Soon Spring cleaning will be on your list of things to do. Avoid those harmful chemicals and clean green this year!
Vinegar
Vinegar naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new store bought spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always test on an inconspicuous area. It is safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being incredibly cheap. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Never use vinegar on marble surfaces. Don"t worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries. Here are some uses for vinegar in the rooms of your house.
1. Kitchen & Bathroom - Clean the stovetop, appliances, countertops and floor. Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and countertops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down. Pour the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl. Mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution. The substance will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on your fixtures and tile. Make sure it is safe to use with your tile.
2. Laundry Room - Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. (A plus when you have a family member whose skin detects every trace of detergent.)
Lemons & Lemon Juice
Lemons & Lemon Juice is another natural substance that can be used to clean your home.
1. Kitchen & Bathroom - Lemon juice can be used taurus love horoscope was the mark of the vernal equinox in the Early Bronze Age and Chalcolithic. to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a furniture polish for your hardwood furniture. Put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal. It freshens the drain and the kitchen. Orange peels can be used with the same results.
2. Laundry Room - Lemon juice acts as a natural bleaching agent. Put lemon juice onto white linens and clothing and allow them to dry in the sun. Stains will be bleached away.
Baking soda
Baking Soda can
be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers. Baking soda is great as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Put it anywhere you need deodorizing action. Try these three kitchen ingredients as natural cleaning products in your home.
1. Kitchen - Mix a quarter cup of baking soda with a few cups of warm water and wash down the outside of white appliances. Allow it to stand for 15 minutes before rinsing clean and it will help remove yellowing of the appliances and restore the whiteness.
2. Laundry Room - Add a 1/2 cup of baking soda to the wash when you add your regular liquid detergent. The baking soda has been known to give you
- St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
- In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair.
- Many cities have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has a huge St. Patrick’s Day festival from March 15-19, that features a parade, family carnivals, treasure hunt, dance, theatre and more. In North America, parades are often held on the Sunday before March 17. Some paint the yellow street lines green for the day! In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green with a special dye that only lasts a few hours. There has been a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts since 1737. Montreal is home to Canada’s longest running St. Patrick’s Day parade, which began in 1824.
But it takes more than the “luck of the Irish” to sell a house in this market… With Spring approaching quickly, buyer activity will be increasing. The best thing that Sellers can do during this “clean-up” time is to think about their property from a buyer’s perspective. If a prospective buyer drives by your house, what will his/her first impression be? The goal is to outshine the competition, to make your property stand out right from the first time a buyer sees it. With that in mind, consider some small things that you can do to increase the curb appeal of your house. Here are a few suggestions: 1. Clean all your windows so they sparkle (at least the ones which are seen from the street). 2. Put a fresh coat of paint on the entry doors and check for flaking paint at entry points. 3. Rake lawns and sweep sidewalks and driveways. 4. When the time comes, be sure to keep up with the lawn mowing and yard maintenance. 5. Be sure the yard isn’t cluttered and, if you have dogs, patrol for “land mines” left over from the snowy winter. 6. Trim bushes and clean out gardens. 7. Clean porch and outdoor furniture. The goal is to make the buyers stop to contemplate…instead of driving on by!
Let’s face it – showing houses in the middle of winter can be very challenging. However, if buyers are willing to brave the cold and snow, they are most likely serious about buying. Here’s what you should be doing to make sure your house doesn’t give them the cold shoulder.
- Keep the driveway clear. It’s definitely a turn-off f to navigate ice-covered, bumpy driveways.
- Shovel walkways and decks. Sand if icy. Not only does it provide safe passage, it also shows you care about your home.
- The house should be warm. Buyers will rush thru a cold house and it leaves a negative impression.
- Make it light and bright so it shows well even on grey days. Get rid of heavy drapes, use higher wattage light bulbs.
These are basic & common-sense tips and yet I’ve trudged thru snow drifts, gotten stuck in driveways, and have been in houses where it’s warmer outside than in. Visit my website for more tips on selling and if you are looking for an experienced Realtor with the common sense to help sell your house in any season, then give me a call!
603-526-4116
Understand first of all that there IS a difference between price and value. Price is the amount you are asking for the property. Value is buyer perceived, and this perception of value is influenced by many factors such as location, features, condition, comparison to other purchase options, etc. By attending to details that can have a positive impact on the value, sellers can significantly increase their chance of attracting qualified buyers willing to pay the asking price. Some tips to achieve a positive impact on value are:
- Perceived size impacts value, even more so than actual square footage. Open floor plans make a room feel bigger than larger spaces with smaller rooms. Showing property that is furniture free, or at reduced clutter, helps to make the space feel bigger.
- Vacancy increases sale-ability. Property is easier to show and easier to sell, and quicker to take possession of when it is vacant at the time it is offered for sale. Evidence of problems to take possession of the property -- such as encroachments, or tenants who won’t allow buyer tours -- negatively impact value. Vacancy also helps the buyer walk through the property imagining ownership. Sellers should remove personal trinkets and family pictures as well as being conveniently absent during a buyer tour.
- Cosmetics are important.
- Fresh paint will always add more value than it costs.
- Clean or new carpet/flooring adds more value than it costs.
- Landscaping adds more value than it costs. At the very minimum, make the entrance area neat.
- If you can, add some colorful flowers and new grass.
- Take care of the obvious! The spot on the ceiling from the roof leak takes thousands of dollars from the perceived value and the offer price.
- Condition affects value. Do a seller's home inspection to identify and fix the problem BEFORE closing. No point holding up your check a few extra days; plus a failed buyer's inspection could cost you the sale. Buyers will often bargain down your asking price to accommodate for property condition and repairs.
- If you can, remodel/update the kitchen and master bathroom. These two areas have a big impact on home buying decisions.
- Strategic renovations impact value and your bottom line. Don't spend more money to renovate the place than you can recapture in value on the sales price.
(reproduced in part from www.yahoo.com)
For the third month in a row, there has been an increase in sales of existing homes (which include single-family, condominium, townhomes and co-ops). For the first time in seven months, the sales activity has outpaced that of a year ago at 5.3% above the 5.09 million level in January of 2010. “The uptrend in home sales is consistent with improvements in the economy and jobs, which are helping boost consumer confidence,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “The extremely favorable housing affordability conditions are a big factor, but buyers have been constrained by unnecessarily tight credit. As a result, there are abnormally high levels of all-cash purchases, along with rising investor activity.” Yun added, “Increases in all-cash transactions, the investor market share and distressed home sales all go hand-in-hand. With tight credit standards, it’s not surprising to see so much activity where cash is king and investors are taking advantage of conditions to purchase undervalued homes.” Prices, however, were still down with the national median existing-home price for all housing types at $158,800 for January, down 3.7% from the same time last year. NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I., said the median price is being dampened by unusual market factors. “Unprecedented levels of all-cash purchases, primarily of distressed homes sold at deep discounts, undoubtedly pulls the median price downward,” Phipps said. “Given the levels of inventory we see today, we believe that traditional homes in good condition have held their value.” With 3.38 million existing homes available for sale, total housing inventory represents a 7.6-month supply at the current sales pace, down from an 8.2-month supply in December. This is the lowest level since December 2009 when there was a 7.3-month supply. Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast fell 4.6% to an annual pace of 830,000 in January from a spike in December and are 1.2% below January 2010. The median price in the Northeast was $236,500, which is 4.0% below a year ago. Source: National Association of REALTORS®
Not every renovation will necessarily add value to your home for potential buyers. They may not like your choices. People also like to make their own renovations over time. There are certainly some which are sought after, but there are definitely some which aren’t, including the following:
Swimming pools. In most instances, it’s unrealistic to think that the addition of a pool will increase your property’s chances of selling.
Over-improving for your neighborhood. If your renovations drive the price of your property well beyond its neighbors, you’re making a mistake. Plus, you may well have increased the maintenance costs and taxes on your property, also unappealing to buyers.
Extensive landscaping. In general, adding a lot of landscaping (without specific purpose) is personal and may not appeal to a buyer. Keeping your yard mowed and picked up and your bushes trimmed is a better choice.
Some High-end upgrades. Thing like imported tiles, fancy bath tubs, built-in Jacuzzis, hand-decorated wallpaper, Persian rugs, expensive light fixtures, etc., may be appealing to you, but they can be very personal choices which buyers would prefer to make themselves.
Wall-to-wall carpeting. Better to clean than replace which again allows for the buyers’ personal choices. Don’t cover wood flooring. It’s better to refinish it than cover it with carpeting.
Invisible improvements. Things like new plumbing and heating systems sound great on paper, but everyone expects there to be heating and plumbing in the house they buy. Make sure it has been serviced recently and is functioning properly. In general, buyers are more impressed by what they see.
A refinished or well-decorated basement. This is the type of improvement which might help clinch a sale to some buyers, but they still might not be ready to pay more for this feature. It’s unlikely that it will pay you back.
Building or upgrading a deck. Be sure that your existing deck is in good repair, but money spent on new or upgraded decks probably won’t make the difference in your selling price.
Patio frills. Water fountains, fish ponds, awnings, gazebos, or a multi-purpose playground are expensive “luxuries” which may or may not impress a buyer and may even help clinch a sale, but they too are not likely to increase the value of a home to the extent of their cost.
The addition or expansion of a garage or carport. Garages are one of those things that, in our part of the country, people want and assume that most properties will have. They might be willing to pay a bit more if the house has one, but, again, not perhaps as much as it cost you to add one.
This article was adapted from an article which appeared on Yahoo! Finance, on Wednesday, February 9, 2011. It was written by Fred Fletcher, a Yahoo! Contributor.
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Despite a frigid and snow‐caked New Hampshire winter, sales in the state increased marginally in the first month of the year over the same period from a year ago, marking the second straight January that has seen a monthly uptick in residential homes sold. According to data released this week by the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS (NHAR), there were 543 homes sold in January 2011, up 2.1 percent over the 532 sold in the first month of 2010. Median price on those homes, meanwhile, dipped by 3.9 percent, from $215,000 in January 2010 to $206,600 in January 2011. “Considering the limitations on the ability for sellers to actually get out and see homes this season, we’re taking any increase in activity as a positive sign,” said NHAR President Tom Riley, a 35‐year veteran of the real estate industry and president of Riley Enterprises in Bedford. “As the economy slowly begins to turn in a positive way, as long as we don’t see dramatic changes in either direction, we feel as though the big picture with regard to the housing market is steadily brightening.” Riley stopped short of making any predictions, pointing out that there is still no clear trend line over the past two years to give a real sense of the market’s future course. Impacted by the home buyer tax credit in 2009 and 2010, the market saw nine consecutive monthly sales increases through the middle of 2010, then five straight months of decreases prior to an uptick in December, and now a January increase. In terms of local markets, seven of the state’s 10 counties saw unit sales increases in January compared to a year ago, including a 67 percent jump in Carroll County, 8.1 percent in Merrimack County and 4.5 percent in Cheshire County. The state’s largest county, Hillsborough, witnessed a 1.3 percent sales increase. Median price, meanwhile, saw increases in four of 10 counties. With inventory still relatively high, interest rates low and prices competitive, Riley said he would not be surprised to see an excellent spring in terms of sales. “There is no crystal ball, but there is no doubt that the climate is ripe for a continued increase in activity,” he said. “Buyers have excellent opportunities right now.” Click here for January 2011 data residentialClick here for January 2011 data condo
1. Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, as well as some of the costs involved in buying your home.
2. Appreciation. Real estate has long-term, stable growth in value. While year-to-year fluctuations are normal, median existing-home sale prices have increased on average 6.5 percent each year from 1972 through 2005, and increased 88.5 percent over the last 10 years, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. In addition, the number of U.S. households is expected to rise 15 percent over the next decade, creating continued high demand for housing.
3. Equity. Money paid for rent is money that you’ll never see again, but mortgage payments let you build equity ownership interest in your home.
4. Savings. Building equity in your home is a ready-made savings plan. And when you sell, you can generally take up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) as gain without owing any federal income tax.
5. Predictability. Unlike rent, your fixed-mortgage payments don’t rise over the years so your housing costs may actually decline as you own the home longer. However, keep in mind that property taxes and insurance costs will increase.
6. Freedom. The home is yours. You can decorate any way you want and benefit from your investment for as long as you own the home.
7. Stability. Remaining in one neighborhood for several years gives you a chance to participate in community activities, lets you and your family establish lasting friendships, and offers your children the benefit of educational continuity.
Online resources: To calculate whether buying is the best financial option for you, use the “Buy vs. Rent” calculator at www.GinnieMae.gov .
Original source: Realtor.org in REALTORMag, the Business Tool for Real Estate Professionals
By: G. M. Filisko Published: March 30, 2010 You’ve found your dream home. Make sure missteps don’t prevent a successful closing. 1. Be truthful on your mortgage application You may think fudging your income a little or omitting debts when applying for a mortgage will go unnoticed. Not true. Lenders have become more diligent in verifying information on mortgage applications. If you fib, expect to be found out and denied the loan you need to fund your home purchase. Plus, intentionally lying on a mortgage application is a crime. 2. Hold off on big purchases Lenders double-check buyers’ credit right before the closing to be sure their financial condition hasn’t weakened. If you’ve opened new credit cards, significantly increased the balance on existing cards, taken out new loans, or depleted your savings, your credit score may have dropped enough to make your lender change its mind on funding your home loan. Although it’s tempting to purchase new furniture and other items for your new home, or even a new car, wait until after the closing. 3. Keep your job The lender may refuse to fund your loan if you quit or change jobs before you close the purchase. The time to take either step is after a home closing, not before. 4. Meet contingencies If your contract requires you to do something before the sale, do it. If you’re required to secure financing, promptly provide all the information the lender requires. If you must deposit additional funds into escrow, don’t stall. If you have 10 days to get a home inspection, call the inspector immediately. 5. Consider deadlines immovable Get your funds together a week or so before the closing, so you don’t have to ask for a delay. If you’ll need to bring a certified check to closing, get it from the bank the day before, not the day of, your closing. Treat deadlines as sacrosanct. More from HouseLogicHow maintenance adds to home valuesReducing closing stressOther web resourcesMore on calculating closing costsMore on the closing process G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who wanted a successful closing on a Wisconsin property so bad that she probably made her agent rethink going into real estate. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.