I have been looking to give my house a fresh new look not only from the inside but also from the outside. In fact I have been advised that the exterior of the house needs some urgent attention. I have a few things in my mind, one of which is to place a weather vane on its rooftop. Weathervanes can be a cool way to change the whole feel of your house from the outside of course. If some of you are confused as to what a weather vane actually is then don`t be…. it is just an instrument to show the direction of the wind. However, people generally use it for decorative purpose. When I went to Australia last year I saw many buildings having weathervanes, which was adding a lot of class to their overall outdoor décor. I thought it would be a nice idea for me to implement some of those designs & ideas in here & I see no harm in trying them out after some professional advice of course from some of the exterior decorators. I believe the house exteriors, is something that is very limited in scope if and when you decide to change the look of it without having to do some wholesale changes.
Archive for the Category "House"
Selling a house ought to be as simple as putting a “For Sale” sign on the front lawn. Ideally, buyers would see your sign, knock on your door, and write you a check for your asking price. Since, however, houses don’t sell that way, most people are going to use a real estate agent. But knowing how to find a Realtor® can be tough.
The internet, friend recommendations, and traditional advertising will give you a list of Realtors® in your area. Your job is to interview prospective agents. After all, you are hiring someone to work for you. Here are some things to keep in mind:
1. Is your agent qualified? Most people buying or selling homes want a Realtor® because of their high standards of excellence and ethics. Only members of the National Association of Realtors® can use the term “Realtor®”.
2. How will your Realtor® get your house ready to sell? It’s recommended that your agent help you get a home stager, who will assist you in highlighting the wonderful things about your home while downplaying any problems it may have. Ask what arrangements will be made to have your home showcased in the best light.
3. What arrangement will be made to show your house? Having your home continually ready to show is tough. A good real estate agent should make appointments as easy as possible. Your convenience and comfort should be a part of the showing process.
4. Will your real estate agent truly be your agent? You need a good negotiator as you go through the financial, legal and logistical processes leading to closing. Your agent should use her professional expertise to show you the best choices to make, help you understand difficult vocabulary and complicated paperwork. When you speak to your prospective Realtor®, does she explain things so you can get a true understanding?
5. What will happen when problems arise? Hurdles are an inevitable a part of every sale. No house sells without a few hiccups. Your agent should help you feel secure that any problems you encounter will be overcome. Have him tell you about problems he has had with previous sales, and what he did to get them solved.
6. Are you comfortable with the agent? A good agent will be someone that communicates with you well. He won’t make you feel your questions are silly or trivial. She won’t use words you can’t understand. You won’t feel pressured or intimidated. You’ll be able to work together to find a buyer for your house.
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Today’s market has robbed many seller’s of their equity; years, of hopeful financial security for retirement have vanished. All of us, assumed that the market would continue to grow and that we could expect our 
homes’ value to double about every 10 years on average. It’s no wonder that more and more seller’s are attempting to sell without the help of a real estate agent.
First off, some facts, any research on the internet will validate that approximately 14% of all homes SOLD are For Sale By Owner. That means, almost 80% of all homes SOLD are through Realtors and through the MLS. If you’re trying to avoid that commission, then you’d better roll up your shirt sleeves and get to work.
1. Decide what your home is worth. Most Sellers don’t have a clue. Remember, if you set the market price of your home to high then you run the risk of putting off buyers. The longer it sets on the market the more likely it will become will become wary and believe something is wrong with your home. Pricing is #1 most important job. If you price it to high, it will set. If you price it too low, most likely, you’ll get multiple offers. Experienced Realtors know the market shifts, and understand how to speculate on the best price to sell in the least amount of time. Ask a Realtor to do a CMA (comparative market analysis).
2. Roll up your sleeves and clean, clean, clean. Make everything sparkle, especially kitchens and bathrooms. You want your home to appear warm and inviting. Brighten up rooms with bright lights, fresh paint, and de-clutter. Remove all of the family pictures and momentos. Keep it simple. Keep in mind you’re trying to sell a house. Stage your home so that your buyers can imagine their lives in your home.
3. Marketing your home is challenging. Make sure you get a sign up with directional arrows. Much is made of the internet, just check out Zillow.com and other for sale by owner sites. Craigslist.com is an excellent choice. If you should use print media, make sure they put it online. Newspapers charge for the classified ads, but usually run the ads online for free. Remember only 14% of homes are sold by owners, the remainder are SOLD by Realtors through the MLS. Creative Realtors are now offering a flat fee MLS service for a nominal up front fee. The typical fee is around $399. Just remember, if a buyers agent provides a buyer for your home, then you would only pay one commission.
4. Next get your paperwork and legal professionals in order. Interview attorneys and closing/title officers and select the one that seems the most willing to help with all the stressful details. You’ll need offers to purchase, disclosures, etc.
5. Finally, if you get an offer, make sure your buyer has been pre-approved. Mortgage lenders will provide you with a written pre-approval letter. Many disheartened For Sale by Owner sellers have left the closing table only to discover that their buyer couldn’t afford the home. They leave empty handed and have to start the sales process all over.
So….you’d like to sell your house? Great! Everyone’s doing it. But this is your first time and you’ll be doing the sale yourself. Nervous? Of course!
Showing Your Home
It bothers me…
When buyers come to visit, make sure there is nothing about your house that will distract them. Make sure the entrance door is clean, and if it’s winter time, make sure the snow has been cleared.
Ensure that the entranceway is well lit and doesn’t look in disarray. Remove coats and other clothing from their field of vision, no skis by the doorway, no ball or other play objects that may obstruct the path or cause them to trip over. A buyer who trips in your house is a terrible way to start.
Dust collectors.
Buyers must feel that the seller has taste and class. Get rid of clutter before their visit. Dust collecting trophies and souvenir items bought during trips can make an ugly sight especially if they’re too close to one another without any order and are thick with dust!
Surround yourself with beauty.
Of course be old-fashioned: good lights and flowers would be nice (not too much though – your buyer could be allergic to flower scents).
I knew you’d ask that!
Putting up signs to answer frequent questions can save you time. It’s also an efficient way to let you give the tour without being interrupted too many times.
Signs can include things like: condo fees are $150.00 per month, appliances, fixtures and draperies are included with the sale, garage and garden equipment are included, china not included, there are 8 phone jacks on the first floor and 3 on the second floor, there is a wireless connection, shelves are included, etc.
Children OK, animals NO!
Get your pets out of the way. You won’t know in advance who is allergic to dogs and cats. Plus the barking of dogs and the meowing of cats can be very distracting, and an annoyance for non-pet lovers.
Who’s that standing by the door?
Before buyers come, it’s good to have a closer. The closer should be clearly visible to buyers, and should be near the door so he/she can keep track of buyers who arrive and leave the property.
The closer can usually tell by your instincts who are the interested buyers. When the closer asks if they want to know how the bidding process works, those who are not interested will simply say no and leave.