blast out the gutters with a hose
Using an on-off high-pressure nozzle mounted at the end of a water hose, wash out each length of gutter, working toward the drain outlet. This can be a messy job; try to avoid splattering mud all over your house. If necessary, use a stiff scrub brush to break loose encrusted dirt.
3) Clear obstructions in drainpipes
If water doesn’t drain freely through drainpipes, try flushing debris down them with the hose. If that doesn’t work, use a plumber’s auger (snake) to free and pull out debris from the bottom.
To do their job, gutters and downspouts must be clear of leaves and debris. If they aren’t, drain outlets will dam up and rainwater will fill the gutters, back up, overflow, and eventually pull gutters loose from their mountings. Water that pools in troughs will rot wood gutters and rust sheet metal ones.
You can hire a service to clean your gutters, but doing the work yourself can save you $100 or more.
Plan to clean gutters at least twice a year—more often if the roof is directly beneath trees. But only take on this task if you know you can work safely from a ladder or the roof. If your roof is higher than a single story, you’re better off hiring a professional.
Choose a sturdy ladder, and place it on a firm, level base. A tall stepladder can be easier to use than an extension ladder. If you must lean an extension ladder against a gutter, protect the gutter from bending by placing a short piece of 2 by 4 inside it. Stand on the ladder with your hips between the rails, and don’t lean out over the sides. Never stand on the top two rungs.
If you’re comfortable working from the rooftop and your roof has a very low pitch, this can be easier than working from a ladder. But only do this under extremely safe conditions. Never work on the roof in wet, icy, or windy conditions. Wear non-slip shoes, and never lean over the edge or work near power lines.
When cleaning gutters, wear heavy work gloves to protect your hands since gutters often have sharp metal parts or screw points sticking out into their troughs. Also wear safety glasses or goggles.
The conventional method for cleaning gutters is discussed below. A method sometimes used by home handymen on low-sloped roofs is to blow dry debris out of gutters with a leaf-blower. If you use this method, wear goggles and a dust mask!
Leaf-catching gutter systems are highly touted by manufacturers, but most are not a complete solution. Debris eventually settles through them, and the screens must be removed to clean out the gutters. Some systems are very expensive. If you opt to buy a leaf-catching system, be sure it can be easily removed for cleaning.
To clean gutters:
1) Scoop out loose debris
Starting at a drain outlet at the low end of a gutter, use a narrow garden trowel to scoop out loose debris, working away from the drain outlet. It’s usually easiest to do this when the debris is slightly damp and pliable, not soggy or dried and encrusted. To minimize cleanup later, you can scoop the debris into a plastic garbage can liner.
2) Blast out the gutters with a hose
Using an on-off high-pressure nozzle mounted at the end of a water hose, wash out each length of gutter, working toward the drain outlet. This can be a messy job; try to avoid splattering mud all over your house. If necessary, use a stiff scrub brush to break loose encrusted dirt.
3) Clear obstructions in drainpipes
If water doesn’t drain freely through drainpipes, try flushing debris down them with the hose. If that doesn’t work, use a plumber’s auger (snake) to free and pull out debris from the bottom.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
House Plans
For some people, it is really hard to find a house that fits everything they need. Some people are very specific in what they want for their house and the area that they are looking in doesn't seem to have what they are looking for. To those people I say, build your house! I can help you find a lot in the area that you want and you can build the home of your dreams. I am including a link to look at some different house plans you may like. Click here.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Can I get lower mortgage payments with a 40-year mortgage?
You won’t save much on your monthly payment by drawing your loan out to 40 years, because most of your payment is interest. The main effect you will see is additional total interest expense, possibly tens of thousands of dollars, for a paltry decrease in monthly payments. On a $100,000 loan, the difference might be $42 or so a month.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
How much home can I afford?
Debt Ratios
First, look at your monthly gross income, before taxes and contributions. This is how much you make per month, not how much you take home. What you take home is net income.
Front-End Ratios
Lenders use what is called a front-end ratio, which is reflected as a percentage of your gross monthly income. The front-end ratio signifies the payment a buyer can reasonably afford, from a lender's point of view. You may prefer a lower payment.
The front-end ratio for a FHA loan is 29%. For a conforming conventional loan, the front-end ratio is 33%. This means if your monthly gross income is $4,000, to qualify for a FHA loan, your monthly principal, interest, taxes and insurance (PITI) payment would be $1,160. For a conventional loan, it is $1,320.
Back-End Ratios
The back-end ratio reflects your new mortgage payment, plus all recurring debt. It, too, is computed on your gross monthly income. The back-end is higher than the front-end. For an FHA loan, the back-end ratio is 41%. For a conforming conventional loan, it is 45%.
This means if your car payment is $300, and you pay $100 a month between two credit cards, your total monthly recurring debt is $400. On the FHA loan payment above of $1,160 PITI, plus $400 recurring debt, your total is $1,560. The back-end ratio number is $1,640 ($4,000 x 41% = $1,640.} Your total debt is less than $1,640, so you qualify.
For a conventional loan, $4,000 x 45% (back-end ratio), equals $1,800. The total debt of $400, plus your new mortgage payment of $1,320 for a conventional loan equals $1,720. Your total debt is less than $1,800, so you would qualify for a conventional loan.
Home Sales Price Affordability
Working backward, now that you know how much of a mortgage payment you qualify to pay, you can figure out how that relates to a sales price. You will hear experts say to pay anywhere from two to six times your annual salary, but it is smarter to look at the amount of mortgage you can get for that monthly payment.
Your mortgage amount will depend on interest rates. Interest rates fluctuate daily, sometimes hourly. For example, say you want to pay $1,000 per month PI. At 6% interest, on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, you can borrow $170,000, payable $1,019 per month.
At 7% interest, you can borrow only $150,000, payable at $998 per month. In this example, you lose $20,000 of borrowing power when the rate jumps from 6% to 7%.
Down Payments
Down payment amounts will depend on several factors. First, how much do you feel comfortable putting down? I suggest that first-time home buyers keep a healthy reserve and not dump every single cent into a home.
No Down Payment
If you qualify for 100% financing, your down payment will be zero. VA loans are available for veterans at no-money-down. Some first-time home buyers programs accept borrowers with limited funds for gift down payment programs, providing certain income limits are met. If you make too much money, you will not qualify.
FHA Down Payments
Minimum FHA down payments are presently 2.85% of the sales price. To borrow $150,000, your sales price will be $154,400, and your down payment is $4,400. Legislation is pending to lower that percentage. Some first-time home buyer programs, used in conjunction with FHA, help with the down payment.
Conventional Loan Down Payments
Any loan that is more than 80% of the sales price will involve PMI, private mortgage insurance, which will increase your monthly mortgage payment. Typical down payments are 5%, 10% or 15% of the sales price. If you plan to put down 5% of the sales price and borrow $150,000, your sales price will be $157,900 and your down payment $7,900.
Closing Costs
Sometimes, sellers will pay some or all of the buyer's closing costs. You can figure 2% to 3% of the sales price will equal your closing costs. On a sales price of $150,000, your closing costs could run $4,500, which is extra and on top of your down payment.
Your Payment Comfort Level
Before you jump into home ownership, why not set aside the additional amount you would pay for a mortgage every month to see how you do? For example, if your rent is $800 and you plan to pay $1,200 for a PITI payment, set aside $400 per month for three to six months.
In other words, pretend you are paying a mortgage payment. If $1,200 a month doesn't strap you for cash, you can probably afford to pay that much for a mortgage payment.
If you feel more comfortable borrowing less than the amount shown your loan preapproval letter, then do so. Don't make the mistake of taking out a mortgage that will be a struggle for you to maintain. Do what feels right to you.
A dream home can usually wait. You probably don't need to buy the most expensive home you are qualified to buy. Consider a starter home as your first home. Work first on building equity and security for yourself and your family.
First, look at your monthly gross income, before taxes and contributions. This is how much you make per month, not how much you take home. What you take home is net income.
Front-End Ratios
Lenders use what is called a front-end ratio, which is reflected as a percentage of your gross monthly income. The front-end ratio signifies the payment a buyer can reasonably afford, from a lender's point of view. You may prefer a lower payment.
The front-end ratio for a FHA loan is 29%. For a conforming conventional loan, the front-end ratio is 33%. This means if your monthly gross income is $4,000, to qualify for a FHA loan, your monthly principal, interest, taxes and insurance (PITI) payment would be $1,160. For a conventional loan, it is $1,320.
Back-End Ratios
The back-end ratio reflects your new mortgage payment, plus all recurring debt. It, too, is computed on your gross monthly income. The back-end is higher than the front-end. For an FHA loan, the back-end ratio is 41%. For a conforming conventional loan, it is 45%.
This means if your car payment is $300, and you pay $100 a month between two credit cards, your total monthly recurring debt is $400. On the FHA loan payment above of $1,160 PITI, plus $400 recurring debt, your total is $1,560. The back-end ratio number is $1,640 ($4,000 x 41% = $1,640.} Your total debt is less than $1,640, so you qualify.
For a conventional loan, $4,000 x 45% (back-end ratio), equals $1,800. The total debt of $400, plus your new mortgage payment of $1,320 for a conventional loan equals $1,720. Your total debt is less than $1,800, so you would qualify for a conventional loan.
Home Sales Price Affordability
Working backward, now that you know how much of a mortgage payment you qualify to pay, you can figure out how that relates to a sales price. You will hear experts say to pay anywhere from two to six times your annual salary, but it is smarter to look at the amount of mortgage you can get for that monthly payment.
Your mortgage amount will depend on interest rates. Interest rates fluctuate daily, sometimes hourly. For example, say you want to pay $1,000 per month PI. At 6% interest, on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, you can borrow $170,000, payable $1,019 per month.
At 7% interest, you can borrow only $150,000, payable at $998 per month. In this example, you lose $20,000 of borrowing power when the rate jumps from 6% to 7%.
Down Payments
Down payment amounts will depend on several factors. First, how much do you feel comfortable putting down? I suggest that first-time home buyers keep a healthy reserve and not dump every single cent into a home.
No Down Payment
If you qualify for 100% financing, your down payment will be zero. VA loans are available for veterans at no-money-down. Some first-time home buyers programs accept borrowers with limited funds for gift down payment programs, providing certain income limits are met. If you make too much money, you will not qualify.
FHA Down Payments
Minimum FHA down payments are presently 2.85% of the sales price. To borrow $150,000, your sales price will be $154,400, and your down payment is $4,400. Legislation is pending to lower that percentage. Some first-time home buyer programs, used in conjunction with FHA, help with the down payment.
Conventional Loan Down Payments
Any loan that is more than 80% of the sales price will involve PMI, private mortgage insurance, which will increase your monthly mortgage payment. Typical down payments are 5%, 10% or 15% of the sales price. If you plan to put down 5% of the sales price and borrow $150,000, your sales price will be $157,900 and your down payment $7,900.
Closing Costs
Sometimes, sellers will pay some or all of the buyer's closing costs. You can figure 2% to 3% of the sales price will equal your closing costs. On a sales price of $150,000, your closing costs could run $4,500, which is extra and on top of your down payment.
Your Payment Comfort Level
Before you jump into home ownership, why not set aside the additional amount you would pay for a mortgage every month to see how you do? For example, if your rent is $800 and you plan to pay $1,200 for a PITI payment, set aside $400 per month for three to six months.
In other words, pretend you are paying a mortgage payment. If $1,200 a month doesn't strap you for cash, you can probably afford to pay that much for a mortgage payment.
If you feel more comfortable borrowing less than the amount shown your loan preapproval letter, then do so. Don't make the mistake of taking out a mortgage that will be a struggle for you to maintain. Do what feels right to you.
A dream home can usually wait. You probably don't need to buy the most expensive home you are qualified to buy. Consider a starter home as your first home. Work first on building equity and security for yourself and your family.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Mercer Hollow
I have these houses listed in an area in Highland, UT called Mercer Hollow. They are beautiful homes. Two of them are going to be on the Once Upon A Christmas home tour for Signs of Hope International this year on December 4th & 5th. You will be able to walk through the homes and see them decorated by Steve Peterson's Interiors Unlimited-a professional interior design company. They will be fully furnished and also decorated for the holiday season.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Home Staging
If you've been doing any research about home selling - and if you haven't, then you certainly should be - you've probably run across the term 'home staging'. At its simplest, home staging refers to making your home attractive to potential buyers.
Buyers tend to be ruled by emotion when picking out a home - and while financial advisers caution against that, buying a house that makes you feel good is not a bad way to make a decision. As the seller, your job is to make them feel good in the house you're selling.
Old time real estate logic used to be that cookies or an apple pie baking in the oven would put your prospective buyers in a buying frame of mind. While there's far more to it than that, making your house smell homey and inviting is one way to make it more appealing to those who come to look at it. Home staging shouldn't be a piecemeal approach though. If you want to sell your house for top dollar, invest the time it takes to turn your house for sale into a buyer's dream home - and follow through with a low-key showing style that lets them imagine themselves living the dream you manufacture.
Are you interested in selling your house for top dollar or faster in the slow market? Then try these tips to set up your home for showing to prospective buyers.
1. The number one rule of home staging is to depersonalize. If you do nothing else, you absolutely need to pack away anything that makes the house 'yours' as opposed to theirs. Your family photos may be precious to you, but to a buyer, they're clutter. Clear off counters and shelves, pack away books and take down photos off the walls.
2. Pare the furnishings down to the bare essentials. If you're going to be living in the house while you show it, this may be a bit more difficult, but it's still important. Pack away your favorite old, shabby recliner and get rid of the stepstool or extra high chair in the kitchen. You want just enough furniture to define a room's purpose without crowding the room.
3. The mood that you're aiming for is cheerful and bright. If it's a sunny day, open drapes and curtains to let the sunshine in - but make sure that those windows are scrupulously clean. If the windows look out on a back yard that's less than appealing, get out the lawnmower and hedge trimmers to MAKE it appealing.
4. If the day is gloomy, turn on the lights in every room before the buyers show up. Using white or cream on the walls and keeping furnishings in light, bright colors will guarantee that the house you're selling looks cheerful and appealing even on the gloomiest day.
5. Fresh flowers are one of those little luxuries that make people feel good. Use them both inside and out. Flower beds in the front of the house add to the curb appeal, and a path lined with flowers can't help but put a potential buyer into the right frame of mind before they ever step through your front door. Inside, try a small table in the entry hall with a tasteful arrangement of cheerful flowers, a bowl of flowers or fruit in the middle of a dining room table or a vase of flowers on a dresser in a bedroom.
6. Remember that there's more to appealing than what meets the eye. Make sure that your house is comfortable. If it's hot, turn on the air conditioning an hour or so before you expect buyers so that there's time to bring it to a comfortable temperature. If it's cold, set the heat at a comfortable 68 - 70 degrees.
7. Appeal to all the senses. Psychologists tell us that the nose influences us far more than we imagine. Make sure that your house smells fresh, clean and appealing. CLEAN is the keyword. One of the best ways to freshen your home is to wash all the curtains and fabric fittings in a fresh-scent laundry detergent and hang them. For a quick air freshener that doesn't leave behind a 'chemical' scent, toss a clean sheet in the dryer with a fresh-scent fabric softener sheet about twenty minutes before a showing, or sprinkle some cinnamon and fresh orange peels in a pot of water and simmer it on the stove. Just be sure to remove it BEFORE your potential buyers get there.
8. Beautiful bathrooms make a big difference. Replace your old shower curtain, and make sure that the fixtures, mirrors, porcelain and floors shine.
9. When you're selling a home, you're selling a fantasy. Buyers will see themselves living the lifestyle you 'stage' in your home. Get rid of anything that detracts from that fantasy. That includes pets and children. No matter how adorable you think they are, to potential buyers, they're a distraction. Ship your kids and pets off to a neighbor's while you show your house so that your buyers can explore the house undistracted.
10. Don't forget the outside. Outdoor living spaces are more and more important to people. Treat your back deck or patio like another room in your home. A few decorating touches can make it more than just a 'back yard'. Cover a worn picnic table with a bright tablecloth and replace worn chair cushions with new ones.
A little home staging, a fresh coast of paint and new carpet, can go a long way to making your house appealing and attractive to buyers. Take the time to pare it down to the essentials so that little touches make a big difference.
If you don't know how to do this, you can always hire a professional home stager. Typically, full home staging service will cost between $1,500 to $2,500. Hiring a home staging professional can really pay off consider that staged home can sell faster between 3 to 50 percent and increases the selling price between 2 to 10 percent more than an unstaged home. Get your home ready to sell, both inside and outside, by home staging now!
Buyers tend to be ruled by emotion when picking out a home - and while financial advisers caution against that, buying a house that makes you feel good is not a bad way to make a decision. As the seller, your job is to make them feel good in the house you're selling.
Old time real estate logic used to be that cookies or an apple pie baking in the oven would put your prospective buyers in a buying frame of mind. While there's far more to it than that, making your house smell homey and inviting is one way to make it more appealing to those who come to look at it. Home staging shouldn't be a piecemeal approach though. If you want to sell your house for top dollar, invest the time it takes to turn your house for sale into a buyer's dream home - and follow through with a low-key showing style that lets them imagine themselves living the dream you manufacture.
Are you interested in selling your house for top dollar or faster in the slow market? Then try these tips to set up your home for showing to prospective buyers.
1. The number one rule of home staging is to depersonalize. If you do nothing else, you absolutely need to pack away anything that makes the house 'yours' as opposed to theirs. Your family photos may be precious to you, but to a buyer, they're clutter. Clear off counters and shelves, pack away books and take down photos off the walls.
2. Pare the furnishings down to the bare essentials. If you're going to be living in the house while you show it, this may be a bit more difficult, but it's still important. Pack away your favorite old, shabby recliner and get rid of the stepstool or extra high chair in the kitchen. You want just enough furniture to define a room's purpose without crowding the room.
3. The mood that you're aiming for is cheerful and bright. If it's a sunny day, open drapes and curtains to let the sunshine in - but make sure that those windows are scrupulously clean. If the windows look out on a back yard that's less than appealing, get out the lawnmower and hedge trimmers to MAKE it appealing.
4. If the day is gloomy, turn on the lights in every room before the buyers show up. Using white or cream on the walls and keeping furnishings in light, bright colors will guarantee that the house you're selling looks cheerful and appealing even on the gloomiest day.
5. Fresh flowers are one of those little luxuries that make people feel good. Use them both inside and out. Flower beds in the front of the house add to the curb appeal, and a path lined with flowers can't help but put a potential buyer into the right frame of mind before they ever step through your front door. Inside, try a small table in the entry hall with a tasteful arrangement of cheerful flowers, a bowl of flowers or fruit in the middle of a dining room table or a vase of flowers on a dresser in a bedroom.
6. Remember that there's more to appealing than what meets the eye. Make sure that your house is comfortable. If it's hot, turn on the air conditioning an hour or so before you expect buyers so that there's time to bring it to a comfortable temperature. If it's cold, set the heat at a comfortable 68 - 70 degrees.
7. Appeal to all the senses. Psychologists tell us that the nose influences us far more than we imagine. Make sure that your house smells fresh, clean and appealing. CLEAN is the keyword. One of the best ways to freshen your home is to wash all the curtains and fabric fittings in a fresh-scent laundry detergent and hang them. For a quick air freshener that doesn't leave behind a 'chemical' scent, toss a clean sheet in the dryer with a fresh-scent fabric softener sheet about twenty minutes before a showing, or sprinkle some cinnamon and fresh orange peels in a pot of water and simmer it on the stove. Just be sure to remove it BEFORE your potential buyers get there.
8. Beautiful bathrooms make a big difference. Replace your old shower curtain, and make sure that the fixtures, mirrors, porcelain and floors shine.
9. When you're selling a home, you're selling a fantasy. Buyers will see themselves living the lifestyle you 'stage' in your home. Get rid of anything that detracts from that fantasy. That includes pets and children. No matter how adorable you think they are, to potential buyers, they're a distraction. Ship your kids and pets off to a neighbor's while you show your house so that your buyers can explore the house undistracted.
10. Don't forget the outside. Outdoor living spaces are more and more important to people. Treat your back deck or patio like another room in your home. A few decorating touches can make it more than just a 'back yard'. Cover a worn picnic table with a bright tablecloth and replace worn chair cushions with new ones.
A little home staging, a fresh coast of paint and new carpet, can go a long way to making your house appealing and attractive to buyers. Take the time to pare it down to the essentials so that little touches make a big difference.
If you don't know how to do this, you can always hire a professional home stager. Typically, full home staging service will cost between $1,500 to $2,500. Hiring a home staging professional can really pay off consider that staged home can sell faster between 3 to 50 percent and increases the selling price between 2 to 10 percent more than an unstaged home. Get your home ready to sell, both inside and outside, by home staging now!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
While Your Home Is On the Market-Protecting Your Privacy
Are your secrets safe? Before a home goes on the market and home buyers start to traipse through, savvy sellers will relocate confidential information. Even so, you might be astonished to learn what home buyers can figure out about you.
Private Documents
•Is it snooping to open a drawer?
Not if the drawer is part of a built-in such as a kitchen cabinet or a dining room china cabinet. Buyers can innocently tug on a drawer to inspect its construction or depth and find important documents that you might not intend for anyone to see.
I once opened a drawer and discovered the seller's net sheet sitting on top of her comparative market analysis, in plain view. It clearly indicated a lower price was expected, so you can guess what my buyer offered.
•Don't leave mail where anybody can find it.
Lots of sellers leave piles of opened mail neatly stacked on the kitchen counter. Buyers could find out how much you owe department stores or other credit cards. They can tell if you're late on your mortgage payments or if the I.R.S. is after you. Heaven forbid should you file bankruptcy or be sued and leave those documents on the table, but sellers do it. They must believe that buyers will not read someone else's personal mail, even when that mail is taped to the refrigerator door, begging to be read.
I've also shown vacant homes where the mail was tossed all over the floor in the entryway. Neither the seller nor his listing agent bothered to stop by and pick up the mail. It wasn't hard to figure out that much of the mail contained collection notices. If a buyer was armed with that information, guess what price the buyer would be thinking about. It wouldn't be list price.
Remove Diplomas and Wedding Photos from Walls
Notwithstanding that all personal items should be removed, sometimes sellers overlook the obvious and leave diplomas on the wall. People form biases and can carry a bias too far. For example, the seller might be a lawyer, and there are buyers who might not feel comfortable buying a home from a lawyer. For whatever reason. Diplomas also give away a seller's age or a close estimate. If a buyer sees a recent medical diploma, for example, the buyer might assume the seller is saddled with student loans and needs to sell to pay them off.
Wedding photos might give away the seller's religion, as do certain religious artifacts left in the home. Buyers can be prejudiced. Don't give buyers a way to form any opinion about you at all. Don't let buyers form ideas about you from the type of music you like or the literature you read.
Contents of Closets
Often sellers who are separating or getting divorced feel a lot of pressure to sell quickly, especially if the partner who remains in the home cannot afford to continue to maintain it. But that is not information most sellers want to share with buyers. Yet they do. They may as well toss their wallet out the car window doing 80 on the freeway.
They do this by hanging either all men's or all women's clothing in the closet. Was it a heterosexual or bisexual involvement? Who cares? It's nobody's business, really, if a seller is dissolving a relationship. But once a buyer finds out a seller desperately needs to sell, the buyer won't make an offer anywhere near list price. So don't leave any telltale clues around that could give away your motivation to sell.
Before you put your home in the market, please, prep it; empty out drawers, stage closets and pack up anything remotely personal. If your house speaks to a buyer about you, it's probably saying the wrong thing.
Private Documents
•Is it snooping to open a drawer?
Not if the drawer is part of a built-in such as a kitchen cabinet or a dining room china cabinet. Buyers can innocently tug on a drawer to inspect its construction or depth and find important documents that you might not intend for anyone to see.
I once opened a drawer and discovered the seller's net sheet sitting on top of her comparative market analysis, in plain view. It clearly indicated a lower price was expected, so you can guess what my buyer offered.
•Don't leave mail where anybody can find it.
Lots of sellers leave piles of opened mail neatly stacked on the kitchen counter. Buyers could find out how much you owe department stores or other credit cards. They can tell if you're late on your mortgage payments or if the I.R.S. is after you. Heaven forbid should you file bankruptcy or be sued and leave those documents on the table, but sellers do it. They must believe that buyers will not read someone else's personal mail, even when that mail is taped to the refrigerator door, begging to be read.
I've also shown vacant homes where the mail was tossed all over the floor in the entryway. Neither the seller nor his listing agent bothered to stop by and pick up the mail. It wasn't hard to figure out that much of the mail contained collection notices. If a buyer was armed with that information, guess what price the buyer would be thinking about. It wouldn't be list price.
Remove Diplomas and Wedding Photos from Walls
Notwithstanding that all personal items should be removed, sometimes sellers overlook the obvious and leave diplomas on the wall. People form biases and can carry a bias too far. For example, the seller might be a lawyer, and there are buyers who might not feel comfortable buying a home from a lawyer. For whatever reason. Diplomas also give away a seller's age or a close estimate. If a buyer sees a recent medical diploma, for example, the buyer might assume the seller is saddled with student loans and needs to sell to pay them off.
Wedding photos might give away the seller's religion, as do certain religious artifacts left in the home. Buyers can be prejudiced. Don't give buyers a way to form any opinion about you at all. Don't let buyers form ideas about you from the type of music you like or the literature you read.
Contents of Closets
Often sellers who are separating or getting divorced feel a lot of pressure to sell quickly, especially if the partner who remains in the home cannot afford to continue to maintain it. But that is not information most sellers want to share with buyers. Yet they do. They may as well toss their wallet out the car window doing 80 on the freeway.
They do this by hanging either all men's or all women's clothing in the closet. Was it a heterosexual or bisexual involvement? Who cares? It's nobody's business, really, if a seller is dissolving a relationship. But once a buyer finds out a seller desperately needs to sell, the buyer won't make an offer anywhere near list price. So don't leave any telltale clues around that could give away your motivation to sell.
Before you put your home in the market, please, prep it; empty out drawers, stage closets and pack up anything remotely personal. If your house speaks to a buyer about you, it's probably saying the wrong thing.
Friday, October 3, 2008
First Time Home Buyer Tips
It's not uncommon for a first-time home buyer to say to me, "Gosh, just last week I called you about buying a home and now I'm in escrow! How did this happen so fast?"
The answer is it didn't. First-time home buyers start the search long before most even realize it.
Here's what you can expect from your home shopping experience:
Figuring Out the Benefits
You should buy a home. That's what you've been hearing from friends and family, right? So, by now you have likely already weighed the benefits and decided that home ownership was the best decision for you. That's a major hurdle now passed. You are focused and certain. Good.
Defining Search Parameters
Almost 80% of all home searches today begin on the Internet. With just a few clicks of the mouse, home buyers can search through hundreds of online listings, view virtual tours, and sort through dozens of photographs and aerial shots of neighborhoods and homes. You've probably defined your goals and have a pretty good idea of the type of home and neighborhood you want. By the time you reach your real estate agent's office, you are halfway to home ownership.
How Long Should It Take to Find What You Want?
In seller's markets, often I show only one home. After all, how many homes does one family need? A few buyers will look for years, but buyers who do that aren't motivated. A motivated buyer will find a home within two weeks. Most of my buyers find a home within two days.
Good real estate agents will listen to your wants and needs and arrange to show only those homes that fit your particular parameters. Your agent should preview homes before showing them to you as well.
How Many Homes Will You See?
Studies show that the your memory dramatically improves after consumption of carbs and slows upon consuming sugar. So, layoff the soft drinks and have a hearty meal of carbs before venturing out to tour homes. The average number of homes that I show to a buyer in one day is seven. Any more than that, and the brain is on overload. Therefore, don't expect to see 20 or 30 homes; although it's physically possible to do so, you probably will not remember specific details about any of them.
The "Red Shoes" Experience
Women will relate to this. Say, you need a new pair of red shoes. You go to the mall. At the first shoe store, you find a fabulous pair of red shoes. You try them on. They fit perfectly. They are glamorous. Priced right, too. Do you buy them? Of course not! You go to every other store in the mall trying on red shoes until you are ready to drop from exhaustion. Then you return to the first store and buy those red shoes. Do not shop for a home this way. When you find the perfect home, buy it.
How to Rate Inventory
* Bring a digital camera and begin each series of photos with a close-up of the house number to identify where each group of home photos start and end.
* Take copious notes of unusual features, colors and design elements.
* Pay attention to the home's surroundings. What is next door? Do 2-story homes tower over your single story?
* Do you like the location? Is it near a park or a power plant?
* Immediately after leaving, rate each home on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.
View Top Choices a Second Time
After touring homes for a few days, you will probably instinctively know which one or two homes you would like to buy. Ask to see them again. You will see them with different eyes and notice elements that were overlooked the first go-around.
At this point, your agent should call the listing agents to find out more about the sellers' motivation and to double-check that an offer hasn't come in, making sure these homes are still available to purchase.
Making the Selection
I'll let you in on a little secret. I generally know which home a buyer is going to choose, and I suspect most other agents operate the same way. It's an intuition. But I make it a practice not to steer buyers, and I insist that buyers choose the home without interference from me. It's not my choice to make.
Real estate agents are required, however, to point out defects and should help buyers feel confident that the home selected meets the buyer's search parameters.
The answer is it didn't. First-time home buyers start the search long before most even realize it.
Here's what you can expect from your home shopping experience:
Figuring Out the Benefits
You should buy a home. That's what you've been hearing from friends and family, right? So, by now you have likely already weighed the benefits and decided that home ownership was the best decision for you. That's a major hurdle now passed. You are focused and certain. Good.
Defining Search Parameters
Almost 80% of all home searches today begin on the Internet. With just a few clicks of the mouse, home buyers can search through hundreds of online listings, view virtual tours, and sort through dozens of photographs and aerial shots of neighborhoods and homes. You've probably defined your goals and have a pretty good idea of the type of home and neighborhood you want. By the time you reach your real estate agent's office, you are halfway to home ownership.
How Long Should It Take to Find What You Want?
In seller's markets, often I show only one home. After all, how many homes does one family need? A few buyers will look for years, but buyers who do that aren't motivated. A motivated buyer will find a home within two weeks. Most of my buyers find a home within two days.
Good real estate agents will listen to your wants and needs and arrange to show only those homes that fit your particular parameters. Your agent should preview homes before showing them to you as well.
How Many Homes Will You See?
Studies show that the your memory dramatically improves after consumption of carbs and slows upon consuming sugar. So, layoff the soft drinks and have a hearty meal of carbs before venturing out to tour homes. The average number of homes that I show to a buyer in one day is seven. Any more than that, and the brain is on overload. Therefore, don't expect to see 20 or 30 homes; although it's physically possible to do so, you probably will not remember specific details about any of them.
The "Red Shoes" Experience
Women will relate to this. Say, you need a new pair of red shoes. You go to the mall. At the first shoe store, you find a fabulous pair of red shoes. You try them on. They fit perfectly. They are glamorous. Priced right, too. Do you buy them? Of course not! You go to every other store in the mall trying on red shoes until you are ready to drop from exhaustion. Then you return to the first store and buy those red shoes. Do not shop for a home this way. When you find the perfect home, buy it.
How to Rate Inventory
* Bring a digital camera and begin each series of photos with a close-up of the house number to identify where each group of home photos start and end.
* Take copious notes of unusual features, colors and design elements.
* Pay attention to the home's surroundings. What is next door? Do 2-story homes tower over your single story?
* Do you like the location? Is it near a park or a power plant?
* Immediately after leaving, rate each home on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.
View Top Choices a Second Time
After touring homes for a few days, you will probably instinctively know which one or two homes you would like to buy. Ask to see them again. You will see them with different eyes and notice elements that were overlooked the first go-around.
At this point, your agent should call the listing agents to find out more about the sellers' motivation and to double-check that an offer hasn't come in, making sure these homes are still available to purchase.
Making the Selection
I'll let you in on a little secret. I generally know which home a buyer is going to choose, and I suspect most other agents operate the same way. It's an intuition. But I make it a practice not to steer buyers, and I insist that buyers choose the home without interference from me. It's not my choice to make.
Real estate agents are required, however, to point out defects and should help buyers feel confident that the home selected meets the buyer's search parameters.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Transitioning Your Home to Fall
Accessories offer an easy way to bring fall color into your home. Here are some of my favorite quick fixes for transitioning from summer to fall.
* Glass jars: I love to fill inexpensive glass jars with Mother Nature's finest. I swap summer vacation finds like shells and sand for acorns and pinecones.
* Pillows: In the summer months I think cool, so my neutral sofa is dressed with blue and green pillows, but when the weather turns I reach for warm reds and oranges.
* Paint Colors: I think of paint as an accessory—small doses can add lots of wow in little time. My favorite weekend project is painting an accent wall, such as the one behind my mantel, to set the mood for the season.
* Glass jars: I love to fill inexpensive glass jars with Mother Nature's finest. I swap summer vacation finds like shells and sand for acorns and pinecones.
* Pillows: In the summer months I think cool, so my neutral sofa is dressed with blue and green pillows, but when the weather turns I reach for warm reds and oranges.
* Paint Colors: I think of paint as an accessory—small doses can add lots of wow in little time. My favorite weekend project is painting an accent wall, such as the one behind my mantel, to set the mood for the season.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Getting the Exterior of the House Ready to Sell
The big decision is whether to paint or not to paint. When you look at your house from across the street, does it look tired and faded? If so, a paint job may be in order. It is often a very good investment and really spruces up the appearance of a house, adding dollars to offers from potential homebuyers.
When choosing a color, it should not be something garish and unusual, but a color that fits well in your neighborhood. Of course, the color also depends on the style of your house, too. For some reason, different shades of yellow seem to illicit the best response in homebuyers, whether it is in the trim or the basic color of the house.
As for the roof, if you know your roof leaks, repair it. If you do not repair a leaky roof, you are going to have to disclose it and the buyer will want an entire new roof. If you know your roof leaks and you don't repair it and don't disclose it, look forward to hearing from lawyers at some point in the future.
Otherwise, wait and see what the home inspector says. Why spend money unnecessarily?
When choosing a color, it should not be something garish and unusual, but a color that fits well in your neighborhood. Of course, the color also depends on the style of your house, too. For some reason, different shades of yellow seem to illicit the best response in homebuyers, whether it is in the trim or the basic color of the house.
As for the roof, if you know your roof leaks, repair it. If you do not repair a leaky roof, you are going to have to disclose it and the buyer will want an entire new roof. If you know your roof leaks and you don't repair it and don't disclose it, look forward to hearing from lawyers at some point in the future.
Otherwise, wait and see what the home inspector says. Why spend money unnecessarily?
Friday, September 26, 2008
The 10 Minute Showing Drill
You may receive a call requesting a showing in the next ten minutes. The decision to allow the prospective buyers in is yours. If you elect to cooperate with the showing, the following punch list may help:
•Sound - Turn off the television. Soft classical musical is okay, but some people find it distracting.
•Sight - Turn on overly light in the house - day and night. Every window covering should be open (unless the view is unattractive).
•Smell - Heat a pan on the stove and drop in a few drops of vanilla
•Kitchen - Make sure dirty dishes are out of sight
•Bathrooms - Close toilet lids.
•Living/Family rooms - Hide clutter, magazines, newspapers, etc.
•Bedrooms - Make the beds, don’t use the closet as a hiding place - try underneath the bed.
•Exterior - Keep the walkway clear, put away trashcans and toys.
•Children & Pets Outside - You too! Let the Realtor sell your home. If you are there the buyer may feel uncomfortable voicing objections and their Agent won’t be able to respond to these objections.
•Sound - Turn off the television. Soft classical musical is okay, but some people find it distracting.
•Sight - Turn on overly light in the house - day and night. Every window covering should be open (unless the view is unattractive).
•Smell - Heat a pan on the stove and drop in a few drops of vanilla
•Kitchen - Make sure dirty dishes are out of sight
•Bathrooms - Close toilet lids.
•Living/Family rooms - Hide clutter, magazines, newspapers, etc.
•Bedrooms - Make the beds, don’t use the closet as a hiding place - try underneath the bed.
•Exterior - Keep the walkway clear, put away trashcans and toys.
•Children & Pets Outside - You too! Let the Realtor sell your home. If you are there the buyer may feel uncomfortable voicing objections and their Agent won’t be able to respond to these objections.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Taming Soaring Bills
Some of the simplest ways to save money during energy spikes include weather stripping and programmable thermostats. But you may also want to consider more expensive attic fans, high-efficiency windows, and reflective roofs.
Rising fuel costs ripple through the economy, and could spark inflation in the price of materials and labor. Home equity loans are an attractive way to finance costly home projects, and the ability to write off the interest paid on home equity loans and lines of credit may make these loans palatable for you and your family. Other benefits include possible tax credits and low-interest loans for energy-saving home projects; check with your state government to see if you qualify.
Improvements to boost energy efficiency offer other benefits. Insulating pipes reduces energy lost during hot-water delivery and prevents freeze-up damage in case your main heating system fails. And a high-efficiency natural-gas fireplace can become a valuable backup to oil or electric heating systems.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Halloween Stencils
With Halloween just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share some stencils for Jack-o-lanterns that I found. Click this to find them.
Happy Haunting!!
Happy Haunting!!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Putting Smell Back In
Just as important as getting bad smells out is putting good smells back in. There are three important smells to know about: fresh bread, cinnamon and coffee. Most houses are up for inspection over a two or three week period and people can often return for a second look, so varying your smell can be the clincher.
The fresh bread smell is achieved by buying a large white loaf and opening up its belly and pouring a bottle of vanilla essence into it and popping it into the oven at medium heat for half an hour before the inspection begins.
Remove it before the real estate man or lady arrives. The result is a home that smells of freshly baked bread which, as you know, is the warmest, cleanest, most home-caring smell there is.
Another smell that kills any other smells that might have been left behind by the cat or the parrot, is cinnamon. Simply warm a couple of tablespoons in a pan and allow the smell to invade the house.
If your home is a bit upmarket or in a trendy area, then use the famous coffee-bean ploy. Half a cup of coffee beans roasted in the oven will fill the house with the aroma of fresh coffee.
The fresh bread smell is achieved by buying a large white loaf and opening up its belly and pouring a bottle of vanilla essence into it and popping it into the oven at medium heat for half an hour before the inspection begins.
Remove it before the real estate man or lady arrives. The result is a home that smells of freshly baked bread which, as you know, is the warmest, cleanest, most home-caring smell there is.
Another smell that kills any other smells that might have been left behind by the cat or the parrot, is cinnamon. Simply warm a couple of tablespoons in a pan and allow the smell to invade the house.
If your home is a bit upmarket or in a trendy area, then use the famous coffee-bean ploy. Half a cup of coffee beans roasted in the oven will fill the house with the aroma of fresh coffee.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Smell to Sell
Home Selling Advice to Make Your Home Smell Great
1. Take out the trash before showing. That simple.
2. Tell the children to keep stinky shoes in the garage.
3. Sprinkle baking powder on the carpet before vacuuming.
4. Vinegar - your new best friend. Use vinegar to clean floors, countertops, and bathrooms. (1/2 cup to one gallon of hot water.) A stronger vinegar mix dissolves hard-water scum on shower tile and glass enclosures.
5. Add essential oil drops to final rinse for floors.
6. Use essential oils in a diffuser instead of artificial sprays that some home shoppers may find offensive; they may think you're trying to mask a bigger problem like mildew, or even worse, they may be allergic to the artificial product and think your house makes them teary-eyed and sneezy.
7. Keep up with the laundry. Wash sneakers with a half-cup of added vinegar.
8. Wash all bed linens, even blankets, which hold odors. Use non-allergic scented fabric softener.
9. Check window coverings for musty smells.
10. Run a grapefruit or orange skin through your garbage disposal for a refreshing clean smell a few minutes before showing.
You don't want to attract low offers from real estate investors. Prepare your home for sale by ridding the house of offensive odors and then add fresh scents like gardenias to stage the perfect setting - one that feels like home to buyers.
1. Take out the trash before showing. That simple.
2. Tell the children to keep stinky shoes in the garage.
3. Sprinkle baking powder on the carpet before vacuuming.
4. Vinegar - your new best friend. Use vinegar to clean floors, countertops, and bathrooms. (1/2 cup to one gallon of hot water.) A stronger vinegar mix dissolves hard-water scum on shower tile and glass enclosures.
5. Add essential oil drops to final rinse for floors.
6. Use essential oils in a diffuser instead of artificial sprays that some home shoppers may find offensive; they may think you're trying to mask a bigger problem like mildew, or even worse, they may be allergic to the artificial product and think your house makes them teary-eyed and sneezy.
7. Keep up with the laundry. Wash sneakers with a half-cup of added vinegar.
8. Wash all bed linens, even blankets, which hold odors. Use non-allergic scented fabric softener.
9. Check window coverings for musty smells.
10. Run a grapefruit or orange skin through your garbage disposal for a refreshing clean smell a few minutes before showing.
You don't want to attract low offers from real estate investors. Prepare your home for sale by ridding the house of offensive odors and then add fresh scents like gardenias to stage the perfect setting - one that feels like home to buyers.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Ceilings, Walls, and Painting
Check all the ceilings for water stains, whether the leak is caused by plumbing or a faulty roof. Find the leak and repair it and make sure a proper job is done. Nothing irritates a buyer more than finding out-after the fact-about plumbing or roofing leaks. They will be talking about calling a lawyer faster than your car engine starts when you turn the ignition key.
If a water stain is left after something you have already repaired, do the cosmetic work necessary to improve the desirability of your home. That means painting.
You may have to paint anyway, especially if dirt has accumulated in spots or you have an outdated color scheme. Painting makes a home look fresh and new on the inside and never fails to impress.
Painting can be your best investment when selling your home. It is not a very expensive operation and often you can do it yourself. Do not choose colors based on your own preferences, but based on what would appeal to the widest possible number of buyers. You should almost always choose an off-white color because white helps your rooms appear bright and spacious.
If a water stain is left after something you have already repaired, do the cosmetic work necessary to improve the desirability of your home. That means painting.
You may have to paint anyway, especially if dirt has accumulated in spots or you have an outdated color scheme. Painting makes a home look fresh and new on the inside and never fails to impress.
Painting can be your best investment when selling your home. It is not a very expensive operation and often you can do it yourself. Do not choose colors based on your own preferences, but based on what would appeal to the widest possible number of buyers. You should almost always choose an off-white color because white helps your rooms appear bright and spacious.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Kitchen Clutter
The kitchen is a good place to start removing clutter because it is an easy place to start.
First, get everything off the counters. Everything. Even the toaster. Put the toaster in a cabinet and take it out when you use it. Find a place where you can store everything in cabinets and drawers. Of course, you may notice that you do not have cabinet space to put everything. Clean them out. The dishes, pots and pans that rarely get used? Put them in a box and put that box in storage.
You see, homebuyers will open all your cabinets and drawers, especially in the kitchen. They want to be sure there is enough room for their "stuff." If your kitchen cabinets, pantries, and drawers look jammed full, it sends a negative message to the buyer and does not promote an image of plentiful storage space. The best way to do that is to have as much "empty space" as possible.
For that reason, if you have a "junk drawer," get rid of the junk. If you have a rarely used crockpot, put it is storage. Do this with every cabinet and drawer. Create open space.
If you have a large amount of food crammed into the shelves or pantry, begin using them - especially canned goods. Canned goods are heavy and you don't want to be lugging them to a new house anyway-or paying a mover to do so. Let what you have on the shelves determine your menus and use up as much as you can.
Beneath the sink is very critical too. Make sure the area beneath the sink is as empty as possible, removing all extra cleaning supplies. You should scrub the area down as well, and determine if there are any tell-tale sings of water leaks that may cause a homebuyer to hesitate in buying your home.
First, get everything off the counters. Everything. Even the toaster. Put the toaster in a cabinet and take it out when you use it. Find a place where you can store everything in cabinets and drawers. Of course, you may notice that you do not have cabinet space to put everything. Clean them out. The dishes, pots and pans that rarely get used? Put them in a box and put that box in storage.
You see, homebuyers will open all your cabinets and drawers, especially in the kitchen. They want to be sure there is enough room for their "stuff." If your kitchen cabinets, pantries, and drawers look jammed full, it sends a negative message to the buyer and does not promote an image of plentiful storage space. The best way to do that is to have as much "empty space" as possible.
For that reason, if you have a "junk drawer," get rid of the junk. If you have a rarely used crockpot, put it is storage. Do this with every cabinet and drawer. Create open space.
If you have a large amount of food crammed into the shelves or pantry, begin using them - especially canned goods. Canned goods are heavy and you don't want to be lugging them to a new house anyway-or paying a mover to do so. Let what you have on the shelves determine your menus and use up as much as you can.
Beneath the sink is very critical too. Make sure the area beneath the sink is as empty as possible, removing all extra cleaning supplies. You should scrub the area down as well, and determine if there are any tell-tale sings of water leaks that may cause a homebuyer to hesitate in buying your home.
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