Archive for the ‘Improve Curb Appeal’ Category
Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended.
Great news for home buyers, sellers and owners, alike. The homebuyer tax credit has been expanded to include step up buyers, who have owned a home for 5 years. It also extends the tax credit through the end of 2010.
GREAT NEWS!
It appears that Senate Democrats have recognized the tremendous value of the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit and odds are it will be renewed soon. At this time, it is believed that the credit will allow anyone purchasing a home, by April 30, 2010, to participate and receive the full credit available.
The credit will continue until the end of 2010, but the amount of tax credit will drop by 2 percent every 90 days. The graduated benefit should help the housing market recover into and through the 2010 summer selling season.
Here is the text of the story as reported in Bloomberg News today:
Senate Democrats on Board with Credit Extension
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) says Senate Democrats have agreed to extend the first-time home buyer tax credit. The latest version extends the program to home sales signed not closed by April 30. Purchasers would have another 60 days to close the sale. The credit will also be expanded to include so-called step-up buyers who have lived in their current home for at least five years.
The credit would be cut slightly to a $7,290 cap. Income eligibility for first-time home buyers would stay the same, but it would rise for step-up buyers to $125,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples.
Source: Bloomberg News, Dawn Kopecki and Ryan Donmoyer (10/27/2009)
Los Angeles New Law: NO MORE Graffiti!!
LOS ANGELES — Under an ordinance just approved by the City Council, all new buildings in Los Angeles including homes must have anti-graffiti coating, unless the owners sign a contract vowing to remove any graffiti on their property within 72 hours from notification.Virtually Stage Your Home to Sell
Marketing a vacant home can be difficult challenge, because empty rooms are hard to size up and they don’t stand out in a buyer’s mind. This leaves every vacant home looking like the one next door, with the only difference in a buyer’s mind being, which home has the lowest price.
This problem may have been solved by Krisztina Bell, a smart Atlanta Realtor, who invented and patented a software program that will “virtually” stage any vacant property for around $250. Her company has been heralded by the Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronical and other publications as the answer to giving the effect of a professionally staged home at a fraction of the cost.
With 90 percent of home buyers doing their shopping online, and thousands of vacant homes on the market, Ms Bell’s idea is smart and timely. Her technique transforms listing photo’s of vacant homes into homes with professionally designed interiors, using a library of attractive furnishings, accessories and artwork. The resulting “after” photo’s are realistic, authentic and hard to distinguish from a home that has been actually staged with furnishings.
To view the Photo Gallery of some impressive Before and After Pictures, please visit her website VirtuallyStagingProperties.com, by clicking this link. You will be amazed. And, if you have a vacant home to sell, you should seriously consider this inexpensive option and make your home pop.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website. If you virtually stage your home, be sure to upload the slideshow to InfoTube.net. Thousands of buyer’s search our site daily for new information on properties.
Reface or Tile Over an Ugly Fireplace
A fireplace can be a huge selling point for any home or an eyesore that detracts from the room. If the fireplace in your home is out dated or just plain ugly, you can transform it into a sexy, focal point without spending a lot of money.
Take a look at this brick fireplace. It is a fireplace, but it is doubtful that buyers would conjure images of sipping wine by a roaring fire, in its present condition.
Now, take a look at the transformation, after engineered stone was applied over the old brick and a mantle was added. The fireplace morphs from an eyesore into a floor to ceiling, hearthwarming focal point
In another example, this unattractive, dated fireplace with painted brick got a great makeover. The homeowner correctly felt the fireplace was out of proportion, due to the narrow sides and tall top. The mantle was also too small.
The After. The budget minded homeowner added an “in stock” simple mantel and pilasters from a do-it-yourself center. The design updated the fireplace, hid most of the outdated, painted over brick and brought the fireplace into correct proportion for under $750.
If your fireplace detracts from your home, get your creative genius in gear and simply cover it up. Examples of “coverup” materials that are inexpensive and easy to work with are tile, manufactured stone, granite, marble or wood. Sometimes even painting over old, ugly brick will make a huge improvement.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net. We love before and after pictures that we can share with our readers. If you have completed a project and want a pat on the back, email photo’s to tommi@infotube.net
Pleco Fish Eat Algae in Abandoned Swimming Pools
The large number of foreclosed homes have become a blight on the residential landscape. But, swimming pools in abandoned, foreclosed homes, with no electricity, pose special problems. Swimming pools become stagnate and unsantitary due to a lack of chemicals, then quickly grow thick with algae that is unsightly, and expensive to get rid of.
Enter the pleco algae eating fish, which are commonly found and abundant in fresh water lakes. Only 15 pleco fish, placed in an abandoned pool, quickly eat away the algae and keep it away.
The environmentally smart solution leaves pools more sanitary, makes the homes more attractive to prospective home buyer’s and saves thousands of dollars in upkeep. After the new owner moves in, they can return the fish to the lake or leave them in the pool for backyard fishing fun.
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Update the Front Porch Light
If the light fixtures by your front door are over 10 years old, you need to update them. New outdoor fixtures are very inexpensive ($50) and they can be installed by any homeowner in less than 15 minutes. Just make sure to cut off the power before taking the old fixture down.
Your home will not get a second chance to make a good first impression on homebuyers. Any money you spend on staging and updating your entry will be money well spent.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net. We have been helping buyers and sellers market their properties since 1989, and we can help you, too.
Home Insulating Paint Additive
Green News Alert: A new paint additive, Insuladd, developed by the government, cuts energy costs and reduces mold and mildew.
Insuladd insulating paint additive increases the “Mean Radiant Temperature” of any home or office and provides energy savings by reflecting and dissipating heat. Reports show an average decrease in utility bills of 20 percent (and, as high as 40 percent for in some homes) after a home or building has been painted with the additive.
Product Features:
- Increase the R value by making paint insulating.
- It is safe and non-toxic
- It can be applied to roofs, walls and ceilings. Interior or exterior.
- It works in hot or cold climates.
- Reduced heating and cooling costs, while increasing comfort.
- It prevents mold and mildew by blocking moisture and condensation.
- It can be added to any house paint.
- Can be used for all residential or commercial paint applications
Tips for Using the Product:
- Add the mixture to your paint, then stir throughly before applying.
- If you want a satin or gloss finish, add Insuladd to the primer coat and first coat. Apply a finish coat without the additive.
- If you want a high gloss coat on trim, don’t use the additive.
- Insuladd will leave a very slight texture to the walls that can be felt, but usually isn’t visable. It may hide cosmetic defects such as gouges, dents and surface imperfections if 2 coats are applied.
- Insuladd is ideal for light colored paints and you will notice no change in the color of your paint.
- If you are using a dark paint, Insuladd may lighten the color by up to one shade. If this is a problem, tint the paint one shade darker at purchase.
- Don’t pour the mixture into a one gallon paint can to avoid overflow. The additive will overfill a full gallon of paint. Pour the paint into a 5 gallon can, add additive and mix. Left over paint with additive can be stored in the original container for touch ups.
Paint, insulate, save money on energy bills, increase the comfort of your living space, prevent mold and mildew. What’s not to love.
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Check out HGTV’s Real Estate Intervention
I have been watching HGTV’s “Real Estate Intervention” for a few weeks now. As a real estate professional for the last 25 years, I give this program a Big 2 Thumbs up!! If you are buying or selling real estate, this program is a must see. Check it out on Thursday nights at 10:30E/9:30C on HGTV.
The HGTV Synoposis of the Show is: In this current real estate market, pricing is everything. And the best way to really find out how much your house is worth is to check out the competition. Real Estate Intervention takes motivated sellers on a tour of other listings in the same area and same price range. They’ll get to see firsthand who their competition is and whether they’ve priced their house right. Does the competition have better closets? Granite counters? A bigger backyard? Which home is the best value for the dollar? We’ll help them determine the best way to get top dollar — and in the end we’ll see which home sells first!
Bonus: Do you want to be on TV??? If you are confused about how to price or market your home and want objective advise, can contact HGTV and be on the show. Click this link to contact HGTV. and tell them InfoTube.net sent you.
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Dispute Between Neighbors and Spite Vents – Hilarious
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Dispute Between Neighbors – this is a true story… |
A city councilman in Utah , Mark Easton, had a beautiful view of the east mountains, Until a new neighbor purchased the lot below his house and built a new home.
The new home was 18 inches higher than the ordinances would allow, so Mark Easton, mad about his lost view, went to the city to make sure they enforced the lower roof line ordinance.
The new neighbor had to drop the roof line, at great expense.
Recently, Mark Easton called the city, and informed them that his new neighbor had installed some vents on the side of his home.
When the city went to Mark’s
to see what the vents
looked like,this is what they
found…
Sorry, but we had to chuckle and thought our readers might enjoy this, especially on tax day. We’ve heard about neighbors who use spite fences to communicate their feelings about their neighbors, but this was a new one for us.
How to Improve Your Winter Curb Appeal
Winter can be a challenging season for those trying to sell their home. The cold weather keeps many buyer’s away and the landscape is anything but exciting. That is why it is very important to maintain good curb appeal during winter, if you want to draw home shoppers inside.
The first thing seller’s can do to improve the curb appeal of their home during winter is to start with the home itself. A fresh coat of paint always makes a huge impact, but it really stands out in the grayness of winter. When repainting, don’t forget the front door, garage doors and trim around the windows. Seller’s should also take a close look at their roof and guttering. If these systems need to be repaired or replaced, winter is a great time to do so. If the gutters are dirty or stained, wipe them clean, or repaint.
One area of your home that needs special attention is the front porch and sidewalk leading to the front door. Make your entrance welcoming by updating the lighting or add two wall sconces to frame your door. Buy a fresh, new welcome mat. Try adding planters or urns on each side of the door to draw the buyer inside the home. Make sure your house number is attractive and easy to see from the street. A colorful, seasonal wreath can also add interest. Be sure to repair any cracks in the sidewalk and keep the path to your home clear of snow and ice.
Another factor in curb appeal is your Landscape. Buyer’s understand that your lawn isn’t going to be green and lush during winter, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t look good. Clean up toys, trash or debris from your lawn and hide the trash cans. Make sure all bushes and limbs are neatly trimmed away from the house to allow light in. Evergreen plants like pines, holly, spruce and yews add a lot of interest during the bleaker cold months. Bird feeders can also add interest and attract life to your home during winter.
Curb appeal is the first impression your home makes when a guest arrives. It is crucial to your marketing efforts because Buyer’s will certainly draw conclusions about your home, based upon what they see on the outside. Remember that all your upgrades and special features won’t matter, if you can’t get the buyer interested enough to look inside.
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Your Home Must Make a Good First Impression
The springtime is when buyer’s begin shopping for a home to buy in mass. If you need to sell your home, now is the right time to get serious or take it off the market.
First and foremost, is your home is ready to make a good first impression??? Before you advertise, market or show your property, it is imperitive that you declutter, depersonalize, clean and shine everything from top to bottom. If you don’t, buyer’s will simply cross your home off the list and move on to your competitor.
We have been following the short stories of an actual, qualified home buyer, Jennifer Fields. Jennifer offers fun and informative insight for home sellers about what she is seeing and experiencing in the home shopping market. Good and Bad.
For a sneek peek inside the mind of a full-time home shopper, take a minute and read I Can Sell this Home. Jennifer reveals some home shopping war stories of mistakes that smart seller’s can avoid without spending a dime.
A sample of some recent things she saw touring ten homes this weekend include:
- Dogs left inside in a downstairs room with a note saying not to go in there. There went 100sf we couldn’t see.
- Closets crammed with all kinds of stuff that needed to be in storage
- Obviously dirty underwear on a shelf in a walk-in closet
- Half-finished bottle of Sunny D on the front porch
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#1 Home Selling Secret
Home seller’s frequently ask if there is anything they can “throw in” to the deal to help their home sell faster? The truth is, not really. It is very unlikely that anyone would decide to purchase a particular home because it included a free trip to Hawaii.
Today’s buyer is educated, smart and they do their homework. They may love the fact that you are throwing your prized speedboat into the deal, but it doesn’t mean they will pay more because of it.
The ONLY thing a seller can do to increase the odds of selling their house is very simple. Price it competitively. Price it to Sell. The price is a much more powerful sales incentive than a free vacation, used car, furniture or a free granite countertops.
If you are serious about selling a home, get into A+ shape, stage it, post a listing on your local MLS and price it to sell.
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Renters can Stay is Good news for Homeowners
The unfolding mortgage crisis ushered in some good news for home sellers and renters, alike. Fannie Mae will allow paying tenants to stay in their rental homes, after a defaulting borrower’s property is foreclosed on.
The new policy brings some much needed relief to tenants, who find that they are often innocent victims of the foreclosure crisis. Landlord’s often use tenants as a revenue stream, long after they quit making mortgage payments. As a result, thousands of renters, who were unaware that their landlord was in foreclosure, have been evicted through no fault of their own.
The new policy is historic because lender’s want to get foreclosed property ready for a new buyer, as soon as possible. Typically, renters make this difficult to do. But, in this environment, thousands of homes sit vacant and fall into disrepair, because the tenant is gone and no one is buying.
This policy is a win-win for lenders and neighboring homeowners, as well. Vacant properties pull down prices and the appeal of any neighborhood, even the good ones. By leaving the paying tenant in place, the lender’s home’s are occupied and maintained, while they collect rent. Homeseller’s benefit from a stable neighborhood, and they don’t have to compete against the vacant foreclosure’s, as they try to sell their owner occupied homes.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions through January 9, 2009. The hold on holiday evictions has allowed 10,000 families to stay in their homes, and the new policy means that thousands of renters may escape eviction after the first of the year.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube and Happy Holidays to all.
Seller’s Should Freshen Up a Stale Listing with New Photo’s
As home shoppers search through listings of homes for sale, nothing screams STALE LISTING, like seeing a photo of your home that was taken during another season.
If the season’s have changed while your home is on the market, freshen up your listing with new seasonal photo’s. It’s Free and Easy to Do.
- For extra appeal, stage the photo with seasonal color or add a pumpkin or two before you snap the picture. The bonus, pumpkins and seasonal decor can be enjoyed through Thanksgiving.
- If your home has features that are more appealing during certain times of the year, such as swimming pools, waterfronts, flower beds and landscape, leave the photo’s, but change the captions to reflect the height of the season. (ie: Fun in the Sun 2009, for example).
- Highlight and rephotograph the area’s of your home that are appealing when the weather is crisp. Photograph a fire in the indoor or outdoor fireplace. Decorate the dining room for fall entertaining, then shoot. Snap a picture of your media room right before the big game. The goal is to Showoff the features of your home that you enjoy during this time of year.
- A home/neighborhood video tour is another great way to freshen up your listing and reach a whole new audience, too. InfoTube.net uploads video tours on its homepage and to youtube.com, bringing your home to the attention of a whole new crowd.
It takes only a few minutes to edit your ad and replace old, dated photo’s. Freshen up your listing and celebrate the season. Buyer’s will notice.
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Bug Off — Plants that Naturally Repel Pesky Insects Away
Another unforeseen problem buzzing around foreclosures and the bad economy is the dramatic increase in the mosquito and garden pest population.
Many entire neighborhoods now feel the sting, as millions of vacant properties, along with those owned by cash strapped homeowners, have turned overgrown lawns, swimming pools, hot tubs, water gardens and koi ponds into insect breeding grounds.
Before you light the citronella candles or coat yourself in insect repellent, consider heading to your local garden center for relief. Some plants are natural insect repellents and keep summer bugs away, while improving the curb appeal of your home.
NATURAL “BUG OFF” PLANTS
Marigolds–Marigolds don’t have the greatest smell, but mosquito’s and other pests literally hate it. The bright, inexpensive and easy to grow annual is a proven workhorse in deterring pests around patio’s porches and vegetable gardens.
Catnip– In addition to being a favorite of your beloved feline, catnip is 10 times more effective than DEET when it comes to repelling the universally hated and dangerous mosquito. The annual plant grows easily in a sunny, dry location like the one found around most patio area’s.
Lemon Thyme– Smells and Tastes Great to Humans. Its lemon scent is a wonderful to smell as you walk or brush by and its lemon flavored leaves can be used in salads or recipes calling for lemon or lemon zest. This perennial grows great in most climate zones, requires little to no watering and thrives with a little sunshine.
Lemon Basil– Is another plant that smells great to people and is delicious to eat with summer tomato’s. Lemon Basil is a tender annual that needs watering. It is does self sow, but buy starter plants versus sowing seed packets for the best results with this yummy option to a pest problem.
To learn more about natural insect deterrents and repellents click here.