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March 2008
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REMINDER..12 days from today, all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.
YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS.
To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222
It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to block. You cannot call from a different phone number.
HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS. It take about 20 seconds..
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Date: Mar. 14, 2008
Tags: None
When trying to sell your home it is no longer a home you live in, it becomes a property you are selling!
You need to think of your house as a marketable commodity. Property. Real estate. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home, not yours. If you do not consciously make this decision, you can inadvertently create a situation where it takes longer to sell your property.
The first step in getting your home ready to sell is to "de-personalize" it.
Russell Cox
Relocation Director
Kelly, Realtors
254 717 6447
www.kellyrealtors.com
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How You Can Make Money in
Any Real Estate Market
Donald Trump makes billions of dollars purchasing run down or vacant properties and building fantastic structures on them. Warren Buffett makes billions of dollars buying "troubled" companies and turning them into financial powerhouses. Little ol' me makes millions of dollars by purchasing hard-to-sell houses and making them dream homes.
There's a theme here. If you look closely at the investing strategies of billionaires, you'll find a single principle hiding in all their actions On the other hand, if you look closely at the investing strategies of struggling investors, you'll rarely find it. What is this principle and how can you profit from it?
The Law of Supply and Demand
You might remember this principle. Your high school Civics teacher probably droned on about it for hours, subjecting you to all kinds of nasty mathematical formulas and charts. If you're like me, you passed it off as economic mumbo-jumbo and went back to sleep.
Big mistake. This one little principle is what separates the struggling investor from the successful one. It separates the bad deals from the good deals. Once I started using it in my favor, I saw my income transform from nothing into over $1 million the first year. Life was so much easier.
Foreclosures: a supply and demand case study
Example: You've heard that the foreclosure market is hot, right? Enthusiastically, you signed up to one of the foreclosure web sites and started bidding on houses in your price range. Then you discovered something. Everyone else is doing the same thing! The clever little banker dumped you into a bidding war, driving up the purchase price and driving out the profit.
What went wrong here? You made an offer on an investment with a low supply and a high demand. Lots of gurus have popularized investing in foreclosures, leading to masses of beginners snatching up all of the lower end houses--for ridiculous prices. If you lost a bidding war, don't feel bad. Chances are, they lost money on the deal.
Foreclosures are an example of The Law of Supply and Demand working against people. You can also make the Law work for you. If you want to buy a good investment, look for the following:
Low supply, high demand: An example of this market is Southern California. Tons of people want to move there and the number of houses are limited. Because of these factors, property is appreciating at extraordinary rates.
High supply, low demand: Sometimes, you'll find a surplus of a kind of property. In Charlotte, NC, for example, the rental market is glutted, leading to high vacancy rates. You can buy multi-unit properties for big discounts.
Making money from low supply, high demand properties in hot markets is simple. Buy the property and sit on it. Monitor the market on a regular basis to see if supply is increasing or demand is shrinking. Eventually, it will happen. You'll notice appreciation rates starting to flatten out. When this happens, you need to sell before the bubble bursts.
The real trick is making money from high supply, low demand investments. For example, if you try to sell them in the same economic condition (high supply, low demand), then you'll most likely have difficulty selling at a reasonable speed at a reasonable profit. The reason? Nothing has changed.
Getting rich from high supply, low demand
We've all heard the secret to real estate is buying low and selling high. Well, you've managed to buy a property for next to nothing. How do you go about raising the price? Once again, the Law of Supply and Demand tells us what to do.
For the price to increase, one of two things has to happen. Either the demand has to increase or the supply has to decrease. Normally, you have little control over the supply of properties in your area, so we're left with one option: increase the demand.
In the residential market, the best way to increase the demand is to make the house more desirable. Rehabbers are familiar with this strategy. They buy fixer uppers for a big discount, make all of the repairs, and sell them for a juicy profit. By making the house more livable, they increase the demand. The result is a drastic jump in price.
You can follow a similar strategy for houses that are in good condition. At any given time, in almost any market, there are oodles of good, well-kept houses that people are having difficulty selling. They're often slightly older houses with a few cosmetic problems. Tidy them up and sell them for a quick gain.
Increase desirability on the cheap
"That sounds expensive," many people whine. My answer is this: Would you spend a few extra dollars to sell the property three times faster? It's also cheaper than you would think. Use the following seven tips to give your house a fast, inexpensive boost in desirability:
1. Spruce up the landscaping
2. Repaint the walls
3. Install additional lighting
4. Replace damaged or cheap fixtures with something nice
5. Add crown molding
6. Decorate the front door step
7. Buy a nice mailbox
Take it a step further
So far, we've stayed inside the limits of your standard, residential investments. You can make decent returns, but if you want to make the big bucks, you need to think outside the box. The best investments are almost always undesirable properties that you can transform into the hottest on the market.
For example, my company is buying a lot of luxury homes right now. Many of them sit on the MLS for one or even two years. We buy them at a steep discount and then turn them into dream homes. When we're done, the house usually sells within three months for twice what we paid for it!
What is the high supply, low demand property in your area? Sometimes it's multifamily, retail, raw land, or other less common types of investments. Whatever it is, go out and survey the market. Find a property that you can buy cheap, make a few changes, and sell for a big profit. Then you'll be investing like the big boys... and you'll start making their kind of profit.
RussellCox
Relocation Director
Kelly, Realtors
1229 Nth Valley Mills Drive
Waco TX 76710
:email: rcox@kellyrealtors.com
Mob: 254 717 6447 Direct
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Seal the Deal with Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of any real estate transaction. For me, it is the curb appeal that defines everything about my deal. How much will I offer? How much will it take to rehab the property? How does it compare to the surrounding living conditions?
Simply stated,
If the curb appeal is not very good, I know that I can buy the property for a discounted price.
And that's what my business is all about. Buying distressed homes and then raising the curb appeal through repairs to the property that not only raise curb appeal, but also the value too. Here are several ways that I use to bring up the value of houses to maximize my profit at resale.
Your first step--repainting
The most important thing that I can do to improve curb appeal is to repaint the structure. A fresh new coat of paint adds value right from the start. Remember, first impressions count. This will actually get you a higher appraisal than a house without a new paint job.
You want to do the outside of an investment property first--particularly the front. Getting the most noticeable portion in its best shape first will attract buyers immediately. You can't get a buyer to see the interior if they are not first pleased with the exterior.
Add a crisp, clean appearance
If the house is just dirty, and the paint is in good shape, then a pressure washer can be used to clean up the exterior siding, gutters, downspouts, deck, fences, and driveway. I even clean my roofs with one. Use the washer to remove any mold and mildew that can be seen on or near the house.
Pull your car in front of your property and take a hard look at what you see. This is going to be what your potential buyer sees, too. If you see something that sticks out to you, fix it. Make sure there are no leaves piled up on the grass.
Once you have disposed of any debris in the yard, make sure the lawn is mowed nicely. A fresh cut yard is a good sign that the rest of the home has been tended to correctly. Get rid of weeds and tools that are cluttering up any areas that can be seen from the street.
Don't overlook windows or gutters that need to be cleaned. These are simple tasks that do not cost any money to perform, while adding a crisp clean appearance to the home.
You may also want to remove any limbs touching the house or roof. This could scratch paint or cause roof leaks down the road. Another no-cost fix is to use a lawn edger around walkways, driveways and planter areas.
If your house may be looked at near dusk or dark, you want to make sure there is good light available. Add a decorative yard lamp to help the appearance and also add security at the same time.
Some people really like to line the driveway and walkway with little footlights. This adds great character to the house as well as a beautiful soft light shimmering as it leads people to your door.
An inexpensive way to add light would be to add a fixture at your front door either overhead or a wall mounted light. You can afford these on any budget, and the choice of styles is huge.
Landscaping--keep it simple and cheap
Let me mention a few things. Landscape is where some people can make expensive mistakes. Since bushes, trees, and decorative plants can cost thousands in landscape design, you do not want to go overboard--not even on your own home. Keep it simple, and you can keep it cheap too.
Around your mailbox post is a good place for some colorful flowers. You may also have some flower beds near your front entrance. This really looks great and can be done on a budget. Trim all the bushes to the same size and shape if they are in a group. This will make them look uniform as well as fancy.
If I spend the money to plant any decorative trees, I get ones that will look decent all year round. Most of the trees I add are fruit-bearing trees or something that will bloom brilliantly during the year.
On a house this week, we trimmed back bushes that had grown too high and made a very nice design around them using decorative pine straw and wood chips. These items run about $3 a bale for the straw and about $5 a bag for decorative chips. It really dressed up the front of the house, and I am sure will help me sell faster.
Add a few special touches
Just don't blow your budget that could cost big dollars when for a few hundred, you can dress a yard up nicely. It's better to do a lot of little, inexpensive things than it is to do one big, expensive thing. Dress up the front door with a nice color of paint that will go well with the house but still add flair. It's just like dressing up an old suit with a new tie!
Go a little further and add a fancy decorative doorknob and knocker set. Maybe even a brass kick plate. These items don't cost much but can add drama to the house.
Here is something I saw that was great as I was talking to my neighbor. She had been working on something in her yard for a couple of days, so I wandered over to check it out. She had added a fountain in the front of her home, and it was really pretty.
She and her husband bought a kit for the project for about $300. It had some nice stone structures and rocks that the water went through and they had dug out an area the plastic liner was placed into. As the water trickled down the decorative stonework, the liner fit nicely into the ground and had some varieties of fish swimming in it.
I thought this was a great addition--adding curb appeal and value--and a nice calming effect when sitting on the front porch in a rocker looking over the fountain.
The charm of the front porch decorated with flowers, wind chimes, and candles gave me the idea that I could dress up my houses with this same decor to show buyers feel that they could enjoy the same charm if they bought my house.
Last, but not least
If you have homes that have a lot of children living in the area, as well as possible pet owners, you may want to make sure that if the house has a secure fence.
On the house I have for sale now, we had to repair some areas of the fence. It's a six-foot tall wooden fence, and we replaced some of the boards that had been knocked down or broken. This adds security to people with kids and pets. It would have been a deal killer for buyers to see the fence run down and tacky.
We just put in a few new boards, sprayed it with bleach to clean it up and then put a good water sealer on it to make it last. We did the same thing to the deck in the back to clean and preserve it. For a little over $100, we made two areas that may have driven a buyer away look new and inviting again.
A few bullet points to remember...
- Pressure washing is a cheap way to clean up the entire exterior of any property.
- A fresh coat of paint raises the value and appeal.
- Do no-cost things like cleaning windows, mowing lawns, raking leaves, weeding, and trimming hedges, bushes, and branches from the house.
- Light up your home with outside lights and fancy lamps and such.
- Get landscaping ideas that cost a small amount yet make a huge impact
- Ponds and fountains make a dramatic statement.
- Repair fences and decks and use sealers to maintain a good look.
- Make the place feel like home with front porch swings and rockers.
- Decorate with flowers and candles and plant fruit bearing trees.
There are hundreds of ways to add curb appeal--use your imagination! Keep in mind that if people don't like the outside of the house, they will probably never see the inside. You may not realize it, but bad curb appeal could be the main reason a house sits on the market for months.
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Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Email This Entry
|
|
Seal the Deal with Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of any real estate transaction. For me, it is the curb appeal that defines everything about my deal. How much will I offer? How much will it take to rehab the property? How does it compare to the surrounding living conditions?
Simply stated,
If the curb appeal is not very good, I know that I can buy the property for a discounted price.
And that's what my business is all about. Buying distressed homes and then raising the curb appeal through repairs to the property that not only raise curb appeal, but also the value too. Here are several ways that I use to bring up the value of houses to maximize my profit at resale.
Your first step--repainting
The most important thing that I can do to improve curb appeal is to repaint the structure. A fresh new coat of paint adds value right from the start. Remember, first impressions count. This will actually get you a higher appraisal than a house without a new paint job.
You want to do the outside of an investment property first--particularly the front. Getting the most noticeable portion in its best shape first will attract buyers immediately. You can't get a buyer to see the interior if they are not first pleased with the exterior.
Add a crisp, clean appearance
If the house is just dirty, and the paint is in good shape, then a pressure washer can be used to clean up the exterior siding, gutters, downspouts, deck, fences, and driveway. I even clean my roofs with one. Use the washer to remove any mold and mildew that can be seen on or near the house.
Pull your car in front of your property and take a hard look at what you see. This is going to be what your potential buyer sees, too. If you see something that sticks out to you, fix it. Make sure there are no leaves piled up on the grass.
Once you have disposed of any debris in the yard, make sure the lawn is mowed nicely. A fresh cut yard is a good sign that the rest of the home has been tended to correctly. Get rid of weeds and tools that are cluttering up any areas that can be seen from the street.
Don't overlook windows or gutters that need to be cleaned. These are simple tasks that do not cost any money to perform, while adding a crisp clean appearance to the home.
You may also want to remove any limbs touching the house or roof. This could scratch paint or cause roof leaks down the road. Another no-cost fix is to use a lawn edger around walkways, driveways and planter areas.
If your house may be looked at near dusk or dark, you want to make sure there is good light available. Add a decorative yard lamp to help the appearance and also add security at the same time.
Some people really like to line the driveway and walkway with little footlights. This adds great character to the house as well as a beautiful soft light shimmering as it leads people to your door.
An inexpensive way to add light would be to add a fixture at your front door either overhead or a wall mounted light. You can afford these on any budget, and the choice of styles is huge.
Landscaping--keep it simple and cheap
Let me mention a few things. Landscape is where some people can make expensive mistakes. Since bushes, trees, and decorative plants can cost thousands in landscape design, you do not want to go overboard--not even on your own home. Keep it simple, and you can keep it cheap too.
Around your mailbox post is a good place for some colorful flowers. You may also have some flower beds near your front entrance. This really looks great and can be done on a budget. Trim all the bushes to the same size and shape if they are in a group. This will make them look uniform as well as fancy.
If I spend the money to plant any decorative trees, I get ones that will look decent all year round. Most of the trees I add are fruit-bearing trees or something that will bloom brilliantly during the year.
On a house this week, we trimmed back bushes that had grown too high and made a very nice design around them using decorative pine straw and wood chips. These items run about $3 a bale for the straw and about $5 a bag for decorative chips. It really dressed up the front of the house, and I am sure will help me sell faster.
Add a few special touches
Just don't blow your budget that could cost big dollars when for a few hundred, you can dress a yard up nicely. It's better to do a lot of little, inexpensive things than it is to do one big, expensive thing. Dress up the front door with a nice color of paint that will go well with the house but still add flair. It's just like dressing up an old suit with a new tie!
Go a little further and add a fancy decorative doorknob and knocker set. Maybe even a brass kick plate. These items don't cost much but can add drama to the house.
Here is something I saw that was great as I was talking to my neighbor. She had been working on something in her yard for a couple of days, so I wandered over to check it out. She had added a fountain in the front of her home, and it was really pretty.
She and her husband bought a kit for the project for about $300. It had some nice stone structures and rocks that the water went through and they had dug out an area the plastic liner was placed into. As the water trickled down the decorative stonework, the liner fit nicely into the ground and had some varieties of fish swimming in it.
I thought this was a great addition--adding curb appeal and value--and a nice calming effect when sitting on the front porch in a rocker looking over the fountain.
The charm of the front porch decorated with flowers, wind chimes, and candles gave me the idea that I could dress up my houses with this same decor to show buyers feel that they could enjoy the same charm if they bought my house.
Last, but not least
If you have homes that have a lot of children living in the area, as well as possible pet owners, you may want to make sure that if the house has a secure fence.
On the house I have for sale now, we had to repair some areas of the fence. It's a six-foot tall wooden fence, and we replaced some of the boards that had been knocked down or broken. This adds security to people with kids and pets. It would have been a deal killer for buyers to see the fence run down and tacky.
We just put in a few new boards, sprayed it with bleach to clean it up and then put a good water sealer on it to make it last. We did the same thing to the deck in the back to clean and preserve it. For a little over $100, we made two areas that may have driven a buyer away look new and inviting again.
A few bullet points to remember...
- Pressure washing is a cheap way to clean up the entire exterior of any property.
- A fresh coat of paint raises the value and appeal.
- Do no-cost things like cleaning windows, mowing lawns, raking leaves, weeding, and trimming hedges, bushes, and branches from the house.
- Light up your home with outside lights and fancy lamps and such.
- Get landscaping ideas that cost a small amount yet make a huge impact
- Ponds and fountains make a dramatic statement.
- Repair fences and decks and use sealers to maintain a good look.
- Make the place feel like home with front porch swings and rockers.
- Decorate with flowers and candles and plant fruit bearing trees.
There are hundreds of ways to add curb appeal--use your imagination! Keep in mind that if people don't like the outside of the house, they will probably never see the inside. You may not realize it, but bad curb appeal could be the main reason a house sits on the market for months.
|
|
Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Email This Entry
|
|
Seal the Deal with Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of any real estate transaction. For me, it is the curb appeal that defines everything about my deal. How much will I offer? How much will it take to rehab the property? How does it compare to the surrounding living conditions?
Simply stated,
If the curb appeal is not very good, I know that I can buy the property for a discounted price.
And that's what my business is all about. Buying distressed homes and then raising the curb appeal through repairs to the property that not only raise curb appeal, but also the value too. Here are several ways that I use to bring up the value of houses to maximize my profit at resale.
Your first step--repainting
The most important thing that I can do to improve curb appeal is to repaint the structure. A fresh new coat of paint adds value right from the start. Remember, first impressions count. This will actually get you a higher appraisal than a house without a new paint job.
You want to do the outside of an investment property first--particularly the front. Getting the most noticeable portion in its best shape first will attract buyers immediately. You can't get a buyer to see the interior if they are not first pleased with the exterior.
Add a crisp, clean appearance
If the house is just dirty, and the paint is in good shape, then a pressure washer can be used to clean up the exterior siding, gutters, downspouts, deck, fences, and driveway. I even clean my roofs with one. Use the washer to remove any mold and mildew that can be seen on or near the house.
Pull your car in front of your property and take a hard look at what you see. This is going to be what your potential buyer sees, too. If you see something that sticks out to you, fix it. Make sure there are no leaves piled up on the grass.
Once you have disposed of any debris in the yard, make sure the lawn is mowed nicely. A fresh cut yard is a good sign that the rest of the home has been tended to correctly. Get rid of weeds and tools that are cluttering up any areas that can be seen from the street.
Don't overlook windows or gutters that need to be cleaned. These are simple tasks that do not cost any money to perform, while adding a crisp clean appearance to the home.
You may also want to remove any limbs touching the house or roof. This could scratch paint or cause roof leaks down the road. Another no-cost fix is to use a lawn edger around walkways, driveways and planter areas.
If your house may be looked at near dusk or dark, you want to make sure there is good light available. Add a decorative yard lamp to help the appearance and also add security at the same time.
Some people really like to line the driveway and walkway with little footlights. This adds great character to the house as well as a beautiful soft light shimmering as it leads people to your door.
An inexpensive way to add light would be to add a fixture at your front door either overhead or a wall mounted light. You can afford these on any budget, and the choice of styles is huge.
Landscaping--keep it simple and cheap
Let me mention a few things. Landscape is where some people can make expensive mistakes. Since bushes, trees, and decorative plants can cost thousands in landscape design, you do not want to go overboard--not even on your own home. Keep it simple, and you can keep it cheap too.
Around your mailbox post is a good place for some colorful flowers. You may also have some flower beds near your front entrance. This really looks great and can be done on a budget. Trim all the bushes to the same size and shape if they are in a group. This will make them look uniform as well as fancy.
If I spend the money to plant any decorative trees, I get ones that will look decent all year round. Most of the trees I add are fruit-bearing trees or something that will bloom brilliantly during the year.
On a house this week, we trimmed back bushes that had grown too high and made a very nice design around them using decorative pine straw and wood chips. These items run about $3 a bale for the straw and about $5 a bag for decorative chips. It really dressed up the front of the house, and I am sure will help me sell faster.
Add a few special touches
Just don't blow your budget that could cost big dollars when for a few hundred, you can dress a yard up nicely. It's better to do a lot of little, inexpensive things than it is to do one big, expensive thing. Dress up the front door with a nice color of paint that will go well with the house but still add flair. It's just like dressing up an old suit with a new tie!
Go a little further and add a fancy decorative doorknob and knocker set. Maybe even a brass kick plate. These items don't cost much but can add drama to the house.
Here is something I saw that was great as I was talking to my neighbor. She had been working on something in her yard for a couple of days, so I wandered over to check it out. She had added a fountain in the front of her home, and it was really pretty.
She and her husband bought a kit for the project for about $300. It had some nice stone structures and rocks that the water went through and they had dug out an area the plastic liner was placed into. As the water trickled down the decorative stonework, the liner fit nicely into the ground and had some varieties of fish swimming in it.
I thought this was a great addition--adding curb appeal and value--and a nice calming effect when sitting on the front porch in a rocker looking over the fountain.
The charm of the front porch decorated with flowers, wind chimes, and candles gave me the idea that I could dress up my houses with this same decor to show buyers feel that they could enjoy the same charm if they bought my house.
Last, but not least
If you have homes that have a lot of children living in the area, as well as possible pet owners, you may want to make sure that if the house has a secure fence.
On the house I have for sale now, we had to repair some areas of the fence. It's a six-foot tall wooden fence, and we replaced some of the boards that had been knocked down or broken. This adds security to people with kids and pets. It would have been a deal killer for buyers to see the fence run down and tacky.
We just put in a few new boards, sprayed it with bleach to clean it up and then put a good water sealer on it to make it last. We did the same thing to the deck in the back to clean and preserve it. For a little over $100, we made two areas that may have driven a buyer away look new and inviting again.
A few bullet points to remember...
- Pressure washing is a cheap way to clean up the entire exterior of any property.
- A fresh coat of paint raises the value and appeal.
- Do no-cost things like cleaning windows, mowing lawns, raking leaves, weeding, and trimming hedges, bushes, and branches from the house.
- Light up your home with outside lights and fancy lamps and such.
- Get landscaping ideas that cost a small amount yet make a huge impact
- Ponds and fountains make a dramatic statement.
- Repair fences and decks and use sealers to maintain a good look.
- Make the place feel like home with front porch swings and rockers.
- Decorate with flowers and candles and plant fruit bearing trees.
There are hundreds of ways to add curb appeal--use your imagination! Keep in mind that if people don't like the outside of the house, they will probably never see the inside. You may not realize it, but bad curb appeal could be the main reason a house sits on the market for months.
|
|
Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Email This Entry
|
|
Seal the Deal with Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of any real estate transaction. For me, it is the curb appeal that defines everything about my deal. How much will I offer? How much will it take to rehab the property? How does it compare to the surrounding living conditions?
Simply stated,
If the curb appeal is not very good, I know that I can buy the property for a discounted price.
And that's what my business is all about. Buying distressed homes and then raising the curb appeal through repairs to the property that not only raise curb appeal, but also the value too. Here are several ways that I use to bring up the value of houses to maximize my profit at resale.
Your first step--repainting
The most important thing that I can do to improve curb appeal is to repaint the structure. A fresh new coat of paint adds value right from the start. Remember, first impressions count. This will actually get you a higher appraisal than a house without a new paint job.
You want to do the outside of an investment property first--particularly the front. Getting the most noticeable portion in its best shape first will attract buyers immediately. You can't get a buyer to see the interior if they are not first pleased with the exterior.
Add a crisp, clean appearance
If the house is just dirty, and the paint is in good shape, then a pressure washer can be used to clean up the exterior siding, gutters, downspouts, deck, fences, and driveway. I even clean my roofs with one. Use the washer to remove any mold and mildew that can be seen on or near the house.
Pull your car in front of your property and take a hard look at what you see. This is going to be what your potential buyer sees, too. If you see something that sticks out to you, fix it. Make sure there are no leaves piled up on the grass.
Once you have disposed of any debris in the yard, make sure the lawn is mowed nicely. A fresh cut yard is a good sign that the rest of the home has been tended to correctly. Get rid of weeds and tools that are cluttering up any areas that can be seen from the street.
Don't overlook windows or gutters that need to be cleaned. These are simple tasks that do not cost any money to perform, while adding a crisp clean appearance to the home.
You may also want to remove any limbs touching the house or roof. This could scratch paint or cause roof leaks down the road. Another no-cost fix is to use a lawn edger around walkways, driveways and planter areas.
If your house may be looked at near dusk or dark, you want to make sure there is good light available. Add a decorative yard lamp to help the appearance and also add security at the same time.
Some people really like to line the driveway and walkway with little footlights. This adds great character to the house as well as a beautiful soft light shimmering as it leads people to your door.
An inexpensive way to add light would be to add a fixture at your front door either overhead or a wall mounted light. You can afford these on any budget, and the choice of styles is huge.
Landscaping--keep it simple and cheap
Let me mention a few things. Landscape is where some people can make expensive mistakes. Since bushes, trees, and decorative plants can cost thousands in landscape design, you do not want to go overboard--not even on your own home. Keep it simple, and you can keep it cheap too.
Around your mailbox post is a good place for some colorful flowers. You may also have some flower beds near your front entrance. This really looks great and can be done on a budget. Trim all the bushes to the same size and shape if they are in a group. This will make them look uniform as well as fancy.
If I spend the money to plant any decorative trees, I get ones that will look decent all year round. Most of the trees I add are fruit-bearing trees or something that will bloom brilliantly during the year.
On a house this week, we trimmed back bushes that had grown too high and made a very nice design around them using decorative pine straw and wood chips. These items run about $3 a bale for the straw and about $5 a bag for decorative chips. It really dressed up the front of the house, and I am sure will help me sell faster.
Add a few special touches
Just don't blow your budget that could cost big dollars when for a few hundred, you can dress a yard up nicely. It's better to do a lot of little, inexpensive things than it is to do one big, expensive thing. Dress up the front door with a nice color of paint that will go well with the house but still add flair. It's just like dressing up an old suit with a new tie!
Go a little further and add a fancy decorative doorknob and knocker set. Maybe even a brass kick plate. These items don't cost much but can add drama to the house.
Here is something I saw that was great as I was talking to my neighbor. She had been working on something in her yard for a couple of days, so I wandered over to check it out. She had added a fountain in the front of her home, and it was really pretty.
She and her husband bought a kit for the project for about $300. It had some nice stone structures and rocks that the water went through and they had dug out an area the plastic liner was placed into. As the water trickled down the decorative stonework, the liner fit nicely into the ground and had some varieties of fish swimming in it.
I thought this was a great addition--adding curb appeal and value--and a nice calming effect when sitting on the front porch in a rocker looking over the fountain.
The charm of the front porch decorated with flowers, wind chimes, and candles gave me the idea that I could dress up my houses with this same decor to show buyers feel that they could enjoy the same charm if they bought my house.
Last, but not least
If you have homes that have a lot of children living in the area, as well as possible pet owners, you may want to make sure that if the house has a secure fence.
On the house I have for sale now, we had to repair some areas of the fence. It's a six-foot tall wooden fence, and we replaced some of the boards that had been knocked down or broken. This adds security to people with kids and pets. It would have been a deal killer for buyers to see the fence run down and tacky.
We just put in a few new boards, sprayed it with bleach to clean it up and then put a good water sealer on it to make it last. We did the same thing to the deck in the back to clean and preserve it. For a little over $100, we made two areas that may have driven a buyer away look new and inviting again.
A few bullet points to remember...
- Pressure washing is a cheap way to clean up the entire exterior of any property.
- A fresh coat of paint raises the value and appeal.
- Do no-cost things like cleaning windows, mowing lawns, raking leaves, weeding, and trimming hedges, bushes, and branches from the house.
- Light up your home with outside lights and fancy lamps and such.
- Get landscaping ideas that cost a small amount yet make a huge impact
- Ponds and fountains make a dramatic statement.
- Repair fences and decks and use sealers to maintain a good look.
- Make the place feel like home with front porch swings and rockers.
- Decorate with flowers and candles and plant fruit bearing trees.
There are hundreds of ways to add curb appeal--use your imagination! Keep in mind that if people don't like the outside of the house, they will probably never see the inside. You may not realize it, but bad curb appeal could be the main reason a house sits on the market for months.
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Seal the Deal with Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of any real estate transaction. For me, it is the curb appeal that defines everything about my deal. How much will I offer? How much will it take to rehab the property? How does it compare to the surrounding living conditions?
Simply stated,
If the curb appeal is not very good, I know that I can buy the property for a discounted price.
And that's what my business is all about. Buying distressed homes and then raising the curb appeal through repairs to the property that not only raise curb appeal, but also the value too. Here are several ways that I use to bring up the value of houses to maximize my profit at resale.
Your first step--repainting
The most important thing that I can do to improve curb appeal is to repaint the structure. A fresh new coat of paint adds value right from the start. Remember, first impressions count. This will actually get you a higher appraisal than a house without a new paint job.
You want to do the outside of an investment property first--particularly the front. Getting the most noticeable portion in its best shape first will attract buyers immediately. You can't get a buyer to see the interior if they are not first pleased with the exterior.
Add a crisp, clean appearance
If the house is just dirty, and the paint is in good shape, then a pressure washer can be used to clean up the exterior siding, gutters, downspouts, deck, fences, and driveway. I even clean my roofs with one. Use the washer to remove any mold and mildew that can be seen on or near the house.
Pull your car in front of your property and take a hard look at what you see. This is going to be what your potential buyer sees, too. If you see something that sticks out to you, fix it. Make sure there are no leaves piled up on the grass.
Once you have disposed of any debris in the yard, make sure the lawn is mowed nicely. A fresh cut yard is a good sign that the rest of the home has been tended to correctly. Get rid of weeds and tools that are cluttering up any areas that can be seen from the street.
Don't overlook windows or gutters that need to be cleaned. These are simple tasks that do not cost any money to perform, while adding a crisp clean appearance to the home.
You may also want to remove any limbs touching the house or roof. This could scratch paint or cause roof leaks down the road. Another no-cost fix is to use a lawn edger around walkways, driveways and planter areas.
If your house may be looked at near dusk or dark, you want to make sure there is good light available. Add a decorative yard lamp to help the appearance and also add security at the same time.
Some people really like to line the driveway and walkway with little footlights. This adds great character to the house as well as a beautiful soft light shimmering as it leads people to your door.
An inexpensive way to add light would be to add a fixture at your front door either overhead or a wall mounted light. You can afford these on any budget, and the choice of styles is huge.
Landscaping--keep it simple and cheap
Let me mention a few things. Landscape is where some people can make expensive mistakes. Since bushes, trees, and decorative plants can cost thousands in landscape design, you do not want to go overboard--not even on your own home. Keep it simple, and you can keep it cheap too.
Around your mailbox post is a good place for some colorful flowers. You may also have some flower beds near your front entrance. This really looks great and can be done on a budget. Trim all the bushes to the same size and shape if they are in a group. This will make them look uniform as well as fancy.
If I spend the money to plant any decorative trees, I get ones that will look decent all year round. Most of the trees I add are fruit-bearing trees or something that will bloom brilliantly during the year.
On a house this week, we trimmed back bushes that had grown too high and made a very nice design around them using decorative pine straw and wood chips. These items run about $3 a bale for the straw and about $5 a bag for decorative chips. It really dressed up the front of the house, and I am sure will help me sell faster.
Add a few special touches
Just don't blow your budget that could cost big dollars when for a few hundred, you can dress a yard up nicely. It's better to do a lot of little, inexpensive things than it is to do one big, expensive thing. Dress up the front door with a nice color of paint that will go well with the house but still add flair. It's just like dressing up an old suit with a new tie!
Go a little further and add a fancy decorative doorknob and knocker set. Maybe even a brass kick plate. These items don't cost much but can add drama to the house.
Here is something I saw that was great as I was talking to my neighbor. She had been working on something in her yard for a couple of days, so I wandered over to check it out. She had added a fountain in the front of her home, and it was really pretty.
She and her husband bought a kit for the project for about $300. It had some nice stone structures and rocks that the water went through and they had dug out an area the plastic liner was placed into. As the water trickled down the decorative stonework, the liner fit nicely into the ground and had some varieties of fish swimming in it.
I thought this was a great addition--adding curb appeal and value--and a nice calming effect when sitting on the front porch in a rocker looking over the fountain.
The charm of the front porch decorated with flowers, wind chimes, and candles gave me the idea that I could dress up my houses with this same decor to show buyers feel that they could enjoy the same charm if they bought my house.
Last, but not least
If you have homes that have a lot of children living in the area, as well as possible pet owners, you may want to make sure that if the house has a secure fence.
On the house I have for sale now, we had to repair some areas of the fence. It's a six-foot tall wooden fence, and we replaced some of the boards that had been knocked down or broken. This adds security to people with kids and pets. It would have been a deal killer for buyers to see the fence run down and tacky.
We just put in a few new boards, sprayed it with bleach to clean it up and then put a good water sealer on it to make it last. We did the same thing to the deck in the back to clean and preserve it. For a little over $100, we made two areas that may have driven a buyer away look new and inviting again.
A few bullet points to remember...
- Pressure washing is a cheap way to clean up the entire exterior of any property.
- A fresh coat of paint raises the value and appeal.
- Do no-cost things like cleaning windows, mowing lawns, raking leaves, weeding, and trimming hedges, bushes, and branches from the house.
- Light up your home with outside lights and fancy lamps and such.
- Get landscaping ideas that cost a small amount yet make a huge impact
- Ponds and fountains make a dramatic statement.
- Repair fences and decks and use sealers to maintain a good look.
- Make the place feel like home with front porch swings and rockers.
- Decorate with flowers and candles and plant fruit bearing trees.
There are hundreds of ways to add curb appeal--use your imagination! Keep in mind that if people don't like the outside of the house, they will probably never see the inside. You may not realize it, but bad curb appeal could be the main reason a house sits on the market for months.
|
|
Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Email This Entry
|
|
Seal the Deal with Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of any real estate transaction. For me, it is the curb appeal that defines everything about my deal. How much will I offer? How much will it take to rehab the property? How does it compare to the surrounding living conditions?
Simply stated,
If the curb appeal is not very good, I know that I can buy the property for a discounted price.
And that's what my business is all about. Buying distressed homes and then raising the curb appeal through repairs to the property that not only raise curb appeal, but also the value too. Here are several ways that I use to bring up the value of houses to maximize my profit at resale.
Your first step--repainting
The most important thing that I can do to improve curb appeal is to repaint the structure. A fresh new coat of paint adds value right from the start. Remember, first impressions count. This will actually get you a higher appraisal than a house without a new paint job.
You want to do the outside of an investment property first--particularly the front. Getting the most noticeable portion in its best shape first will attract buyers immediately. You can't get a buyer to see the interior if they are not first pleased with the exterior.
Add a crisp, clean appearance
If the house is just dirty, and the paint is in good shape, then a pressure washer can be used to clean up the exterior siding, gutters, downspouts, deck, fences, and driveway. I even clean my roofs with one. Use the washer to remove any mold and mildew that can be seen on or near the house.
Pull your car in front of your property and take a hard look at what you see. This is going to be what your potential buyer sees, too. If you see something that sticks out to you, fix it. Make sure there are no leaves piled up on the grass.
Once you have disposed of any debris in the yard, make sure the lawn is mowed nicely. A fresh cut yard is a good sign that the rest of the home has been tended to correctly. Get rid of weeds and tools that are cluttering up any areas that can be seen from the street.
Don't overlook windows or gutters that need to be cleaned. These are simple tasks that do not cost any money to perform, while adding a crisp clean appearance to the home.
You may also want to remove any limbs touching the house or roof. This could scratch paint or cause roof leaks down the road. Another no-cost fix is to use a lawn edger around walkways, driveways and planter areas.
If your house may be looked at near dusk or dark, you want to make sure there is good light available. Add a decorative yard lamp to help the appearance and also add security at the same time.
Some people really like to line the driveway and walkway with little footlights. This adds great character to the house as well as a beautiful soft light shimmering as it leads people to your door.
An inexpensive way to add light would be to add a fixture at your front door either overhead or a wall mounted light. You can afford these on any budget, and the choice of styles is huge.
Landscaping--keep it simple and cheap
Let me mention a few things. Landscape is where some people can make expensive mistakes. Since bushes, trees, and decorative plants can cost thousands in landscape design, you do not want to go overboard--not even on your own home. Keep it simple, and you can keep it cheap too.
Around your mailbox post is a good place for some colorful flowers. You may also have some flower beds near your front entrance. This really looks great and can be done on a budget. Trim all the bushes to the same size and shape if they are in a group. This will make them look uniform as well as fancy.
If I spend the money to plant any decorative trees, I get ones that will look decent all year round. Most of the trees I add are fruit-bearing trees or something that will bloom brilliantly during the year.
On a house this week, we trimmed back bushes that had grown too high and made a very nice design around them using decorative pine straw and wood chips. These items run about $3 a bale for the straw and about $5 a bag for decorative chips. It really dressed up the front of the house, and I am sure will help me sell faster.
Add a few special touches
Just don't blow your budget that could cost big dollars when for a few hundred, you can dress a yard up nicely. It's better to do a lot of little, inexpensive things than it is to do one big, expensive thing. Dress up the front door with a nice color of paint that will go well with the house but still add flair. It's just like dressing up an old suit with a new tie!
Go a little further and add a fancy decorative doorknob and knocker set. Maybe even a brass kick plate. These items don't cost much but can add drama to the house.
Here is something I saw that was great as I was talking to my neighbor. She had been working on something in her yard for a couple of days, so I wandered over to check it out. She had added a fountain in the front of her home, and it was really pretty.
She and her husband bought a kit for the project for about $300. It had some nice stone structures and rocks that the water went through and they had dug out an area the plastic liner was placed into. As the water trickled down the decorative stonework, the liner fit nicely into the ground and had some varieties of fish swimming in it.
I thought this was a great addition--adding curb appeal and value--and a nice calming effect when sitting on the front porch in a rocker looking over the fountain.
The charm of the front porch decorated with flowers, wind chimes, and candles gave me the idea that I could dress up my houses with this same decor to show buyers feel that they could enjoy the same charm if they bought my house.
Last, but not least
If you have homes that have a lot of children living in the area, as well as possible pet owners, you may want to make sure that if the house has a secure fence.
On the house I have for sale now, we had to repair some areas of the fence. It's a six-foot tall wooden fence, and we replaced some of the boards that had been knocked down or broken. This adds security to people with kids and pets. It would have been a deal killer for buyers to see the fence run down and tacky.
We just put in a few new boards, sprayed it with bleach to clean it up and then put a good water sealer on it to make it last. We did the same thing to the deck in the back to clean and preserve it. For a little over $100, we made two areas that may have driven a buyer away look new and inviting again.
A few bullet points to remember...
- Pressure washing is a cheap way to clean up the entire exterior of any property.
- A fresh coat of paint raises the value and appeal.
- Do no-cost things like cleaning windows, mowing lawns, raking leaves, weeding, and trimming hedges, bushes, and branches from the house.
- Light up your home with outside lights and fancy lamps and such.
- Get landscaping ideas that cost a small amount yet make a huge impact
- Ponds and fountains make a dramatic statement.
- Repair fences and decks and use sealers to maintain a good look.
- Make the place feel like home with front porch swings and rockers.
- Decorate with flowers and candles and plant fruit bearing trees.
There are hundreds of ways to add curb appeal--use your imagination! Keep in mind that if people don't like the outside of the house, they will probably never see the inside. You may not realize it, but bad curb appeal could be the main reason a house sits on the market for months.
|
|
Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Email This Entry
|
|
Seal the Deal with Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of any real estate transaction. For me, it is the curb appeal that defines everything about my deal. How much will I offer? How much will it take to rehab the property? How does it compare to the surrounding living conditions?
Simply stated,
If the curb appeal is not very good, I know that I can buy the property for a discounted price.
And that's what my business is all about. Buying distressed homes and then raising the curb appeal through repairs to the property that not only raise curb appeal, but also the value too. Here are several ways that I use to bring up the value of houses to maximize my profit at resale.
Your first step--repainting
The most important thing that I can do to improve curb appeal is to repaint the structure. A fresh new coat of paint adds value right from the start. Remember, first impressions count. This will actually get you a higher appraisal than a house without a new paint job.
You want to do the outside of an investment property first--particularly the front. Getting the most noticeable portion in its best shape first will attract buyers immediately. You can't get a buyer to see the interior if they are not first pleased with the exterior.
Add a crisp, clean appearance
If the house is just dirty, and the paint is in good shape, then a pressure washer can be used to clean up the exterior siding, gutters, downspouts, deck, fences, and driveway. I even clean my roofs with one. Use the washer to remove any mold and mildew that can be seen on or near the house.
Pull your car in front of your property and take a hard look at what you see. This is going to be what your potential buyer sees, too. If you see something that sticks out to you, fix it. Make sure there are no leaves piled up on the grass.
Once you have disposed of any debris in the yard, make sure the lawn is mowed nicely. A fresh cut yard is a good sign that the rest of the home has been tended to correctly. Get rid of weeds and tools that are cluttering up any areas that can be seen from the street.
Don't overlook windows or gutters that need to be cleaned. These are simple tasks that do not cost any money to perform, while adding a crisp clean appearance to the home.
You may also want to remove any limbs touching the house or roof. This could scratch paint or cause roof leaks down the road. Another no-cost fix is to use a lawn edger around walkways, driveways and planter areas.
If your house may be looked at near dusk or dark, you want to make sure there is good light available. Add a decorative yard lamp to help the appearance and also add security at the same time.
Some people really like to line the driveway and walkway with little footlights. This adds great character to the house as well as a beautiful soft light shimmering as it leads people to your door.
An inexpensive way to add light would be to add a fixture at your front door either overhead or a wall mounted light. You can afford these on any budget, and the choice of styles is huge.
Landscaping--keep it simple and cheap
Let me mention a few things. Landscape is where some people can make expensive mistakes. Since bushes, trees, and decorative plants can cost thousands in landscape design, you do not want to go overboard--not even on your own home. Keep it simple, and you can keep it cheap too.
Around your mailbox post is a good place for some colorful flowers. You may also have some flower beds near your front entrance. This really looks great and can be done on a budget. Trim all the bushes to the same size and shape if they are in a group. This will make them look uniform as well as fancy.
If I spend the money to plant any decorative trees, I get ones that will look decent all year round. Most of the trees I add are fruit-bearing trees or something that will bloom brilliantly during the year.
On a house this week, we trimmed back bushes that had grown too high and made a very nice design around them using decorative pine straw and wood chips. These items run about $3 a bale for the straw and about $5 a bag for decorative chips. It really dressed up the front of the house, and I am sure will help me sell faster.
Add a few special touches
Just don't blow your budget that could cost big dollars when for a few hundred, you can dress a yard up nicely. It's better to do a lot of little, inexpensive things than it is to do one big, expensive thing. Dress up the front door with a nice color of paint that will go well with the house but still add flair. It's just like dressing up an old suit with a new tie!
Go a little further and add a fancy decorative doorknob and knocker set. Maybe even a brass kick plate. These items don't cost much but can add drama to the house.
Here is something I saw that was great as I was talking to my neighbor. She had been working on something in her yard for a couple of days, so I wandered over to check it out. She had added a fountain in the front of her home, and it was really pretty.
She and her husband bought a kit for the project for about $300. It had some nice stone structures and rocks that the water went through and they had dug out an area the plastic liner was placed into. As the water trickled down the decorative stonework, the liner fit nicely into the ground and had some varieties of fish swimming in it.
I thought this was a great addition--adding curb appeal and value--and a nice calming effect when sitting on the front porch in a rocker looking over the fountain.
The charm of the front porch decorated with flowers, wind chimes, and candles gave me the idea that I could dress up my houses with this same decor to show buyers feel that they could enjoy the same charm if they bought my house.
Last, but not least
If you have homes that have a lot of children living in the area, as well as possible pet owners, you may want to make sure that if the house has a secure fence.
On the house I have for sale now, we had to repair some areas of the fence. It's a six-foot tall wooden fence, and we replaced some of the boards that had been knocked down or broken. This adds security to people with kids and pets. It would have been a deal killer for buyers to see the fence run down and tacky.
We just put in a few new boards, sprayed it with bleach to clean it up and then put a good water sealer on it to make it last. We did the same thing to the deck in the back to clean and preserve it. For a little over $100, we made two areas that may have driven a buyer away look new and inviting again.
A few bullet points to remember...
- Pressure washing is a cheap way to clean up the entire exterior of any property.
- A fresh coat of paint raises the value and appeal.
- Do no-cost things like cleaning windows, mowing lawns, raking leaves, weeding, and trimming hedges, bushes, and branches from the house.
- Light up your home with outside lights and fancy lamps and such.
- Get landscaping ideas that cost a small amount yet make a huge impact
- Ponds and fountains make a dramatic statement.
- Repair fences and decks and use sealers to maintain a good look.
- Make the place feel like home with front porch swings and rockers.
- Decorate with flowers and candles and plant fruit bearing trees.
There are hundreds of ways to add curb appeal--use your imagination! Keep in mind that if people don't like the outside of the house, they will probably never see the inside. You may not realize it, but bad curb appeal could be the main reason a house sits on the market for months.
|
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