What is Real Estate

Writen by David Carter

Letting the family home can be a nerve-racking business. We have all heard horror stories of the local conman moving in and wrecking the place and not paying the rent. But it doesn't have to be like that. Here are my five top tips that will help you to enjoy a successful let.

One: Use an agent, and a good one at that. Yes I know we have all seen and heard bad tales of duff agents disappearing to Bangkok with all the rent money, but believe me, these crooked agents are few and far between. Yes an agent will cost you money, but who works for nothing? You can expect to pay anywhere between 7.5% and 15% of the gross rental in agent's fees, but good agents invariably earn that money. If you don't use an agent how are you going to carry out a credit check? You can always ask the agent to see the references too, why not? And can you be confident in the tenancy agreement you use. An agent's agreement will be tried and tested and usually bang up to date.

And how long is it going to take you to let the house yourself? Good agents always have a register of potential tenants readily to hand, and even if they don't have the perfect one for you, they will locate you a tenant quicker than you could do it yourself. If they let the property a month earlier than you could, and the rental was 1,000 per month, think how much of their fees they have already covered by doing so. An agent also acts as a buffer between the two parties and that is invaluable. If you have no agent and two weeks after the let commences and there is a burst pipe, the tenant will ring you up at work, or on holiday and demand that you come and fix it. You could be several hundred miles away; you could be on the other side of the earth. An agent will field those calls for you. Believe me, a good agent will pay for their fees quite comfortably over the course of a year. So ask around about who is good and who is not. Quiz the agent too until you are satisfied that they are the correct person for you.

Two: If you can empty the house of furniture, then do so. Why? Well for a start any furniture containing foam should be of recent manufacture and contain the necessary safety marks. Secondly if the expensive TV you have included in the let goes on the blink two weeks later, you are obliged to replace it with a set of equal value. The same applies with all appliances. Many tenants have their own anyway, so let them use theirs, and when they go wrong, the tenant bears the cost of repair or replacement and not you. Good furniture has a habit of getting marked and broken too, so take your priceless possessions out of the house.

Three: Check all safety aspects, especially for gas and electricity. Make sure everything is in prime working order and that you possess the necessary safety certificates where required. The last thing you would want is a tenant gassed to death in their beds within the first month of the let, or any time come to that! You would be responsible, and you could end up in prison, and who could argue with that? So never economise on safety issues, and check that everything is just as it should be.

Four: When you get the house back don't expect it to come back as it was when you let it. Why? Because if a tenant is in that house for two or three years there is bound to be some wear and tear. Just as if you were living there yourself. You must expect some wear and tear on carpets for example, so be realistic and budget for a redecorating job and probably replacement carpets too. Some people fancifully imagine that the tenant will do all that for them, at their expense. It does happen, about once in a blue moon, so be realistic and understand that you might need to spend a little money to return the property to how you would like it.

Five: Budget for taxes. I cannot tell you whether there will be any tax payable on your collected rent because I don't know where you live and what laws apply to you, but as a norm imagine the rental income may be taxable at 25%. Imagine you had a let at 1,000 a month and the let ran on for three years. That's 36,000 gross rental, that could produce as much as a 9,000 tax bill at the end of it all. So don't go off on world tours spending every last bean until you have checked out the tax position as it applies to you, in your territory in your time. It is normal for some tax to be paid on some part of that rental money, so be aware of it, and budget for it, and you won't have a nasty surprise waiting for you at the end of it all. Good luck.

David Carter's latest published work is SPLAM! Successful Property Letting And Management. Splam! contains over 240 pages of hints and tips on how to start your own property business on a limited budget, and how to successfully let residential property. You can view actual extracts of the book at http://www.splam.co.uk and order a download or a hard copy at this site or you can go direct to the publishers at http://www.lulu.com/dc He also runs a holiday cottage website where you can access over 7,000 holiday cottages, apartments and villas worldwide at http://www.pebblebeachmedia.co.uk Don't you deserve a holiday? Well of course you do! You can contact David on any matter any time at supalife@aol.com

Writen by Mark Walters

Deeds are simply documents that transfer title from one person to another. There aare many different types of deed, but basicly they just transfer title.

Let's talk about a "quit claim deed".

A quit claim deed is a type of deed where a person (grantor) with an ownership interest in a property transfers that interest to another person (grantee). The grantor offers no guarantees about the title to the grantee recipient. Don't confuse a quit claim deed with the type of deed that is normally used to transfer title to real estate. That is most often a grant deed or a warranty deed. Those deeds transfer title with some guarantee that the title is legal and valid.

You sometimes hear a quite claim deed erroniously called a "quick claim deed".

A quit claim transfers only the rights of the person signing the deed. It does not guarantee that other people don't have an interest in the property. If there are other owners, their ownership is not affected by the quit claim.

You will find that a quit claim deed is most often used to clear up problems with a title or when someone wants to use a simple method to give up all interests in a property. Quitclaim deeds are sometimes used by a divorcing couple, where one spouse signs all his/her rights to their home over to the other.

It is not uncommon that when a property is being sold a title search finds that a mistake has been made in the past and a previous owner never relinquished his ownership in the property. That puts a "cloud" or "defect" on the title. The problem is solved by contacting the previous owner and asking him/her to sign a quit claim deed.

The title company is usally the one who makes the call when a quit claim deed is needed from a prior owner. Most transfers of property involve morrtgage loans. When there is a cloud on title the quict claim dded is necessary to insure the lender of a first lien position if the borrower does not make payments according to the note. The lender cannot enforce a trustee sale (non-judicial foreclosure) against someone whose name is not on the note, the that name is on title.

If that person will not sign the quict claim deed to release their itnerest in the property the sale probably will not close. At the very least the close will be delayed while other actions are taken to complete the sale.

Mark Walters offers a free sample of a quit claim deed form at http://www.quitclaim

Writen by Jeanette Joy Fisher

Every home seller wants to sell their home the painless way: without too much work, without legal hassles, and for top dollar. You can break your home sale into three easy steps to make the process as pleasurable as possible.

Step # 1 Get Your Home Ready to Sell

All right, maybe this won't be so easy if your home's a mess. You can avoid the cleanup and sell for a bargain-basement price to an investor.

Or you can get busy with boxes. Sort your "stuff." Pack boxes for the dumpster, boxes for charity (don't forget Habitat for Humanity's ReStore for building materials), and boxes for storage of things you can't bear to part with. Your goal: take your personality out of the home. This means family pictures, diplomas (unless you went to Harvard and want to give the buyers the idea that if they buy your home they're making a "smart" decision!), trophies, and anything else that speaks of you instead of the buyer.

Next, deep clean. Make every surface shine, sparkle, and shimmer. After that, touch up paint, replace broken house parts like switch plates and leaky faucets. Your goal: make your home feel like the buyer can move into their new home without any extra work.

Step # 2 Stage a Buyer's Delight

Fill empty spaces, which look bare without all your possessions, with nature to bring the outside in. House plants, flowers, and bowls of fresh fruit make buyers feel connected to Mother Earth. Cut branches from your bushes and trees for tall arrangements. Your goal: encourage your buyer to feel at home.

Turn on the lights, especially table lamps, even in the daytime. Buyers associate the warm pools of light from table lamps with good conversations and escape reading.

Go beyond the typical home staging of setting the table. In fact, don't set the table; that looks too staged. Instead of filling your home with furnishings, stage little vignettes of activities like a board game, an open magazine, or a tea setting. Highlight your home's best feature with an activity so buyers remember your home. Your goal: make buyers think about your home more than other houses they see and to feel like they can't live without your home.

Step # 3 Sell for Top Dollar

Perhaps you're tempted to sell your home yourself. If you have sold other homes recently and know what you're doing, go ahead. However, 80 percent of home sellers end up listing with an agent.

Interview several agents. Look for an agent who understands marketing psychology for advertising. Choose an agent who will open and show your home, not just rely on a lockbox. Each time your home is shown, the lights need to be turned on, the heat or air conditioning needs to be set, and other details checked.

Price your home right. don't just accept an agent's market value without checking yourself on recent sales and your competition.

Cover your assets. Be sure to draw up proper disclosure statements to prevent lawsuits against you after the sale. Read the fine print in your sales contract. Don't pay exorbitant buyer's closing costs. Limit unexpected expenses, like termite work. Include a daily fee charge to the home buyer if they don't perform in the agreed upon timeframe. This motivates them to close on time!

Don't accept the first offer to come along or let your agent talk you into lowering your price. It only takes ONE buyer to fall in love with your home.

You can sell your home, for top dollar, and limit your liability.

Meet your goal of moving on to your new home!

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Learn how to stage your home with interior design secrets. Jeanette Fisher teaches interior design and real estate investing. Free home sellers teleseminar. More information on home staging at http://homestaging.us.

Writen by Stacy Hinojosa

Building Your Own Home

If you are looking for a home, building your own might not be a bad idea. For one thing, you get to start from scratch, which you might initially see as a disadvantage, but consider the fact that you get to customize every detail of your new home. Many house hunters are often discouraged by the lack of options they have when looking for a house that is in move-in condition. They don't like certain paint colors, the floor plan seems disjointed to them, or there isn't enough cupboard space. Building your own home means that you call the shots. Even if you build a house through a development, you are limited in your choices of options, features and fixtures. Hiring an independent contractor and starting from scratch means everything is up to you: the layout, bedroom size, even the style of light switch.

Building your dream home is a huge investment of money and time. If you are committed to it, you are accepting the fact that you will not be packing up and moving anytime soon. You will spend many months, sometimes years building your new house. If that is something you are willing to do, then the first step is to find some lots for sale to buy to begin construction on. If you don't think you can afford the lot price, plus construction fees, you might want to consider purchasing the lot and leaving it vacant for several years while you save up the money to build your house. Many people decide to build a home, purchase the land, and then spend the next two or three years consulting with an architect who can help them design a floor plan.

Buying and Selling Quickly

Purchasing lots for sale can also be an investment tool. Very rarely will a piece of land go down in value. Usually, a property's value, especially if it is in a new development, will increase rapidly in the first few years that land is available in that area. During that time period, most lots will have houses built on them, people will start to move in and things will begin to settle down. If you purchase a lot when they are first made available, oftentimes it will have significantly appreciated during the construction period and might be worth almost double what it was before there were houses around it. Depending on the area and the quality of the neighborhood, your property might be highly sought after real estate and you could even ask and receive above the appraisal value. In this context, lots for sale can be a powerful investment medium. Buying and selling property quickly could result in a large profit in a short amount of time.

Land that is not in a residential area can also be beneficial for long-term investing. If you run across a piece of lots for sale that seems to be in the middle of nowhere, you might want to consider the possibilities. Chances are, if the area is not very built up, the land will be relatively inexpensive. Also, you want to remember that just because an area is under-developed right now, doesn't mean that it will be in five, ten or twenty years. Purchasing land can be a great investment because sometimes the surrounding area will become highly developed, turned into a neighborhood or a shopping mall. Developers will approach you about buying your land. If the land they need is essential in their design, you'll be able to sell your land for much more than you bought it for.

Inside Lynwood Real Estate is a network entirely devoted to real estate information. The entire Inside Real Estate network has more than 100,000 pages of real estate for cities allover the United States. Inside Real Estate covers several topics from the basic "how to's" of real estate to city-specific real estate information.

Writen by Yolanda Bishop

As wonderful and constant as commercial real estate is, there are some major pitfalls that can completely ruin the interest, investment and return on a property. Besides inaccurate assessments and risks that are beyond your comfort zone, the only real reason these pitfalls occur is because of the lack of due diligence that you perform. By not investigating deeply enough, not overturning every rock, and rushing into what seems like an awesome deal, you can experience some horrible events that can literally cost you hundreds and thousands of dollars.

These are setbacks I hope you never experience by asking every question, verifying everything, and assuming nothing.

Below you will find some unfortunate and common mistakes that can occur if you are not completely on your game.

Some of the major pitfalls in commercial real estate are related to the zoning and use of a property. Brokers may offer information that is not accurate about the rezoning and use capabilities of a property. Although many of the people in this business are honest and have integrity, you can bet you will run across a few brokers or agents that will do and say almost anything to sell a property.

Some problems that arise may include not checking with the city planning and zoning decision makers to see if a property can and will be able to be rezoned to the zoning that is expected. Also, just because the zoning may include your use, you must check with the city to make sure there are no special contingencies regarding use.

The last thing you want is to have a property you believe can be re-zoned to a higher and more profitable use, and after you purchase it, realize you cannot do what you intended! This can mean a less of a return on investment, or a complete loss of an investment. Believe me, situations can get very bad regarding the rezoning and use of a property, and fighting with the city will take more money, energy and time than it is often worth.

Another pitfall that can arise is purchasing a building that is leased, and then losing tenants due to leases or rental agreements being up! It is important to see and verify the leases of a building to make sure you will have some income to cover the debt service while you change, renovate, or do whatever it is you are going to do with the property. Verify you will have tenants when you purchase the property; otherwise, you may not have enough income, and this can leave you in the red.

It must be acknowledged that every property and situation can differ greatly from another. Because of this, there can be many different ways that a property can go. For this reason, all "what ifs" must be addressed, as well as exit strategies created for every scenario. When you limit yourself on exit strategies, you increase your possibility for failure.

With every property you must ask yourself, "What is the worse that can happen?" Weigh the risks and the probability of the worst happening, and either plan an exit strategy for this possibility, or don't move forward. You must look at everything from the worst to best case scenario, and have an exit strategy for each. Not only will you be prepared for anything that comes your way, but you will have less of a chance of really getting buried and losing money on an investment gone badly.

In commercial real estate, I often see a person trying to save a few thousand dollars that ends up costing him or her hundreds of thousands, just because they try to play hard ball with negotiations. It is always important to know what you are willing, and not willing to do when you go into negotiations regarding the purchase or selling of a property, as well as leasing and rental agreements.

For example, asking for $35.00 per square foot and being offered $30.00 per square foot, (reasonable in this situation), and assuming the interested party is very motivated about the space, and coming back with $33.00 a square foot and nothing less, my cause the loss of the three year leasing agreement, and the income for another two months from the property because it is not leased out is definitely not worth it!

Take the $30.00 per square foot; get the property leased up, and make an agreement that the rate will increase two or three dollars every year after. Don't lose the tenant because you want to play hard ball in negotiations when, really, you can make it work!

As you become more educated and get closer to reaching your goal of being a real estate insider, you may want to branch out into new markets and expand your comfort zone. This is great. However, you must realize there are many differences between various types of properties. Doing a deal with a 120 unit apartment complex is different than a 55,000 square foot office building.

When moving into different markets, items can easily be overlooked, and major problems can arise, simply because you are not aware of them. It is often a good idea to partner with someone already in that new market so that you may have the benefit of experience and know-how on your side. Learn form this venture so you will be more familiar with the market, property, and how it should be addressed. It is easy to get in over your head with new markets that can lead to major and expensive problems.

As you continue on your adventure in commercial real estate, be sure to do all your homework regarding a property. You will be less likely to run into problems, or better yet, be prepared to fix the problems if financially worth it. Never assume everything is as it appears, because, more often than not, it isn't! You must play smart in this game, or you can lose everything. Use you resources to get the best and most accurate information and you can avoid these pitfalls in commercial real estate.

Tony Seruga, Yolanda Seruga and Yolanda Bishop of http://www.maverickrei.com specialize in commercial and investment real estate. As of May, 2006, they and their partners are managing over $600 million dollars worth of new projects.

Writen by Stewart Knudson

Door Knocking is back! Tired of the poor results from "we buy houses" advertising, Real Estate Investors are tapping an old resource to generate higher profit deals.

Door knocking is a lead generation, qualification, and development tool used by real estate investor for years to gather information, build rapport, and negotiate with the seller. Historically this method takes the most work and is the most costly per lead. So why is it suddenly gaining popularity in the real estate investing industry? An influx of Investors and Investment sources in the real estate investment world, has caused a massive increases in "We Buy Houses" ad campaigns, direct mail campaigns, and internet lead sources that are accessible by virtually all investors with the click off a button. Homeowners in major metropolitan areas may see as many as 20 signs on one corner advertising "We Buy Houses" with different contact information on each sign. Get in trouble on a mortgage and your names lands on an "NOD" list that is available to every Investor on the planet resulting in the phone jammed and mailbox full of letters. If a homeowner is brave enough to get on the internet and look for a buyer or a way to solve their financial problems, their information is instantly put up for sale and they find themselves flooded with Investors inquiries. To stand out from the crowd, Investors are offering unreasonable amounts or making promises they can't keep. Homeowners are just as frustrated trying to determine the good guys from the bad guys.

Door knocking gets you away from the crowd and gives you that chance to make an impression and build rapport that is becoming more and more difficult with most other systems. Investors are finding that the extra effort and hard work can result in big profits.

What is Door Knocking? For illustrative purposes, let's break door knocking down into three steps or levels of involvement. 1. Birddog 2. Direct Field Contact 3. Negotiating the contract or "Getting the Dead"

Birddog. A birddog basically finds the lead and points at it. Just like hunting. The birddog sniffs out the lead and points at it for the Investor. A lead that looks and smells like what the investor has trained the birddog to look for. Maybe the investor is looking for pretty houses, ugly houses, vacant houses, foreclosures, single family, low income or whatever he wants. But the birddog has to be trained what to look for and how to point. The Birddog does not usually interact with the seller and provides very limited information to the Investor.

Direct Field Contact. The second level requires direct field contact in order to develop and qualify the lead. The birddog or another team member contacts the property owner directly at the property to gather information, build rapport and ultimately to determine if property owner is a motivated seller and has a need to sell. Sometimes we refer to this as "developing" or "qualifying" the lead.

Negotiating the Contract. The third level of negotiating the contract or "getting the dead", consists of negotiating with the Seller, putting the property under contract and obtaining the necessary paperwork from the Seller. It is imperative that this be the job description of someone on the team that is skilled at understanding the Seller's needs and formulating win-win offers that satisfy the Seller as well as meets the Investor's investment criteria.

Some investors use one or a combination of these methods to help them acquire properties. We recommend whoever is responsible for the third level of negotiating the contract is not the same person who is responsible for the first two. Although there are many reasons, a few of the more prominent are: 1. The education and skill required to negotiate deals and generate appropriate legal documents would needlessly limit the pool of available doorknockers. 2. The time and cost associated with training someone to that level brings with it a high level of risk relative to the investment if the doorknocker drops out or becomes the Investor's competition. 3. Having one person perform all three levels puts the Investor at a great risk of theft by the Doorknocker. Getting a good lead is one thing, but having it negotiated and under contract can be an overwhelming temptation for some people. Separation of duties is usually a very effective method to control theft in any business and this is no exception. How does a Door Knocking system work? Typically an Investor would place and ad for a door knocker in some media source such as the newspaper, magazine or online advertising. The ad will attract an extremely diverse group of interest people ranging from professionals with experience and education, to the unemployed and inexperienced looking for a new beginning. It then becomes the Investor's responsibility to interview, train, organize and follow through with those who respond to the ad in an effort to build a team that generates leads. Depending on the system the Investor deploys or the resources available, the doorknockers are trained and managed until they can operate on their own or they drop out.

The results of this type of system can be incredible. Building rapport directly with the customer and getting a deep understanding of their needs helps to create a win-win situation. Finding those bigger profit margin deals from motivated sellers becomes more likely. With so much less competition and increased depth of information about the Seller's situation, the Investor can create offers that meet the needs of the Seller in more ways than just the purchase price.

The Bad News. In a perfect world, the Investor would find a team of people that are attentive, receptive, and follow exactly the training and wisdom offered them from the investor, freeing up their time and talents to close more deals. But what can happen in the real world is strikingly different. The investor's time becomes completely consumed interviewing, screening, training and keeping up with the paperwork and headaches. The training is inconsistent for each person. The Investor's time becomes totally absorbed leaving them little time to capitalize on the leads that are being generating. The leads start pouring in, but the Investor simply does not have the time needed to close the deals.

The Investor usually reacts to that by shifting the focus to negotiating the deals, Leaving the door knocking team without the needed training and focus to keep going. Then the team starts to fall apart. Some leave from a lack of self motivation. Others drop out because they aren't getting the support they need. And others drop out simply because they can't connect the dots. Others were just wasting the Investor's time from the beginning trying to get a free education. This forces the Investor to give up or start the cycle all over again of advertising, screening, training, etc. while buying and selling houses gets neglected.

The Good News. There is very little competition using a door knocking system compared to the conventional methods employed by the masses of real estate investors. Although the down side can seem a little daunting, there are solutions using today's technologies and resources that virtually eliminate the training and time that the investor would normally need to commit to bring together a successful door knocking system. In the past the solutions available have fallen short of providing the real solutions needed for today's fast paced and technologically advanced world. For more information visit www.MrDoorKnocker.com.

Copyright 2005 Stewart Knudson

About The Author
Stewart Knudson For more information visit http://www.MrDoorKnocker.com - Automated Lead Generation System! Don't spend your time or money for another lead. Real solution for real estate investors by SmartREISolutions.com – Technology made simple! .

Writen by Robert Scribner

I have lived in Bend Oregon for over six years now and I have been serving the Bend Oregon Real Estate Agents and Bokers as a webmaster. I have watched the Central oregon real estate market grow and I would like to share what I know about the Bend Oregon Region.

If you like Americana living and a slow pace, then Bend Oregon is for you. There is a saying there. "there is normal time, and there is Central Oregon time". The people are down to earth and the shools are calm and not infected with large city problems like gangs and heavy drugs.

If your want to live in Bend, Oregon, You should know:

- The sun shines all the time, but can get cold in the winters.

- You need to learn how to say hello more to strangers.

- Do not be in a hurry, its Central Oregon.

- Your get a lot of real estate for your dollars..

Here is some important realities to know:

- Cost of living is the same as the cities, yet wages are lower.

- Bend Oregon does have pretty good medical support, however you may have to wait longer for appointments..

- People in Central Oregon really do know how to drive in the snow.

-Nothing stops when it snows, life goes on inclusing school.

Bend Oregon Real Estate is getting higher prices by the day, however is much lower than the big cities. The hard part is how to mak a living. It is always best to have your own business to bring over, if possible. Living in Central Oregon is good for the soul and good for the family.

For more information visit http://www.bend-oregon-real-estate-search.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ranger Rob of the Northwest.

A Northwest Outdoor Redneck, supporting friends and Family to enjoy the outdoor together. View Hunting, Fishing, Flyfishing, Kiting, Boating and much more at http://www.rangerrob.com

Feel free to visit his web services at http://www.nwcustomwebs.com

Writen by Ross Bainbridge

A flourishing tourism industry and tax-free regime has made Las Vegas the number one entrepreneurial city in America. Great opportunities for new businesses and more jobs have tempted many to relocate to Las Vegas. Since tourism accounts for one-third of the state's annual tax revenue, business owners are exempt from corporate income tax. Residents also do not pay any personal income tax. Las Vegas has the highest per capita income with an annual growth rate of 2.3 percent.

Apart from the tax breaks, Las Vegas has become an attractive prospect for myriad reasons. A high job growth rate and projected salary growth, coupled with a low unemployment rate are the main motivators behind people considering relocating to Las Vegas. Clean air, a warm climate, quality health care facilities, educational opportunities and a blend of old and modern neighborhoods, make Las Vegas the ideal place to live in, for young and old alike.

Careful planning can make relocating to Las Vegas a relatively smooth process. For those relocating from across the country, it is advised to engage the services of a moving company. Prices vary among companies and the fees are based on an hourly rate or flat fee. It is always wise to purchase additional insurance even though a moving company provides liability insurance. Temporary storage facilities are available in Las Vegas.

Newcomers to Nevada have 30 days to obtain a driver's license at a cost of $21.25. It is mandatory to obtain a vehicle registration within 60 days. Failure to obtain a registration attracts fines ranging from $250-$500. AAA Nevada has put in their best efforts to make driving along Southern Nevada's highways easier. Patrol vans drive along the highways, providing free assistance to motorists. The arid climate of Las Vegas calls for regular maintenance of a vehicle's battery, cooling system, tires, belts and hoses.

From world-class performances of the Las Vegas Philharmonic to grand mountain views, Las Vegas offers a quality of life that can only be matched by a few.

Relocating provides detailed information on Relocating, Relocating To Las Vegas, Relocating Tips, Relocating Overseas and more. Relocating is affiliated with NYC Moving and Storage.

Writen by Julie Rieman

1. Out of sight, out of mind! Hide away anything you would not see in a "model"home. This is especially true regarding trash! Remember to empty all trash bins and remove them from sight. Keep in mind that potential buyers look at everything! A clean property equates a well maintained property that will get offers!

2. Never underestimate the sense of smell. It is important that your property passes the "smell test". This may be accomplished by using many of the various room fresheners available today. I recommend a long lasting product and prefer the plug-in style. Consider placing one in each room. Place in an inconspicuous area that is not easily noticed by potential buyers.

3. Do you hear what I hear? This is especially important in creating an atmosphere of peacefulness. You do not want potential buyers to hear the furnace turn on or listen to outdoor traffic. Consider playing music that will not offend most people. Rock and Roll is dead as far as your open house goes! We suggest playing soft background music that contains no lyrics.

4. Potential buyers will be touching surfaces in your property. Not intentionally, but because they have to! Be certain that all banisters, handrails, doorknobs and faucets sparkle! You do not want people to "feel" that your home is anything but squeaky clean!

5. I like to suggest leaving a decorative treat filled dish out for potential buyers. You can fill it with various individually wrapped candies. I know it sounds corny but EVERYONE loves chocolate and it will make potential buyers remember and feelgood about your property!

Having appealed to the five senses some other important tips...

CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN! This cannot be stressed enough and I mean EVERYTHING! Buyers will look inside your oven, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and everywhere else I might have forgotten to mention. Consider your open house a home inspection performed by an Army drill sergeant! Nothing will be overlooked!

Now if I have not completely terrified you, here is some more advice...

Check for cobwebs that seemingly come from nowhere.
Wash all light fixtures so they sparkle like new.
Clear any signs of clutter and hide away all personal items.
Consider shampooing the carpets for a fresh smelling clean look.
Organize and clear clutter from every closet and cabinet... Buyers ALWAYS look inside to determine storage space.
Wash windows inside and out. (Pay close attention to window sills and frames.) Buyers will typically inspect every window. Ouch!
Place fresh flowers close to the entrance door for a warm welcome.
Finally, go out for a nice meal and try to relax during your open house. You have earned it by following these suggestions!

Good Luck! Hope you sell your home quickly! Julie Rieman

Julie Rieman is an accomplished instructor in the arts of faux painting and interior redesign.. She offers two and four day classroom or online interior redesign training. If you live in the Twin Cities area, you can invite Julie into your home for a personalized consultation. For more information about any of her decorating services and training opportunities please visit http://www.allaboutredesign.com and http://www.allaboutwalls.net.