home selling: Must Do's to Sell Your Home - 05/10/11 10:11 AM
As we sail into the traditional busy season for real estate, there is good news to be had, no matter what shoes you fill.  For buyers, there is an abundance of competitively priced homes on the market and interest rates have dipped in the past few weeks.  For sellers, the buyers are back, but property values are no where near where they were a few years ago.  Sellers must be sensible when preparing to enter the market.  The homes that sell the fastest for the highest price are those that outshine the competition.  Here are a few tips to make your … (1 comments)

home selling: Home Sellers Must be Realistic this Spring - 04/08/11 03:52 AM
With Spring Break winding down, we are now moving into the prime real estate season.  Spring can be an exciting time for homeowners ready to sell.  But not so much in recent years if your home has lingered on the market through multiple Spring selling seasons.
Years of listings, open houses and showings without offers are weighing on many homeowners this year as the nation's housing market tries to recover from the Great Recession's housing slump, credit crunch and high unemployment.  The traditional real estate cry of "location, location, location!" has given way to "price, price, price!"
With new foreclosures and mortgage short … (1 comments)

home selling: Creative Real Estate Solutions - 03/10/11 09:20 AM
It's a new year in real estate, but for the most part we are still living in a buyer's market.  Many homeowners who had planned to sell their homes are choosing to stay put. If you have no choice but to sell, the important thing is to offset your losses and do everything you can to prevent going into a foreclosure. Consider these alternatives:
Be a landlord. Renting out your home should help you cover your mortgage.
Try a lease-to-own deal. If you have a buyer who can't close immediately, offer to rent to them for a predetermined amount of time, … (0 comments)

home selling: Selling Your Home? Get an Inspection - 02/14/11 03:01 AM
As the home buying season approaches, thoughts turn to those repairs, upgrades and aesthetic improvements that will give a home an edge in this competitive market.  Yes, fresh paint, carpeting and furniture arrangement can help to capture buyers.  Why not take it a step further by getting a home inspection to uncover any problems that might be deal breakers later on.  Many experts believe that a pre-listing inspection is the key to selling a home in a shorter time frame.  It may be even more important than any cosmetic changes you make.
Professional home inspectors will view the home objectively and … (1 comments)

home selling: How to Sell Your Home at Holiday Time - 11/27/10 01:04 AM
The holiday season isn't the best time to sell your home, but if you have no choice, there are reasons to be merry. Anyone house-hunting on Thanksgiving or Christmas weekend must have a good reason.  They are more likely to be serious, motivated buyers and will be less likely to waste time shopping and negotiating.
Here are some steps you can take to attract those buyers and help yourself move ahead with your plans:
Decorate tastefully. Decking the halls is fun, but don't overdo it. Buyers want to see the home, not your mega-light display or 8-foot Christmas tree. Opt for … (6 comments)

home selling: Now More Than Ever - Price Your home Competitively - 11/23/10 02:01 AM
Over the past few years we have seen many changes in the residential real estate market.  If your home has been on the market recently, or if you plan on selling it, no doubt you have confronted the issue of pricing it right.
Simply, the right asking price for a home is the price that a buyer is willing to pay for it.  This determines the market value.  Unfortunately, home values have declined and most sellers believe that their home is worth more than its fair market value.  A good local real estate agent will be able to provide you with … (3 comments)

home selling: Don't be Afraid to Sell Your Home Now - 10/11/10 04:09 AM
The early months of 2010 saw a spurt of home buying and selling, thanks in part to a federal income tax credit.  Most real estate agents say Spring is the season to sell a home, but don't rule out Fall just yet.  Job changes might mandate a relocation, and the glut of bargain priced homes and low interest rates might motivate some of us to move up.  There may be fewer buyers in the Fall, but they tend to be more motivated. The key is to find them fast, because you don't have much time before the holidays kick in and … (0 comments)

home selling: 10 Improvements to Entice Home Buyers - 07/09/10 04:38 AM
For the past few months, people have been drawn into the real estate market, thanks to an attractive government sponsored income tax rebate program.  This spurred the sales of homes, but by no means eliminated the glut of homes on the market.  If yours is one of the homes that did not sell, don't worry, mortgage rates are low and buyers are still active.  However consider the following features that add pizzazz to a home and make buyers take notice.
  
1. A Nice Entryway
Impress buyers right off the bat with a beautiful entrance.  Put a fresh coat of paint … (5 comments)

home selling: Price Your Home Aggressively to Sell! - 06/25/10 12:14 PM
We have entered into the prime summer home selling season, and there is no bigger indicator of success than the price  at we choose to offer our home to prospective buyers.  When selling a home, your pricing strategy can make or break your chances for a quick sale. Listing at the right price can almost guarantee that a buyer will swiftly snatch up your property, while listing at the wrong price can cause your home to sit on the market for months with not so much as a showing.
Unfortunately, pricing is not a simple process, and sellers are prone to … (0 comments)

home selling: Final Tips for the Big Open House - 05/18/10 11:58 PM
In this challenging real estate market, the smart seller has taken necessary steps to have his or her home in the best of condition.  Both large projects and smaller details have been addressed and the "pizzazz" factor has been added. 
It's here: the big day of your open house! Your home should be in tip-top condition and ready for potential buyers. Don't forget these last-minute details:
• Set out vases of fresh-cut flowers. They'll make your home smell nice and add a splash of color.
• Let in the light. Buyers want a bright, open house, not a dark and dreary … (4 comments)

home selling: Add the Pizzazz Factor to Sell Your Home - 05/18/10 12:12 AM
Now that you've tackled the big projects to ready your home for an open house, the hardest and most expensive part is out of the way. The next step to getting your home open-house ready is to "dress it up," and luckily, you can often do this by repurposing what you already own and adding small details. Working room by room is a good strategy on this step -- it's less overwhelming, and you'll feel more and more accomplished after each room you finish. Use these tips to fine-tune each room in your home:
Front Yard and Entryway
Even though it's … (2 comments)

home selling: Tips to Get Your Home in Shape to Sell - 05/17/10 12:08 AM
OK - you made the decision to put your home on the market and to put your best effort into making it sparkle at your first open house.  After you objectively inspected your home and made your list of needed improvements, you likely found some broad issues that apply to your entire home, like worn-out carpeting or chipped paint. Or perhaps your home seems cluttered and dated in general, a quality that will make it hard for buyers to envision your home as their own. These large problems can seem daunting to fix, but they're the ones that buyers will certainly notice … (4 comments)

home selling: Tips for Selling Your Home - 05/16/10 04:10 AM
It's Spring, and those of us who plan on getting settled into a new home before the start of the next school year, have begun their mission of finding the right home and getting the most for their money.  Sellers who can put themselves into the shoes of prospective Buyers will get the most for their money as well.
Holding an open house can be a great way to get your home for sale noticed -- that is, if your home is in good condition. If not, well...Buyers may just walk in, turn around and walk right out.
If you're even … (5 comments)

home selling: Wire Your Home for Sale - 06/18/09 11:29 PM
Updating the cosmetic features of a home is a great way to prepare it for a future sale.  However, tech savvy buyers are attracted to homes which feature the latest technology offerings.
 The phrase structured wiring is a term used to describe wiring that will efficiently distribute a variety of data signals throughout the home.  That sounds complicated but refers to signals including cable TV and telephone, as well as ethernet computer networks.  The wiring system differs from previous schematics because of the amount of data it will be required to transmit, as well as the monitoring and control of functions it will provide.  … (0 comments)

home selling: Is Remodeling for You? - 03/01/09 08:46 AM
Oftentimes when the economy is in a downturn, homeowners consider remodeling their existing homes rather relocating to serve changing lifestyles.  The secret to aesthetically and financially successful remodeling is to take stock of what is typical for your neighborhood.  If you are living with laminate countertops when your neighbors have upgraded to granite, it's time to take the plunge.  However, don't expect to recoup the majority of the cost of granite installation when you do eventually sell if laminate is typical for the area.  Granite will give you an edge on the competition, though!
There are plenty of resources available to help you make … (0 comments)

home selling: Welcome to Marietta - 01/19/09 12:38 AM

Thinking about making a move to the Atlanta area?  Why not consider the charming city of Marietta as your new home?  Established before the Civil War, it was spared by General Sherman on his march to Atlanta.  Now a city of over 50,000, Marietta is modern in every way, yet respects its unique history and lovely southern architecture.
Nestled just north of Atlanta and just south of the North Georgia Mountains, the City of Marietta, Georgia, offers the charm of a small city along with a stimulating urban environment. Marietta has a beautiful and vibrant downtown square filled with restaurants, antique shops.  … (0 comments)