For many this time of year, after months or years of thinking, dreaming and planning, the decision has finally been made to go forward with moving which means selling their home. These kinds of life events take a long time to materialize into action. It’s an important step. Meanwhile, their home is still where they live their daily lives. It’s difficult to turn that home which supports them every day into a home that is ready for the market. But it has to be done if they want to be successful. That definitely means completing any repairs or updates that need doing, and brightening up the inside and out with fresh paint where needed, but it also requires depersonalizing the decor from an overabundance of family photos and all the personal mementos laying about…and yes, removing all the patterned wallpaper in a few rooms that they just loved 15 years ago. No one else will want that same wallpaper (or any wallpaper for that matter these days) or want to be faced with doing that removal project. The idea is to make the home inviting and void of any issues that would deter a prospective purchaser. When someone comes to look at the home, they are trying to project themselves into the home. If they see themselves there, then the chances are likely they will buy it.
Market Ready
Posted on May 10th, 2011 by Richard. Categories: For Home SellersDay for Mom
Posted on May 8th, 2011 by Richard. Categories: Holidays
People everywhere celebrated and participated in their own way today, Mothers Day. Cards or phone calls. Presents large and small. Gatherings of all kinds or a meal out. Most Moms don’t really care so much about how elaborate the response, for as the saying goes, “it’s just the thought that counts”…just being remembered. As it turned out maybe the best gift of all was just the day itself. It’s a beauty, with sunny skies and a few clouds thrown in for personality, a light breeze occasionally and moderately warm temps.
Rehab Reservations
Posted on May 6th, 2011 by Richard. Categories: For Investors
As the market slowed during the last few years, it’s been obvious that fewer speculators were choosing to purchase homes with the idea in mind to rehab them and sell for profit soon after. While once that was a steady portion of the market, that part seems to have dried up almost entirely in recent years. A few projects still go forward, but it takes sober insight by an experienced rehaber and just the right circumstances, such as an extremely good buy on just the right home in just the right neighborhood for it to work. That’s always been the formula for success on these kinds of ventures but critically even more so lately. One can get caught really easily holding the property with any hope of profit disappearing unless the situation is perfect. Some would-be entrepeneurs have had to sell at a significant loss in order to stop the bleeding as holding cost mount up every day the property is unsold. An attractive low price on a bank owned foreclosure for instance, may entice someone to think about rehabing a home for profit. That still could be something worthwhile, but one should proceed with caution and reserve. As the market continues to stabilize, that segment of the market will improve just like everything else. Driven by consumer optimism or lack thereof, every job created here and a hiring there improves that one consumer at a time.
Unwrapped
Posted on May 4th, 2011 by Richard. Categories: Sports & Recreation
You know the seasonal shift will be heading into Summer soon when you see watercraft waking up from their dry-docked, shrink-wrapped slumber to become actual functioning, floating boats again. Workers have been unwinterizing them one after another here at Geist Marina.
Homeowners Insurance Credits
Posted on May 2nd, 2011 by Richard. Categories: Real Estate Perspective 
Is your homeowners insurance premium as low as it could be? It might be time to talk with your homeowners insurance agent to see if you qualify for any credits. Reviewing this occasionally is a good idea, but especially these days with rising costs on just about everything, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look. Credits vary company to company, but here are some of the things that some insurance companies give discounts for. 1-Alarm credits (central monitored burglar and fire systems, smoke alarms, dead bolts, fire extinguishers, in-home sprinklers and gated communities); 2-Loss-free discount (increases for more time gone by without a claim); 3-Age of home discount; 4-Mature homeowner discount; 5-Multi-policy credit (automobiles or other insurance with same company); 6-Raise deductible amount for lower premium; 7-First-time home buyer credit; 8-Financial stability (higher credit scores earn better rates).
