Archive for the ‘staging your home’ Category
Provide Instant Security with this New, Wireless LED Porch Light
A great new product from Fulcrum Products that provides security lighting where you need it, without hardwiring. The attractive security light installs in minutes using only a screwdriver and the included hardware. Anyone can do it…even me.
Product Description:
Brighten a dim porch, carport, childrens play area, stairwell or garage without needing to flip a light switch with this unobtrusive motion sensor LED porch light from Fulcrum Products. Upon detecting movement within a 100-degree angle and a 25-foot range, the 6-volt light switches on and stays illuminated until the sensor detects no motion for a solid 30 seconds. The six LED panel rotates to enable its cool blue light to illuminate the darkest areas. During the daytime, the sensor light’s photo cells prevent the light activation. The porch light is weather-proof for inclement weather. Easy to install, the light requires no hardwiring and comes with necessary mounting hardware. Four separately purchased C batteries are needed to power the light. The porch light measures 5-1/2 by 5-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches and weighs 1 pound.
The LED light bulbs will last for 100,000 hours and the 4 “C” type batteries last up to a year. The product retails for around $25. Brighten up your world today.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Our flat fee MLS packages and Realtor.com List Until Sold packages reach millions of buyers each day for very little cash. If you need to sell a home, you can’t find a better value or better company to assist you!
Home Sellers – Up Your Odds
April has been a very strong month for home sales across all area’s and price ranges. Congratulations to dozens of our MLS and Realtor.com customers , who have received strong offers on their houses this month. Great job and good luck to each of you, as you move on to your new lives.
In order to help other customers, we looked into why some sellers were successful and some were not. We found that successful home sellers had 2 things in common. Thankfully, we were thrilled to find that the common denominator was not being the cheapest priced home in the neighborhood. This year, the homes that sold for near or at the asking price were properties that were in excellant condition and staged to sell. Every single one of them!!!
“Up the Odds” of selling your home by accepting two truths about this market… and then take action.
- First Truth: The market for homes that are in poor condition or need repairs is DEAD. The huge demand is for the homes that are immaculate and ”move in” ready.
- Second Truth: The homes that were sold this spring Showed Well. Many had lingered on the market for months on end. The owners recently neutralized, depersonalized, cleaned, decluttered and staged them. Not surprisingly, every single one of these homes Sold. There is no need for debating this issue…depersonalizing and decluttering sells homes.
Why6Percent.com recommends that home seller’s chant “this is no longer my home” at least 3 times a day. Neutralize, clean, declutter and pack up. Look at the property through the eye’s of the buyer. It’s the only way to Tip the Odds in Your Favor…We Promise!
Landscape Affects Buyer’s Moods and Home Sales
Most home buyers believe they should focus on the interior features of houses more than the landscape, but the truth is, that buyers will not get out of the car if the front landscape lacks interest and upkeep. The landscape and curb appeal should arouse the buyer’s interest and lure them inside to view the interior.
To get the highest return on your landscape dollar, utilize the principles found in Landscape Design Psychology. Landscape Psychology is based upon scientific research into the effects that the landscape has on home buyers. These proven idea’s will help your home sell faster, and for more money, by working on buyer emotions and senses.
The Power of Color
Coordinate the colors of your flowering foliage. Consider your selling season and plant flowers that perform well during that period. Use plants that support your atmosphere and climate. Also, use no more than 3 colors to give continuity and form to your landscape.
Colors also have psychological power. Green suggests freshness, coolness and vitality. White shows up at night and conjures feelings of cleanliness. Yellow is the first color our eye processes, so a spot of yellow by the front door will draw the eye to your entrance. Red, yellow and Orange are all Hot colors, which excite and pick up the mood of any weary house hunter.
About.com: Landscape is a great website for the average homeowner. The site provides idea’s and advice from professionals including a plant selector, great photographs, color scheme screener, DIY tutorials and helpful tips about hedges, fences, sidewalks, lawns and more.
Another great resource for help in creating an outdoor paradise can be found at HGTV.
The Power of Smell
Realtors advise sellers to bake cookies or burn vanilla candles before showings or Open Houses because a comforting and pleasant aroma has the power to influence minds and moods.
In addition to color psychology, smart home owners give thought to the use of scents when planting a landscape. They take advantage of the power of smell, especially near pathways and entry doors, that provoke a desired emotional response.
A few inexpensive and easy to grow suggestions that add a touch of scent to any landscape include lemon scented geraniums, jasmine, rosemary, lavender, basil, roses, hostas, honeysuckle, gardenia or heliotrope. In addition to providing months of enjoyment, many of these plants perform in a vareity of places such window boxes, planters, planting beds, hanging baskets or pathways.
When it comes to selling homes, a smart psychology landscape design can give you a huge advantage over your competition. If buyers feel good while they look at your home, it is more likely to sell quickly and for top dollar.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Our clients are receiving more buyer traffic and higher offers than we have seen in the last 2 years. If you aren’t listed on the MLS, Realtor.com and major real estate sites, you are missing 10 MILLION buyers who are searching for a home every month. Call us at 1-800-381-9496 for help in marketing your home!
10 Tips for Open House Weekend!
Open House Strategies for Success
- Set the Stage. Mow, clean, store and pack. Open the windows and pull back the drapes. Turn on the lights and light a few candles.
- Consider taking your pet to a neighbor or pet sitter during your Open House.
- Use a sign-in notebook to record contact information and invite comments and feedback.
- Ask a mortgage company to assist you in holding an open house. Many local companies provide an on-site lending officer to assist buyers in calculating payments and exploring financing options.
- Consider calling your local title company to see if they offer assistance to sellers holding open houses. Most of these companies offer a variety of free, helpful assistance, often including food, signage, advertising, etc…
- It is best to keep your Open House an adult only event. Consider arranging for your children to be away during your Open House.
- Don’t crowd the attendee’s or become their tour guide. Greet each visitor at the door and be available to answer any questions they might have, but stay in the background. Encourage the buyers to tour on their own and at their own pace. Make every effort to insure that each person is at ease. Allow them the privacy and time they need to discover all features of your home that interest them.
- Place small items, such as jewelry and medications, in a safe place during your Open House. Theft and stealing are very rare, but do occur occasionally in some areas. Safekeeping a few items will give you peace of mind and will assist you in your effort to Stage and Show your home.
- Be prepared for comments that you may not appreciate and try to not go on the defensive. You are selling, but remember buyers are buying. Remain composed when hurtful comments are made about your décor, price, neighbors, floorplan or location. Bite your tongue, smile, remain professional and courteous. Showing your own home is a most difficult task. To do it successfully, it is necessary to remain objective and most of us are not, especially about our home. Be polite and helpful to the buyer at all costs, no matter how hard.
- Smile, relax and enjoy meeting new people. Your Open House is your time to stand in the spot light, so greet your visitors as you would like to be greeted.
In conclusion, remember that holding an Open House is not mandatory for selling a home. It is a valuable marketing tool because it allows home shoppers easy access to your home. They are also very cost effective in terms of exposure, if you get the buyers to attend. On the other hand, you may not want the public touring your home or open houses may not be popular in your area. The decision to host or not is up to you…
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. National Open House Weekend is this Saturday and Sunday. Buyers will be looking for Royal Blue balloons flying at Open Houses held by Realtors. Make the most of this opportunity and make sure blue balloons are flying at your house, too. Best of luck and let us know how you did!
Uncle Sam Pays the Tab for New Windows
Does a cold draft blow around your head while you relax in your easy chair? Does the sound of actual street noise drown out the sound of the NASCAR race on TV? If you answered “Yes” to either question…it might be time to replace those old, drafty, ugly, noisy, single paned, aluminum frame windows with some good looking, energy efficient ones.
Why Replacing Your Windows Pays Off…
- New windows improve the curb appeal and increase the value of any home.
- Buyers pay up for new windows. Numerous studies show that home sellers recoop 90+ percent of the costs for window replacement at the time of sale.
- Homeowners realize the energy savings immediately, while increasing comfort.
- Energy efficient windows are a Green home selling feature.
- New models of windows are easy to clean and maintain.
- Improve your view. New glass is so clear it’s just like looking through… nothing at all.
- Maybe Best of All…Uncle Sam Pays for It. The government will pay 30 percent of the cost (up to $1500) to replace the windows in your home through December 31, 2010. And, don’t forget to check out the additional rebates and savings on windows that are being offered in most states, cities and townships.
Tip for a Tight Budget
- Just replace some of the windows. Choose the ones on the front of the home, because they improve the curb appeal. Or, replace the windows that get hammered by the most weather, be it sun, rain, snow or wind.
- Or, Roll the Dice…and, maximize the tax credit by replacing half of the windows in 2010. Then, gamble on an extension of the credit into 2011 and replace the other half.
- Uncle Sam picks up a Third of your bill and smile (:
Practical Advice About Window Replacement
- Use a company that carries a wide range of window brands. Make sure they use their own employee’s (not subcontractors) to do the installation.
- Profit from the Housing Crash. Be a hard negotiator and get at least 3 quotes. You can save Big on labor and materials because the housing market is slow.
- Replacing windows is a big, messy job. Cover up anything important such as electronics and furniture. Sawing and Ripping out windows is dirty business, no matter how good the installer.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. We have a program for home sellers that offers the MLS, Realtor.com and advertisement on dozens of real estate listing posts for one cheap price…and the seller keeps the commission. Call 1-800-381-9496 or visit http://www.why6percent.com today for the details. You will be happy that you did!!!
Staging Tip to Make Your Bathroom Appear Bigger
We have a totally free, staging tip that everyone can do to make their bathroom appear more spacious and inviting.
Open your shower curtain a little bit… It draws the eye onward and makes the space appear larger.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com The home buying season is heating up across the country. If you don’t have your home listed on MLS, Realtor.com and all the major real estate property websites…you are missing buyers. It’s that simple. Contact us to list on the MLS for $399 and you keep the commission.
Interior Trim and Moldings Dress Up a Home
When selling your home for top dollar, it’s crucial that you present your home in its best light. One easy, do-it- yourself way to create interest, while improving flow and uniformity is with the use of baseboard and ceiling trim.
(Chops up the space)
Tip: Avoid chopping up the flow of your home by painting or staining all moldings and baseboard the same color throughout the home.
Tip: Add moldings over windows or doors to provide architectural interest or to draw attention to views.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. We offer for sale by owners a marketing package that includes the MLS and Realtor.com advertising. Visit the site for details today!
Easy Way to Remove Carpet Stains
If your home is on the market, you know how important staging and first impressions are to your sales success. If your carpet is stained, and you can’t replace it, then use these proven professional tips to remove the stain.
- For most carpet stains: Mix Equal Parts of white vinegar and water. Spray mixture onto the stain and blot up with a sponge.
- For Tough Stubborn Stains: Mix Equal Parts of Borax, white vinegar and salt. Rub paste into the carpet fibers and let set overnight. Vaccum the next morning, and presto, your stain will be gone.
These carpet stain cleaning recipes are green, cheap and they work. One thing that never works…placing a throw rug over a stain in a carpeted room. Everyone knows that rugs over carpeting mean bad stain. And, believe me buyer’s always lift up the rug to verify! Then, they wonder what else you’re hiding….
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. We offer MLS and Realtor.com marketing exposure for owners, builders and investors. Reach 10 millions home shoppers each month and save thousands in commissions and fee’s. Why Pay 6 Percent??? Buy the MLS for only $399.
6 Reasons to Sell Your Home During the Holidays
I’m thinking Turkey. The leaves have fallen, lawn mowers are stored and furnaces are in use. It’s at this time of year that many of our customer’s ask… “Should We Take Our Home Off the Market During the Holidays?”
The answer is definitely ”NO”. There are a lot of reasons to keep your home listed right through the New Year. And, there’s an especially, timely reason this holiday season!!
- The First Time Buyers Tax Credit has been extended until April 30, 2010 AND it’s been expanded. Step Up Home Buyers, who make a lot of money, can also receive $6500 in Tax Credits until April. Big tax incentives mean that smart buyers will be house shopping vs mall shopping this holiday season.
- Interest Rates are at Record Lows. 30 year fixed rate mortgages are below 5 percent. But, with the dollar weak and falling, low rates may not be around for long. Serious home buyers are aware of the difference that even a small interest rate increase would make in their house payment. The combo of Tax Credits and Low Interest Rates create strong urgency among buyer’s. Smart seller’s spruce up their homes and play into the pressure.
- Holiday Shoppers are Serious Buyers. Trust me. Everyone of us loves the holidays. The people who are looking for homes in November, December and January are SERIOUS Buyers. Do you really want to pull your house off the market when the most serious people are shopping??
- Less Competition. Many sellers don’t read our blog. They foolishly pull their homes from the market during the holidays, and this year will be no exception. Less competition could make the difference between For Sale and Sold, this Christmas.
- Houses are Pretty during the Holidays. Staging your home is easy during the holidays. The mood is festive. Holiday colors are warm and inviting. Candles, centerpieces and decorations touch the heart and convey a peaceful lifestyle. Light the candles, make a roaring fire, bake some goodies and turn on some relaxing holiday music. Buyer’s love to see a home decorated and looking special. Don’t let this once a year opportunity pass you by.
- Curb Appeal. If your landscape and lawn isn’t that great, breathe a sigh of relief that no one else’s is this time of year, either. Add seasonal color, a wreath, perhaps some decorations. Just keep it subtle and classy. No mowing, no weeding and trimming, and best of all snow covers all…
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com Our MLS and Realtor.com advertising packages reach 10 million serious home shoppers each month. If your home isn’t listed on the dozens of websites in our program, then you’re home isn’t really on the market. Get serious about selling and call us at 1-800-381-9496 today.
A Big Thank You to All our Veterans and Active Military Personnel!!! Please accept our $50 Gift and start marketing your property Today!!
Staging Tip: Showcase Rooms for Intended Purpose
As you prepare your home for the market, remember that it is no longer your home. It is a product that is for sale. First, Declutter, Depersonalize and Decorate (3 D’s for Staging any property)…then, rearrange your home so that every room is staged for its intended sole purpose.
Try to ignore the strawberries hanging from the fan (although this is clearly an item of specific taste), this seller clearly isn’t getting the point. What is this room? Is it an office, dining room or breakfast nook? If you can’t figure it out, neither will the buyer. The seller of this home should pack up the clutter and the home office, then showcase this room as the spacious dining room area it is.
Oh boy. I get clastrophobic just looking at this room. Vaccum cleaner sitting out, stuff crammed in every available cranny, desk, computer, library and dining room all rolled into one. Not. Any normal buyer would turn and run, not walk, out the door. The only thing I know is that obviously this seller isn’t serious and the product has no storage. This seller should get real and get to packing. This is a formal dining room with a real fireplace. If this homeowner can’t make this room look natural and inviting for entertaining, then hire a pro or take it off the market. No one is buying this house at any price.
This room is a living room, not a playground. I don’t think the seller’s could have made this large family room any less appealing, if they tried. Even though this seller may love to watch the children play in their playhouse while they watch TV, chances are this isn’t impressing any home buyers. Seller, please pack the playhouse or move it outdoors where it belongs. Warm this living room up with a rug, some window treatments and move the furniture off the wall into a conversation grouping.
Conclusiong: If your home has been on the market for 60 days or more and you haven’t received any serious buyer’s interest, stand back and look at your product from the buyer’s point of view. If your rooms aren’t being shown for the purpose they were intended, correct it today. If not, you can’t blame the market for your home not selling.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Please visit the website for helpful information and marketing tools to help you sell in this market.