Category: Home Staging

Many people think that home warranties are exclusive to new homes. This is not accurate, although for many years home warranties were primarily marketed for newly constructed houses. Today, many people are becoming more aware of home warranties for older homes.

Home warranties can either be purchased for the home by the buyer or the seller of the property. A seller usually purchases a home warranty to solidify a sale, increase the saleability and increase the sale price of the home. Buyers usually purchase a home warranty when they buy an older home to cover the cost of any unexpected, major repairs.

Regardless of why you are purchasing a home warranty, it is important to look at the coverage that is offered by the company. Coverage varies from company to company and state to state. When you talk to a home warranty agent, be sure to ask what is and is not covered on your home warranty specifically.

Most home warranties will cover:
Air conditioning system
Built in dishwasher
Built in microwave
Built in trash compactor
Ceiling fans
Central heating unit
Duct work
Electrical systems
Garbage disposal unit
Plumbing systems
Refrigerator
The oven or range
Washer and dryer
Water heater Most of everything else is not covered. This includes:
Outdoor sprinkler systems
Outdoor water systems
Faucet repairs (unless otherwise stated in the policy)
Spas (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
Pools (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
Hot tubs (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
Permit fees
Hauling away debris
Hauling away old appliancesIt is important to remember that some, or all, of these following are not covered on a few select plans, so if you are looking for this coverage, be sure to ask for these items to be included:
Washers (because they are not built in to the home and are not always included with a home.)
Dryers (because they are not built in to the home and are not always included with a home.)
Garbage disposals
Garage door openers
RefrigeratorsThere are also several things that could cause your home warranty to be invalid for a claim, which is another thing you need to check on before you sign on the dotted line and pay for your home warranty. Improper maintenance of the items covered by your home warranty tops the list for reasons your claim may be denied from the warranty company. Code violations and improper installation are also included in reasons why your request for a claim could be denied. It’s important that you check that your appliances are installed correctly and that your home meets the building codes. Before you purchase a home with a home warranty, have an inspection done and be sure to find out if the electrical and plumbing systems are up to code. Unusual wear and tear on an appliance is also a cause for non-allowance of a claim with a home warranty company. It is best that you ask your home warranty agent what will deny coverage for a claim and have that put in writing with your home warranty policy.

Good home staging ideas are important if you want to sell your home for the best price and in the shortest time period. In fact, home staging has become so commonplace in the real estate world that most people today expect it! If potential buyers go into an empty house or a messy one, they may turn around and leave. Or, at best, have negative thoughts about the place. And either of those is a bad thing.

These are difficult times. The housing market has recently gone through some very unusual situations. Banks and lenders have been slapped around some and in response, are being much more careful about who they give loans to. This alone puts the seller in a much less-than-perfect position. Add to that the economy and the job market and you’ve got to do everything you can to woo these “potentials” into becoming buyers!

There are several good reasons to learn home staging ideas you can do for free, besides the obvious money you’ll save by doing this yourself. Studies show that homes staged sell an average of 50% faster than those not staged! That’s half the time! And time is money, whether you’re a business person or a someone selling a home. Every week that goes by seems longer than the week before.

And these same studies reveal that buyers will pay up to 20% more for a well staged home! On a $250,000 home, that’s $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars) just because your home was neat, clean and well presented. Talk about return for your investment (in time)! Because of this, Realtors tend to show these staged homes more often than non-staged ones. That makes sense, as their commission is based on the selling price. It could mean a thousand or two dollars to them because of the work YOU did.

Even though nicely arranged furniture and clean rooms do not really affect the value of the home, a few good home staging ideas may lead to a higher appraisal. Appraisers are, after all, only human and will tend to see your staged home in a more favorable light. In other words, if you’ll simply learn home staging basic techniques, you might even help the paperwork along!

So, how much time should you invest? Well, that’s up to you and depends on the condition of the property, but a few weekends usually does the trick. There are three important things you’ll need to keep in mind as you’re going through your home implementing your home staging ideas. First, it has to have “curb appeal.” This means you will have to work on the front of the home and mow, trim, clean up, paint, fix and do everything you can to make your home as attractive as it can be. From the front curb.

You want the potential buyer to say “Oh, this is nice!” when they drive up. After you have them smiling, keep the warm-fuzzies there by making sure everything is clean, painted (not chipped) and arranged simply with open spaces. Remove all really personal items and make repairs to anything they might see or try and turn on. And make sure there is plenty of light. Floor lamps and table lamps can be bought from the big boxes for under $30!

Finally, walk down your street taking mental notes on how your home “hits” you and walk through the place with a critical eye out for anything a stranger might see as a negative. Put yourself in their shoes. And, for more on home staging ideas and free tips and advice on things you can do yourself for little or no money, go to RemodelQuickTips.com and click on HOME STAGING in the left hand navigator column.

What is Property Options?
An Option is a legal instrument by which a choice is granted to acquire a given property.
Simply meaning, an Option is a document that gives me the choice to buy, on my conditions, or not to buy at all. If I choose to purchase, the Seller is absolutely committed at the original strike price.

Short Options
The greatest advantage you have with Short Options is the ability to create cash in a very Short window of time. Short Options are typically somewhere between the day of signing, through to 6 months. The remarkable thing about doing a Short Option is the fact that it no longer requires the process of doing a full Development Approval. It involves locating sites with development potential and on selling them to a developer.

The success of short options lies in identifying potential, but you will need to be very specific with information, research, comparables, building costs and all the other intricate parts of assembling deals. In fact, if you are able to identify intrinsic value, it allows you to be able to assemble a Short Option.

They are a lucrative part of Options and offer the kind of cash flow that most people seek in the shortest possible timeframe.

Long Options
As the name states, Long Options work on a longer time frame. They necessitate us engaging consultants and seeing the Developmental Approval process through to completion. We then on sell our Option to a developer or builder; we are giving them a turn-key solution very attractive. Of course our greater effort is rewarded with greater profit. There lies the advantage of the Long Option.

Mark Rolton Australia’s Number 1 expert has made millions of dollars using Property Options. To get the best real estate buying advice and to find out more about and how to make massive profits from Long and Short Options, join Mark in his 12-Month Property Options Coaching Program.

12-Month Property Options Coaching Program.

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You get Mark’s complete system in home-study format so you can start immediately implementing all the property option strategies that will accelerate and fast-track you to financial freedom fast.

The Critical Legally Binding Option Documentation.
Normally you would have to spend thousands of dollars to get this options contract; however as part of my course, I will give you the exact document I use to secure multi-million dollar deals.

The Paint-By-Numbers Options Feasibility Software.
Figuring out if a deal is red-hot or not, you’ll get the exact software I use that tells me instantly how much I stand to make from the property I’m currently researching.

3-Day LIVE Advanced Property Options Bootcamp (This is 3 seminars in 1)
Ill take you to the next level and show you all of the creative ways you can use options to either make a quick $100,000 or a multi-million dollar deal. This advanced bootcamp is broken up into 3 sections; Money Maker, Portfolio Builder and Property Options Peak-Performer.

2-Months Support and Coaching.
My hand-picked team will help you and guide you through your early steps of investing using my system. They will be available to you via phone and email.

Special Bonus: Let me be your Joint-Venture partner.
If the deal is too big for you to fund, and youve followed my system then I’m more than happy to put up 100% of the money that you require to get the deal over the line. You can literally make hundreds of thousands without outlaying much cash, using me as your joint-venture partner.

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Mark Rolton is a brilliant real estate mind and visionary in the property industry. Mark has used his skills to make millions of dollars in real estate and would love to teach you these lucrative strategies at his Real Estate University 3 Day Live Events, in the hope that you will do the same. Join other passionate property investors in an atmosphere of fun and cutting edge learning that will blow your mind. No one else in Australia knows as much as Mark about creating cash flow using Real Estate.

Creating innovative solutions within your property development portfolio will reap profitable rewards securing your financial future within an achievable time frame.

Lets face it, even if you own a great investment property with $75,000
in equity, that equity wont pay the billsits not in your bank accountbottom line, you cant eat equity. So to realize your profit, you need to sell the real estate.

The following tips could help sell your investment property quickly. 1) Keep the price fair. Sure, you want to make the most it. But unless youre in a rapidly appreciating market, your business is better off if you offer a competitive price. Its always better to make a fast nickel, than a slow dime. 2) Virtual tours – More than two thirds of buyers research potential real estate purchases online now. 3) Landscaping – Creating curb appeal can fetch up to 15% more. Hint: many flower businesses and nurseries offer free advice to help turn a yard into a sensory delight for buyers. 4) Indoor decorations – Add some plants, which reduce air-conditioning costs by up to 25%. Plants also look great and keep the home beautiful, created a caring, lived in feeling. 5) In-ground sprinkler systems – (for upper and middle class neighborhoods only). Again, you’re investing in real estate. While sprinklers are pricey, they help encourage a sale in mid to high end homes, and can
boost your profit considerably, bringing you closer to making money from home. 6) Create more space – By painting walls a pale color, gives the illusion of additional space. 7) Check what’s underfoot – Make sure the floors are like new. You can buy used carpet from model homes but has not been worn. Hint: A rug with horizontal stripes can make a narrow hallway feel
wider. 8) Paint – Youre investing in real estate. Youre investing in yourself. Its the best way to make money from home. So add the odd warm shades such as yellow, red, and orange to the real estate to throw off a cozy feeling. Hint: the aroma of fresh paint gives off a new home feeling. 9) Clean storage spaces thoroughly – Clutters bad. It’s just good business sense. 10) Staging – Create a homely atmosphere by renting furniture and/or hire a decorating professional to do it for you. Staged houses sell more quickly and for a higher price

3 BONUS Tips: Follow the 3-D’s in your real estate business when selling a property: 1. declutter; 2. Depersonalize – remove personal items so buyers can picture themselves in the real estate; 3. Deep clean using a professional cleaning service.

By doing even half of these tips, your chances of selling your investment real estate is far greater and quite possibly, will be more profitable.

by Mary Wozny

Home Staging can be broken down and analyzed into it’s component parts that should all come together to create the desired and needed final outcome.The first step is to see the home as a potential buyer will when they make their first visit. This will probably mean some minor conflicts with the owners of the house that are already emotionally attached and have the house “the way they want it”. Sometimes it will require a fair amount of tact and diplomacy to convince the home owner that the 217 pictures of their only Grandchild need to be boxed up for the move.

Step -1: Develop ability to see homes through “Buyer’s Eyes”

First impressions are just that and formed instantly when the home shopper arrives and enters the property. They actually get their first impression when they arrive at the property before ever getting out of the car (actually, before that- as they appraise the neighborhood but that is out of your control). Next, they will always form a very strong impression of how they feel about the house the moment they enter the front door. Think about it for a second; don’t you do the exact same thing when you first enter a strange house or even a place of business? Of course you do, we all do. The home shopper will then spend the rest of their time mentally validating and confirming that first impression.

Step 2: Develop Objectivity

You need to develop the ability to look at everything with a critical and even judgmental prospective while asking yourself what a stranger might think or feel when seeing for the first time. A good Home Staging Course will go over all of these types of evaluations.

Step 3: Identify the Home’s Faults

The sellers may not be especially eager to discuss these but if you truly want to do your job as a professional Home Stager that will in turn benefit the seller by getting their house sold quicker and for more money then you have to be brutally frank about identifying the problem areas. Are the interior walls dirty and in need of paint? Are counter tops chipped or broken? Is the lawn overgrown and poorly maintained? Too much clutter and junk laying around? (almost 100% on that one!!) Whatever, make a list and go over with the seller. Most Home Staging courses will have standard evaluation and checklist forms for you to use.

Step 4: Identify the Home’s Good Points

This is a lot more fun for all parties and can always be done. Every home, no matter how bad usually has some especially good features. Does it have a great fireplace or extra nice Bay window? A huge living room that would be perfect for entertaining? Perhaps an eat-in kitchen that can be made to look especially charming and cozy. Find the good points and then decorate or stage the home around them.

Step 5:Turn the Negatives in to Positives …. or at least Neutrals

Walls can be painted, old carpets replaced (and you might even find some great hardwood floors underneath). Lawns can be mowed, weeded and perhaps even some minor landscaping with some plants. Heavy, dark drapes removed and furniture rearranged. You don’t have to be an interior decorator to be a success at Home Staging but you do need a firm understanding of the basic skills that are learned in Home Staging classes.