I know it's early to be thinking about holiday decorating, but... the outdoor lights are already starting to appear!
While the exterior landscaping may be looking a little drab until the white fluffy stuff sticks around, your interior homescape can be more inviting and homey than ever.
If your home is for sale in November and December, it could be looking it's best!
Remember, Sellers, as you decorate:
Don't overdo it! (inside OR out)
If you are putting up a tree, make sure it enhances the room without overtaking it.
You are selling space... and a smaller-than-usual holiday tree inside may help to sell your home.
Have no more than 3 or 4 decorated areas in the main living space.
If you have a tree, that counts as one. A table centerpiece with candles is nice. A decorated mantel is good. A simple wreath on the door or a wall
Take a new look at those treasured pieces. Are they in good shape? If not, they are better left in the box. Everything a buyer sees in your home tells them how much you care about the maintenance of your home. Be sure everything looks fresh -especially greenery and candles.
Keep the miscellaneous odds and ends of decorations in the storage room, (especially anything in less-than-excellent condition). You want potential buyers to focus on the home, not the doo-dads in every nook & cranny.
If you must decorate the bathrooms and bedrooms, One or two small items will do - per room.
Refrain from having every surface covered with candles, pillows, throws and knick-knacks and pictures on the wall of a holiday theme, whether it be Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanza.
Likewise, refrain from huge displays of villages, train sets, santa or snowmen collections, etc.
I know it will be hard to cut back, so keep in mind how wonderful it will be displaying all of your neat stuff in your new home next year!
This goes for the exterior as well - a little goes a long way. While you may enjoy tens of thousands of lights and other displays, to a potential buyer it may look like a legacy of work they need to compete with if they purchase your home - and they may not want to!
Less is more!
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This home has newer everything! Roof, insulation, windows, doors, laminate flooring in kitchen, carpeting, appliances - including washer and dryer, fresh paint, kitchen cabinets & counter.
Less than two miles to Ferris State University, and just within the City of Big Rapids for municipal water, sewer & natural gas. Low utility costs, with trash pickup included in water bill!
Check out the video (under 4 minutes) and there is also a link below it to go to the listing details. Just click on the link!
Have you noticed the Snowmobile signs in Mecosta County?
Mecosta County, Michigan, is a very snowmobile-friendly county! If you are looking for a cottage or cabin for your family recreation activities, this is a great place to be.
Many main roads in this county even have a paved shoulder for an extra safety width. This is a great time to buy that get-a-way with a few acres, and many properties adjoin or are near acres and acres (sometimes hundreds!) of Federal and State land. Great hunting, boating, fishing and golfing in Mecosta County as well as other recreational activities including fantastic Rails-to-Trails pathways! Come and take a closer look - where the north begins!
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Yay! The Senate amended version of the Homebuyer tax credit bill HR 3548 now has passed the US House - they are still voting as I post this, but there is already a 2/3 majority needed to pass it.
It will go to the President's desk for signature, and may be signed into law yet this week!
Update final vote tally:
Final vote: 403 yea, nay 12
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Tax Credit will no longer just for 1st time homebuyers when extension is signed into law.
Excited buyers are looking forward to the extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit,
just passed by the US Senate today, with 98 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 not voting.
Now the bill goes back to the US House of Representatives for a vote, which should go quickly, and then on to the President for signature.
Not only is the current tax credit being extended, but homeowners who lived in their principal residence (meaning lived there most of each year) for five consecutive years of the last eight years, may qualify for the new part of the credit, up to $6500.
This bill could possibly be signed into law yet this week.
It's a great time to buy a home in Michigan!
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The Homebuyer Tax Credit has still not passed the Senate. The "cloture" vote that was taken yesterday in the US Senate and passed, was to end debate on the Senate version, and bring it to a vote within 30 hours. Senate amendment 2712 is a replacement in the form of an "amendment", as a substitute for the original House-introduced bill H.R. 3548.
The Senate may do another cloture vote tonight, giving them another 30 hours before vote. After it is passed in the Senate, the House will then have to vote on it, as it is being completely substituted for the original House-originated bill. Only then the President signs it into law.
It is pretty comical reading the Senate Journal sometimes. Yesterday, there were amendment after amendment introduced to change the effective date, starting with seven days after enactment, no six, no five, no four, no three, no two, no... one day after enactment. I'm not kidding.
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Second Annual Downtown Big Rapids Fall Festival Oct. 30 & 31, 2009
Come join in the fun!
Scarecrow competition and fall displays in the storefront windows both days
Friday Oct. 30th, 6-8 pm
Blues band live in front of JC Penney on Michigan St. - Key West Perma Frost
Crossroads Cougar Fall Carnival benefiting student enrichment programs
also in the JC Penney block. 25 cents per ticket or $10 for 50 tickets
Games, Inflatable Play Area, Petting Zoo, Concessions and more!
(If Bad weather carnival will be held inside Crossroads Charter Academy)
Midnight Madness Sale
Saturday, Oct. 31st:
9:30 am Parade Line-up in front of the movie theatre (first 200 participants in parade receive a free kids ticket to FSU Football game 2pm afternoon of the 31st)
Many people wonder if this is a 'good time' to list their home for sale.
It can be... if your home is priced to sell.
Typically, the overall number of homes that sell in the fall and winter months in Michigan are lower than spring & summer volume, but there are always people who must move at any time of the year.
In Big Rapids especially, there are people looking to relocate due to job transfers which can occur at any time of the year.
Sellers listing at this time of the year need to pay special attention to curb appeal, as fallen leaves and dying foilage can detract in a hurry. Cut back any dead foilage and keep it as neat as possible. A good exterior cleaning can sometimes do wonders as well to make your home more appealing.
Interest rates are still good, which helps keep buyers looking at this time of the year, so go ahead and list if you are ready to price it right... always the key to getting your home sold!
Many buyers search the internet with the intention of getting a fantastic deal under $30,000. There are some great deals out there. There are also a lot of homes in this price range that really need a bulldozer!
If you are seriously thinking of pursuing a home in this price range:
Number 1: You must be ready to buy the property when it comes on the market. If you are a cash buyer, you will have an edge. Many Michigan properties have defects (most common- damage due to freezing - broken pipes, damaged water heaters, broken well pumps, water tanks, etc.)
Many foreclosure sellers will not accept an offer that involves financing. If you are financing, you must be pre-qualified by your lender, and have a letter that says so. If you are paying cash, you need a letter from your bank or credit union stating that you have enough funds in your account to cover the offer.
2: You must have a Realtor working for you who is really committed to helping you find a home in this price range. Many simply will not put a dilligent effort into finding these homes, as the seller commission to an agent could amount to less than $300. Make sure that you sign a buyer agency agreement that gives your agent an agreed upon minimum commission, so they are working for You. The best deals are literally gone within hours of listing, as investors have agents looking for these properties daily.
3: You must be ready to go see the property as soon as it is listed. New HUD properties are listed every Friday in Michigan.
4: If you really want a property, make your best offer immediately. You will not get a new listing for half of the listed price.
5: Request all information available on the property. Your buyer's agent can give you the known tax information, existing well info, survey, plat maps, deed copy, aerial photo, etc. that can help you with your decision-making process.
6: If you are thinking of buying a property to rent, especially multi-family unit properties in a city with rental regulations - do your homework first! For example, the city of Grand Rapids has many rules for landlords, and many fines if you do not comply. Contact the city housing department in your area to access rental ordinances.
7: When buying a property, check with the local government to see if there are any liens or special assessments from the city, township or county for fines, (common: trash in yard, unmowed lawn, failure to register vacant property) liens, (unpaid water/sewer bills, etc.), unpaid taxes. These amounts can be substantial, and sometimes excluded in adendums from the seller that you must sign before the seller will accept your offer.
8: Be aware that when you make an offer, it is highly likely that a seller will require you to sign several pages of an addenum that may negate most of what is in your original offer, stating that the addendum supercedes the purchase agreement. Know what you are signing! These addendums usually state that you are buying the property AS IS, and the seller is not responsible for anything.
Before you are ready to sell your home, you will need to figure out where all of your excess stuff is going to go. As in... Somewhere Else!
The time to get rid of things is before you list your home for sale, and long before that first buyer appears for a showing.
It just doesn't work to say, "We're going to have a yard sale next month". Many buyers, and the Realtors showing your home will store that first impression forever.
Clutter, of course must go, yet many sellers don't realize that overloaded closets and shelves are cluttered! Additionally, those sentimental heirlooms that take up the space that you are trying to sell must go somewhere too!
Take a good look around each room - focusing on one room at a time. Make a plan, write it down, and do it! Things to get rid of, things to store elsewhere, and where that 'elsewhere' might be.
This is not for sissies! It will be hard. But it will be oh-so-rewarding!
Above & Beyond the Expected!
Welcome to Lynn's Blog where you will find Real estate related information, including homes for sale.
Serving Big Rapids, Michigan, and the area counties of Mecosta, Newaygo, Osceola, Lake, Montcalm & Kent County
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