Monday, June 30, 2014

Common Moving Mistakes



Be it moving from one home to another or moving from one city to another, moving can be highly frustrating, expensive and you have to keep your mind prepared to face all types of unforeseen events. You are at the risk of committing a lot of mistakes like hiring disreputable movers, getting wrong quotes of price, overstuffing of containers and speeding up of the moving process etc. These mistakes are very common and can lead to disasters.

Are you living in a house or dorm or apartment with your friends or your parents? Are you planning to move? Do you want to know the tips of how to avoid the common moving mistakes? If your answer is yes, proceed to read further.

Tip #1. Avoid hiring dubious movers

You should have heard many people relating their bitter experiences they had with shady movers or you would have had a bitter experience yourselves with a scam moving company when you moved previously. You can easily avoid this mistake if you do a little research before hiring a mover. There are many reliable sources like The Transportation Regulator of your state, The Better Business Bureau, The Department of Transportation USA and The Angie's List. You can have a look at one or more of these sources. If your friends or neighbors or colleagues have moved recently you can ask them for references. If you have a moving company in mind, don't hesitate and don't feel lazy to do online research. Go to their website and look for the testimonials and reviews made by customers. Make sure the reviews are positive and the rating given is good. Spending quality time to make sure that the mover you hire is not a shady mover can help in avoiding a lot of problems while moving.

If you are not satisfied with any of the movers and if you are confident that you can handle the moving task yourselves, you can always go for Do-It-Yourself method.

Tip #2. Avoid muddling of quotes

Have you decided on the mover you would like to hire? If so, call him and ask him to come to your place. Get an in-home estimate. If they are not willing to give an estimate call another company.

It is not wise to stick to one company alone. Prepare a list on the most recommended movers and contact them. Don't make your decision based on the quotes alone. The least quote is not always the best. If you are satisfied with the services of one mover but feel they are expensive you can talk with them and try to lower the price quoted by them. Don't rely on oral estimates. You should accept only written estimates.

Tip #3. Avoid Overstuffing

Is your place overflowing with your belongings? If so, this is the best time to dispose the things that you don't need. Do you still have your 6-year-old's baby clothes packed in several boxes? Open all the boxes. Sort out the things. Throw the waste into the trash. Donate unused clothes and toys to charity. If you feel your friends or relatives may need few things that you don't need, give them those things. If possible you can even put up a junk sale. This can clear most of the mess in your place. Take all your clothes out. You are sure to see that there are a lot of clothes that you have not used for a year or more. Now it is up to you to make a decision. Do you really need them? Do you need to take them to the new place where you are shifting to?

Tip #4. Avoid rushing

Planning in advance is very important. Most people prefer the summer months for moving. You cannot dream of hiring the best movers if you plan in the last minute. If you start to look for a mover the day before you are planning to move, you are sure to find that all best movers have already been booked. To avoid ending up hiring shady and incompetent movers you should make a decision several months before. This can save a lot of stress and frustration.

Tip #5. Avoid last minute packing


A study conducted by SpareFoot in the year 2013 shows that most people who moved last year hated packing and unpacking. They feel that packing and unpacking are the biggest nuisance while moving.

Packing need not be a big hassle if you don't postpone it until the last minute. Start stuffing the boxes weeks or even months before. You will not need all things in your home until the last day of moving. There should be several things that you don't need right now. For example, is it summer time? If so, you will not need your winter clothes for a few months. Pack your winter clothes in a box. Prepare a list of things to be packed. Pack the not needed and less needed first and tick them off from the list.

Do you have good friends, close relatives and helpful neighbors? If so, why don't you get their help? Make sure you don't send your voluntary helpers in empty stomachs? Be generous in serving snacks and beverages. Is it not possible to get voluntary help from your near and dear ones? If so, you can always get the services of paid workers. It is true that your budget would shoot up but your physical and mental stress related to moving will be reduced considerably.


Monday, June 23, 2014

A Kitchen Makeover Pays When Selling Your Home



Making a few affordable changes to your kitchen can really pay off in the long run - especially if you are planning on selling your home. You don't always need to pay for an expensive remodeling project in order to transform the look of your house, and making some changes here and there can make your kitchen much more appealing to prospective buyers. In fact, with the right know-how and a little determination, you could increase the value of your property just by making a few small changes.

Here are a few things to start with - remember, it's always best to de-clutter the kitchen area if you expecting people to view your property, so take some time to clear countertops and hide any appliances. One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is leaving their kitchens in an untidy state. It may be an inconvenience, but taking a few hours to tidy your kitchen can really make your home more attractive to prospective buyers.

Take a look around the kitchen and see what you can pop into a cupboard or a drawer - or even throw away completely. The less clutter, the better, especially as buyers like to visualize their own belongings on countertops and shelves.

Remove any pots and pans that hang low from walls or ceilings, and patch up any holes that are left behind. Unless you are sure that the decor in your kitchen doesn't block a view, it's probably best to take it down.

Spend some time cleaning down countertops and other areas of the kitchen. This point may sound obvious, but you'll be surprised how many people forget to do this before a buyer visits their property. Pay attention to any stains around the kitchen - remember, a little care and attention can really go a long way.

A rolling butcher block island can provide you with some extra working space and can enhance the look of your kitchen. You may even want to really impress buyers who visit your home by leaving out a plate of freshly-baked cookies along with flyers for an open house visit.

Light is really important when selling your home - especially in your kitchen. Pendant lighting can be a cost-effective way to enhance the look of your kitchen, and will help to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Changing your flooring can also be a great way to increase the chances of getting your property sold - especially if the floor looks worn or damaged. Inexpensive contemporary flooring can instantly transform your kitchen, and could even increase the value of your property.

Other small modifications you can make to your kitchen include adding some greenery to the interior space, especially potted plants and fresh herbs. They will add a pleasant odor to the kitchen, as well as a vibrant splash of color.

Clean any kitchen appliances that have seen better days, and replace any broken appliances if you are selling the home "as is".


They say the kitchen is the most important room of the home - so care should be taken to keep it clean and looking contemporary, especially if you want to increase the value of your property.


Monday, June 16, 2014

The Importance of Seller Disclosures



As a seller, you should be aware that both state and federal law takes a strict approach to the information you must tell buyers what you know about the condition of your home. This is particularly important for details that aren't obvious or visible to a potential buyer. After all, a buyer isn't able to open up the walls or look under the house. A buyer must rely on getting accurate information from you, the seller, about the operating condition of your home's systems and appliances.

In order to comply with the law, when you go to sell your home your real estate agent will give you a federally-required and possibly state-required disclosure form, known as a Condition Report, Property Condition Disclosure, or Real Estate Disclosure Statement. On this form, you have to disclose the non-obvious details which you're aware of: for example, if you know that your home has lead paint, asbestos, radon, or other toxic products, you must mention this on the form.

You are not required to go out and do tests for the presence of toxic substances in order to fill out the forms. However, you must disclose them if you're aware they're present, and the buyer's lender may require you to supply proof of testing or pay for remedying any problems you did disclose. If there was water or fire damage, you may have to pay to fix it.

All questions on the form must be answered as truthfully as possible. Your real estate agent can't answer them for you -- you must fill out the form yourself, though your agent is allowed to help you understand the form. Of course, if in doubt, it's better to disclose too much information rather than risk not disclosing enough.

Yes, the form does let you check an "I don't know" box if you genuinely don't know about the condition of some item. However, if you claim not to know about the condition of something you use regularly, the buyer may get suspicious. It's hard to believe the homeowner wouldn't know whether the sinks and bathtubs are in good shape.

In case you're concerned about this process, hiring a licensed professional home inspector is the best way to be confident about your home's condition. (Ask your real estate agent for recommendations.) In exchange for a few hundred dollars, the inspector will be able to tell you if your home is ready to go on the market or if you need to fix a particular problem.

If you do fix a problem that you subsequently disclose to the buyer, make sure you provide them with copies of invoices, receipts, and work orders to demonstrate the work was done professionally. If you didn't fix the problem, the buyer will probably ask you to arrange a repair, or the buyer may offer less for your house.

Incidentally, this is why it's important to get your house inspected and repaired before you put it on the market. The more problems left unrepaired, the greater the buyer will discount his or her offer if he or she even decides to make one. Homes in good condition sell best.

However, you don't need to fear the seller's disclosure. It's designed to do just one thing -- protect both you as well as your real estate agent as long as you've disclosed the true condition of your property. The last thing you want is for the buyer to have room for complaints or litigation after the closing is complete.

If you want an idea of what questions a disclosure will ask you, you can find disclosure forms at FindLegalForms.com.

Again, the disclosure is all about making the deal, not killing it.


Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Helpful Tips When Selling Your Home In The Summer



As warm weather approaches and spring and summer home sales pick up, it's time to think about getting your house in top notch shape for potential homebuyers. Late spring and summer are not only hot times of the year, but hot times for home sales as well. Many people choose this time of year to move because it is after the school year ends. June moves are especially popular, because it gives the children and family time to adjust to their new surrounding before a new school year begins.

This can mean a few things for home sellers. One, is that you may have more competition as other homes in your area are also put on the market. And two, that you will need to pay particular attention to such areas of your home as decks, landscaping, patios, air conditioning units, and even pools. These are areas that home buyers will be paying more attention to during hot summer months. If you are selling, keep in mind that this summer looks to be a promising one for home sales due to stable interest rates, improved job markets, and a recovering economy.

If you are planning on your home becoming one of the sales to add to this summer's statistics, follow these helpful tips to improve your chances of selling.

* Curb Appeal Is More Important Now

During the summer, curb appeal becomes even more important than during any other time of year. The leaves have come back on trees, and shrubs and flowers are in bloom. Always keep your lawn mowed and looking good at all times, and ask the kids to keep the bicycles and toys in the backyard so that they cannot be seen as potential buyers drive past. Aside from being neat and tidy, add some colorful potted plants to add a nice, welcoming touch.

* Air Conditioning

Keeping your home's air conditioner in proper working order during the late spring and summer months is essential. If you plan on putting your home on the market, now is time to have the AC inspected,have any needed repairs made, or have the coolant recharged, if needed. Also, if you're in the habit of turning the air conditioning off when you're gone during the day, it is best to break this habit and leave it on during warm days in case the realtor needs to show your home to a potential buyer. A hot and stuffy house can really be a turn off to potential buyers. so keep it cool and comfortable.

* Back Yard Appeal

Many families practically live in their back yard during the warmer months, which is why most families looking for a new home during this time of year will be looking closely at the back yard. Potential buyers will be thinking along the lines of where the children can play, where can they barbecue, etc. If you live in an area with several younger children and your yard lacks such items as a sandbox or swing set, consider adding one of those items to make your yard look more appealing and child-friendly.

* Patio Appearance

If your outdoor space has a patio, make sure it is clean and well maintained. Make the space look attractive and inviting to potential buyers. Clean up the patio furniture, arrange it in an attractive manner, and add colorful annual flowers in decorative containers to give the patio a nice spruce up. Make sure to take a peek from the window inside the house to get the view of the patio that your visitors will be seeing to make sure everything looks neat and presentable.

* Back Yard Landscaping

Now is the time to really spruce up the back yard. Keep the lawn nicely mowed, and repair or replace any damaged areas of grass. Prune shrubs and bushes back so that they appear well maintained , well shaped, and tidy. Plant some colorful annuals and add a fresh layer of mulch or wood chips to flower beds and around trees to really make the yard look nice.

* Wash Windows

Now is the time to pay attention to details, such as washing the windows in the home, both inside and outside. This can allow more light to come through, and just gives the home a clean and sparkly appearance that appeals to potential buyers.

* Touch Up Walls

If your walls could use a fresh coat of paint, now is the time to touch them up. When selling a home, it is best to stick with neutral colors such as beige or pale yellow. Avoid darker colors or those that may only appeal to a specific group of people.

* Let The Light Shine In

Natural light makes any home look nicer and more appealing, so make sure to pull back curtains and open blinds to really allow the natural light to shine through.

* Pools

If your home has a pool or spa, make sure that they are cleaned and maintained properly. Be sure a fence is in place around the pool area, and that all locks and latches are in good working order. Make sure the water is clean, and no dirt or algae is present in the pool or hot tub, as this can be a real turn off for potential buyers.

* Year Round Tips

During summer, or any time of year, it is important to rid your home of unpleasant odors caused by cooking, pets, or smoking. Do the best you can to eliminate these smells from your home before a potential buyer visits. Also, get rid of clutter! If needed, box up some items and place in the garage or shed to make the home appear less cluttered. Clutter leads possible buyers to feel like the home might not be large enough, explaining the cause for clutter.

Following these tips can improve your chances of selling your home this summer. Also, as an extra summer related perk, consider leaving out some disposable glasses and a refreshing pitcher of tea or lemonade for open house events or on the days when you anticipate multiple showings. This homey touch will make a great first impression of your home, and of you as a seller.


Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Homebuyers' Top Picks



Selling your home can be quite a daunting task. But, the truth is that you have the controlling power to really please your buyers. The key there is to learn the things that your buyers want, so as to get your home prepped up into their ideal choice. On that note, here are the three biggest turn-ons for home buyers.

Curb Appeal
They say first impressions are not always accurate. But when it comes to the business of selling homes, it all launches from first impressions. It is perhaps the make or break phase -- that's how much the power to curb matters. With it bears the so-called curb appeal.
Basically, the scenario should go like this: Your buyer arrives at your place. But even before getting close to the place, they would want to jump out of the car with so much delight exuding just with the sight of your home.

The key there is to give enough attention to the details. Your home should be much cleaner and more beautiful than it once was. Make it to the point that your home stands out from the crowd. The neighboring homes, that is.

You don't really need to spend hefty amounts at all. Just make sure you clean your driveway, the yard swept off with the fallen leaves, the porch tidied and arranged, as well as getting rid of any form of dirt and debris. Another thing is that the bushes should be trimmed properly, flowers wilted, and broken limbs of tree ridden. The only part where you get to spend is the one where you have to put up some new flowers to festoon your garden, touching up some paint for the windows when necessary, re-painting the front door with a much lighter, fresher color, as well as replacing broken hardware with new and better ones.

Spacious
When people move in to a different home, it's usually because they're not satisfied with the amount of space they have anymore. It could be that it doesn't fit their requirements anymore. In other words, your home should serve for the purpose of giving them the extra leg room they need.
If your home is a large one, then that's super. However, it doesn't automatically make you "it." If you've got too much mess lying around, it's high time for you to clean them up. Remove all the clutter and put things where they're supposed to belong to. If they belong to the trash, then that's where they should be, not in an exclusive area for could-still-be-usable items. That gives you a negative impression by your prosper.
As a start, check out the kitchen and make sure the countertops are clean, and the cutlery and other utensils arranged. Make sure you get your closet cleared off, too. On that note, get some storage unit rental in advance. It would cost you little and could take you distances, as far as the price and marketability of your home.

Updates
People love to go with older homes whenever they have to move out. For one thing, they are affordable. The downside, though, is when they get to find out how outdated the insides actually are, like the seller never considered to do some updates throughout the years. This is usually the reason why prospective buyers just back out and decide to go with newly built homes despite the higher price range.

If you want to make your home as hotcake-like as new homes in the market, you should definitely do some updates. Start off with replacing the cabinets, appliances and the countertops. The bathrooms will have to be replaced with new shower curtains, new towels and other essentials. Of course, don't forget to update your wallpapers to what's new to the trend.

If you put these three key ideas in mind and get to apply them, you will surely have more odds to sell your home in a shorter turn-around time at a much more favorable price. Turn your buyers on.


Friday, April 25, 2014

The Benefits of Using a Flat Fee MLS Service



     Flat fee MLS is a practice in the real estate field whereby pertinent information regarding a particular property is placed in the database of a local Multiple Listing Service at a particular fee, contrary to the traditional method where a commission is charged based on the sale price of the property. This is basically an agreement in which the broker will enter a property into the MLS and he or she will be paid a flat fee for that service. It saves property owners the burden of buying a large package of services from a real estate agent, some of which may not be contributory to the sale. There are four basic services that a traditional agent will offer. Once they are bypassed, they all turn out to be advantageous to the property owner because it means spending less while getting the same or even better services. If you are stressed about the amount you will be paying an agent to sell your property, it is time you realized there is a better option. Consider the following advantages of adopting the flat fee MLS:

You do the pre-market preparation yourself
This is one of the basic services that you are buying whenever you opt to sell your property through an agent. The flat fee MLS, however, gives you the opportunity of doing pre-market preparations yourself. This means you can even give your home a better look because you want a better value compared to an agent who is out to get a fee and move to the next client. This preparation entails making a few fixes, staging and taking photographs. Taking photographs and staging is not a daunting task, and nobody knows the best spots of your house better than you! Most of the resources needed are readily available over the internet, some of which are step-by-step guides explaining how you will best prepare a property for sale
It expands your market/showing 
The real estate market has transformed dramatically due to internet marketing. Once your property has been placed on the local MLS service, it means that it will definitely appear on the main real estate sites. The reduced commissions also means that better commissions will be offered to the buyer’s agent, which actually completes the legwork halfway for you. You may now opt for additional marketing strategies such as placement of a signage and sending word to your social networks. You can do this yourself or agree with a broker on a flat fee. The ultimate end is that your property will meet an expanded market reach.

It is less risky
Selling your property through the traditional agency actually means entrusting your entire home to the hands of an agent. When you do it yourself, however, it is an opportunity to stand in charge of the entire process, which reduces the risks that are involved. With such control, it is obvious that any benefit from the buyer’s agent will get to your directly while in the other case, they might be siphoned along the way if the agent is a dubious one.

You make substantial savings 
A good amount of money is saved when you decide to sell the property yourself. If you were selling property worth $400, 000 for instance, you will pay a commission of $24,000 to the agent when standard rates are applied. This is exclusive of the buyer’s agent whom you will also pay a commission of 3%. When using the flat fee MLS service on the other hand, it will only take you hundreds of dollars to have the property listed on MLS. You will then be required to pay a commission of 3% if your buyer was using a real estate agent. In the end, you will find yourself saving a whopping $12,000 or even more.


In summary, with the revolution of internet marketing there isn’t so much of a need to use real estate agents across the entire sale process. Take a bold step and research the real estate companies that lie within your area. We invite you to compare flat fee real estate companies as well. We are confident you will find that House Connect offers more services at a better price to help you save potentially thousands of dollars on your real estate transaction.

We also offer plenty of Atlanta real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on FacebookGoogle+Twitter, & Pinterest as well. We’re constantly posting Atlanta market tips, real estate trends, and home selling pointers to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in commission prices!

House Connect is an Atlanta flat fee MLS listing company offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a discount realty service which saves Atlanta home sellers thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate brokerage.

To find out more about our flat fee MLS listing service that can save you thousands of dollars versus a traditional real estate brokerage, call us today or visit us online & “let’s get moving!” 770.640.6800 www.houseconnectnow.com

* * A transaction fee of .005 x the sales price will be paid at closing.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Prepare Your House For Sale to Get the Best Returns


     If you prepare your house for sale correctly, it will be more appealing to buyers. Buyers are always more comfortable purchasing a well cared-for home, and most importantly, the house will sell faster and for a much higher price.

Before you begin to prepare your house for sale, consider how much you intend to spend. Basically you need to spend as little as possible. After all, you need to remember that you would not be getting any extra money for the new additions or renovations to your house. So what you have to do is to make minor changes and do inexpensive touch-ups to the house instead. For example, you can get the knobs on kitchen cabinets polished and apply a fresh coat of neutral paint to your living room, but you do not have to install a new roof.

Most importantly, you need to maximize the exterior appeal of your home. This would mean keeping your lawn perfect by cutting and watering it regularly. You must trim the hedges and prune trees on a regular basis. Take care of the flowerbeds and remove the weeds. The exterior is the first impression of your home. So make sure that the steps, walkways as well as walls and patios do not have any cracks or chipped paint. Even the doors and windows should not have any peeling paint. Clean the gutters and the chimney. Repair any loose roof shingles, siding and caulking. Keep your walks cleared of any snow and ice. Remove any dead plants and you may even apply fresh paint on the front door.

You can enhance the appearance of your home’s interior by cleaning it well. Next, remove all clutter. This way your home will look bigger and brighter. If you cannot do so yourself, hire a professional cleaning service to come as needed. Also, begin to pack and keep packed boxes in the attic or basement. Basically you need to keep your kitchen counters and closets neat and make them much more inviting.

Any dingy, soiled or dark colored walls can be replaced with a neutral colored paint to make the room look bigger and brighter. Check for any cracks, leaks and dampness in the walls, attic and basement. Get these repaired. Also, repair all damage to plaster. All broken, cracked windowpanes, moldings and woodwork must be repaired. Inspect your plumbing, heating, cooling, as well as the alarm systems. Your dripping faucets and shower heads must be repaired. You can even place new towels in the bathroom to make an impression on the prospective buyers.

Clean the glasses. This is inexpensive and only requires time and effort. The impression created by clean, sparking glass panes is truly enigmatic. It would make your whole house look bigger, cleaner and neat. You garage may be one ignored area of your house. Sweep it clean. Any old grease paint and oil marks should be removed. If required, add a fresh coat of paint to the walls. Make the lighting bright. All kinds of hard water built up on the tiles should be scrubbed clean. This may require a bit of effort from your side, but will be well worth the trouble. Make sure that the kitchen sink is not leaking and get it repaired, if required.






We also offer plenty of Atlanta real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on FacebookGoogle+Twitter, & Pinterest as well. We’re constantly posting Atlanta market tips, real estate trends, and home selling pointers to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in commission prices!

House Connect is an Atlanta flat fee MLS listing company offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a discount realty service which saves Atlanta home sellers thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate brokerage.


To find out more about our flat fee MLS listing service that can save you thousands of dollars versus a traditional real estate brokerage, call us today or visit us online & “let’s get moving!” 770.640.6800 www.houseconnectnow.com

* * A transaction fee of .005 x the sales price will be paid at closing.