Prepping Your Home for Sale

Preparing your home to be listed can be an overwhelming task for some. But with “94.6% of Associate Staged Professional (ASP) Staged Homes selling on average in 35 days or less”, according to StagedHomes.com, taking the time to prepare your home for sale is an important task.

Here are some tips to help simplify the process of prepping and staging your home.

De-clutter

De-cluttering your home can be one of the biggest and most challenging aspects of preparing your home to sell, but it can also be helpful and rewarding on moving day. De-cluttering allows you to simplify your rooms and it also helps buyers better understand the size and potential of the space.

Repairs

Now that your home has been de-cluttered, it’s time to check for problem areas that need repaired. Areas can include, but are not limited to…

• Nail holes, dents, scratches or other holes in walls, ceilings and doors.
• Roofs, gutters and spouts.
• Malfunctioning outlets..
• Broken or burnt-out light bulbs and ceiling fans.
• Leaky faucets and rust stains.
• Caulking around tubs and other interior fixtures.
• Exterior fixtures and faucets
  

*If you are looking to boost the value of your home with repairs and renovations, be sure to consult with an agent to see which improvements increase your selling price.

Cleaning

Once the rooms have been de-cluttered and repairs have been finalized, it’s important to address the task of cleaning. If you’re trying to simplify the cleaning process, it helps to focus on…

• Sweeping, shampooing and washing all floors
  Dirt, food and pet stains along with crumbs and other debris can leave potential buyers thinking the carpet needs replaced when it really just needs cleaned.
• Washing the walls
  Washing walls may sound unnecessary, but over time walls can collect dust and cobwebs. They can also appear discolored with age. Simply wipe down walls with a wet cloth followed by a dry cloth to brighten the appearance.
• Dusting all appliances and furniture
  The appearance of a well-kept house is a pleasing sight—especially to potential buyers. This indicates that the house has been well maintained. Dusting will give your space an extra shine, so don’t forget this finishing touch.

Staging

If staging wasn’t an important task, then there wouldn’t be tons of TV shows teaching sellers how to arrange their home in order to attract buyers. Staging your home applies to exterior as well as interior spaces.

Exterior

• Cut the grass.
• Rake leaves.
• Plant flowers.
• Turn on a porch light to help illuminate your home at night.

Interior

• Create a great entrance
• Keep up the energy throughout every room.
• Depersonalize rooms.
• Open curtains and provide an unobstructed view of nature—letting in natural light.
• These staging strategies can help you present your home in a warm and welcoming fashion.
  

So as you prepare your home for sale, good luck and let us know how it goes!

The Future of Real Estate: a Comprehensive Housing Strategy?

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) recently announced that they will continue to push for a comprehensive housing strategy while President Obama and Congress focus on ensuring the Troubled Asset Relief Program initiative (TARP). TARP’s economic stimulus package includes the necessary elements to stimulate the housing market, prevent foreclosures and restore consumer confidence.

Last week, Chairman Barney Frank’s, D-Mass. proposal H.R. 384, the TARP Reform and Accountability Act was introduced. His bill included vital components for the housing industry—a mortgage buy-down program, foreclosure prevention and increased liquidity in commercial and residential mortgage markets. The NAR has expressed support for this bill because it includes many key elements of its Housing Stimulus Plan. The NAR is hoping that TARP will help end the financial crisis and bring relief to mortgage lenders.

The NAR’s stimulus plan includes legislative and regulatory fixes, a focus on keeping mortgage interest rates low, increased buyer confidence and a reduction in foreclosure rates. It also asks regulators to aid financial establishments in making it easier to modify existing loans.

“We must all work together to stimulate and unclog the housing and financial system. Low interest rates, tax credits and higher loan limits will be effective only if people can get a loan,” said Charles McMillan, NAR President. We hear every day from our members that even home buyers with good credit are having trouble getting mortgage loans. This must be corrected,”

It is everyone’s hope that the Obama administration will bring aid and focus to a stimulus plan that also boosts the housing market.

Grandma's warm and soft Oatmeal Cookies

Cold mornings, Windy days and Snowy nights… these are the times when everyone craves a warm, delicious and hearty meal. Well did you know that January is “National Oatmeal Month”?

According to Quaker® Oats, more individuals consume oatmeal during the month of January than any other month during the year.

So in honor of the Real Living HER cookbok , here’s a easy recipe for tasty oatmeal cookies.

Ingredients:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
½ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
¼ cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt (optional)
½ teaspoon baking soda

Preparation:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening and granulated sugar until creamy. Add egg, water and vanilla; beat well. Add combined oats, flour, salt and baking soda; mix well.
2. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

You could also try adding dried fruit and spices for more flavor. Recipe makes about 5 dozen medium-sized cookies.

Oatmeal Facts
• According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), oatmeal lowers total and LDL-cholesterol levels. In turn this helps reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Heart disease is the number one cause of death in men and women in the United States.
• The No. 1 most popular oatmeal recipe is oatmeal cookies. The next most popular recipe containing oatmeal is for meatloaf.
• Quaker® Oats was the first brand to put a recipe on a product label. In 1891, Quaker displayed a recipe for oatmeal bread on its packaging.

Real Living Realty Services Acquires Steve Brownlee Realty

Real Living Realty Services just announced the acquisition of Steve Brownlee Realty, formerly Jo Denney Realty.

“We will continue to bring to the Springfield community some of the best technology in real estate, provided by well-known, knowledgeable agents who are friends and community leaders,” said Pat Law, vice president and general manager of Real Living Realty Services. “Our goal is to provide the best marealrketing opportunity to sellers with our advanced technology and forward-thinking marketing and assist buyers with unparalleled market knowledge and a one-stop shopping experience.”

Real Living Realty Services agents will join forces with Former Steve Brownlee Realty agents to form one large office at the new Limestone campus location. The office, which has 27 agents, is located at 674 North Limestone Street, Springfield, Ohio and is now open.

“This is an exciting time for Springfield,” said Ron Denney, a Real Living agent and mediation specialist. “The city continues to grow and prosper. Real Living’s award-winning brand and outstanding Web presence creates 17 million page views per month. More online visitors translate to unmatched exposure for sellers.” Ron Denney is assisting with agent recruitment for Real Living and will serve as the 2009 president of the Springfield Board of REALTORS®.

iPod Applications Make Life a Little Greener

For those of you who love your iPod, iPhone or whatever other Apple product you own, check out these environmental applications you can purchase through Apple’s iTunes store.

Local Reuse
Are you done with that? One man’s trash is another’s treasure. If you’re considering pitching something that just needs a little refurbishing, then post it on iPod’s Local Reuse. It’s like Craigslist for items that need a little refining. Prolong the life of used microwaves, couches that need reupholstered and even car bumpers by donating them to this inventory of inexpensive pieces. The EPA estimates that in 2006, citizens across the United States sent 12.5 million tons of reusable items to the landfill. As it continues to catch on among iPod users, Local Reuse is a great option that can help lower this tonnage.

Current State
Current State is an iPod application that uses electrical plug sensors to determine how much energy is being used in different outlets throughout your home. Not only do these plugs track energy usage, but through the iPod application you can remotely cut energy flow on command or by timer. All the energy data collected is then displayed on your iPod using colors that correspond with the amount of energy usage at that moment in time. The application creates a map of your home that shows which appliances are receiving energy flow and so forth. For example, if there's a room that's using large amounts of energy, the room will appear one color on your iPod. If it's using a relatively low amount of energy, the room will appear another color.

Green Light
Let there be light. This iPod application provides you with an effective flashlight wherever you go. When tapped, the screen glows just as brightly as a fluorescent light.

Candied Apple
In the midst of a hectic schedule, it’s nice to be reminded of how you can help the environment on a daily basis. For example:

“Instead of throwing out your used coffee grounds, add them to your garden soil. These grounds provide a nutrient that will help your plants grow.”

This application not only provides unique examples of how you can build environmental practices into your daily routine, but it’s also sensitive to holidays and the seasons, so you can receive relevant tips throughout your day.

Carbon Footprint
Before you start the car, enter a few pieces of information into an iPod application called Carbon Footprint, and you’ll be pleased with the results. Calculate the following by inputting data when you refuel your vehicle’s tank:

Miles per gallon
Dollars per gallon
Dollars per mile
Projected carbon dioxide emissions per year
Total car emissions to date

Most of the iPod applications listed above can be accessed through Apple’s iTunes store, and are accompanied by detailed descriptions. For more information, check out the Apple Web site.