FSBO Jane

This doesn’t necessarily have to do with buying or selling a home, but it’s an interesting, informative, tip-packed article I liked: “101 Uses for Everyday Things”, from Real Simple.

I think most homeowners would appreciate the practical nature of the article. Here are the first few tips:

1. Sanitize a chopping block. Run a slice of lemon over the surface to disinfect.
2. Eliminate the browning that occurs when food sits out too long. Sprinkle apple or pear slices with lemon juice before serving, or squeeze a bit into guacamole and give it a stir.
3. Remove tough food stains from plastic and light-colored wooden cutting boards. Slice a lemon in half, squeeze the juice onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with water.
4. Fade tea stains on cloth. Dilute lemon juice with an equal amount of water. Use an eyedropper or a Q-tip to make sure the juice targets the stain. Thoroughly flush with cool water.

I love how all these ideas utilize a lemon, something that you probably already have on hand. The other items are just as basic: newspaper, olive oil, dryer sheets, coffee filters, Velcro, vinegar, baking soda, Ziploc bags and salt!

Check out the full article from Real Simple here.

Do you enjoy hosting dinner parties? Are you the go-to friend when it comes to entertaining? How about this one: do you enjoy receiving free gifts? I don’t imagine anyone answered no to that one.

Here’s a great blog to check out: Hostess {with the Mostess}. It offers daily tips on how to host the perfect party in the perfect setting. It includes everything from how to decorate your home to what you should serve. Browsing through, I found tips on how to create chic pillows at a cheap price (no one will know how cheap), how to make decadent chocolate truffles in about 15 minutes, and tips where to shop for affordable yet classy dishware, kitchen tools, gift ideas and more. These tips could also really come in handy for people hosting open houses!

And let’s not forget the best aspect. The blog gives away free stuff weekly! If that’s not a reason to regularly visit this blog, then I’ve got no more advice for you!

When obtaining a mortgage loan, it’s important to find a lender who is willing to offer a rate lock. A rate lock, also referred to as a lock-in, means that the lender issues a commitment to a specific interest rate for a specific period of time. During that period of time, the interest rate cannot fluctuate. This is especially important during the time it takes to file your application, process the loan and approve the loan, which could add up to a few weeks. If you don’t have a locked rate, the interest rate could increase by the time the process is complete. However, with a rate lock, it usually means that you will also not benefit if the interest rate decreases. Your mortgage lender may also require that you pay a fee to lock in your interest rate. Talk to your mortgage lender about what they offer and what rules they follow.

It’s February, and for us in the Midwest, we’ve forgotten what the sun looks like and what the heat feels like. Instead of letting this weather get you down, let’s start something new. Let’s make this makeover madness month!

I got the idea from tipjunkie.com, which created Makeover Monday. People are supposed to redesign a piece of old furniture or clothing, and then send in a photo of their finished product. It’s inspiring to see! Not only is it eco-friendly, because it’s reusing old items in a new way, but it’s creative, imaginative, fun, and it makes your house that much more cheery and exciting! This month, I dare you to reinvent an old piece of furniture.

Ideas:

Paint an old chair or a new, cheap chair with a fresh design. Purchase the paint, use stencils or your own free hand, use a paint pen for finer details, and display your newly designed chair! For specific instructions and photos, click here.

Find a slab of wood lying around, or purchase one from a hobby or hardware store. Then, attach brassy door handles or knobs to the wood. Next, hang the slab of wood on the wall and you now have a visually appealing jewelry organizer! For specific instructions and photos, click here.

Lots more ideas are available at tipjunkie.com for creative minds just getting started. After you read and try some of those ideas, invent brand-new makeovers of your own! Then, send me pictures of your creations. We’ll make this a February to remember!

I am all about DIY (do-it-yourself) projects when it comes to home decorating and renovating. This is one reason why I stay updated with BobVila.com. DIY project instructions are so abundantly available there, you could partake in a new project every week! In fact, I’m always so wrapped up in the projects that I never noticed the Hiring a Pro link that is available until recently. How do you know when to hire a pro?

Basically, my advice on whether to go it alone or to hire a pro is to research the type of project you want to complete. Does it sound like something you can accomplish? Do you have the tools you need to complete it? Have others been able to successfully pull of the project without tons of knowledge on the subject? How much will all the tools and materials cost compared to how much it would cost to hire a professional?

If you end up deciding to use a professional, BobVila.com informs you of where to go for free estimates on how much the project will cost, and you can learn how to find a contractor, how to work with a contractor, how to negotiate contracts and more.

For more information on hiring a professional, visit this site.

Thinking of buying a new home? Worried about getting the best rate on your mortgage?

Take a look at the GuaranteedRate.com and Zillow.com!

Here’s how they work:

GUARANTEED RATE.COM*
1. Choose loan: purchase or refinance.
2. Pick the state in which you live.
3. Enter an estimated loan amount.

ZILLOW.COM*
1. Choose loan: refinance or home equity
2. Type in the purchase price of the house.
3. Enter your zip code.

In order to find the best rate, you begin the process the same way on each site entering the type of loan, your location and the estimated amount needed. However, while Zillow provides a list of lenders (leaving you to do all of the work), Guaranteed Rate does the work for you by giving you their result in addition to offering its competitors’ information up front to ensure that you’re getting the best rate possible.

*Neither service requires your Social Security Number.

When you take out a mortgage loan, you are required to pay a certain amount per month until that loan is paid off. However, a prepayment is an amount that you pay before the due date, to reduce the principal balance of the loan. This could mean that you pay more than you need to each month or just some months, you send in extra money at a random time of the month, or you pay the mortgage amount in full. You could pay the mortgage in full if the property was sold, if you acquired a large sum of money and want to use it toward the mortgage, or because of a foreclosure.

Because this prepayment occurs before the loan has fully amortized, you may have to pay a prepayment penalty. Still, if you can get the mortgage paid off and not have to worry about it each month, it may be worth paying the penalty. Discuss the rules and options with your mortgage lender to find out what is the best way for you to pay off your mortgage loan as soon as possible.

With so many different styles of homes on the market, decorating trends become more and more eclectic as each year passes. And the furniture trends for 2010 are no exception.

Modern

• Bright-colored sofas are replacing neutral-toned couches. These days, your furniture may be the focal point of a given room, so it makes sense for it to stand out more. A good option may be a vivid red with tan throw pillows.

• Asian accents are coming back, especially in the form of artwork. However, treat your walls as you would your own body. You wouldn’t get a symbol tattooed on you without researching its true meaning, right? You may think that little character means “happiness and luck,” but it could mean “frog legs” for all you know!

• Environmentally-friendly furniture is a hot trend. What makes them green? They may be created from recycled materials, or the fabric may be organic.

• Gray is the new neutral color. It goes with everything and shows less dirt than white.

Classic• Go for comfort. The look of a given seat may be important to you, but you should purchase a couch, chair, recliner, etc. that you’ll actually want to sit on day after day.

• Antiques never go out of style. If a piece is really banged up, all it needs is a little paint or varnish and you’re good to go!

• If you’re not ready to make a bold statement by purchasing a lime green loveseat, feel free to stick with traditional blacks and browns when you buy seating.

• Although many hipsters are opting for glass or metallic tables, timeless hardwood pieces still reign supreme in most homes.

I read this recent post at the Buy Owner Blog about home selling and thought it was worth pointing out here. The jist of the article is this: When your home isn’t selling, that’s not the time to get discouraged. It’s the time to get proactive.

Citing five tips for maintaining your can-do attitude this year, the article points out the best weapon you have in home selling: yourself.

Here’s a clip:

“In a slow real estate market, it’s standard for a house to be on the market for up to a year or longer. So instead of getting discouraged, change your game. Take it to the next level. There are always new tactics for home sellers to try, such as these five:

• Visit open houses in your town or surrounding towns. Act like a potential homebuyer and gain perspective on what else is out there, and how other home sellers are trying to spark the interest of buyers. Also, take note of what areas of the house you notice first, and remember this when it comes to your own house.”

Read the rest of the post here.

Although I have said before that virtual tours are really helpful when you’re looking to buy a home, there is really no concrete way of seeing a property up close and personal other than to visit it in person.

If you have never attended an open house before, there are some things you can expect. These are things to watch out for so you are prepared to act accordingly. The last thing you want to do is put an agent or a homeowner off by appearing rude or demanding.

Here are some quick tips:

• If an appointment is required, adhere to your time. Showing up too early or late is disrespectful.

• Unless there is a sign, you don’t need to knock or ring the doorbell. Walk in.

• If you are greeted by an agent or homeowner, politely say hello and wait for instruction. If the person offers to take you on a tour of the home, accept it.

• If no appointment is necessary and you stopped on a whim, say so. State that you are not interested in buying and that you just want to see the house. For all they know, you could fall in love with the place.

• If you are a friend, neighbor or coworker, say so. This may make you more appealing as a prospective buyer since you have invested interest in the owner of the property, as well.

• If the agent/homeowner tells you to go at your own pace, don’t rush. Take your time moving through each room.

• Whether you are being guided by an agent/homeowner or not, do not show disgust at the décor. If you’re constantly saying, “this needs to be changed,” you may be coming off as a bit rude and highfalutin.

• Feel free to look inside closets and cabinets, but do not pick up the owner’s personal possessions.

• Do not try out the furniture or use the bathroom.

Remember, the seller doesn’t have to sell the house to you, especially if multiple offers are on the table. Take these tips into consideration and make sure your home-buying etiquette is appropriate.