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By Charles Essmeier

Real estate prices have hit record levels in the United States during the last five years. In some parts of the country, prices have tripled. For those selling houses in the first half of the decade, business was very good, indeed. Rising interest rates and sticker shock have slowed the market down, however. In some parts of the country that used to be hot, sales have slowed to a crawl. In those markets, people who want to sell houses are now waiting months when homes used to sell in days or weeks. What can a homeowner who wishes to sell as quickly as possible do to accelerate the process?

A relatively new service called home staging may be the answer. Staging a home essentially means setting it up so that it makes its best possible presentation to the market. Professional home stagers will, for a fee, come to your house, examine your property, and make recommendations as to what you might do in order to make the house as sale-friendly as possible. In some cases, they will simply recommend a coat of paint, a bit of landscaping, or some new drapes. In other cases, more dramatic help may be needed.

It is often difficult to sell a home that has been vacant for a while. Buyers have a hard time imagining what their belongings might look like in an empty house. A good staging company will have in their inventory a selection of different types of furniture, lamps, decorative accessories and more so that a vacant home can look like a showcase. A fully and tastefully decorated home is much easier to sell than a vacant one.

The service isn’t necessarily inexpensive. Homeowners might expect to pay several hundred dollars for an initial consultation as well as a fee of several times that amount for the first month of a fully furnished, professionally decorated home. Rates for subsequent months tend to be lower than for the initial month, but many homes that have been professionally staged aren’t on the market much longer than a month. In fact, studies have shown that staged homes often sell in half of the time of other comparable properties.

Having your home professionally decorated in order to sell it isn’t something that everyone needs to do. But in markets with slowing real estate sales, staging a home may be the difference between selling the house this week and selling it three months from now. For many sellers, the investment is more than worthwhile.

About the Author:
?Copyright 2006 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including http://www.HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information regarding home equity loans, mortgages and lines of credit.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=80290&ca=Real+Estate

See the rest here: Home Staging Can Help You Sell Your House Quickly

By Candice Sabrina

There’s just something about a room that has a fireplace and a mantel that changes the entire feeling of a house. Transforming it from a place to hang a hat into a real home, a warm fireplace with a beautiful mantel can be a wonderful sight to behold at the end of a long day. Unfortunately, a lot of fireplace mantels are just plain ugly, unusable or in a state of disrepair – especially in older homes.

Fortunately, there are lots of great fireplace mantels that can be used as replacements and even those that can be handcrafted to add an extra touch to a room. Those looking to replace their fireplace mantels will find there are lots of ideas out there. They include:

* Pre-made wooden mantels. These designs can be found in locations where fireplace equipment is sold. They are typically designed to fit over standard fireplaces and can come in all sorts of colors and designs. They are great choices for those who don’t want to make their own. They can include full frame mantel designs or single shelf creations.

* Custom made fireplace mantels. These creations are generally made by special order to include any level of intricacy and design a buyer might want. This is a great choice for those who want a one-of-a-kind mantel that’s made to fit a particular fireplace to the letter.

* Stone. Stone fireplace mantels can be very beautiful creations. From granite and slate to quartz and beyond, these mantels tend to be a lot heavier than wood and they are by design fire proof, which can be a good thing. The only problem with matching stone mantels will be the design of the fireplace itself. If it happens to be made of brick, a marble design, for example, might not look all that great.

* Brick. Speaking of brick, it’s possible to craft or have crafted a new mantel that works well with the design of the fireplace. When bricks are used the fire prevention of stone is appreciated and the blending is often much easier, unless the fireplace is crafted of stone rather than brick.

* Plastic fabrications. These can be good options, too, but a lot will depend on the style of the fireplace and the homeowner’s personal tastes.

If fireplaces are starting to look a little run down, the addition of a new mantel might do the trick. Replacement mantels are fairly easy to find and they can even be custom ordered or handcrafted at home. Changing out a mantel, too, can be a great way to give an older room an entirely different look without having to replace the entire fireplace.

Providing a focal point for above the fireplace, mantels are often seen as one of the keys in making a house feel homey. They are fantastic storage areas for family photos, keepsakes and other treasures. During the holidays, many use them to hang stockings and more. When a beautiful mantel is combined with special decorator touches, a room can be transformed into a showplace.

About the Author: For more information on fireplaces, try visiting http://www.fireplacechoices.com – a website that specializes in providing fireplace related tips, advice and resources including information on fireplace mantles.

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See the original post here: Fireplace Mantels Make A House A Home

By Kathy Steinemann

Did you know that potential break-in artists could be waiting to burglarize your home while you are on holidays? And who is going to mow the lawn while you’re away? Who will watch for fires or leaks in the hot-water heating system? An empty house can be a recipe for disaster!

Career criminals will be on the alert for things like:

* Yards with untrimmed hedges and unwatered lawns

* More than a day’s worth of newspapers inside the screen door

* Windows that reveal no change in lighting during the night

* An absent vehicle in the garage or driveway

* Full garbage bins that are not set out on collection day

* Mail carriers skipping a house because of redirected mail

* Nobody answering the door when someone rings the bell

Crafty criminals will often ring the doorbell themselves before attempting a break-in. If you are at home, they will have a reasonable story like: ‘I am conducting a survey of homeowners in the area to see if they are happy with the local school system.’

No thief wants to be caught, and no burglar will want to put more effort than necessary into a robbery. Criminals are by necessity suspicious (and lazy as well). Anything you can do to make your house more challenging is likely to deter them. A good security system is a commendable first step.

But is a security system enough? Maybe you should investigate hiring a housesitter. A housesitter can help prevent break-ins, and can also monitor for fires, roof leaks, and other potential home emergencies.

The internet is full of helpful sites. An internet search for keywords and phrases similar to the following will help you to locate a good sitter:

* house sitting services

* find house sitter

* professional housesitters

* experienced home sitter

* pet sitting service

At the end of this article is a link to a page containing several search engines.

As a homeowner, you can usually post a free ad in a housesitter directory. Many sites will have an auto e-mail service that notifies you whenever a new housesitter registers in your community. Housesitting services may include:

* Mowing the lawn and trimming the hedge

* Watering houseplants

* Walking, feeding, and caring for pets

* Picking up mail and newspapers

* Paying bills

* Answering the telephone

Homesitters come from various walks of life – and ages may vary from late teens/early twenties to ?? Typical sitters might be:

* Retirees

* A world traveller who is trying to conserve on expenses

* A college student trying to make ends meet

* A person who needs a place to stay during home renovations

* Someone new in the community

In recompense for their services, a home sitter will receive free rent and (usually) an additional fee. Sitters are normally responsible for their own food and telephone calls.

It is important that all arrangements are in writing. Some of the important points you should include in your written contract include:

* How long the sitter is permitted to be away from the premises

* The maximum number of guests allowed (‘zero’ being an option)

* Expectations for pet, plant, and yard care

* What should happen in case of illness or emergency

* Exact duration of house-sitting contract

* What will happen if your return home is delayed

If you are working with a professional housesitting service, be sure that it does appropriate security checks on its employees. If you are hiring a private sitter, ask local law enforcement authorities what is needed for you to perform your own background investigations.

This article is just a short primer on the subject of homesitting. Be sure to spend sufficient time doing individual research long before your holidays.

. . . And Happy Travels!

About the Author: * Search Engines: http://www.triple1.com/searchen.htm
* 111 Travel Directory: http://www.triple1.com
* 1000+ Travel Tips: http://1000tips4trips.com
* Adult Escapes: http://www.adultescapes.com

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Visit link: Is It Wise To Travel Away From Home While Your House Is Empty?

By Amber Lowery

First things first, when choosing a house plan you must first find the land that you will be building on. Not all designs will look right or even fit on certain lots, so in order to insure that your

dream home will be a good fit for your lot, you must first purchase the land on which you will be building.

When purchasing the lot, you have several things to consider.

Location – As the real estate agents say – “location, location, location”. Whenever you are dealing with Real Estate, the location is a very important factor in deciding for or against a particular lot. You will of course want a lot that is within a reasonable distance from your place of business. If you have children or plan to, you will want to research the schools as well. Also, you will want to make sure that the land that you are investing in is going to rise in value. Investing in land in an

area with upward growth potential is a great way to insure the value of your property will rise.

Budget – Your lot must fit within the budget you have set for yourself. You must also take into consideration whether you are purchasing “raw land” or whether the lot has already been prepped for building. A piece of property can initially seem like a bargain until you later find out that allot needs to be done before you an get a permit to build.

Community – You want to choose a community that has zoning laws that allow you to build the type of home you are planning on. Some communities have home owners associations that may need to first approve any improvements you want to make on your land. If this will bother you, you nay want to seek

out a lot that is not under the jurisdiction of such associations.

Once you have purchased the land that you plan to build on, you are ready to select a house plan for your dream home. If you are looking to purchase a pre-made home plan, you may have to make some small compromises as your ideas may not fit into what is available. Another alternative is to purchase a pre-made house plan and later have it modified to suit your particular needs and tastes by a architect. Do know that this will not be without a rather sizable expense, however it may still be more cost effective than if you were to have a plan built from scratch.

When choosing a house plan, you will want to keep in mind several key points…

Your Families Needs – If you have children, you will have additional considerations than singes or retired people. You will need to know how many bedrooms and bathrooms your family requires. Do you need a playroom for your children? Do you or your partner need a home office room? Now is the time to think towards the future and the upcoming needs of your family. When in doubt, build bigger. Nothing could be worse than building the home of your dreams only to find ten years later that it no longer is suitable for your growing family. Talk with your partner and decide now what your family needs may be and plan accordingly.

Building Code – As with anything, you can expect to face a significant amount of red tape as you plan to build your dream home. You need to talk with your contractor and make sure that the house plan that you choose will not conflict with your local zoning laws and home owners association rules and regulations.

Budget – You should know by now how much house you can afford. Don’t sway from the initial budget that you have set for yourself. There is a wide selection of unique and architecturally stunning house plans within every size range.

Style – You probably already have in mind the style of home that you want. If not, browse thru some pre made house plans to get an idea of what type of style you and your partner like the best. Try to picture the different styles on your lot. Does it look like a good fit?

As you can see, choosing a house plan for your dream home is a fun, but serious matter. Try to plan ahead at all times and think towards the future. It takes allot of work before you even break ground, but in the end it will all pay off when you are left with your own dream home.

About the Author: This article was written by Amber Lowery for Home PlansOnline. For even more great articles on home plans, or to search for a pre madedream home plan for your project, visit http://www.homeplansonline.net

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Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=19557&ca=Real+Estate

View original post here: Choosing A House Plan For Your Dream Home

By Greg Gagnon

In the last few years, home staging has become an increasingly popular method of preparing a home for sale. However, home staging involves far more than the cleaning and minor repairs required to put your home on the market. The process of staging a home is actually an in depth dressing of a home to make the property seem as appealing as possible to prospective buyers. Home staging professionals use a variety of methods to help homeowners sell their properties, incorporating both amenities already inside the home and a number of special products. When preparing to sell your home, you may want to think about some of the home staging methods outlined here to help you find the right buyer.

At its most simple, home staging is about setting the right mood for prospective buyers. By decorating and arranging a home’s interior to present an ideal way of life, buyers are assisted in visualizing themselves in your home. Whether you undertake the process of staging your own home or decide to consult a professional, there are a number of different “props” that may be used around the home. For example, to add a vibrant sense of life to the home, many home staging professionals recommend using different types of potted plants and arrangements of flowers and fruit. Throughout the home, they tend to utilize soft, luxurious fabrics – such as satin, lamb’s wool and silk – to create an atmosphere of comfort. This process can also extend to the exterior of the property, where patio furniture can be added in the backyard and colorful flowers or unique accessories outside the front door.

Many home staging professionals come from interior design or art-related backgrounds. Hence, when working on staging a home for sale, these professionals utilize a number of visual tricks to capture the attention of potential buyers. For instance, furniture is always arranged very carefully to simulate the ideal living space. In living rooms, home staging professionals often use loveseats and ottomans in lieu of large couches to create the illusion of added space. Likewise, mirrors are often placed throughout a staged home to make the living area seem larger to potential buyers. In areas where you hope to focus a buyer’s attention – like a hand built stone fireplace or a remodeled kitchen – staging professionals can place unique artwork or accessories to catch the eye.

One of the most important steps in home staging is the exchange of your personal decorations with more neutral furnishings. Beyond replacing family pictures with more design-friendly items, a successful home staging will attempt to eliminate any idiosyncratic tastes and represent a living space that has broad appeal. Though this process may feel like a slight on your family’s home, you should hardly take offense. This commonly used tactic simply helps potential buyers view the property not as someone else’s home, but as something they can call their own.

Most real estate experts claim that home staging is especially important when the home is empty. Without any furniture or amenities, even a home for sale in the most attractive area can make potential buyers feel uncomfortable. If you are trying to sell your home and have already moved out, you may want to consider working with your agent to stage the home’s interior. With the assistance of your agent and a home staging professional, you could quickly transform a lifeless house into dream home.

In the end, home staging is about making the most of your home’s potential. If the staging of your home is completed effectively, it is also possible that your home may receive better offers from potential buyers and spend less time on the market. By minimizing the flaws of your home and making the living area seem larger, brighter and more appealing, home staging may be one of the most important steps in selling your home quickly and at the right price.

About the Author: Greg Gagnon writes select articles about important topics related to real estate for the Coldwell Banker Corporation. For more information about buying a home or selling your current property, visit Coldwell Banker.

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See original here: What Is Home Staging And How Might It Help Sell My House?