You've decided to take on that home project yourself, but is doing it yourself really worth the extra effort?  "It depends," writes Jessica on BrightNest.com, a home maintenance site.  "In some cases, you can save a good chunk of cash by purchasing materials at the local hardware store and applying a little elbow grease. But for other projects, it may actually be less expensive (and a lot easier) to hire a contractor."

The most important thing to consider is whether it is safe for you to take on the project.  Be honest with yourself.  Do you have the skills and correct tools to do the job well and make sure that you and your family will be safe during the project?

Consider the unexpected. "Very few projects go exactly according to plan the first time." says Jessica. "Hidden costs and last-minute changes can unexpectedly increase your project's budget.  Hiring a contractor is a good way to mitigate the risk of unexpected costs.

What Does Your Time Cost?  Do you really have enough time to complete the job? Between family and work commitments, your time is valuable.  And there's nothing worse than an unfinished project that disrupts your life.

Licenses and permits:  Larger home projects require pulling licenses or permits with the City.  An experienced contractor knows how to get this done efficiently and they have the know-how to do the job right and get the inspection passed.

Read: What to Know Before Investing in Home Improvements

photo credit: homespot hq

Posted in Marketing

  What's the difference between homes that sit on the market for months and those that get snapped up right away?  "A whole host of factors can conspire to make a home sit and stagnate on the multiple listing service without showings or offers." says Melinda Fulmer of MSN Real Estate.

 If your home has been sitting on the market for awhile, it might be time to pay attention to the details of why it might not be moving.

Helpful Advice to Get Your Home SOLD

1.  Price it Right:  One of the main reasons homes sit on the market is price.  Your REALTOR® will help you look at homes in the area and help you decide on a price that will get it sold. (Read: Price Your Home to Sell with Comparable Sales)

2. Outdated Interiors:  A little updating goes a long way in selling a home.  The problem with bold colors and outdated fixtures is they can be a distraction from the real benefits of the house.

3. Bad Design:  "An inefficient or strange floor plan or design might be the barrier to a sale," says Fulmer.  A little creative marketing might be the trick to find a buyer-  is it close to shopping or mass transit?

4. Fix It:  Not everyone is willing to "take on a project". "If a home looks as if it's going to cost half as much to repair or renovate as it does to purchase, it's going to take a long time to move," says Fulmer.   (Read: Put Your Best Foot Forward)

5. Location, location, location:  Sometimes it's impossible to overcome a bad location and you might have to lower the price enough to entice a buyer.

6. The Biggest House on the Block:  Having the nicest house on the block might make you feel proud, but it's probably what is stopping the sale.  Unfortunately, if homes in your area are selling for $300,000, you will have a hard time getting $900,000, even if you feel it's worth it.

7. Clean Up!  Your home needs to be clutter free and beautiful at all times.  Buyers won't even come look at a listing if it's a cluttered mess.  Store all that extra stuff in a public storage unit, or better yet, give it away to friends, family and local charities.

8. Pictures:  Make sure you are marketing your house with great photos that show off the best features. "Be picky about the photos you upload to the MLS." says Fulmer. Buyers won't come look at a listing after seeing bad pictures of it on the internet.

Make sure your home is in top condition from day one of listing it.  You not only want to impress the buyers who are coming to see it, but remember that the agents should be impressed too and will help market your home to other clients, as well. (Read: Sell Your Home!)

Read more at MSN Real Estate.

Posted in Marketing, Seller Resources

Know the cost of homeownership before you buy.  If you are a first time buyer and you are ready to take the plunge into homeownership, it's important to prepare a budget so that you know just how much house you can afford. 

Mortgage Calculator

A mortgage calculator helps you get an idea of what price range you should be looking in based off of your monthly income and how much of a down payment you can afford.

"In addition to your down payment, there are other expenses to consider," writes Melinda Fulmer for MSN Real Estate, "both at closing and after your moving truck pulls up."

Other expenses to include in your budget:

• The upfront cost of a home inspection ($300 to $400).
• Closing costs, including appraisal, loan, title and lender fees. The average closing cost on a $200,000 mortgage is $3,754, according to Bankrate's annual survey of closing costs.
• Monthly homeowners-association fees.
• Moving costs.
• Maintenance costs; credit counselors suggest putting aside 1% of your home's value annually to make needed repairs.
• Higher utility costs.

Kelli Rowland, a credit counselor, suggests practicing paying the higher monthly mortgage payment by transferring the difference between your current rent and the expected mortgage bill into your savings account each month.  Rowland actually took her own advice in 2011 before she bought a house. "We needed to know, 'Can we really afford that and live comfortably and not end up with $40 until the next payday?'" she said.

Other expenses that you should budget for include furnishings, window coverings, garden and lawn tools and organizational items, such as garage shelving.  Also, how are the appliances in the house?  Your home inspection should give you an idea of how old the appliances are, but you might find yourself repairing or replacing them before too long.

"It's important to be realistic about what you can afford each month and still maintain the lifestyle you want," says Fulmer, "complete with vacations, piano lessons and the occasional dinner out." (Read: Should You Buy a Home?)

Read more at MSN Real Estate

Need help finding that perfect home?

photo credit: StockMonkeys.com

Posted in Marketing, Buyer Resources

There are parts of every home that we wish we could change.  Design flaws can make decorating a huge challenge.  But there are ways to minimize or even hide parts of your home you might not want others to see.

Guest Bathroom:  Do you have a powder room that is too close to the entertainment area?  Opt for a hidden door that sits flush with the wall and opens with a push.

Photo Source: Jefferson Randolph Architects/Austin, TX

Home Office:  Have you turned your formal dining room into a home office?  Formal dining rooms have lost their appeal, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.  Some homeowners use traditional dining furniture to store office supplies with the table doing double duty for office work and dining.

Or, if your room is large, you could divide it up into two smaller sections, hiding your office behind a couple of china cabinets allowing for a little more creativity (and mess) behind the scenes.   

photo credit: Matthew Wilkinson

Guest Room:  Is the door to the guest room smack dab in the middle of your living room wall?  Hide that seldom used door with a roll-away bookcase that moves quickly aside on rollers.

Safely Lock Away your Valuables:  Many homeowners are adding a safe in their home which can be hidden away behind a mirror or picture.

The Laundry: Utilize the space it takes to hide away the washer and dryer with moveable cabinet storage instead of the typical, ugly levered doors.

The TV:  Of course you love your new 60" television but do you really want it to command attention when you walk in the room?  Hide the TV behind doors in a built-in cabinet or free-standing armoire.

It's also possible to mount it on the wall behind a picture or mirror, but hire a professional to do this.

Read more great ideas at MSN Real Estate.

Posted in Marketing

I love a bargain as much as the next person and I'm all into consuming less and reusing more.  But, says Ashley on BrightNest.com, buying second hand is not always a good plan.  Some pre-owned items can come with pests, parasites and may be too worn out to last.

Don't take chances when buying used items

Here are the recommendations of what NOT to buy when choosing a second hand item:

1.  Mattresses- Bed bugs... enough said.

2.  Upholstered furniture, throw pillows, linens and blankets- see answer #1, and then add mice and other pests.  A good rule of thumb, according to Ashley is, "If you don't know what kind of environment it came from, don't bring it into yours!"

3.  Lamps- These could be a fire hazard and you might not know it until you have a problem.  If you have to have it, they suggest you have it rewired for safety.

4.  Large Appliances - These are best purchased new, with a warranty.  Not to mention that a new appliance will be more efficient and will save you money on utilities in the long run.

5.  Blenders- "The average lifespan of a blender, with moderate use, is around five years," says Ashley,  "so if you don't know how much a blender was used, or when it was made, you could be paying for an appliance that's on its last leg."

6.       Cookware- Luckily, this is pretty inexpensive to buy at your local department store especially if you watch the sales.  If the second hand one is scratched and peeling, it's not safe anymore and should be thrown out.

This still leaves a lot of wriggle room for you fellow bargain hunters.  Just make sure that what you are buying is worth the cost...and the risk.

Read more at BrightNest.com

photo credit: ToadLickr

Posted in Marketing