FSBO Jane

1. PHOTOS: SHOWCASE, don’t SHAME.

Do not, under any circumstances, publish photos with dirty dishes, piles of clothes or filthy carpeting. Get your home ready BEFORE you advertise. If you must take photos immediately, tidy up as best as you can so as to minimize the mess in pictures.

2. REMINDER: YOU’RE SELLING a HOUSE.

Except in rare circumstances, it’s your home that’s for sale–not your furniture or decorations. No matter how hard you’ve worked on your color scheme, it is specific to your tastes. Pack up your things as much as possible so that you can showcase the features of your home’s construction, not the way you’ve lived in it. Dispense with too-colorful walls or wallpaper. When you’re selling, it’s all about how someone else will use the space, not how you have used it.

3. BE VOCAL: GET THE WORD OUT

The more people who know your home is for sale, the greater possibility that one might be the buyer. Tell everyone you know about your home sale, using all your networking capabilities–e-mail, social networking sites, phone calls, flyers, yard signs, Internet advertising, etc.

Remember a few years back when the media told us how Johnny Depp purchased his a 40-acre island in the Bahamas for about $3 million? Have you ever wondered how this acclaimed actor can continue to live his luxurious lifestyle on an island that boasts no electrical power lines? The answer is simple: green living!

In search of a more eco-friendly way to supply electricity to his home, Depp turned to solar-power guru Mike Strizki for a solution. Back in 2006, Strizki converted his own New Jersey home to run solely on solar-hydrogen power. According to The Hopewell Project, “The home features an advanced solar-hydrogen system for hydrogen production and storage that is integrated into an existing solar and geothermal system, and provides for all of the home’s energy needs. The system also includes a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle refueling station.” Looking for a more simple explanation? The system uses solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity during the day, and its stored hydrogen powers the home at night. Strizki has also created electric golf carts and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

It’s a nice attempt on Depp’s part. However, not everyone is convinced that this system is as efficient as it seems. Check out this short article about the Strizki/Depp solar system.

I’ve been noticing a lot of great articles about green living over at the Buy Owner Blog lately, on everything from eco-friendly flooring ideas to green improvements to your overall living habits. Here are some of my favorites: (to see more, check out the blog!)

• Did you know cork or bamboo are green flooring alternatives?
• Summer’s a great time to go green!
• Xeriscaping is a green landscaping alternative that lowers water bills and saves you time!
• Making your home greener may make it more marketable!

Think depersonalizing is the key to selling your home? Think again. A new marketing strategy gaining in popularity is based, largely, on old-fashioned emotion: writing a letter to potential buyers, telling them all the things you loved about your house, the memories you made there and why you’re choosing to move on.

This can be a very powerful sales tool. At least, so says a recent article in the Seattle PI. Here’s a clip:

“[Today,] the letters are more commonly from sellers trying to bring in an offer, rather than buyers trying to stand out from other bidders.

‘From the first moment in the house we immediately felt at home,’ Kyri and Bradley Khouri wrote in a letter displayed on a table in their Judkins Park house and with the online listing.

Kimberly Hobbs, the Windermere Real Estate agent who listed the Khouris’ home, said she has long counseled her buyers and sellers to write such letters.

‘I think it’s about humanizing,’ she said. ‘We’ve come to such a technology-driven, hands-off lifestyle that I think we need to go back to basics and be human for a little while.’”

To some potential buyers, seeing a house as a home can make all the difference between a quick visit and a lifelong residence. If a letter can make that change possible, it’s worth thinking about.

Image credit: Skylakes.org

I must admit, whenever I come across a “Best Places to Live” list, I always hope that Illinois will be somewhere on it. I was born and raised in this state. I feel a strong sense of pride being an Illinois resident. With the White Sox winning the World Series in 2005 (and the Cubbies on their way to a winning 2008 season), and with Chicago being a contender to host the 2016 Olympics, there is just so much going on in this state!

It’s where President Abraham Lincoln started his political career. Four of its universities have made the grade and appear on the list of the top 100 schools in the country! I love living here, and I think the state should be recognized for its greatness. So when I stumbled across this article on Yahoo! Finance, I was excited to see that, according to Money on CNN, Naperville, Illinois, which is the fourth largest city in the state, is the #3 best place to live in America! So what makes Naperville such a great place to live?

Here are a few highlights of the city, according to Money on CNN.

• The job growth has increased 18.8% in the last eight years.
• Several major companies have offices in Naperville and employ thousands of workers.
• The library is ranked number one in small towns across America.
• Residents love the school system (from grade schools to colleges)!
• The booming downtown area is full of diverse shops and restaurants.
• The Riverwalk is a two-mile brick path that offers breathtaking scenic views.

You think your city has what it takes? Let me know why!

I’ve been saying this for a long time: buyers want to SEE your home, not just hear about it. A simple exterior shot, slightly blurred, maybe when it’s raining, will not do the trick. The buyer wants to know if your place is worth the time it will take to visit.

SHOW IT OFF!!! Take as many photos as you can, and showcase your residence with virtual tours, using a great FSBO help like Buyowner.com. It will pay off, and MarketWatch agrees:

From MarketWatch: “To sell a home with an Internet listing, it pays to provide pictures — and lots of them, according to a recent study from an e-commerce and online marketing firm that serves the real-estate industry. Compared with listings that had only one photo, those that had 21 or more photos received double the number of responses to the listing broker or agent, according to Point2 Technologies. Listings that included no photos generated significantly less response than those that had one, the firm said. “

According to a recent article at Realty Times, this tough economy is prompting home buyers to look for savings in new ways. And one of those ways is energy costs.

While some of today’s home builders are trying to meet demand by creating more energy-efficient new constructions, existing homes have a lot to gain, as well.

If your home is on the market right now or if you’re shopping for a new place, what are some things you need to be looking for?

1. Energy Hogs: Older furnaces, air conditioners and appliances may have leaks. Your best bet would be newer appliances designed for energy efficiency.

2. Current Utility Bills: What a homeowner is paying now is a fairly good indicator of what a buyer would pay in the future. When house-hunting, ask to see the seller’s energy costs, so you know what you’re getting into.

Want even more help? “If a buyer or seller wants professional advice, they can turn to Home Energy Rated Services (HERS.) Certified technicians can be found online at Resnet.us. They can be hired to check for various issues such as adequate insulation or weather-stripping, two of the leading causes of energy waste, says Steffes.”

(Source: Realty Times)

There are no shortage of articles available today, discussing the tough real estate market and offering suggestions to buyers. So I thought I’d make the researching a little easier for you: here’s a round-up of content, all explaining the ins and outs of what you need to know now.

There’s a five-tip article from U.S. News & World Report, emphasizing the needs to (1) make repairs, (2) price correctly, (3) be informed about your agent, (4) be flexible and (5) consider all offers.

Bankrate.com also gives five steps: (1) make the most of the situation, (2) research the market, (3) get your property in showcase condition, (4) offer incentives and (5) price realistically.

Bloggers are getting in on the discussion, too. FiveCentNickel.com offers his tips, on topics from (1) price and (2) marketing to (3) staging and (4) doing renovations, as well as what to do when you’re (5) in over your head.

Want to see more? Check out these sources:
Consumer Reports

Weekend America

Sun-Sentinel

Whether you’re preparing for usual showings or scheduling open houses, one thing’s for sure: you’ll want your home to look its best. Here’s a checklist of tasks to help you get your home in tip-top shape!

Outside

• Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
• Mow lawn & manicure bushes/hedges.
• Water flowers & pull weeds.
• Thoroughly scrub exterior of windows.
• Inspect home’s exterior for any areas in need of repairs.

Main Living Areas

• Wash the inside of windows.
• Dump your junk. Get totally clutter-free.
• Clean out cobwebs.
• Vacuum daily.
• Wax floors.
• Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
• Clean and air out any musty areas. Get things smelling clean and fresh!
• Take out trash.

Kitchen

• Wash down your countertops, appliances, stove-top and sink.
• Load the dishwasher or wash by hand.
• Put away all of the items that belong in the kitchen but are not in their proper places.
• Clean out the refrigerator.

Bathrooms

• Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
• Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
• Put all toiletries and personal items that belong in the bathroom in their proper places, most likely drawers and cabinets.
• Bleach dingy grout.
• Replace worn rugs, curtains, linens.
• Hang up fresh towels.
• Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.

It’s summer! It’s that time in the U.S. when most of us have on particular thing in common: fabulous weather! Everything is a little greener, a little cheerier. So why not let the decor of your house match the sun-filled outdoor season. Here are a few tips to get your home looking cheerful and bright during this lively summer season.

1. Put away accent rugs. While they add some flair to a room, layers can make a room feel warmer. Expose those gleaming hardwood floors and let the sun bounce off of them!
2. Brighten a room with a fragrant floral arrangement!
3. If you’re a fruit lover, keep it on display! Don’t hide it in a kitchen cabinet or in a mundane bowl by the refrigerator. Display it in a glass bowl in the center of the table!
4. Have a neutral bed spread? First, trade in fleece blankets and heavy down comforters for some floral pillow covers and a thin, light-colored blanket!
5. Fluffy pillows on couches encourage rest and relaxation. And if you’ve got the A/C going on a heated day - the sofa may be even more inviting with its restful appeal.
6. Thoroughly clean your windows inside and out to let the sun pour into each room.
7. If you are thinking of repainting, add some vivid accent walls in warm hues like reds, oranges and yellows!
8. You could also splash blues and greens on walls for an oceanic effect!
9. Install ceiling fans!
10. Instead of heavy drapery, install sheer cloths.
11. Decorate some spaces with floral-scented votive candles. Even if you don’t light them, they give off a fresh scent.
12. Not into candles? Air fresheners have the same affect!
13. Remove clutter from a room. The less you have in a room, the cooler the space will feel!
14. Add a screened door to your front entrance. Keep it open, let the breeze flow into the home, and keep the bugs out!
15. Replace dark lamp shades with bright white ones!