Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Do you pass the yardstick test?
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell--Does Each Room
Pass the Yardstick Test?
Have you decided to put your home up
for sale? After you have done the standard steps--clean, de-clutter,
and complete all deferred maintenance items--it's time to take a
serious look at each room in your house and determine if the furniture
placement highlights the spaciousness of the room.
Even small spaces can feel large if
the furniture is well placed. One of the biggest issues seen in homes
on the market today is either too much furniture or awkward furniture
arrangement. Either of these usually results in constricted traffic
flows throughout rooms.
If there isn't ample space to walk
around and/or through rooms, buyers will feel that the home is not
large enough for them, has insufficient room to entertain
family/friends, and just does not feel comfortable. So try this simple yardstick test and see if the major rooms in your home pass.
First, find a standard yardstick or a tape measure that extends and locks in at 36".
Then, starting at your foyer, turn the yardstick horizontally, center
it on your body with your arms extended straight by your sides and
start walking through your house following the major traffic patterns.
Take note of where the yardstick will not pass through without
angling it. Dining rooms are common places where this happens as they
seem to accumulate extra furniture. In the dining room in the the
photo below you will see that there is only 18" between the back of
the chairs and the glass side table. This is the main walk way
through the dining room. What message is this sending to a potential
buyer?
You're just not looking for the yardstick to fit between
two pieces of furniture either. Check the distances between the
furniture and the walls, or that stack of boxes and other items that
have been collecting in corners of rooms, a large potted plant and/or
the bar stools and kitchen island that extend into the great room.
Just keep walking and noting the distances. On to the bedrooms, where
dresser drawers often open into mattresses and multi-purpose rooms
(like offices) share space with large-scale pieces of exercise
equipment or double as guest bedrooms. How about your childrens'
bedrooms with the bed, dresser, desks, bookshelf and stacks of toys?
And let's not forget about hallways that have accumulated bookshelves,
display pieces or wall-mounted shelves. Just how many places do you
need to turn that yardstick sideways to slip through, as in this photo
below. There is only 23" of space here. Notice how generous the
space is beyond the yardstick towards the top of the photo. Yet the
furniture placement literally acts like a funnel and constricts the
traffic flow between rooms. Potential buyers will "feel" this.
So, now that you've checked your
whole house, did it pass? Most homes have numerous areas like the
above photos and these do need to be addressed before you place your
home on the market. That means it's time to move furniture or remove
furniture. The glass table in the dining room above should be removed
to open up the walkway. The desk and chair in the second photo
should be moved to another area where they will be more functional so
the traffic pattern will open up.
What may be acceptable in terms of
interior design furniture placement may be entirely too constricting
when you want to sell your home. Selling is all about showing
the space, not the furnishings, so if there are furnishings that are
hiding your "space" remove them to storage. Think about two
buyers and possibly two agents circulating through your home for a
tour. Can they all comfortably stand in one room and discuss the
merits of your home?
Have the solutions? Good, time to
get to work. Stumped? Then it's time to call a qualified home
stager. A home stager can quickly help you open up those clogged
traffic patterns and make each room welcoming to a buyer. That's their
specialty. They will also identify other areas of your home that
could be addressed to improve the saleability of your home, whether
that is paint color, accessories or furniture arrangement. CALL HOME AND CURB APPEAL LLC - 262-893-5555
Feel free to call me for a consultation. And, yes, I'll bring the yardstick!
Monday, July 14, 2014
Tips for Renting Your First Apartment
Tips for Renting Your First Apartment
A guide to apartment-hunting in a challenging market, whether you’re flying solo or with roommates.
This year's graduates may be entering a
slightly better job market than their 2010 or 2011 counterparts, but
many will face a tighter rental market. As buying property loses its
allure for some, increased demand and lower vacancy in rental units is
driving up prices throughout the country. According to the Census
Bureau, the median asking rent for rental units nationwide was $721 in
the first quarter of this year, up from $683 first quarter last year.
"Occupancy rates are the highest they've been in 10 years," says Doug Culkin, president and CEO of the National Apartment Association. "Nationally, they're at about 96 percent, which is incredibly high. It'll be harder for kids coming out of college [to afford an apartment] unless Mom and Dad are paying for it."
Of course, that's not to say apartment-hunting has been easy for other recession-era grads. In 2010, when Rebecca Odell moved to Columbus, Ohio, for an internship, she had the dual challenges of a limited budget and a long-distance apartment search. "Taking a post-grad internship narrowed my apartment choices because I needed to find a place that I could afford, especially working on an intern's budget, and where I would feel safe," she says.
After an extensive online search, Odell narrowed the field to four apartments and drove the two hours to view all four on the same day. The apartment she chose was a short-term sublease within a multi-family house, but she's since moved in with a roommate to save money, as many recent grads do.
Here's how to rent your first apartment in a challenging market, whether you're flying solo or searching with roommates.
• Set a realistic budget based on the area. The conventional wisdom is to spend no more than 30 percent of your annual income on housing costs. But given low entry-level salaries and high housing costs, you may need to budget a little more if you're living in expensive urban markets like New York City or San Francisco. "It totally depends on where you live," says Ornella Grosz, a speaker and author of Moneylicious: A Financial Clue for Generation Y. "You want to have a benchmark, but you don't want to spend your entire paycheck on rent." Websites like Rentometer.com and RentJungle.com/comparerent can give you an idea of rents in your target neighborhood so you can budget accordingly.
Splitting the rent with roommates can help cut costs, but you'll want to screen roommates carefully and "make sure they're people you'd actually want to live with," as Grosz puts it. You may like hanging out with friends from college, but that doesn't mean you'll enjoy cleaning up their messes or sharing a bathroom. Before signing a lease together, ask prospective roommates how they want to handle chores, guests, bills, and other issues.
Once you find a potential apartment, ask about possible rent increases to gauge how quickly you could be priced out of that apartment. "Do they anticipate rental prices going up?" asks Grosz. "How do they justify increases in prices?"
• Budget for the extras. In addition to paying rent, you may also be responsible for paying bills like electricity, heat, and cable. Odell adjusted her price range once she discovered that some higher-priced apartments included utilities, which made her overall costs lower than paying rent and utilities separately.
If you're on the hook for utilities, factor those expenses into your budget. Often, you can find out what the previous tenants paid by calling the utility provider and giving them the address. "Of course, your use might be different," points out Bill Deegan, CEO of Renter Nation (formerly the American Tenants Association).
• Position yourself as a desirable tenant. Rentals move quickly in competitive markets, so have your references and checkbook ready when you start searching. In some markets, you'll be expected to pay a security deposit, first and last month's rent, a nonrefundable application fee, and possibly a broker or finder's fee before moving in, all of which can amount to several times the monthly rent.
Having Mom and Dad cosign on an apartment (if they're willing) could give prospective landlords peace of mind about renting to someone without a long credit or employment history. However, if you don't have a cosigner, Grosz suggests guaranteeing extra money upfront to show landlords that you're financially responsible. Carrying a letter from your employer as proof of employment is another option. Prospective landlords may also want to run a credit check, so try to clear up any issues on your credit report before starting your search.
• Scope out the neighborhood. Real estate agents have a saying: "location, location, location." This rings true for apartments as well as houses. Choose an apartment based solely on the interior, and you may wind up in a less-than-desirable neighborhood, far from friends or work. If you're relocating for a job, Culkin suggests asking your employer for recommendations on neighborhoods. Walkscore.com can give you a sense of how walkable an area is based on proximity to public transportation, restaurants, grocery stores, and other places.
Also look at how the building or area is maintained. "If it's a high-rise, are there lights out in the hallways? Is the lighting in the parking lot adequate?" asks Deegan. If not, it could be a sign that management will be slow to respond to tenants' concerns.
+
• Conduct a thorough walk-through. Some people will rent off of Craigslist without seeing an apartment in person, which can lead to problems later, according to Deegan. "Any prospective tenant should make sure everything works: the stove, the refrigerator, any appliances, and make sure the water runs hot for half an hour if you take long showers," he says. Also document any preexisting issues like scratches on the floor or holes in the wall so they won't get deducted from your security deposit when you move out.
• Get everything in writing. Large apartment communities typically have you sign a lease, but individual property owners or landlords may be more lax about paperwork. Whatever the scenario, don't rely on a handshake to seal the deal. According to Grosz, your lease should answer questions like, "how much notification do you need to give to move out? Is your security deposit refundable? Are you responsible for fixing up the apartment when you leave?" If you're uncertain about anything in your lease, have someone else review it. In fact, your college may offer lease-review services to students and recent grads.
"Occupancy rates are the highest they've been in 10 years," says Doug Culkin, president and CEO of the National Apartment Association. "Nationally, they're at about 96 percent, which is incredibly high. It'll be harder for kids coming out of college [to afford an apartment] unless Mom and Dad are paying for it."
Of course, that's not to say apartment-hunting has been easy for other recession-era grads. In 2010, when Rebecca Odell moved to Columbus, Ohio, for an internship, she had the dual challenges of a limited budget and a long-distance apartment search. "Taking a post-grad internship narrowed my apartment choices because I needed to find a place that I could afford, especially working on an intern's budget, and where I would feel safe," she says.
After an extensive online search, Odell narrowed the field to four apartments and drove the two hours to view all four on the same day. The apartment she chose was a short-term sublease within a multi-family house, but she's since moved in with a roommate to save money, as many recent grads do.
Here's how to rent your first apartment in a challenging market, whether you're flying solo or searching with roommates.
• Set a realistic budget based on the area. The conventional wisdom is to spend no more than 30 percent of your annual income on housing costs. But given low entry-level salaries and high housing costs, you may need to budget a little more if you're living in expensive urban markets like New York City or San Francisco. "It totally depends on where you live," says Ornella Grosz, a speaker and author of Moneylicious: A Financial Clue for Generation Y. "You want to have a benchmark, but you don't want to spend your entire paycheck on rent." Websites like Rentometer.com and RentJungle.com/comparerent can give you an idea of rents in your target neighborhood so you can budget accordingly.
Splitting the rent with roommates can help cut costs, but you'll want to screen roommates carefully and "make sure they're people you'd actually want to live with," as Grosz puts it. You may like hanging out with friends from college, but that doesn't mean you'll enjoy cleaning up their messes or sharing a bathroom. Before signing a lease together, ask prospective roommates how they want to handle chores, guests, bills, and other issues.
Once you find a potential apartment, ask about possible rent increases to gauge how quickly you could be priced out of that apartment. "Do they anticipate rental prices going up?" asks Grosz. "How do they justify increases in prices?"
• Budget for the extras. In addition to paying rent, you may also be responsible for paying bills like electricity, heat, and cable. Odell adjusted her price range once she discovered that some higher-priced apartments included utilities, which made her overall costs lower than paying rent and utilities separately.
If you're on the hook for utilities, factor those expenses into your budget. Often, you can find out what the previous tenants paid by calling the utility provider and giving them the address. "Of course, your use might be different," points out Bill Deegan, CEO of Renter Nation (formerly the American Tenants Association).
• Position yourself as a desirable tenant. Rentals move quickly in competitive markets, so have your references and checkbook ready when you start searching. In some markets, you'll be expected to pay a security deposit, first and last month's rent, a nonrefundable application fee, and possibly a broker or finder's fee before moving in, all of which can amount to several times the monthly rent.
Having Mom and Dad cosign on an apartment (if they're willing) could give prospective landlords peace of mind about renting to someone without a long credit or employment history. However, if you don't have a cosigner, Grosz suggests guaranteeing extra money upfront to show landlords that you're financially responsible. Carrying a letter from your employer as proof of employment is another option. Prospective landlords may also want to run a credit check, so try to clear up any issues on your credit report before starting your search.
• Scope out the neighborhood. Real estate agents have a saying: "location, location, location." This rings true for apartments as well as houses. Choose an apartment based solely on the interior, and you may wind up in a less-than-desirable neighborhood, far from friends or work. If you're relocating for a job, Culkin suggests asking your employer for recommendations on neighborhoods. Walkscore.com can give you a sense of how walkable an area is based on proximity to public transportation, restaurants, grocery stores, and other places.
Also look at how the building or area is maintained. "If it's a high-rise, are there lights out in the hallways? Is the lighting in the parking lot adequate?" asks Deegan. If not, it could be a sign that management will be slow to respond to tenants' concerns.
+
• Conduct a thorough walk-through. Some people will rent off of Craigslist without seeing an apartment in person, which can lead to problems later, according to Deegan. "Any prospective tenant should make sure everything works: the stove, the refrigerator, any appliances, and make sure the water runs hot for half an hour if you take long showers," he says. Also document any preexisting issues like scratches on the floor or holes in the wall so they won't get deducted from your security deposit when you move out.
• Get everything in writing. Large apartment communities typically have you sign a lease, but individual property owners or landlords may be more lax about paperwork. Whatever the scenario, don't rely on a handshake to seal the deal. According to Grosz, your lease should answer questions like, "how much notification do you need to give to move out? Is your security deposit refundable? Are you responsible for fixing up the apartment when you leave?" If you're uncertain about anything in your lease, have someone else review it. In fact, your college may offer lease-review services to students and recent grads.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
The Ten Commandments When Applying for a Real Estate Loan
The Ten Commandments When Applying for a
Real Estate Loan
1. Thou shalt not change jobs, become self-employed or quit your job.
2. Thou shalt not buy a car, truck or van (or you may be living in it)!
3. Thou shalt not use charge cards excessively or let your accounts fall behind.
4. Thou shalt not spend money you have set aside for closing.
5. Thou shalt not omit debts or liabilities from your loan application.
6. Thou shalt not buy furniture.
7. Thou shalt not originate any inquiries into your credit.
8. Thou shalt not make large deposits without first checking with your loan officer.
9. Thou shalt not change bank accounts.
10. Thou shalt not co-sign a loan for anyone.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Bathroom Make-over for Less than $100
Home Staging Advice -
Bathroom Make-over for Less than $100
Bathroom are usually overlooked when it comes to home staging.
To have a big impact, it is usually the simple changes that can have a huge impact.
To have a big impact, it is usually the simple changes that can have a huge impact.
First, it is extremely important that your bathroom be sparkling clean and that all personal items are put away.
Second, fresh towels can make a great first impression and can tie together the color in a bathroom.
Third, paint is always a great way to improve the look of any bathroom.
Here is the Bathroom Before
Here is the Bathroom After
By removing the clutter, painting the walls a more neutral color, and a few well placed accessories, this bathroom has been transformed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)