Tips and Tricks For Home Staging

Staging a home can end up being a valuable tool in selling the house. Not only can it assist in selling a house, but it can also help the seller get top dollar.

The amount of staging needed varies wildly from a small scale de-cluttering of a home to hiring staging professionals to the tune of several thousand dollars, but the goal is the same- creating a pleasant mood by making a house appear bigger, brighter and warmer while neutralizing the area so prospective buyers can visualize how their own furniture and belongings can be incorporated into the home.

In a good or bad housing market, some studies have shown that staged homes can add between 10 and 15 percent to the sale price of many homes. Sellers who don't take the time to properly stage may end up with their house on the market for longer periods of time, and agreeing to a lower selling price to a buyer who can see the potential the home has that other viewers did not.

Though professional home stagers may be needed if a home is completely empty, the majority of staging can be accomplished by the seller. A quick visit to some newly built model homes can help a seller get an idea of how interior designers and stagers prepare a home. There's a delicate balance between keeping the home sparse enough to appear as spacious as possible, and picking the right pieces to maintain a warm and livable space.

The first impression a potential home buyer will have of a house will be of the exterior, so nice curb appeal is important. A fresh coat of paint on the front door, a nicely trimmed lawn, and fresh flowers in a garden or on the front porch are easy and effective staging techniques. A brightly colored patio set in the backyard can help the home's exterior appearance when the buyer steps out the back door.

Kitchens and bathrooms are two of the most important rooms in buyers' eyes. Kitchen counters should be clear of all small appliances and other items that tend to gather on them. When counter tops are cleared of clutter, the amount of working surface increases. A splash of color, such as a bowl of fruit is acceptable, but a refrigerator, covered in personal pictures and comic strip cutouts, is not.

Bathrooms should look as open and airy as possible, and above all clean. A new white toilet or tub, or a new set of sink faucets could be a worthy investment during the staging process. Personal toiletries, like toothbrushes, should be removed from sight, while the addition of scented soaps, lotions and clean white towels could give the room more of a spa type feeling.

For bedrooms, remove as much unnecessary furniture as possible, and keep it in the garage or in storage if need be. For smaller rooms, hang curtains high on the wall, and do not cover the actual window with them. Doing so will increase the apparent height and width of the room. Neutralize the rooms by removing all personal pictures and keeping wall colors a nice warm, clean color.

Tips For Green Home Construction

A well-designed green home construction requires consideration of several factors, which must be incorporated in the initial structuring stages. Using eco-friendly raw materials is an important management measure in the construction of green homes. This could include using high fly ash content cement instead of normal cement. Wood salvaged from old buildings and reengineered wood can be used in constructing a green home. It is best to incorporate the green features during the construction phase. Installation of a drip irrigation system instead of a sprinkler system is one such measure. Investing in a rainwater harvesting system is yet another step toward going Green. Pathways, drive ways should be made of permeable paving so that rainwater can seep through the soil.

Using Forest Stewardship Council (SFC) certified wood for all wooden fittings in the house is favorable to a green house construction. Even employing no/low formaldehyde based paints for the interiors of the house helps in creating healthier living conditions. Harnessing the power of the sun by fitting solar heaters and photovoltaic cells helps reduce electricity consumption and lower bills. Greater reflectivity of light colored roofs as against dark colored helps in reducing heat buildup in the house. Also, they last longer because since the heat absorbed is less, they do not expand thermally as much as dark colored roofs.

Green Home Construction holistically handles both fixed as well as movable items in a house. It is best to use recycled wood furniture for the house interiors. Various companies advertise recycled plastic furniture for the garden. A green initiative gaining popularity is using cork or bamboo flooring instead of the usual hardwood flooring. Avoid using vinyl linoleum, natural linoleum is a better choice. Make sure that the ducting in the house is leak proof. Ducting leaks cause over 10% of energy losses in a house. Fitting flow reducers to faucets and shower heads and low volume flushes helps reduce 40% consumption of water without anybody noticing the difference. Use on insulation which does not contain formaldehyde helps prevent sickness. Cellulose insulation made out of recycled paper is one such good material for wall insulation.

In a green home construction, effective use is made of low emissive double paned windows. Double paned windows not only provide more insulation but also help make the house quieter. The frames of windows should be made of wood as these provide more insulation. The piping of the house should have a jacket to reduce loss of heat. Use these tips to make your home truly green.

Security Issues of Apartment Management

Staying in housing complexes is advisable compared to dwelling in solitary houses because of the greater safety assurance that one gets in the former case. This is because the condominium management takes some standardized security measures to keep the complex safe so that the owners can stay peacefully at nights. The owner of a solitary house may not have the capacity to engage a high standard security team, but by staying jointly with the people in a complex, he can pool in resources to get one of the best security manpower and automated systems available.

Here are some security issues that need to be addressed for ensuring greater safety to the individual houses in the complex.

• It is true that housing complexes are safer to dwell in than solitary houses, but there is another point also to be borne in mind. The security that is found in housing complexes is a combined one for all the units of the complex. This does not ensure hundred percent securities for the individual units. The security personnel appointed by the condominium management do not have the time to pay individual attention to the large number of units in a complex. Hence the individual units can still be vulnerable to thefts and burglaries. In such a case the individual units need to arrange their security settings by using burglar alarms and other security equipment.

• The housing complex might be making use of sophisticated safety equipment for the whole complex, but when it comes to individual safety the owners of the units can ensure safety for themselves in the most basic and inexpensive ways. The first thing they can do is to install efficient locking mechanisms at the doors and restricting entrance through the windows using window bars. The condominium management can ask the individual units to go for such safety measures collectively.

• The complexes that are very large can be divided into groups of three to five individual houses. The residents of these groups can take turns in safeguarding their premises. Generally it is seen that all people do not go to bed at the same time and throughout the day somebody or the other is awake. Hence security cannot be an issue in housing complexes. If the residents do not have the time to participate personally they can arrange for a paid watchman amongst themselves.

• Usually the condominium management is not very effective in providing personal safety. When it comes to security of life, one should not compromise in any way. It has become a common practice for the criminals to enter a household posing as salesmen or equipment repairing personnel. It is wise to keep the main entrances locked even during the daytime and admit people with genuine credentials. These days there are sophisticated visitor identification equipment that enables you to see and hear the visitor, with a video arrangement, before opening the door.

• The condominium management can be asked to adequately illuminate the driveways, pathways and parking lots to ensure greater safety. It is not advisable for a single person to walk through sparsely located areas during the night time. It is not all that safe to take strolls at late hours all alone. Carrying pepper sprays is a good idea for those who cannot avoid lonely travel during the dark and unsocial hours.

Do You Know the Benefits of Metal Buildings?

Today metal or steel is a much valued building material all over the earth and you can see metal buildings in different sizes and shapes. Lots of business organizations prefer metal buildings for their offices and factories because pre manufactured metal composition can be speedily raised so that they can save time and to some extent can cut the cost on manual labor. A steady increase in the production of steel started from 1855 and Henry Bessemer was the man behind this and again it took quite a few decades to become a well accepted or liked building material. Known as the Bessemer converter, it was first used in Sheffield, the UK.

Superior quality metal has chemical and physical uniqueness that craft it as a perfect building substance. You can recognize why metal can be equally strong and flexible if you look into the chemical content of metal. Iron is the main content in steel and you can see some minor or bigger carbon substances also. If the iron is unadulterated, then these formations will glide pass each other and craft the substance pretty flexible. The carbon molecules will slab these gliding actions and in this manner formulate the substance stronger. If you refer any book, then you can know that metal alloy produced from iron and carbon is more long-lasting than iron alone.

When people hear about metal buildings, then they envisage a large shopping mall or a big indoor stadium or something giant construction. But these are the past thing and metal buildings are much more adaptable and today you can see lots and lots of this type of buildings in the form of houses, offices and factories to name a few. Introduction of new technologies in this field have made it achievable to construct pre engineered metal buildings in different styles. If you visit any websites providing information about buildings, then you can see many designs of stylish buildings there.

If you have any idea to purchase metal buildings, then select a company that offers personalized services by their professionals. Collect details about the company’s reliability and their standings in the construction field. For this you can go through their previously completed projects so that you will get a clear picture about the company. There are plenty of companies doing mega projects and if you select these types of companies, then they will complete your construction works well in time. Before finalizing your bid, do not forget to collect maximum quotations to get an affordable rate.

The main benefit of constructing metal buildings is that the safeguarding of the buildings is less expensive compared to many other types of buildings especially while using wood. If you are using wood, then several types of pests will destroy the wood. If you are building a skyscraper, then you cannot do it without using metal. Earlier construction method will not handle with the weight of numerous stores on top of each other and only metal buildings can survive with this type of structures.

The Role of Estate Agents in Property Sale

In the UK the vast majority of property sales are made using estate agents. People looking to sell their home will use estate agents to advertise and attempt to find a buyer for their property. At the same time individuals searching for a new home will commonly visit their local estate agent. What is the purpose of estate agents and what are the benefits of using them?

The first stage in the sale of any property is to set a valuation. This is a crucial step in being able to find a buyer for the home. Most estate agents are able to carry out property valuations or at least able to find a professional to perform the valuation on their behalf. Valuation professionals can obtain qualifications from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors or from the National Association of Estate Agents. When valuing the property the price needs to be set at an amount low enough to attract a buyer but also sufficiently high the home seller isn't losing out.

Once the property has been valued the next role of the estate agent is to advertise the property. The agent will begin by creating promotional material for the home. This will involve compiling a description of the property that will include photos, measurements and floor plans.

Attracting buyers for the property through advertising is the most important role of the estate agent. To receive high levels of interest in the home the advertising must be of a good quality and should be targeted to reach the appropriate potential buyers. The type of advertising that is appropriate will vary according to factors including price and location. Typically the home will be advertised using traditional methods such as newspapers as well as more recent methods including the internet.

If the estate agent has been successful with the advertising of the home then the next stage will be to arrange viewings. Most estate agents will prefer to conduct the viewings themselves although some will leave this to the home owner. Different agents will have their own style of conducting viewings but whatever the approach the aim will be to achieve a sale.

Land Buying Scam

I highlighted back in December the existence of some very dubious land buying schemes. Whilst other less reputable landlord sites were promoting them and no doubt taking large commissions from these dodgy companies, Property Hawk advice was unequivocal "don't touch them with a 'barge poll'" we said. Now I have learnt from the BBC that Action Jack a company marketing plots of land is the third company to be wound up by the Insolvency Service for corporate abuse. This company acted as the broker for The English Land Partnership (ELP) the organisation that owned the land. The Insolvency Service now part of the DTI is currently taking action against another 21 companies involved in similar land marketing schemes.

Land as an investment
There is no denying that land like property land has been a fantastic investment over the last 10 years. The simple reason for this is that it is treated as a residual cost by developers when doing their development sums. This means that a developer will work out how much it costs to build a development, together with other associated expenses such as finance and profit. They then calculate the total value of the project.

The difference between the two is the amount they can afford to pay for the land. Therefore, as residential values have continued to soar and despite build costs also rising; it has meant that land values have largely continued to rise in line with house prices. In many cases they have actually outstripped house prices as eager developers compete with each other to get 'there hands on' more and more scarce plots of land. This scarcity factor is reflected in the varying proportion that land makes up of total costs in different parts of the country. In the north land costs will typically contribute 40% of the price of a new property. In London and the South-East where land is scarcer, this figure would typically be nearer 60%.

Value reflects use
The value of land however largely reflects what you can do or build on it. This is controlled by the planning system and means that there is effectively a dual pricing structure. Most land is without planning permission and is in agricultural use. The value of this land reflects the economic outputs of its use. In the case of agriculture this is not a high value economic use as only relatively modest profits can be generated from large areas. This is reflected in the current value of agricultural land of between £2-3k per acre.

However, where planning permission is granted for a change of its use for say housing development, its value is transformed in an instant to reflect its development value. Residential building land can be worth millions of pounds per acre, often over a hundred times its agricultural value.

Dual pricing
This dual pricing structure represents 'on the face of it' a great opportunity for speculators to make vast profits by buying land cheap and then waiting to receive planning permission. It sounds simple. It's not; as a town planner I have been involved in the whole tortuous process of land becoming zoned as development land.

The process can take 5 or more years to be included in the Development Plan for the area. Even areas of land on the edge of an urban area have no certainty of being included for development and political maneuverings means that land which is initially included can be removed as potential development right at the end of the allocation process.

Option agreement
All this uncertainty together with the amounts of time and money that is involved in promoting potential development sites through the process means that many sites are bought or optioned by house builders or specialist development companies with access to the necessary expertise and finance. An option agreement incidentally, is where a landowner agrees with a developer to give them the right to buy the land for a set period of time and sometimes at a pre-determined price. This gives the developer the potential to buy development land without tying up all their capital and also gives the landowner a capital sum irrespective of them being successful in their land being designated for development.

Land investment scams
This all brings me back to the reason for this article, which is two fold. Firstly, it is to educate you a little in the 'mysterious' ways of the UK planning and development system. Secondly, it is to warn you of the many land investment scams that are doing the rounds. I was recently alerted by an e-mail from another landlord site that has sent out a marketing e-mail of a land investment scheme being promoted by Leaders in Land. This scheme is not alone.

All you need to do is enter 'land investment' in Google to be bombarded by companies pertaining to offer irresistible opportunities for investment. The scheme in question is typical in that it offers to sell investors a plot of land for tens of thousands of pounds with the promise of large uplifts when it receives planning permission. The reality is that these schemes offer little or no chance of receiving planning permission and will stay in their existing or agricultural use for many life time if not for ever.

My advice - don't touch them with a 'barge poll'. If you want to buy land, why pay semi development value for sites which will never be granted planning permission when you can purchase the same type of land at a fraction of the cost at agricultural prices. Remember, a fool and their money is soon parted - so hang on to yours for a worthwhile property investment.

UK Property Prices Fall But Unaffordability Rises

It looks as though it's going to be bad news on the housing market for the next couple of years at least. Property economists at Capital Economics have said earlier this week that it was possible that the credit crunch, coupled with turbulence in the financial markets, and falling consumer confidence could knock 25% off the value of some houses, taking nearly £44,000 off the current average price for a property of £174,000.

The latest property survey indicates that house prices fell by 0.2% in March, with the average value now at £174,100 - a fall of £2,200 since last summer. Records now show a fall in house prices for six months in a row. Data also suggests that prices are falling in just under 29% of postcodes in the country, representing about 7.5m homes.

Other forecasts last week also suggested that house prices would fall in 2008, and experts are suggesting that the increasingly difficult mortgage market will only serve to drive house prices down even more.

However, despite the recent falls in house prices, a recent Housing Affordability Index shows that homes are far too expensive for most families in comparison to their disposable incomes. In quarter 3 of 2007, homes were found to be at their least affordable since the property crash of 1991, although there was a slight easing of the index as prices fell in the final quarter of the year.

Although there are predictions that house prices will fall by 4% this year, rising mortgage costs will keep houses just as unaffordable as they already are.

The influence of the current wave of immigrants on the economy has been in the news recently. Their impact on house prices has been to make them unaffordable for many British families, according to a parliamentary report. The House of Lords economic affairs committee says that immigration will help to push the price of a home to over 10 times the average wage in the next 23 years. By 2031 the British population will be up from 60.6m in 2006 to 71m, exerting 'a significant impact on the housing market.'

The effect of immigration has already pushed the price of a house up to over eight times the average wage. The committee calculates that it would be only 6.5 without the immigration effect.

Free Online Home Appraisals

Getting an appraisal done on your home can be an expensive process. While knowing the value of your home certainly is important, there are other ways to figure it out. You can figure it out by using your property taxes or by contacting a realtor. You can also sometimes get a rough estimate of your home's value by trying one of the many free online home appraisals. Here are a few that you can choose from:

Zillow.com will allow you to enter your street address (including zip code) and zillow will tell you what the historical value of your home is as well as an estimate of the present value. You can also enter in any of your home repairs and remodels and zillow will calculate in the values of remodels in your area and figure it in to the value of your home. It isn't as thorough of a report as getting an appraiser but it isn't a bad start.

Valuemyhouse.com presents users a free house value report. You are provided with a form that asks specific information about your home and its location. After filling in the information, a professional evaluation expert will look it over and send you an estimated value report based on the information you provided. Like zillow, this is a great way to get a rough estimate of the value of your home.

Resource.Realtor.com has a long list of various websites that will help you get a free evaluation of your home. These are links that will provide you with information on how to buy homes, sell homes and how to determine the value of the home you currently own. A lot of the links provide free value reports based on some simple information that you input.

It is very important that you know how much your home is worth. After all, it is the value of your home that will determine how much you can sell it for, how much it will cost to ensure it, and how much you will qualify for in the event that you apply for a second mortgage.

Buying in the Subprime Market

Being the process for buying a home for you and your family can be a frustrating time because of all the paperwork and information you have to take care of. If you have done everything you can to prepare yourself then you need to go and apply at a bank for a mortgage loan. The problem with getting rejected for a loan is that you will not be able to get a home. You should be aware that there is another option for getting a loan for your new home.

Subprime lenders are people that will give loans those who don't have the best credit rating. This is another option for getting home even if you have some bad credit history. Some of the lenders can be part of the mainstream companies and others can be individual companies. Usually these lenders can offer many different types of loans that may be able to fit in with your financial needs on getting a home.

People usually apply for these types of loans because their credit score just isn't good enough to get a loan through one of the more widely used companies. People also apply for these types of loans because they don't have enough to make a down payment that the bank will require them to make in order to get the loan they might be applying for.

There are many advantages and disadvantages to having a sub prime loan. You need to be careful who you loan with and what the background of the company is. These companies look at the same basic things that the usual companies look for. The only different is that these sub prime companies don't have as high of standards for your credit score as the other companies do. Usually when you get approved for a sub prime loan, there will be a higher interest rate than there would normally be with one of the more predominant companies.

There are certain things like taxes and insurance that are usually required in the normal market in order to keep your home and mortgage. In the sub prime market these things are not always required depending on the situation with the person that is applying. Subprime lenders usually base their mortgage rates on the credit score of the person that may be applying. They can also base their rates on how much of a down payment that the person puts down on the home that they are trying to buy. Keep in mind that there rates can be higher because of the fact that you're getting a mortgage in a sub prime market.

Buying Real Estate in a Resort Area

Having sold real estate on Hilton Head Island, SC for the past 30 years, I have learned to ask the questions buyers fail to ask themselves. Many buyers are so focused on their future in a resort community they fail to consider things that will affect their lifestyle once they are here.

Questions to ask prior to purchasing anything in a resort area are:

1. What are the fees for living in a given community? Each community may have its own Property owner association fees to cover common area maintenance, security, pools, etc.

2. Are there covenants and restrictions to the community? Most do and should have them.

3. Are short term rentals allowed? Short term renters are weekly vacationers who check in and out every weekend. This does not allow for a neighborly feeling, plus it can be noisy, especially if there is a pool close by. This great if you want to be in the "action".

4. What amenities do you have living in a certain community? Are these amenities free or is there a cost involved?

5. What are the cost involved with the community club if they have one? What does it cost to join? Is there a monthly minimum in the dining room? Is there a locker fee? Can you have your own golf cart? What is the trail fee for having a cart? Can you drive your cart on the roads in the community? What are the dues? Have there been assessments in the past? Any upcoming assessments? Are there charges for tennis, pools, health club etc.? Who owns the club? Who controls the cost? How much have the dues gone up in the past 5 years?

6. Find out about security for the community. Ask about crime.

7. Is the community open to the public? Does that matter to you?

8. How close is shopping for day to day items?

9. If there is a beach, how close are you, and is there parking available and if so is there a fee?

10. What sort of cost is involved with closing on a resort property? Does the community have transfer fees? Does the town have transfer fees? Who pays these? You will be told the buyers pays these, but I have found this to be negotiable.

11. What medical facilities are close by?

12. What is there for kids to do? You want the grandchildren to come see you, don't you.

13. What type of community do you want? There are two types: Resort/Residential or Residential/Resort, and yes there is a difference. Resort/Residential puts more importance on the vacationer than on the residents while Residential/Resort focuses on the residents.

14. What type of people live in the community and are these the type of people you want to be around?

15. What activities does the area offer? Are there restaurants, theater, churches, clubs and organizations to join etc. You will want more than just a golf course.

16. Does your realtor work for a developer or are they an independent who can show you anything and has no loyalty to anyone but you? How long has your realtor lived in the area? This is very important. You want someone who knows the area inside and out.

17. Ask about insurance and availability.

18. If buying in a condo community, find out who the regime manager is. They are the people who manage the community. Call them and ask how strong the community is financially, what problems they have, do they pay enough to maintain the property the way it should be and how long have they been associated with the community. Also ask about past assessments and the potential for future assessments.

19. Call the local law enforcement and find out if the neighborhood you are looking at has a problem with crime.

20. Ask about traffic during different times of the year.

21. Ask about local government and taxes.

Maximizing Your Home's Resale Value

Today, buying a home is as much a financial investment as it is a practical or functional one. With the ever-changing, fast-paced modern lifestyle, buying a home is more complicated than it once was. To make a good real estate purchase, you should consider more than just the immediate needs or wants of yourself and your family; it's no longer just about the floor plan, the square footage, or the color of the bedroom walls.

Buying a home today is a lot like purchasing stock. Your goal is not just to purchase a home that fulfills your needs or wants for the moment, but one whose market value will increase as time goes on. Though many people don't realize it, a home is often one of the greatest financial assets a family can own. Taking advantage of home equity through refinancing or selling your house can provide you with money that you never thought you had. Such things are only possible, however, if you make a purchase which maximizes your home's resale value.

Three Things to Look For in Resale Value
1. What you pay now vs. What you can get later. Not all bells and whistles increase a home's resale value. A gorgeous view, a beautifully landscaped lawn, a swimming pool - while these are all things which may make a home valuable to you at the moment, they may not necessarily help you sell the house later on. If you pay a high price for extras, you may find yourself having to lose money to attract buyers years down the road.

2. Location, location, and neighbors. The real estate adage "location, location, location," is more than a little applicable here. The immediate surroundings of a piece of property have a very large impact on its eventual resale value. Buying an extremely valuable piece of property may be a bad investment if it is surrounded by properties which are much lower in quality, as they will drag your property values down with them.

3. Look for constant popularity. Some things are - and probably always will be - attractive to homebuyers. These are the type of investments you want to make. Buying a house with at least a two-car garage, multiple bathrooms, and 3-5 bedrooms is usually a good idea; any money you spend on getting these features will most likely come back to you in the end.

Recent events in the real estate market have made many homeowners and homebuyers skittish. However, with some good research and good help, buying a home can still be a worthwhile, satisfying, and even profitable investment.

Buying a Short Sale Home Tips

Why do borrowers want short sale home? They are extremely cheap. It is the cost advantage that attracts the borrowers towards buying these selling homes. Generally you can get a short sale home at 30% cheaper prices as compared to market price.

First point is the time element: You will have to close the deal within 30 days.

Are you having a sound economic condition? Can you really close the deal within 30 days? Think seriously about this point. Once you accept this type of deal there is no going back and not completing deal will involve good amount of loss. The first main tip for buying a home at short sale is making sure that you can really close the deal within 30 days.

What is the meaning of a short sale? Sellers property is mortgaged to a lender.

Lender has agreed to release the mortgage at discounted price. Even if the seller accepts your price, the lender may not accept your price. So the point is two different parties must accept your offer. Seller will have to be in default if his property is to be on a "short sale" list. Suppose that the seller owes more than the current price of the home. In that case there is no possibility of lender accepting fewer prices as compared to the market price.

You will have to check public record. Your agent will have to find out relevant info like, who is in title, whether foreclosure notice has been filled or not and most important of all, how much is owed by lenders. If there are two lenders, your problems become more complicated. Both lenders have to come at a compromise point. Suppose first lender owe $150,000 and second lender owes $30,000. And you offer $150,000 price. Now if all money goes to first lender, then second lender will get nothing. He will not agree to that. How much first lender is ready to give to second lender will determine final compromise formula. This is certainly not easy to achieve.

You must hire an agent experienced in this specific type of home buying. Everything has to be completed in a particular time deadline. You can not afford to miss any important detail in this whole procedure. You can close the home deal in a timely manner with help of your agent. So getting help of experienced agent is second important buying a short sale home tip.

You have to reserve the right to conduct inspections. There will be commission negotiations as lender is not interested in paying and seller has no money. You will have to submit documentation and purchase offer to the lender and also give him deadline for acceptance.

How to Buy Abandoned Property For Cheap

Whenever I'm in search of a particular item or piece of property, I'll usually look on eBay to see if they have it, like most people who have the internet. There are some things that just can't be found on eBay or similar sites though, and when I can't find something, I'll turn to unclaimed property sales to find what I'm looking for. Unclaimed property sales are sales made by governments when a property owner has abandoned his or her property.

When property gets abandoned, federal, state, and local governments will often put notices in a local paper or on the internet asking the original property owner to come forth and reclaim their property. Usually there are no time limits on when a person can reclaim their property, but lately governments have began setting time limits so they can get rid of the property quickly and without hassle.

This is where you can swoop in like a hawk and buy the property. Most of the time, these sales will be in the form of auctions, sometimes not. If it's an auction-style sale, make sure you're prepared to get into a bid war with another person looking to buy the same property. It can be very easy to lose track of what you're doing in a bid war, and spend way more than you originally intended (thus, making the point of bidding for cheap property worthless).

You'll also want to examine the unclaimed property before you decide to bid on it. A lot of the time, it will be in bad to terrible condition. If you intention is to fix the property up and sell it, then this would be ideal. If you're looking to actually live in or use the unclaimed property, then I would be very hesitant to bid on it if it doesn't meet your standards.

5 Tips On How To Sell Your House Without A Realtor

1-Don't change your mind after you made the advertising and preparations for selling the property. If you decide to sell your house without a realtor then keep it this way, because if you change your mind you will feel about it and your morale will go down. Think this way: If so much people make money through selling their own house why shouldn't I do the same thing.

There's no ultra-secret method that real estate agents use to sell your house, and there's no secret tips that everyone sell their own houses without a realtor.

2-Be sure that you are doing the right things, because the main mistake that people do is to think if they spend a fortune on advertising they will get higher offers.No. Advertise in the right place,
through newspaper and websites and put a sign outside the house.

3-Try to make small improvements to your house in order to increase it's value.

4-Have patience and don't rush things, because you will get a buyer for your house eventually.

5-Price your house correctly. This is one of the most important tips on how to sell your house without realtor: When you evaluate your house I suggest to find out the price for houses that are for sale or were sold in your neighbourhood and price your house 10% lower. This way you will get most visitors to your house and the chances of getting fast offers for your house increase. Keep in mind that in order to have a relevant price you must look for houses that are close to yours. I mean houses that have the same number of rooms, same number of baths, same style.

These are just a few tips on how to sell your house without a realtor, but I will reveal more soon.Keep in mind that selling houses can pe a profitable business if it's done correctly.

How to Advertise Your Home For Sale

Considering selling your home and need to know where to advertise it for maximum exposure and a quicker sale? If you haven't sold a home before or you haven't sold a home in the last seven years you are about on the same page because many changes have happened in real estate. Real estate advertising has changed greatly in the last seven years and is changing every day. You could say that real estate has changed and it has changed forever because the advertising aspect alone is radically different. Homeowners who are selling their home now have choices. Read here and understand point by point all the different marketing avenues that a seller has today to get a home sold.

Advertising is defined in the Webster dictionary as the act or practice of calling public attention to one's product, service, need, etc., especially by paid announcements in newspapers and magazines, over radio or television, on billboards to get more customers by advertising. So, lets break that down for how to advertise your home for sale to get it sold. This works for any type of home or condo that you have, anywhere in the U.S. that you are selling it.

Where to advertise your home compared to the definition of Advertising:

• Multiple Listing Service
  
• Newspaper
  
• Magazines
  
• TV
  
• Radio
  
• Billboards
  
• Other Internet Sites
  

Buyers look everywhere for a home so there is not one thing that is better than the others are, they all report that a sale has happened from these medias. The point is that you have to put your home everywhere that is available for you to advertise for it to be noticed. Because buyers work with agents to find homes, the first and obvious place is to put the home in the multiple listing service otherwise known as the MLS. There could be many MLSs in your area. Make sure you understand which ones impact you. In today's market there are many ways to put your home in the MLS. Well, I should say there are many different types of companies that will put you in the MLS. The MLS makes all members use the same rules, same processes and the same forms so as long as you are in the MLS correctly with all the fields checked that apply to your home and the directions to the home are correct, you should consider yourself advertised in the MLS. So, find a company that fits your budget and gives you the best alternative advertising in their advertising package and that the alternative advertising is consistent.

Let me continue with the agent part of the equation when you hire a company to put your home in the MLS. Agents are not all the same. Some agents are approaching your advertising as simply putting a sign in the yard and your home in the MLS so that other agents can find and sell the home thus receiving their co-op commission as a buyers agent and the listing agent gets paid their listing fee or commission as well. You will find that some of the agents that just place the home in the MLS and then put out a sign are the highest priced fee or commission in your marketplace. So, don't be fooled by the commission that they charge. More fees is not necessarily the best player in the real estate market. They rely on the system instead of making the system because they have not accepted the changes in market place and attempted to use these systems. Please be careful to compare this article to your agent's plan of marketing so that you can attract every buyer in the marketplace since we know that buyers search every source, not just the MLS or the MLS feed sites on the internet.

Newspapers are the next source of advertising and have continued to be a resource for open houses and price reductions. Although many buyers have discontinued their daily search in the newspaper due to lack of information and photos, many buyers today are searching the online portion of the newspapers where many newspapers are now allowing multiple photos to tell the story. Smaller county papers are also a good resource for advertising. For some reason they are read more consistently as the buyers embrace the community that they want to live in.

Magazines are referred to in the real estate field as the magazines that you would pick up at the grocery store and restaurants. If you can find a magazine in your area that sorts the homes by zip code and then by price, that is your best bet. The magazines are vague and have just a small picture of the home so honestly; most agents use this as a lead source to collect questions from potential buyers instead of a good source of getting homes sold.

Obviously radio would be an expensive place to advertise a house individually; however, many companies are now using radio as a way to announce company open houses wherein they have all of their houses open 3 to 5 on a Sunday. That is one of the means that we use in my own company and we successfully alert listeners to generate traffic for our open houses.

Television is a source of advertising for most homeowners as most metro cities at least have one real estate cable channel, some areas have more than one channel. We have experienced that a home will run at least 15 times per day on this channel. Whereas the exposure is minimal for an individual house due to the fact that you are not allowed to show many multiple photos, the audio of a person speaking the details while the visual of the television shows the photos does seem to appeal to some buyers.

So that leaves us to the last point of the definition of advertising which fortunately is not the last point of advertising a home. Billboards. Of course billboards are your yard sign and directionals. Your yard sign is a place where you can, if you elect, put the price of your property. I am not really sure why this isn't done more often, I think that would greatly help buyers understand neighborhoods that they are not familiar with and what the neighborhood sells for. And, directional signs are critical if you are in the back of a neighborhood. You can advertise open houses easily by adding directional signs and balloons.

Now, on to the good stuff of how to get your home sold. Advertising a home for sale is now easier because buyers have access to the entire inventory of every listed home via the internet. The MLSs are agent only sites where you must have a password to enter. However, the MLSs download to many sites that you will quickly recognize as you do your home searching on the internet. These sites pull visitors from all countries in the world. The key to any of these sites is that the company that you are listed with has paid to upgrade their listings so that you, the seller, can have multiple photos on these sites. This form of advertising is very exciting because before the internet happened, agents would need to call each other to see what they had listed. The books that were published by the MLS were weekly books in black and white with 1/8th page ads for each home. Only the exterior was shown with a little writing. Today the MLS is instantaneous and shows multiple photos if the agent chooses to add them.

For sale by owner sites are also important because it allows you to cover every buyer in the marketplace. Many for sale by owner sites allow even more photos than the MLS. Some of them are free and some charge a small fee. Sites like Craigslist have exploded on the internet with their real estate sections leading their whole site.

Now you may even find your dream home on Ebay. Yes, you read it correctly, Ebay. Sellers are successfully selling their homes there everyday by the auction method of marketing on the internet.

And, speaking of auctions, don't forget that auctions bring action. You could elect to do a live auction or a silent bid action that results in round robin bidding at the end of a weekend. You have several resources for both of these types of auctions.

Word of mouth is also still a big player in the real estate industry. Not so much agents speaking to other agents but you talking to your friends and family. Because of the automation of the MLS into the internet real estate sales meeting attendance is at all time record lows and is more for learning contracts and current violations of building practices. But if the owner can spread the word with their contacts that may have visited the home for a party, the word spreads quickly through the neighborhood and on to the friends and family of neighbors that will remain. This is a huge source of sales in any city and any area.

So, as a homeowner who has something for sale, you have a lot of opportunities to advertise. Stay consistent with your advertising and know that you don't know where your buyer is coming from, when you will hook them, when they will enter the marketplace or who they will be. That is the mystery of real estate.

Successful Home Sale in Slow Economy

How long have you had your home for sale? Have you listed your home with a number of agents, but still haven't found the right buyer? There are a few things that are of the utmost importance if you want any chance of selling your home in this slowing economy.

First of all, price is still driving the market. If you have gone a month without any showings your price needs adjustments. Buyers today are very educated and know the market much better than they ever have before, and when they see a home that is overpriced, they are not going to look at it. Location, Location, Location is a popular saying in real estate, but I believe in this market it should be Price, Price, Price. The homes that are priced right and competitively are going to get showings. Another way to know if your home is priced correctly is to get good feedback from showings. If the agents who are showing your home are telling your agent that the price is too high, this is a sign that something needs to be done.

Secondly, outdated homes rarely sell, and when they do they get beat up on price. So make sure your home is updated and looking great. Old furniture and old carpet needs to go, and if you can get a home stager in the home that is great. There are so many homes currently on the market that one bad feature will send the buyer looking elsewhere. One thing that I have seen a lot of is seller's offering an allowance to buyer's for updates on their home. The problem with this is that it is hard for a buyer to imagine what the home would look like with these upgrades. Most buyers will continue searching until they find a home with the updates made, and at a similar price.

Finally, quality pictures are important for marketing. When your Realtor comes to take pictures make sure he shows you what he takes. I find too many listings with dark, blurry, and unappealing pictures. There are still agents who think it is cleaver to take one picture of the outside, and leave what the inside looks to the buyer's imagination. Too bad the buyer's are imagining there must be something wrong with the home. Why else aren't there pictures of the inside? The listings that are being shown the most are the ones with good, clear, and quality pictures.

If you decide to become motivated with your price, are willing to make the changes necessary to update your home, and have a Realtor who will take good pictures, then you have a great chance of selling your home even in this slow economy.

Commercial Real Estate Fundamentals Strong

The bad news of the residential market over the last few months begs the question of what will happen to the commercial real estate market in the coming year. In order to gauge investors' expectations for 2008 in this market segment, a group of leading research companies recently surveyed more than 1,000 developers and investors. The survey group included 92 institutional investors with an average of 19 years experience and an average real estate portfolio of $36.6 million.

Among the findings is that the majority of the respondents, 57%, believe that the economy will stay the same or improve over 2007. When compared to past surveys, it's obvious that respondents are less optimistic than in years past, but 16% are of the opinion that it will improve this year.

Investors are most optimistic about apartments and mixed use projects. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed expect to see an increase in rents for one or more property types and especially look to apartments as a segment with good promise for rental increases. It appears that most of the interest in the apartment sector is because of the mortgage crisis and the obvious negative effect on potential home buyers being able to move from a tenancy situation.

In addition to strong investment fundamentals, existing commercial real estate is well-supported by the increased costs of construction and barriers to entry from the ever growing difficult governmental approvals for most projects. Lengthy governmental approvals continue to add costly development requirements and extended interest carry costs. While these two aspects are negative for new construction, they tend to have a positive stabilizing impact on existing commercial project values.

What happens to capitalization rates in the upcoming year may be harder to foresee. Most respondents believe that cap rates will increase, although slightly. If interest rates continue to adjust downward, it makes sense that cap rates will have room to adjust downward as well. However, coming off the heels of several years of abnormally low cap rates and talks of recession from some economist, it appears that an uptick in cap rates would be a healthy step for investments long term. Although an upward cap rate trend would translate in reduced values, the investment return to purchasers would be beneficial.

Additional upward pressure on the commercial market will come from foreign investors. The falling dollar has created buying opportunities in the U.S. for foreign investors who have traditionally been savvy commercial investors. And, more buyers entering the market place translates into stabilized or higher sales prices.

So, it is from these fundamentals that developers and investors remain bullish about commercial real estate. And it is our belief that commercial real estate will weather the storm that has negatively affected the residential markets.

Government Auctions - An Alternative To Buying Property

Most people don't realize that there is an alternative to buying property (e.g. cars, houses, boats, etc.) straight from the source. At different venues around the country, the government holds auctions for seized property that anyone can bid on. All you have to do is show up. This is a great way to get property for cheap.

One type of seized property that you can bid on is an automobile. I bet you didn't think it was possible to get a very decent automobile for $500, but at a government auction, it's entirely possible. Some people even get very good automobiles for that price, or lower in some circumstances. It all depends on what's being auctioned that day, and if you can get there in time for the sale.

Another type of property that you'll see at a lot of these government auctions, are houses. You and your family could be living in a beautiful home, anywhere in the country, for less than $10,000. If you've been struggling to make ends meet and pay the bills on your house, or if you've been considering another mortgage, stop for a moment and think about bidding on a house at one of your local government auctions

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I'll never own a yacht"? Think again. It's entirely within your reach if you find the right auction. Boats and yachts of all shapes and sizes are being auctioned off just as much as automobiles and houses. How would you like to impress your family and friends by showing them your new yacht? Personally, I'm a big show off and I would love to be able to do this. It's all about finding the right auction.

These are just a few of the things you can find at government auction sites. Property is being seized by the federal, state, and local governments every day, so fresh property will always be available to those in need and looking. Find your dream car, find your dream house, and find your dream boat - start attending government auctions.

Real Estate Agents

With every burgeoning real estate market comes a high number of real estate agents. Knowing which of these realtors to select is may just seem like yet another decision in the home buying process, but it is also one of the most critical ones you will make.

Every real estate market has good realtors representing their properties but we prefer great real estate agents who showcase only the properties that you really wish to see. Through our wide ranging search, we have selected the best real estate agents in each of the regions you will see. When you select one of the real estate agents on our site, you will be safe in the knowledge that your service will be one of absolute professionalism.

Our real estate agents pride themselves on many things; in-depth knowledge of their chosen region, proven track records in the competitive world of realty and a professional acumen which makes them stand out of the realtor crowd. Showcasing homes is the business of realtors the world over but, as with any business, there will be those who consider it a passion to be the best real estate agent in the region.

Homes for sale can often look the same, but one of the very best real estate agents will exhibit each and every property in a light that will make it look like a real home. Select from our long list of realtors and that is the kind of service you can expect. Real estate is a competitive business and realtors have to ensure the very highest standards of customer service to compliment the quality of the homes for sale.

After making the decision to buy or indeed sell a home, selecting a real estate agent is next. Making that easier for you is what we want and what we know we can deliver.

Real Estate Investment

Real estate is bought and sold the world over. Day in, day out, people buy all types, styles and sizes of different real estate for all kinds of reasons. Some real estate is sold to residential buyers, other real estate is sold for commercial premises. Even in the world of residential real estate, the reasons for buying a home are varied.

Buying a new home is often the single largest financial commitment people ever make. When you buy a new property, that piece of real estate becomes both an investment as well as your home. From condos to cottages, comfortable family homes to extravagant mansions, real estate ranges in price as much as it does in style and quality.

Look at any particular real estate market and you will find homes for sale to suit each and every need and properties which cater to all manner of tastes. For some, buying real estate is a luxury, such as a second home. Real estate can be a very lucrative market if you buy the right property and secure a good price. Buying and selling real estate is a business to so many but to others, it can seem like a minefield.

When it comes to buying or selling real estate, there are several factors which can make or break your experience. There are so many homes for sale in so many real estate markets that the first task is to find what you are looking for. Finding the right piece of real estate is the first step to securing your new home. Making sure that you select the best real estate agent in your area is also important. From browsing to buying, the ultra-competitive world of real estate continues to grow.

Investing, buying a family home, treating yourself to a second home or for any other reason, when you invest in real estate you are making a serious choice. With more properties, more and more realtors and an ever expanding home-buying market, your choices when it comes to real estate are endless.

For Real Estate Buyers

People buy real estate for many reasons. Relocation for work, moving to a bigger property or even investing in home as a holiday property, the real estate market attracts many different needs and all manner of real estate buyers. The decision to buy a home, whatever the reason, is a big one.

Financially and in general, the decision to buy real estate is something which needs to be complimented by the very best advice, assistance and professional service from a well respected realtor. Assisting people in buying real estate is a real passion for the best real estate agents, whatever the type of home or property.

For the real estate buyer, a professional commitment to securing the property they want and ensuring a smooth home buying process is what they are looking for. As a client looking to buy a home and enter the real estate market, nothing less than the finest realtors can assist you to a hassle-free purchase. Each of the realtors you will find through our listings have the very highest professional real estate credentials. Buying a home is something they are committed to and ensuring the right home for each and every client is what they consider success.

Everyone who decides to buy real estate is making both an investment and a lifestyle choice. Each property offers different qualities, each home buyer has different requirements for their perfect home or residence. Securing the right home and a financial arrangement tailor-made to ensure your fiscal security can all be accomplished with the right type of advice. For this and many other reasons, when you buy a home, you should make sure that your real estate agent is up to the task.

With so many realtors available, the options can seem endless. That is why we have listed only the very best real estate agents, each with a professional history to be proud of in the world of buying real estate. If you are ready to buy, you are ready to select one of the realtors we are proud to offer. Buying a home can be a wonderful experience if you are given the best guidance by a top class real estate agent.

A Marketing Plan - The Thing That Makes Deals Happen!

You’re a Real Estate Entrepreneur or Investor, and you’re out there in the market place looking for deals. I have a question for you.

Are you doing a bit of advertising and just hoping that a deal will fall in your lap, or are you operating in a way that makes certain it will happen. If you don’t have a process for making sure deals happen, you don’t yet understand the importance of having a marketing plan.

The sad fact is that even after all their training, less than one percent of all real estate entrepreneurs and investors actually have a marketing plan. Even though it’s very simple, don’t underestimate its power.

The Most Important Thing About Marketing is to Have a Marketing Plan!

1. It’s a concrete result you put out for your mind to seize on and strive to achieve.
   
2. It allows you to clarify exactly what you want to achieve in the coming 30 days.
   
3. It allows you map out the activities needed to achieve that plan.
   
4. It allows you to plan in advance to delegate off the lower paying activities, so you don’t end up doing them.
   
5. It allows you set time deadlines, to hold others accountable so everything gets DONE!
   
6. It results in you being free to concentrate on your highest payoff activity: Making Offers on Great Deals!
   
7. You have a business that operates consciously, not by accident.

More people fail in real estate because they simply do not have a plan or goals. You should have a detailed marketing plan of what you want to accomplish and how you are going to accomplish it.

And, don’t be vague, either. Things like, I want to make more money than I can ever spend, and I want to be rich, and I want to make $10,000 a month, are not plans. They are too vague, and they won’t help you get there. Be as specific as you can possibly be.

In planning for monthly revenue, try to put your money goals in cash income, not gross revenue. I know gross revenue is what you’re used to thinking in, but cash is obviously more important. It’s what you take to the bank, and it’s what pays bills.

First, examine your current numbers. More than 80 percent of all real estate entrepreneurs know how many houses they are buying each month, but they don’t know where those houses came from and how many leads they had to process to develop them into the single deal. And, this is a deadly sin.

You Simply Must Know How You Are Currently Doing

You should know:

1. The total leads that call each month (each week is more manageable),
   
2. Where those leads come from,
   
3. How many “qualified” seller prospects (i.e. those that you are willing to invest follow-up in if they don’t sell now; they have motivation, you are interested in the house.) you get each
   
4. month,
   
5. The ratio of total to qualified,
   
6. The number of deals you close,
   
7. The ratio of closed deals to qualified leads – for each lead source
   
8. How much you make from each seller,
   
9. How much it cost you to acquire a new seller.
   

With this information you can look at your current resources, look ahead, and then plan out what you want to have happen. The number of deals you want to do, the amount of money you want to make.

For example, let’s say you are bringing in around $10,000 a month and your average deal gives you $5,000. Yes, I know that’s low, but for the sake of example. That’s two deals a month. These are cash proceeds and after expenses you net 50 percent of your gross or $5,000 a month. And let’s say that you want to double your net income next month.

You will have to get twice as many deals to double your business. Goal? Four deals a month, or one a week.

Let’s say you currently get one deal a month from a classified ad, and one deal a month for mailing expired listings. But, you get ten qualified calls a month from his classified ad and 10 qualified prospects calling a month as a result of mailing expired listings. So, you currently close ten percent of your prospects.

First, you can improve on this situation by improving that twenty percent closing ratio. By improving your closing ratio by things like more precise targeting, the present lead-flow would stay the same, you’ll get your same twenty real prospects and achieve your goal of doing four deals next month.

But assuming that’s not something you have control over right now, the other way to double your income in the next month is to double the number of qualified prospects you talk to and make offers to. So instead of getting 20 qualified leads to call, you would need 40.

Your plan to get forty qualified prospects would need 10 to come from expired listing mailings, 16 to come from flyers in target neighborhoods, 4 from business cards handed out everywhere, 6 to come from signs placed in the ground at high traffic count intersections, 10 to com from classified ads that drive people to the website. Total: 46 prospects. Cool! That’s six to spare.

With this number of leads coming in you have what is needed closed four deals and reach your goal of doubling your net income. Actually, it’s more than doubling because your fixed expenses don’t increase with the income.

You should have a monthly plan. Schedule thirty or forty minutes out of one day to make up your monthly plan and see how you did last month. Schedule this time and keep to it. Don’t do any work or take any calls during this time. Keep it strictly for planning. If you do this and you allow yourself to get into the whole spirit of planning, and making things happen on purpose, you will easily double your income in twelve months.

Your Monthly Plan Should Include The Following
1) A goal for total net income.
2) A goal for number of deals signed up
3) A goal for number of appointments made.
4) A goal for number of qualified, interested sellers.
5) A goal for total number of leads.
6) Average net income from each deal.
7) The number of prospects you have to generate to reach your goal.

A detailed plan to generate the number of prospects you need. Your plan doesn’t have to be typed out or put into a computer. It can be handwritten on paper. It doesn’t have to be pretty.

Scratch pad plans are good enough. The important part is that you do a plan every single week and keep on top of things.

This is a simple thing to do, but it is just as easy to not do. Blowing it off is the equivalent of you absolving yourself of responsibility for your business. On the other hand, taking the time to think through your goals each month, both for income, and marketing activity, then committing them to paper will make things start happening by plan and put you in control of your business.