Things to Consider When Searching for a Home

Before deciding which house to buy, think about your lifestyle, your current and anticipated housing needs, and your budget. It’s a good idea to create a prioritized list of features you want in your next home – you'll soon discover finding the right house involves striking a balance between your "must-haves" and your "nice-to-haves." To start, consider your lifestyle.

If you love to cook, you'll want a well-equipped kitchen. If you're into gardening, you'll want a yard. If you're planning your office at home, you may want a room for a separate library or work space. If you have several cars, you may require a larger garage. Use this list as your search guide. Next, think about what you might need in the future. As you consider your housing needs, it's important to consider how long you may live in your home. If you're newly married, you might not be concerned with a school district right now, but you could be in a few years. If you have aging parents, you may want to look at homes that offer living arrangements for them as well as you. It’s important to think about your new home’s location just as carefully as you do about a house’s features. Location is a huge part of any move. In addition to considering the distance to work, you need to evaluate the availability of shopping, police and fire protection, medical facilities, school and day-care, traffic and parking, trash and garbage collection, even recreational facilities. Perhaps the most important decision is deciding on the type of home you want. Do you want a condominium or a co-op? A town house or a detached single-family home? Do you want brick, stone, stucco, wood, vinyl siding, or something else? Do you prefer a new home or an older one?

Through all of this, make sure to talk to your real estate professional about where you want to live. While more buyers now use the Internet to gain access to listings, or available properties for sale, it is still a good idea to use an agent. The agent brings value to the entire process: he or she is available to analyze data, answer questions, share their professional expertise, and handle all the paperwork and legwork that is involved in the real estate transaction.

Ah....the seemingly never ending Internet.  Always something new, always something to learn or share..there's even a page that you can Google for that shows you the "end of the internet".

What a powerful tool the Internet has become.  We are now able to do things in a few miinutes that used to take days.  Students are able to learn about a subject with a few clicks, and few even know what a encyclopedia is....now, it's a Wikipedia!

But.....

Have you ever come to what I call an Internet stalemate?  You know.....everytime you log on it seems that you go to the same pages over and over and within a few minutes, you seem to have seen everything you are interested in.  That...is my opinion of an Internet stalemate. 

Maybe, we get where we are on "Internet Overload".....who knows.  But the condition does exist. 

What is the best cure for this problem?  Get out, meet some new people, pick up a good book....do something...anything...but take a break from the computer.  Work on the social skills, get some sunlight...ANYTHING!

Well, the inevitable has happened.  Our area is going through a time when homeowners are receiveing notices that their property values for real estate are on the rise.  Funny thing is, the notices are coming as "appeal forms" so the tax department is already assuming a lot of people will fight the re-evaluation.  I, for one, will be one of those fighting.

Why the sudden re-evaluation?  In my opinion, it is a way for those who do pay their taxes to "pick up the tab" for those who don't and the high amount of foreclosures in the area.  Unfortunately, the county needs their money and if a home is foreclosed, the money is hard to get...so what better choice than to go after the people who have paid...after all, they must have money right?  They paid!

The rise in property value was inevitable.  We all knew it was coming, it was just a matter of time....but honestly, a rise of 20% to the value of a home?  I can pull MLS records that prove that is inaccurate.

So...."change", a lot of people wanted it...now they are getting it...thanks.

Being a member of certain forums, sometimes there are documents or excel spreadsheets that need to be shared with other members, but the obvious question is how do I do that?

Enter drop.io

Yes, that is the whole internet address.  I was emailed several times about posting a excel spreadsheet that I use for my other hobby of reloading.  I answered the emails several times with the spreadsheet attached and then thought there had to be an easier way.  So off to Google for a search...Google is joust awesome.

Up comes drop.io.  Here is a tutorial on how to use the service: http://drop.io/howto

Took me about 30 seconds to figure out how to use it and upload the document.  Now, I am able to post a link in any forum and any who want the information can go and download it. 

Can you see the possibilities for this in real estate?

Anyway....if you also enjoy the hobby of reloading, here is a link to the sheet and you are more than welcome to download it and enjoy it.  It is completely problem free...no worries for your computer.  http://drop.io/excelreloadingprogram/page

Like many of you, I use my GPS unit to travel from house to house during showing appointments, but before I head out I always like to sit down and see the route.  Visually seeing the route on a screen or map makes it much easier, especially if I am not familiar with an area.

Google maps to the rescue.  With the "get directions" feature you can quickly and easily plan a route for the shortest, fastest, highway or non-highway route.  Best of all once you input all the addresses, they do not have to be in the perfect order to begin with, you can simply drag the address box that needs to be re-reouted up or down and the map adjusts accordingly.

With the new street level pictures, travel is even easier!  Now, not only can you have maps and text directions, you can actually see the turn you make so that you familiarize yourself with the route and things to watch for.  Being a "landmark" travler this works wonders for me.  What I mean by that is I am the type of traveler that most people are but they don't know it.  If I ever ask you for directions...PLEASE tell me landmarks such as shopping areas, stores, parks, etc...or I may never find it...LOL

Here is a link to a map of some houses a client wants to see.  This example will allow you to see the route, see the houses, and see the power of Google Maps!

Go ahead...have fun!

Google Map Example

Sometimes in real estate, we have to make changes.  Some changes are neccesities, some are because we desire a new outlook and then there are times when we step up and into a position to help someone else.

I find myself in one of those positions...

I have been asked by a friend who runs an agency to step in and take the reigns as the relocation / recruitment director for Century 21 Family Realty located in Fayetteville, NC.

I have decided that I want to help grow the office, to help with the training and potential success of the agents that I bring in and handling the relocation needs of those transferring into and out of our area.

So, without furthur a-do.....if you are interested in finding out what Century 21 Family Realty can do to assist you with your career or if you have a referral coming or leavng the Fayetteville / Ft. BRagg area, please let the relocation / recruitment director (that's me...LOL) know right away!

8 Ways To Get More Money For Home!

The ability to reap additional profits on the sale of your home can be accomplished easily enough if you make the right improvements. Many changes can provide the prospective buyer with enhanced feelings about your home. Feelings of more space, more light, more rooms, more closet space, greater privacy, warmth and security. Basic, simple and inexpensive improvements can provide an improved emotional response in a potential buyer.

An example could be something as small as a crack in the paint on a wall. Simply by applying some plaster and touch up paint, you eliminated what may be an unstated concern that your home was poorly maintained. Though the feeling may be unconscious, it's just as important that the potential buyer feel an overall desire for your home. If you are working with a small budget these simple techniques will work absolute wonders:

1. The Magic of Mirrors!

Mirrors can provide a greater sense of space and elegance when properly placed. Be careful not to overdo it, but when placed properly throughout your home, each area will seem larger to the potential home buyer. Try looking in your attic or basement for any old mirrors, but be sure they have a nice frame or at least give the frame a new coat of paint. You may also want to visit a local flea market or garage sale, you can almost always get a great deal on an old mirror or two. Putting one foot square mirrors on a closet door in the master bedroom is always an attractive touch.

2. Adding Additional Closet Space

One of the biggest complaints heard from potential buyers is that there just isn't enough closet space! Simply purchasing an inexpensive closet organizer and installing it in any or all of your closets can make all the difference. You can also try putting a rod across one corner of a bedroom for hanging clothes. Also you could try hanging a screen made from a variety of materials. The screen could match the material of the bedspread, drapes etc. The idea here is to be creative so that the "fake closet" looks as though it was a part of the room.

3. Make a Bare Wall Beautiful

Wallpaper is inexpensive, quick and easy to do! The right wallpaper can brighten the room or hallway and bring it back to life. Be careful to choose something with a neutral design or pattern, remember you're trying to move out.

4. Bring Old Floors Back to Life!

Nothing turns off a potential buyer quicker than dull, dingy, disgusting looking floors. Whether you have wax, wooden or tiled floors do whatever you can to make them shine again! For wax floors, either rent a floor machine and do it yourself or, if it's in your budget, hire a professional. Have a professional give you an estimate and explain exactly what they would do to bring your floors back to life. If you have them explain what they would do, it may be just as easy to do it yourself. If you have carpeted floors you should either have the carpet steam cleaned or install new carpeting. This may sound expensive but new carpeting can add thousands of dollars to the value of your home.

5. Add Attractive Plants

Having plants in the house is not only healthy for you but you create a warm feeling with them. Many indoor plants are far less expensive then you might imagine. Attractive pots such as ceramic, brass or even designer plastic will add a designer flair to your home. Hanging plants such as Boston ferns are inexpensive, easy to care for and would go great in your new home wherever you move.

6. Adding a Room Without Calling in the Contractor!

This simple but seldom used technique, can give a buyer the feeling there are more actual rooms in your house. Floor to ceiling room dividers are inexpensive and simple to install. When a buyer walks through your home, they will generally count the rooms in a subconscious manner. Each room will present an emotional response as they walk through your home. By dividing and designing each side of your room, you create a " separate room" feeling in the potential buyer. It may sound crazy but it works!

7. Clean Up the Bathroom

We've probably all heard that phrase a hundred times growing up as children! Well guess what? It's still valid. Give your bathroom a face-lift if needed: fresh paint, decorative moldings, tile grout, new designer faucets are all attractive eye catchers.

8. What is That Smell?

Though people don't like to admit it, everyone's home has a certain smell to it. We just never notice it because we live with it day in, day out. Strategically placing fresh scent devices throughout the home will be pleasant to the nose of any potential buyer. As a matter of fact, an old Realtor trick is to pop some cinnamon rolls in an oven 5 minutes before a showing. I bet you thought all Realtors just had a sweet-tooth!

Well, it has been awhile since I have been to the "rain".  Have been busy with life in general and have not really had a desire to get in here and clicky clack the old keys on the internet connectivity machine.

Funny how we, as humans, go in cycles and are so involved in something at certain times that we chack it and contribute to it daily, if not hourly.  Then, all of a sudden, we just cut it off....like it never had a place in life.

So...I got a notice this morning that someone had replied to a thread I had written and read the comment....and decided I would reply to the comment with some helpful advice.

Type in the old internet addy and go to the log-in area....tyoe in info...NOTHING.  Try it again, with a different password (I have just a few that I use for everthing)....and NOTHING.  Hmmm....click the send password link....and after a little fanagaling, WA-LA!  I am back.

Probably not with the intensity I had but I am back.

*EDIT:

So I go and post this.  This is coming straight out of my noodle between the old ears as I type it....and it comes up labeled as a "re-blog".  HUH? WHAT?? How in the world???

Whatever...maybe this is part of the reason I had lost interest in the first place....