There was a time people thought the world was flat. At another point
in history it was believed that women didn't have the know-how to run
a business or change a tire. Then there was the one about man not
being able to fly. Over time all of these fairytales have proven
untrue.
So it is with interior design. Until recently, many people held the
belief that having their home decorated by an interior designer was
reserved for the rich and famous. Nothing could be further from the
truth.
Fact is, many people of average income who live in a middleclass
neighborhood are frequently surprised to learn they can easily afford
the services of an interior designer. In other cases, many folks
prefer to learn tips about design so they have the flexibility to
redo a room on a whim. Either way, you have more choices today then
ever before.
It is not uncommon to completely redo a room for a one time social
event such as a birthday celebration, a graduation or a wedding. With
some simple tips, even the most inexperienced person can easily
spruce up a room.
Before you begin, think about the style you are interested in. Is it
art deco, traditional, Mediterranean, western, modern, or
contemporary? These are only a few of the multitude of choices you
have. Think through how functional the room will be with what you
have in mind. Avoid rugs and chairs that stain easily if there will
be a lot of traffic in the room.
Be very careful to scale your furniture to the size of the room. If
you have a very large space you can break up the area into little
sitting groups or area groups. You can easily shift the "feel" of a
room with the use of lighting and/or plants. Area rugs are another
tool many designers use to break up large spaces. A variety of paint
colors and wall textures can make even the most mundane room come to
life.
Small space decorating is fast becoming a favorite topic for many
people as real estate prices rise. Think priorities when it comes to
small spaces. Do you need to use an area of the room for more than
one reason? In some cases you can easily convert the kitchen table to
your workspace provided you have cabinet space handy for supplies. A
chest of drawers can easily serve this purpose by holding office
supplies, linens, or even computer components.
If you are considering utilizing the services of a designer, do your
homework. Check their portfolio and references. Find out how they are
to work with, did they deliver on time, were they easy to work with
and did they listen to the homeowner. If you get an affirmative
answer on all of these and their fees are suitable to your budget,
then take the leap. Often, interior designs services are provided at
no additional cost to you, and will give you the extra edge you need
to create exactly the feeling you want for your home.
A great designer can make recommendations you may not have thought
of. Ultimately, their goal is for you to be ecstatic with what you
were able to accomplish together. After all, you are the one that has
to live in the space long after the designer has done their magic.
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/cozyhome.html
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Using Color Tricks in Home Décor
Just as a painter uses color to fool the eye and to create mood
in fine art, so the designer can use color to fool the eye in
home décor. Here are a few tips for the creative DIY designer
(that's YOU!) dealing with problem spaces.
1. Long or large room. Try painting a warm color on one wall in
a predominately white room. The warm wall will appear to
advance, making the room seem smaller or shorter.
2. Short room. Paint one wall a cool color, while leaving the
rest of the walls warm. The cool wall will appear to draw
back, making the room seem longer.
3. High ceilings. If you want a more intimate feel in a room
with high ceilings, paint the ceiling a darker color. You
can also lower it further by painting the top part of the
wall (say, 12" or so) with the same ceiling color.
4. Low ceilings. If you want to make the ceilings appear higher,
paint the ceiling a light color and bring the wall color 6'
or so onto the ceiling.
5. Another trick for making the walls appear higher is to paint
the baseboards the same color as the walls. This makes the
room appear taller (just like in fashion!)
Get the picture? Warm = advancing. Cool = receding. Easy!
Hmmmm... do you think that something cool would help my
advancing weight? Ice cream is cool, right? That's it! I'm
off to fool my eye into thinking I am slim! Tom and Jerry,
here I come!
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/colortricks.html
in fine art, so the designer can use color to fool the eye in
home décor. Here are a few tips for the creative DIY designer
(that's YOU!) dealing with problem spaces.
1. Long or large room. Try painting a warm color on one wall in
a predominately white room. The warm wall will appear to
advance, making the room seem smaller or shorter.
2. Short room. Paint one wall a cool color, while leaving the
rest of the walls warm. The cool wall will appear to draw
back, making the room seem longer.
3. High ceilings. If you want a more intimate feel in a room
with high ceilings, paint the ceiling a darker color. You
can also lower it further by painting the top part of the
wall (say, 12" or so) with the same ceiling color.
4. Low ceilings. If you want to make the ceilings appear higher,
paint the ceiling a light color and bring the wall color 6'
or so onto the ceiling.
5. Another trick for making the walls appear higher is to paint
the baseboards the same color as the walls. This makes the
room appear taller (just like in fashion!)
Get the picture? Warm = advancing. Cool = receding. Easy!
Hmmmm... do you think that something cool would help my
advancing weight? Ice cream is cool, right? That's it! I'm
off to fool my eye into thinking I am slim! Tom and Jerry,
here I come!
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/colortricks.html
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Budget Kitchen Makeover Ideas
If your house is like mine, your family spends a lot of time in the kitchen (you
remember the kitchen? The room where you microwave those TV dinners, pop the
popcorn and open soup cans?)
Contrary to what those up-scale style magazines say, you don't need to spend a
fortune to update the look of your kitchen (unless you won the lottery, in which case,
you are more than welcome to come update mine!). Here are a few simple and
inexpensive ways to give your kitchen some pizzazz!
1. If you have solid wood cabinets, strip the color or finish. Then apply a new stain
with a couple of drops (or squeezes!) of yellow or green oil pigment (available at your
local craft store) added. The color will have more depth and more drama!
2. Experiment with molding from your local home improvement store. Use different
types of molding to create interesting effects. Don't confine yourself to the expected -
a rectangle in the center. Try a narrow strip across the top or bottom - or for a
dramatic effect, try a diagonal strip with the handles attached at the same diagonal.
3. Try adding beadboard as a backsplash for a traditional or country kitchen. Be sure
to cover with a quality paint that can be scrubbed!
4. Want a Tuscan look? Mount terracotta or stone pavers as a backsplash! Apply
matching or contrasting mortar to customize the look.
5. For an even more inexpensive look, use vinyl floor tiles in a stone or mosaic pattern
as a backsplash. There are some wonderful vinyl tiles available today! You can create
a whole new look for under $30!
6. Try replacing your conventional doors with window shutters for a plantation look.
7. Try adding color to white cabinets by painting small frames red. Ask your children
to paint flowers or scenes on white paper. Then mount the paintings in the small
frames and attach two or three (depending on the proportions of your cabinets) to the
front of each door. Voila! Your own art
gallery! (And you can change the paintings anytime you want!
8. Glue inexpensive rectangles cut from woven grass placemats to your cabinet
doors. Frame with strips of molding to simulate grass or rattan inserts.
9. Cork squares can also be used as dramatic interest when glued to the front of
bland cabinets. And the cork is useful! You will have message boards on each
cabinet!
See? A dramatic makeover in your kitchen takes just a few inexpensive touches! Now,
if only I could get a cooking makeover that easily, my husband would be a happy man!
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/budgetkitchen.html
remember the kitchen? The room where you microwave those TV dinners, pop the
popcorn and open soup cans?)
Contrary to what those up-scale style magazines say, you don't need to spend a
fortune to update the look of your kitchen (unless you won the lottery, in which case,
you are more than welcome to come update mine!). Here are a few simple and
inexpensive ways to give your kitchen some pizzazz!
1. If you have solid wood cabinets, strip the color or finish. Then apply a new stain
with a couple of drops (or squeezes!) of yellow or green oil pigment (available at your
local craft store) added. The color will have more depth and more drama!
2. Experiment with molding from your local home improvement store. Use different
types of molding to create interesting effects. Don't confine yourself to the expected -
a rectangle in the center. Try a narrow strip across the top or bottom - or for a
dramatic effect, try a diagonal strip with the handles attached at the same diagonal.
3. Try adding beadboard as a backsplash for a traditional or country kitchen. Be sure
to cover with a quality paint that can be scrubbed!
4. Want a Tuscan look? Mount terracotta or stone pavers as a backsplash! Apply
matching or contrasting mortar to customize the look.
5. For an even more inexpensive look, use vinyl floor tiles in a stone or mosaic pattern
as a backsplash. There are some wonderful vinyl tiles available today! You can create
a whole new look for under $30!
6. Try replacing your conventional doors with window shutters for a plantation look.
7. Try adding color to white cabinets by painting small frames red. Ask your children
to paint flowers or scenes on white paper. Then mount the paintings in the small
frames and attach two or three (depending on the proportions of your cabinets) to the
front of each door. Voila! Your own art
gallery! (And you can change the paintings anytime you want!
8. Glue inexpensive rectangles cut from woven grass placemats to your cabinet
doors. Frame with strips of molding to simulate grass or rattan inserts.
9. Cork squares can also be used as dramatic interest when glued to the front of
bland cabinets. And the cork is useful! You will have message boards on each
cabinet!
See? A dramatic makeover in your kitchen takes just a few inexpensive touches! Now,
if only I could get a cooking makeover that easily, my husband would be a happy man!
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/budgetkitchen.html
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Top 7 Reasons Why FSBOs Fail To Sell Their Home On Their Own!
n the United States, less than 10% of all For Sale by Owners (FSBOs), are successful in selling their
home by themselves. That's because most people just give up because they don't
realize from the beginning the difficulty and complexity of the job ahead. But that's not the only
reason. Here are the seven most common mistakes FSBOs make when selling their home.
1. Failure to price a property at what market conditions will bear.
The number one reason that most FSBOs don't sell their homes is that they price it too high. Many
start counting the money they're saving on commissions and how much their sale will net.
If your house is priced higher than other comparable houses in your market, you will not get the
offers you need to sell!
2. Underestimating the time, energy, know how, ability and effort needed to sell a house.
One of the keys to selling your home effectively and profitably is complete accessibility. Many homes
sit on the market much longer than necessary because the owner isn't available to show
the property. Realize that a certain amount of time each day is necessary to sell your home.
3. Not being prepared to deal with an onslaught of buyers who perceive FSBOs as targets
for "low balling".
Another challenge of selling a home is screening unqualified prospects and dealing with low-ballers.
It often goes unnoticed that much time, effort and expertise is required to spot these
people quickly. Settling for a low-ball bid is usually worse than paying any type of professional fee or
commission.
4. Lack of knowledge about financing options for the buyer.
Are you prepared to answer questions about financing? One of the keys to selling is having all the
necessary information the prospective buyer needs and to offer the buyer options. Think about the
last time you purchased something of value, did you make a decision before you had all your ducks
in a row? By offering financing options, you give the homebuyer the ability to work on their terms.
You'll open up the possibility of selling your home quicker and more profitably. It's critical that you
locate and establish relationships with a network of financing experts that will help you accomplish
your goal profitably.
5. Not fully understanding the legal ramifications and all the necessary steps required in
selling a home.
Many home sales have been lost due to incomplete paperwork, lack of inspections or not meeting
your state's disclosure laws. Are you completely informed of all the steps necessary to sell real
estate? If not, you may want to consider consulting with a legal or real estate professional.
6. Lack of experience in handling the legal contracts, agreements and any disputes with
buyers before or after the offer is presented.
Are you well versed in legalese? Are you prepared to handle disputes with buyers? It is always wise
to put all negotiations and agreements in writing. Many home sales have been lost due to
misinterpretation of what was negotiated.
7. Not contacting the necessary professionals... title, inspector (home and pest), attorney,
and escrow company.
Are you familiar with top inspectors and escrow companies? Don't randomly select inspectors,
attorneys, and title reps. Like any profession, there are inadequate individuals who will slow,
delay and possibly even cost you the transaction. Be careful!
Selling a home requires an intimate understanding of the real estate market. If the property is priced
too high, it will sit and develop a reputation for being a problem property. If the
property is priced too low, you will cost yourself money. Some FSBOs discovered that they lost
money as a result of poor pricing decisions. In the final outcome, these mistakes far
outweighed the commission they would have paid.
Lawrence Allen has over 15 years experience as a marketing
professional and a successful real estate investor. His
experiences with numerous real estate, marketing and finance
professionals has enabled him to develop a marketing system
and Ebook for people trying to sell their home on their own.
The For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Hassle-Free Home Sale System has
received many praises from real estate professionals and home
owners alike: http://www.fsbosaleshelp.com
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/fsbo.html
home by themselves. That's because most people just give up because they don't
realize from the beginning the difficulty and complexity of the job ahead. But that's not the only
reason. Here are the seven most common mistakes FSBOs make when selling their home.
1. Failure to price a property at what market conditions will bear.
The number one reason that most FSBOs don't sell their homes is that they price it too high. Many
start counting the money they're saving on commissions and how much their sale will net.
If your house is priced higher than other comparable houses in your market, you will not get the
offers you need to sell!
2. Underestimating the time, energy, know how, ability and effort needed to sell a house.
One of the keys to selling your home effectively and profitably is complete accessibility. Many homes
sit on the market much longer than necessary because the owner isn't available to show
the property. Realize that a certain amount of time each day is necessary to sell your home.
3. Not being prepared to deal with an onslaught of buyers who perceive FSBOs as targets
for "low balling".
Another challenge of selling a home is screening unqualified prospects and dealing with low-ballers.
It often goes unnoticed that much time, effort and expertise is required to spot these
people quickly. Settling for a low-ball bid is usually worse than paying any type of professional fee or
commission.
4. Lack of knowledge about financing options for the buyer.
Are you prepared to answer questions about financing? One of the keys to selling is having all the
necessary information the prospective buyer needs and to offer the buyer options. Think about the
last time you purchased something of value, did you make a decision before you had all your ducks
in a row? By offering financing options, you give the homebuyer the ability to work on their terms.
You'll open up the possibility of selling your home quicker and more profitably. It's critical that you
locate and establish relationships with a network of financing experts that will help you accomplish
your goal profitably.
5. Not fully understanding the legal ramifications and all the necessary steps required in
selling a home.
Many home sales have been lost due to incomplete paperwork, lack of inspections or not meeting
your state's disclosure laws. Are you completely informed of all the steps necessary to sell real
estate? If not, you may want to consider consulting with a legal or real estate professional.
6. Lack of experience in handling the legal contracts, agreements and any disputes with
buyers before or after the offer is presented.
Are you well versed in legalese? Are you prepared to handle disputes with buyers? It is always wise
to put all negotiations and agreements in writing. Many home sales have been lost due to
misinterpretation of what was negotiated.
7. Not contacting the necessary professionals... title, inspector (home and pest), attorney,
and escrow company.
Are you familiar with top inspectors and escrow companies? Don't randomly select inspectors,
attorneys, and title reps. Like any profession, there are inadequate individuals who will slow,
delay and possibly even cost you the transaction. Be careful!
Selling a home requires an intimate understanding of the real estate market. If the property is priced
too high, it will sit and develop a reputation for being a problem property. If the
property is priced too low, you will cost yourself money. Some FSBOs discovered that they lost
money as a result of poor pricing decisions. In the final outcome, these mistakes far
outweighed the commission they would have paid.
Lawrence Allen has over 15 years experience as a marketing
professional and a successful real estate investor. His
experiences with numerous real estate, marketing and finance
professionals has enabled him to develop a marketing system
and Ebook for people trying to sell their home on their own.
The For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Hassle-Free Home Sale System has
received many praises from real estate professionals and home
owners alike: http://www.fsbosaleshelp.com
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/fsbo.html
What To Expect From Your House Appraisal
Having your house appraised can be a scary step in the moving process, especially if you don’t know what to
expect. Will your house pass muster or will they find some hidden defects and problems lurking in the
basement and attic? Should you scrub the house clean?
Don’t worry – this isn’t a test of how clean you keep your house or even if your house has problems (that will
be for the home inspector to find out). The appraiser is there to determine a fair market value for your home.
Whether you are selling the house or refinancing, this is a common part of the process and the inspector is
quite used to traipsing about peoples homes in all kinds of disarray so you need not be embarrassed if your
house is messy and it will not affect the value the appraiser puts on the property.
Determining the market value of your home is necessary so that your lender knows the home is valued at or
above the amount of money you are borrowing. An appraisal is an estimate of worth. It is an opinion but is not
entirely a subjective process. The FNMA, Federal National Mortgage Association sets up the guidelines and
assigns values to certain assets of your home to ensure a fair sale.
The value of your home will be determined by comparing it to similar area properties that have sold in the
past few months. The appraiser looks for properties that have the same number of bedrooms, baths, square
footage and amenities like a fireplace or garage in your neighborhood or town. They start by looking at your
neighborhood to find comparable sales or properties in similar neighborhoods that share similar
characteristics of lifestyles, income level of residents, surroundings, average age and home values. A valid
appraisal can be done when 3 or more properties similar to your own have been found.
Once the appraiser has these homes, there will be some adjustments made to take into consideration
features that your home has the others don’t or features they have that you don’t. These features have nothing
to do with your décor – they are based solely on house size, rooms and amenities so your hot pink kitchen
will not affect the value of your home appraisal!
The process is quite methodical and done to standard practices so you need not worry. If you are moving and
you have hired a realtor, you will find the appraisal will come in right on the button for what they have valued
your home at. Most realtors know the market quite well so you needn’t worry that your buyer won’t be able to
secure funding because of your home appraisal.
Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.moving-and-more.com where you can learn more about moving and
selling your house.
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/houseappraisal.html
expect. Will your house pass muster or will they find some hidden defects and problems lurking in the
basement and attic? Should you scrub the house clean?
Don’t worry – this isn’t a test of how clean you keep your house or even if your house has problems (that will
be for the home inspector to find out). The appraiser is there to determine a fair market value for your home.
Whether you are selling the house or refinancing, this is a common part of the process and the inspector is
quite used to traipsing about peoples homes in all kinds of disarray so you need not be embarrassed if your
house is messy and it will not affect the value the appraiser puts on the property.
Determining the market value of your home is necessary so that your lender knows the home is valued at or
above the amount of money you are borrowing. An appraisal is an estimate of worth. It is an opinion but is not
entirely a subjective process. The FNMA, Federal National Mortgage Association sets up the guidelines and
assigns values to certain assets of your home to ensure a fair sale.
The value of your home will be determined by comparing it to similar area properties that have sold in the
past few months. The appraiser looks for properties that have the same number of bedrooms, baths, square
footage and amenities like a fireplace or garage in your neighborhood or town. They start by looking at your
neighborhood to find comparable sales or properties in similar neighborhoods that share similar
characteristics of lifestyles, income level of residents, surroundings, average age and home values. A valid
appraisal can be done when 3 or more properties similar to your own have been found.
Once the appraiser has these homes, there will be some adjustments made to take into consideration
features that your home has the others don’t or features they have that you don’t. These features have nothing
to do with your décor – they are based solely on house size, rooms and amenities so your hot pink kitchen
will not affect the value of your home appraisal!
The process is quite methodical and done to standard practices so you need not worry. If you are moving and
you have hired a realtor, you will find the appraisal will come in right on the button for what they have valued
your home at. Most realtors know the market quite well so you needn’t worry that your buyer won’t be able to
secure funding because of your home appraisal.
Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.moving-and-more.com where you can learn more about moving and
selling your house.
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/houseappraisal.html
You Have 15 Seconds to Sell Your Home!
Selling your home? Here are some tips to help you sell yours for more than your
next door neighbor's, and faster! Most buyers will know within 15 SECONDS after
crossing the threshold if they want your home. But first, you need to attract them
inside!
11 home staging steps to take to sell your home for top dollar:
1. Start at the street. The buyer's first glimpse of your home must entice them
inside. Design Psychology goes further than mere curb appeal. Here are some
easy additions you can make to help your home outshine the competition:
Add a couple of BIG plants, either in hanging baskets or pots, to the porch, which
will lead buyers' eyes to the entrance.
The first color our eyes process is yellow, so place yellow flowers near the front
door.
Plant white flowering annuals, since they look clean and show up better at
night--when many home shoppers look.
2. Get rid of brown or dead leaves and bare spots in the yard. Add mulch to cover
bare dirt near the house. Bright flowers hold the eye and "fill" empty areas, but you
don't need to add plants to every space. Just make sure that everything looks neat.
3. Paint your front door a happy color. Yellow-gold (amber), red (blue-based),
sage, apple, or forest green, depending on the other colors of your home, will
attract the eye and create happy feelings. Buyers won't notice the color
psychology you take advantage of, but they'll love the result.
4. Once buyers step inside the front door, they usually make their minds up within
15 SECONDS, so first impressions are vitally important. Focus your attention on
the first wall buyers will see, and then hang a mirror on that wall large enough to
reflect the buyer's image. It will psychologically reinforce the buyer's presence in
the home when they see themselves in the mirror, causing them to imagine living in
your home.
5. Go beyond just clearing clutter, and remove furnishings that don't add to the
setting. Also clear bathroom and kitchen countertops. Under-furnished homes let
the buyer's imagination fill rooms with their own belongings. Once they visualize
their favorite chair in a particular spot, you have a sale.
6. Pack away your personal photographs, trophies, diplomas, and small
accessories and stack them neatly in the garage or a separate storage space.
That will also protect you from having strangers view your personal life.
7. If your home looks too bare, replace your personal treasures with house plants
or cuttings from the garden. Be creative; you don't need to spend money.
- Use tree branches and fresh flowers to bring nature indoors.
- Fill vases and glass jars with fresh cuttings and set them
in baskets.
- Add green house plants in winter, spring, and fall.
- During hot selling seasons, use green, silver and gray foliage to help keep your
home visually cool.
8. Lighting affects your buyers' emotions and is a crucial design element for
happiness, so turn on the lights when showing your home. Day-like light bulbs
enhance happiness. Amber and pink light bulbs warm, while blue light cools.
9. Air the house out. You get used to odors, but buyers shouldn't smell anything
other than natural pleasing scents like wood burning in the fireplace or fresh lemon
in the summer. Cut up a grapefruit and run sections through the garbage disposal.
It's both refreshing and clean smelling.
10. Buyers like temperatures around 70 degrees in the winter and 67 degrees in
the summer, so turn up the thermostat in the winter and turn it down in the summer.
11. Park your car out of the way and encourage buyers to park in a space where
their car won't block the view from the inside.
Remember, you've only got 15 seconds to sell your home, but by using Design
Psychology techniques, you can convert lookers into buyers and get top dollar for
your home.
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/stagingtips.html
next door neighbor's, and faster! Most buyers will know within 15 SECONDS after
crossing the threshold if they want your home. But first, you need to attract them
inside!
11 home staging steps to take to sell your home for top dollar:
1. Start at the street. The buyer's first glimpse of your home must entice them
inside. Design Psychology goes further than mere curb appeal. Here are some
easy additions you can make to help your home outshine the competition:
Add a couple of BIG plants, either in hanging baskets or pots, to the porch, which
will lead buyers' eyes to the entrance.
The first color our eyes process is yellow, so place yellow flowers near the front
door.
Plant white flowering annuals, since they look clean and show up better at
night--when many home shoppers look.
2. Get rid of brown or dead leaves and bare spots in the yard. Add mulch to cover
bare dirt near the house. Bright flowers hold the eye and "fill" empty areas, but you
don't need to add plants to every space. Just make sure that everything looks neat.
3. Paint your front door a happy color. Yellow-gold (amber), red (blue-based),
sage, apple, or forest green, depending on the other colors of your home, will
attract the eye and create happy feelings. Buyers won't notice the color
psychology you take advantage of, but they'll love the result.
4. Once buyers step inside the front door, they usually make their minds up within
15 SECONDS, so first impressions are vitally important. Focus your attention on
the first wall buyers will see, and then hang a mirror on that wall large enough to
reflect the buyer's image. It will psychologically reinforce the buyer's presence in
the home when they see themselves in the mirror, causing them to imagine living in
your home.
5. Go beyond just clearing clutter, and remove furnishings that don't add to the
setting. Also clear bathroom and kitchen countertops. Under-furnished homes let
the buyer's imagination fill rooms with their own belongings. Once they visualize
their favorite chair in a particular spot, you have a sale.
6. Pack away your personal photographs, trophies, diplomas, and small
accessories and stack them neatly in the garage or a separate storage space.
That will also protect you from having strangers view your personal life.
7. If your home looks too bare, replace your personal treasures with house plants
or cuttings from the garden. Be creative; you don't need to spend money.
- Use tree branches and fresh flowers to bring nature indoors.
- Fill vases and glass jars with fresh cuttings and set them
in baskets.
- Add green house plants in winter, spring, and fall.
- During hot selling seasons, use green, silver and gray foliage to help keep your
home visually cool.
8. Lighting affects your buyers' emotions and is a crucial design element for
happiness, so turn on the lights when showing your home. Day-like light bulbs
enhance happiness. Amber and pink light bulbs warm, while blue light cools.
9. Air the house out. You get used to odors, but buyers shouldn't smell anything
other than natural pleasing scents like wood burning in the fireplace or fresh lemon
in the summer. Cut up a grapefruit and run sections through the garbage disposal.
It's both refreshing and clean smelling.
10. Buyers like temperatures around 70 degrees in the winter and 67 degrees in
the summer, so turn up the thermostat in the winter and turn it down in the summer.
11. Park your car out of the way and encourage buyers to park in a space where
their car won't block the view from the inside.
Remember, you've only got 15 seconds to sell your home, but by using Design
Psychology techniques, you can convert lookers into buyers and get top dollar for
your home.
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/stagingtips.html
Monday, May 21, 2007
Buying Your First Investment Property
"Begin With The End In Mind"
I first heard the phrase "Begin with the end in mind" in a Steven Covey book called "The 7
Habits of Highly Effective People". This expression makes a lot of sense because the fact is,
you can't get where you're going, unless you know where you want to go.
Most new investors understand that real estate is an investment vehicle that makes sense.
We all know that many fortunes have been built with real estate. But when you are first
getting started, all the available information can be very confusing. I often receive emails
asking "what strategies should I use?" or "Where should I look to find deals?"
One reason these issues are so difficult to understand and sort out when you are new to the
investing game is that the answer to the question can be different for every individual.
Seminars tend to package information in a "one-size-fits-all" crash course. But this inevitably
leaves unanswered questions for each individual user. Simply put, each person has their own
individual situation with regard to credit, income, employment, assets, etc. All of these factors
can affect your investing choices and objectives.
Compounding this confusion is the sheer number of strategies. Should I own rental property?
Should I fix up and resell? How about Options? Or, how about buying tax leins? There are so
many choices, how is one to know what to do when just starting out?
I can remember floundering around myself. I spent thousands of dollars on different courses,
trying to put all the pieces together and gain enough understanding to know what I should do
first.
It seemed that no one wanted to tell me anything useful unless I paid them first. I soon found
that no matter how much money I spent, there were many unanswered questions. I felt frozen
by fear, because I simply did not understand what to do first. As a result, it was several years
before I actually felt comfortable enough to get directly involved in buying a property.
Today, after having seen and participated in many deals, I know that step one is decide what
you want real estate investing to do for you. In short, where do you want to go?
Like any trip, you start out by deciding where you want to go. Once the destination has been
chosen, you figure out the best way to get there.
Many of the most successful and wealthy investors I know, built their fortunes with rental
property. Some of them own 40 or more rental houses. Some of them own commercial
properties like gas stations, storage facilities, or office buildings. They each had the same
destination, that of cash flow from rental income, but two drastically different ways of getting
there.
Frankly, most of the really successful investors are very patient men and women who build
their portfolios slowly over a number of years. They are cautious and prudent, buying only
when they know the deal is a good one.
Today, many people are lured into investing because they have heard the stories about how
you can buy property with no money down, and take out enough cash at closing to pay off all
your debts. This is possible, but creating one debt to pay another does have it's risks.
Let's say that your ultimate objective is to achieve $5,000 per month passive income from
rental property. Now, think of that objective as if it were a city on a road map.
Most cities have a number of different roads you can take to get downtown.. It is the same
way with your investing. Different people will arrive at the same destination, each one using a
slightly different route to get there.
Once you decide where you want to go, your route to your destination will be determined by
your financing options. .
If you have great credit, income for which you receive a W-2 statement, and lots of cash for a
down payment, your financing options will allow you to take virtually any road you wish. The
fact is, good credit and cash will get you where you want to go a lot faster. But it's not the only
way.
If you are credit challenged, self-employed, or lack cash for down payments, your ultimate
destination can be the same, but you will need a different route to get there.
Your financing options determine the route you have to take to get to your destination. In
essence, the answer to getting started is find out what kind of financing you can get, and then
find deals that work with your available financing options.
If you can't get any kind of financing at all, you can still buy deals where the seller will agree
to finance the deal, or some scenario where financing is provided without you having to
qualify.
If you have decent credit but no cash, there are investor loans with low down payments, that
may make it easier for you to get in with little cash.
If you have great credit and cash - hop on the expressway. Look for any good deal, since you
can get a loan at excellent rates, in addition to taking advantage of any good seller financing
deals that come your way. You have the most options for getting to your destination.
No matter where you start from, you can still wind up at the same destination, and achieve the
same objective.
Step One: Decide where you want to go. Then, get with a good lender to find out which roads
you will be able to take. Even if you have to start out on the "no cash, no credit" back roads,
remember that sooner or later, if you keep driving, you will find an access ramp to the
expressway.
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/firstinvestment.html
I first heard the phrase "Begin with the end in mind" in a Steven Covey book called "The 7
Habits of Highly Effective People". This expression makes a lot of sense because the fact is,
you can't get where you're going, unless you know where you want to go.
Most new investors understand that real estate is an investment vehicle that makes sense.
We all know that many fortunes have been built with real estate. But when you are first
getting started, all the available information can be very confusing. I often receive emails
asking "what strategies should I use?" or "Where should I look to find deals?"
One reason these issues are so difficult to understand and sort out when you are new to the
investing game is that the answer to the question can be different for every individual.
Seminars tend to package information in a "one-size-fits-all" crash course. But this inevitably
leaves unanswered questions for each individual user. Simply put, each person has their own
individual situation with regard to credit, income, employment, assets, etc. All of these factors
can affect your investing choices and objectives.
Compounding this confusion is the sheer number of strategies. Should I own rental property?
Should I fix up and resell? How about Options? Or, how about buying tax leins? There are so
many choices, how is one to know what to do when just starting out?
I can remember floundering around myself. I spent thousands of dollars on different courses,
trying to put all the pieces together and gain enough understanding to know what I should do
first.
It seemed that no one wanted to tell me anything useful unless I paid them first. I soon found
that no matter how much money I spent, there were many unanswered questions. I felt frozen
by fear, because I simply did not understand what to do first. As a result, it was several years
before I actually felt comfortable enough to get directly involved in buying a property.
Today, after having seen and participated in many deals, I know that step one is decide what
you want real estate investing to do for you. In short, where do you want to go?
Like any trip, you start out by deciding where you want to go. Once the destination has been
chosen, you figure out the best way to get there.
Many of the most successful and wealthy investors I know, built their fortunes with rental
property. Some of them own 40 or more rental houses. Some of them own commercial
properties like gas stations, storage facilities, or office buildings. They each had the same
destination, that of cash flow from rental income, but two drastically different ways of getting
there.
Frankly, most of the really successful investors are very patient men and women who build
their portfolios slowly over a number of years. They are cautious and prudent, buying only
when they know the deal is a good one.
Today, many people are lured into investing because they have heard the stories about how
you can buy property with no money down, and take out enough cash at closing to pay off all
your debts. This is possible, but creating one debt to pay another does have it's risks.
Let's say that your ultimate objective is to achieve $5,000 per month passive income from
rental property. Now, think of that objective as if it were a city on a road map.
Most cities have a number of different roads you can take to get downtown.. It is the same
way with your investing. Different people will arrive at the same destination, each one using a
slightly different route to get there.
Once you decide where you want to go, your route to your destination will be determined by
your financing options. .
If you have great credit, income for which you receive a W-2 statement, and lots of cash for a
down payment, your financing options will allow you to take virtually any road you wish. The
fact is, good credit and cash will get you where you want to go a lot faster. But it's not the only
way.
If you are credit challenged, self-employed, or lack cash for down payments, your ultimate
destination can be the same, but you will need a different route to get there.
Your financing options determine the route you have to take to get to your destination. In
essence, the answer to getting started is find out what kind of financing you can get, and then
find deals that work with your available financing options.
If you can't get any kind of financing at all, you can still buy deals where the seller will agree
to finance the deal, or some scenario where financing is provided without you having to
qualify.
If you have decent credit but no cash, there are investor loans with low down payments, that
may make it easier for you to get in with little cash.
If you have great credit and cash - hop on the expressway. Look for any good deal, since you
can get a loan at excellent rates, in addition to taking advantage of any good seller financing
deals that come your way. You have the most options for getting to your destination.
No matter where you start from, you can still wind up at the same destination, and achieve the
same objective.
Step One: Decide where you want to go. Then, get with a good lender to find out which roads
you will be able to take. Even if you have to start out on the "no cash, no credit" back roads,
remember that sooner or later, if you keep driving, you will find an access ramp to the
expressway.
http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/firstinvestment.html
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