4 Very Valuable Articles on Real Estate

Beware of Housing Developers Who Cut Corners

As the government officials are yelling recession, we should be aware that people are financially strapped and many builders will cut corners and they will try to cut the places that you cannot see with the naked eye. You see so many developments going up all over town and they are in fast competition with the one around the corner. All of a sudden you see this bidding war going on. So what happens, the builder starts cutting corners to save money. A smart buyer is the one who is cautious and always checks on credentials and references.

Steps to find a reputable builder:

1. Choose a builder who has a long standing client base. Ask the clients if they were happy with the builder and if he completed the work on time and with good quality standards.

2. Always choose a builder on his reputation and not on the low bids. A reputable builder will not be able to compete with the bids of those who cut corners.

3. Avoid Builders who try to offer you under the table refunds. Such as charging the insurance company more than the cost of the repairs and reimbursing you a portion. If he will try to fool around with the insurance company, he will do the same to you.

4. From the very beginning, have a set plan in mind. Do not change your mind as this will cost you more money.

5. Try to get a simple agreement with your builder, most builders will not sign a written, legal contract. But the paper you write should include:


Read the Rest

How to Improve the Value of Your Home With Low Budget Landscaping

Low budget landscaping is really very simple. With a few gardening tools and some fresh ideals you and your local Target store will become great friends. Learning to line your sidewalks with petunias and to spruce up your front door as never been so easy. So sit back and read about all the advice I have for you.

We all dream of having yards like the stars do with huge palm trees and water flowing from fountains, but the truth are they cost a lot of money. How can you landscape on a budge and still be proud of your design? How can you spend anywhere from $100-1000 and have a yard that is beautiful? Well it doesn't take a lot of money to start on your project today. Here is a website who specializes in budget landscaping.

http://www.landscape-designs.org/low_budget_design_i deas.htm

There is absolutely no reason to spend a fortune on landscaping to improve your property value. As we watch Oprah and every remodeling show on tv, the general public has in mind to hire a landscaping artist to create the ultimate home look. But with a few inexpensive tips, anyone can have a beautiful home with showcase curb appeal.

Whether you desire to sell your home for top dollar or simply compete with your neighbor's fantastic lawn, it is all possible. The first thing that you should spend money on is:

1. Water - It is amazing how many people never stop to think about the logistics of what makes a lawn grow. It isn't the most expensive fertilizers, it is tons of water. Hearty grass grows on lots of water and very often. Make watering to the best value, by always watering first thing in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is not out to soak up all the water.

Read the Rest

Steps in Preparing to Sell Your Home

Congratulations! You are going to sell your home and indeed you are expecting a sold sign to be placed on your lawn in the near future. You seem so daunted with all the things that must be done to your home, garage and lawn prior to that date. So as a help to you in this seemingly huge task, this article will help you break that task up into small steps.

Step 1 is the decision to sell your home:

This step may of taken some emotional heartache. Although some want to sell their home to upgrade to a better home, many will sell their home due to unemployment and the fear of facing foreclosure in the near future. Emotional avoidance of a debt is almost like getting upon the footstool to begin the process of killing yourself.

Although it is a difficult time to make this decision, in the end it is a must. If you are selling your home to upgrade or simply to move to another state, the emotions are still there as this is probably a home that you have cherished and worked for years to pay for. So the decision as been made and you are looking skeptically on how to continue the process.

Step 2 is staging the home:

Staging is a new term used in real estate. It basically means to begin the process of moving. The basic steps of stagings is:

1. Clear out all clutter and boxes.

2. Arrange the home in a tidy manner.

3. Remove all mementos from the home.

4. Make the home homey as can be without cluttering up space.


Read the Rest

Knowing Which Home Improvements Appeal to Home Buyers

Many homeowners make huge mistakes by over-improving their homes and expecting to get huge profits from those improvements. The thing to keep in mind is to do exactly what would please home buyers and the things that which will give you more for your dollars used.

Kitchen Remodeling:

There is nothing that attracts a buyer to a home more than a remodeled kitchen. An old run down kitchen will indeed lose many buyers. To walk into a home that has a remodeled kitchen with all new appliances and cabinetry will catch the eye of any buyer. Built-ins everywhere with beauty and comfort will please any new homemaker.

Although the homemaker loves a new kitchen, the price of remodeling is very rarely re-cooped. Some new kitchens cost $20,000 or more and that money is usually only shows a fraction when the price of the home is valued. Things to keep in mind in kitchens are appliances and cabinetry. Nothing looks worse than to see beautiful new cabinets and appliances from China. People will look more at the appliances than the cabinets so put in good quality name brand appliances.

New Bathrooms:

The next thing that home buyers love is a beautiful bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. If there is not room for a jacuzzi tub then make sure there is a bath tub or a huge enclosed shower. Some of the larger homes will go for both or a sauna shower. New tile with an open feel. Two sinks for sure with a large plate glass mirror.


Read the Rest