First impressions are lasting
Decorations are key
Give your home a cheerful feeling by letting the sun shine in
Fix that leak
Boast of your utility space by displaying them to there fullest potential
Safety should be top priority
Organized closets make them look bigger
Have your bathrooms sparkle
Create a welcoming environment by having the television off and playing soft music in the background
Avoid having too many people present, it will reduce the feeling that the buyer needs to rush through the home
Keep pets out of the way
Don’t force conversation with the potential buyer
Never apologize for your home that is being lived in
Never stay in the house with the buyers
Try not to get rid of furniture or furnishing to potential buyer, you could end up losing them
Let the real estate agent discuss price, terms, possession, and other factors
An agent has no control over the market, just the marketing plan. Here are some tips that may be helpful:
Never select an agent based on price
Overpricing in a rising market may be okay, overpricing in a falling market could be disastrous
Cost, price, value, and market value are numbers that represent your property
Regression (an expensive home being decreased in value because of lesser desirable homes) and progression (a home selling for more than its worth because of having more expensive homes in the area)
Substitution
Over-improvements, need, buying in a higher priced area, original purchase price too high, lack of factual comparables, providing bargaining room, high cost of moving, corporate buy-out are all reasons behind overpricing
Should be price the best and should show the best within the first few weeks of it being on the market
Faster sale, fewer inconveniences, exposure, increased cooperative salesperson response, better response to advertising, higher offers, more money to sellers are all benefits to the proper pricing of a home
There are five factors to selling your home, even in this market! These five factors are:
- Location
- Condition of your home
- Terms of the sale
- Asking price
- The real estate agent your select
Four of these five factors you can control! The only one out of your control is the location.
The location of your home does impact the value of your home. Homes located on quiet streets or cul-de-sacs have more location value than homes located on busier streets. Other factors affecting the value of your home
due to its location are:
- What backs up to your property
These items give an idea of the typical factors that affect the location value. These are factors, again, that you have no control over, but play a major role in the value of the home.
But, never underestimate the important of having your home looking at its best. Having your home appeal to the buyers is very important.
- First impressions are very important: Curb appeal and front entrance
- Kitchen and bathrooms are important rooms: Keep clean and uncluttered
- Flooring should be clean and deodorized
- Paint – its is the highest return improvement investment one can make and the most inexpensive compared to other home improvement remedies
Last but not least, the terms of the sale is important to the marketing of your home as well. The possession date, financing options, and contingencies are all examples of the terms of sale. The more flexible, the easier the transaction. You can use flexibility in terms to negotiating a higher selling price. It is important to consider all aspects of the offer to purchase before making any decisions.
Many of you are familiar with liens on your property that you are aware of, such as trust deeds. But, there are liens that can attach to your property that you may not be completely aware of. Some of these liens are judgement liens, Federal and State tax liens, mechanics’ liens
Judgement Lien: A general lien against all property of the debtor in the county where the abstract of judgement is recorded.
Federal and State Tax Liens: Liens for federal income tax are general liens and arise when the taxpayer refuses to pay a tax assessment. Liens for state taxes are general liens on all property within the state.
Mechanics’ Liens: Statutory liens by improvers of property for labor, material, and equipment.
Judgement Liens
Judgement liens can be terminated by an expiration of ten years (the statute of limitations would preclude any action for collection after that period), discharge of the debt in bankruptcy (debts based on fraud of debtor will not be discharged), and payment and satisfaction (when the debtor has paid, the judgement creditor must give a satisfaction of the judgement within 15 days of demand or be subject to a $100 penalty as well as actual damages).
Federal and State Tax Liens
Real property on which taxes are delinquent goes on the tax-defaulted property rolls after June 30, at which time a five-year redemption begins. If the property is not redeemed within the five-year period, the tax collector can sell the property to taxing agencies, revenue districts, certain nonprofit organizations, or anyone at public auction.
Mechanics’ Liens
Mechanics’ liens are lost if no action is taken to enforce them within 90 days of the filing. The failure to start action or to file a lien extinguishes only lien rights, not the debt. These liens can also be wiped out by a priority lien foreclosure. An owner can also get a mechanics’ lien released by filing a surety bond of 1 1/2 times the amount of the lien claimed. This is common when an amount due is in dispute.
If you are driving along E. Center St. or 273 you may notice a lot of commotion right on E. Center, next door to the Firehouse Bar and the funeral home. They have started work on the Veterans Walk of Honor!
The other day I came drove up to our real estate office and noticed a bunch of people standing around in the street and a large crane parked where the walk is going. That morning they started placing a beautiful wall up that displays the image over our nations beautiful flag. This wall contained seven panels, each weighing 4 1/2 tons a piece – WOW! It is interesting and exciting to see what is going to happen next.
The goal for the completion of this project is $200,000 and they are slowly reaching that mark. If you would like to donate let me know and I will give you the contact number for who to reach for you wonderful donation.
Click on the following link to view pictures:
http://video214.com/play/MSLfLAC4b6L7GL36nc30zQ/s/dark
Hey there all of you Shasta County residents. This Satuday come out and support the fundraiser that Shasta Family Justice Center is hosting. I know this post is not in regards to the current real estate market, but this is still good enough to share with everyone and I hope to see you out there.
Shasta Family Justice Center Hosts Sock Hop and Ice Cream Social
REDDING, Calif. – The Shasta Family Justice Center (SFJC) will host a Sock Hop and Ice Cream Social in the Atrium at the Market Street Promenade in Redding on Saturday, March 12, 2011 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets cost $5 and kids under 10-years-old are free. Tickets can be purchased at Leatherby’s
Family Creamery in Downtown Redding, Keller Williams on Churn Creek Rd. and online at www.enjoymagazine.net.
As part of the event, the SFJC and Leatherby’s will be hosting an Ice Cream Making contest. Participants are required to register at Leatherby’s for $10 per flavor. They will receive a container and official rules for the event. Each entry will only require one pint of ice cream and will need to be dropped off at Leatherby’s by March 11, 2011 at 6 p.m. The winner of the contest will have their ice cream featured as the flavor of the month at Leatherby’s and receive a $75 gift certificate to the restaurant. There will be prizes for second and third place too.
The Sock Hop will include dancing to the oldies with Rachel Lane from Redding Radio’s Oldies 105.3, presentations from the cast of Happy Days the Musical, swing dancing lessons, toy building, family portraits by Crown Camera, face painting by the Girl Scouts and balloon animals. Food vendors will include Mary’s Pizza Shack, Leatheryby’s Family Creamery and Mt. Shasta Spring Water.
All funds raised by the Sock Hop will stay local and help victims of family violence. The SFJC has received more than 700 client visits since opening on September 1, 2010. Both adults and children have been helped because of this important community resource. Our goal is to help victims get out of abusive situations before they go too far.
The Shasta Family Justice Center provides co-located services for victims of family violence under one roof. By housing a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, we are reducing the number of times a victim has to retell their story and number of places they have to travel to get the help they need.
Our on-and off-site partners include: – Shasta County Crime Victims Assistance Center, Legal Services of Northern California, Shasta Women’s Refuge, local law enforcement, Shasta County Health & Human Services, Inter-
Tribal Council of California, Inc., Shasta County Chaplaincy Program, Shasta County Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council, and many others.
“We wanted to host an event the whole family could enjoy,” said SFJC Executive Director Michael Burke. “This is an event where families can dance, eat and most important laugh together. We are hoping children and adults will make memories that will last a lifetime.” Burke said.
Various levels of sponsorships are still available. For more information or to become involved please visit www.shastafjc.org or call (530) 243-8868.
I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything new for you, my readers, and I apologize for this. My family and I were blessed with a new baby girl at the end of last month and I have been focusing all of my attention on her. This year I am hoping to do a better job of posting new material at least once a week. My first post for this year though is not going to be Shasta County real estate new or information; in fact, what I am about to post I feel is very important for every female to keep in mind out there in the world. So please read the following information and pass it on to any loved ones you may feel should know this information as well. This was emailed to me by my broker just yesterday and the true source of who wrote it is unknown to me, but I would like to thank them for sharing this.
Written By a Cop, It Could Save Your Life
In daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation…This is for you and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know.
- Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!
- if a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO THEM. Toss it away from you…Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
- If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick our the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy…The driver won’t see you, but everybody will. This has saved lives.
- Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their chequebook, or making a list, etc.) DON’T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE…If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your air bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.
- A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or parking
garage: (A) Be aware: Look around you, look into your car, at the passenger floor, and in the back seat. (B) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their van while the women are attempting to get into their cars. (C) Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the passenger side…If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAGE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead)
- ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!
- If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, preferably in a zig-zag pattern!
- As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP. It may get you raped or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked ‘for help’ into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.
- Another Safety Point: Someone heard a crying baby on her porch one night, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird…The police told her ‘Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door…’ The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said ‘We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do DO NOT open the door.’ He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby’s cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped of a baby…He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby’s cries outside their doors when they’re home alone at night.
- Water scam! If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your outside taps full ball so that you will go out to investigate and then attack.
Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbors! The Crying Baby Theory was mentioned on America’s Most Wanted when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana.
First impressions are lasting
