The Staged Door

There is that awkward moment when your realtor is fumbling with the lock box to get the key, and you (the buyer) are patiently waiting and subconsciously creating an image of the home you are about to see. Could this be the one? Such anticipation!

This holding pen outside the front door is a golden opportunity for a savvy seller to set the stage for the buyers tour of their home. That front door area is where first impressions start, and it truly creates the tone for the rest of the home tour. Just three simple steps can make your front door set the wow tone for potential buyers: Clean, Update and Stage!

Clean:

  • Trim back bushes, pull weeds, throw down some fresh mulch, plant some flowers, etc.
  • Sweep out the porch, steps and walkway (do not forget the cobwebs).
  • Wipe down the front door (and screen door, if you have one).
  • Polish door knobs and light fixtures.
  • Power wash if necessary.

Update: Now that you can see everything, does anything need updated or repaired?

  • What is the condition of the front door? Does it stick? Do you have to swing your hip into it to get it open? Make sure it operates smoothly.
  • What about your screen door? If it does not work smoothly, or if it is an eyesore, take it down.
  • Do the steps need repaired? Is the handrail sturdy? Chances are these types of repairs might show up on an inspectors list anyway. Might as well fix them now.
  • Light fixtures – are they worn out or dated? Do the light bulbs work? Make it shine!

Stage: Now you have your clean canvas to work with. Look at your front door objectively.

  • Are your house numbers up to par, or looking a little worn (or outdated)?
  • Pitch your welcome mat and spring for a new one. That one small investment can make a huge difference!
  • If you have room, add a welcoming seating area (but please, no cheap looking lawn chairs!).
  • Add some natural elements, ideally potted plants. Choose something bold and of proper scale to make an impression.
  • If appropriate, add a seasonal wreath. Just make sure it is not too cutsie and please, no dried flowers (they represent death in some cultures).
  • Adding solar-powered lights along the walk way or spotlights highlighting a tree can also make a big impact.

Now that you have that wow front door, remember to check on it periodically to water the flowers and keep it swept.

I would be remiss if I did not take this subject to the next step. What happens once they walk inside your home? Keep up the momentum and stage the inside of your home too! A professional stager has the objective ability to see your home as a buyer would see it, and make resourceful, yet meaningful changes to how your home is presented.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg



Source by Susan Jensen

Real Estate Advertising Ideas – 5 Unique Advertising Options

When building customer-base for real estate, success is not an overnight feat. It will involve a lot of hard work. Letting other people know of your business or about the property you sell does not totally mean that you have to place lots of text-based ads all over. You have to be creative to excite your potential buyers. Here are some tips for your next real estate advertising goal.

  1. Create a video walk through of the house. Take advantage of the technology offered by smartphones and drones. Using them plus your creativity, you can shoot at different parts of the house to present realistic view of what you are selling.
  2. Build free offers to collect email addresses. If you are observant, you probably can see that a lot of websites and blogs have pop-ups offering free trials, free newsletters, pdf downloads of articles, and a lot more. By simply filling out the electronic forms, users can give you email addresses which you can later use to send out your offers of real estate properties being sold.
  3. Be a resource person for local TV networks and radio stations. By being an expert person on real estate, you can actually gain the attention of local TV networks and radio stations. It’s like applying for a job but if you’re able to hook with them, you will have a great venue to advertise the properties in your portfolio. You can email them to send either a letter stating your endeavor or a short video presenting yourself as an expert and willing to be their resource person on subjects related to real estate.
  4. Take advantage of the trending internet memes. Admit it or not, you are also among the bunch of internet users who are enthused with the trending memes we see. They carry a range of graphics ranging from animation characters, Hollywood stars, animals, and a lot more. Depending on the graphics and the texts that go with them, they become instruments to send-off messages to those who see them. With this said, then you can have memes that actually persuade people to buy the property you are selling or call them to action to avail your services as a real estate agent.
  5. Have video testimonials done by previous clients. Go beyond the usual testimonials which are fully textual and placed on specific sections of the website or blog. Instead, ask for video testimonials from your past clients. Aside from presenting their real experiences, you present real people to potential customers.

Go unique. Go beyond the usual. Exhaust your creative juice to excite your clients. Real estate marketing is tasking and will need you to work your way to become a brand and an authority.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg



Source by Desare A Kohn-Laski

Five Things You Should Know About Home Healthcare

As the population of the United States gets older, and medical science makes it so as to have people live longer, healthcare will be the most important thing being discussed in the U.S. for years to come. Perhaps the biggest offshoot of general healthcare is home healthcare. Over the years, the desire for patients to maintain as much of an independent home life as possible while receiving care has become a necessary part of the treatment conversation with little sign of slowing down.

Home healthcare can be very complicated. All one needs to do is think about what it would take to treat someone with serious mobility issues away from a hospital. What if a patient has begun to hit the latter stages of Alzheimer’s and requires twenty-four hour monitoring? Most homes are not equipped to handle the amount of retrofitting and renovation it would take to make a home environment as conducive as possible to getting the best care. Still, home healthcare is strong.

Beyond the numbers and logistics, it’s important to talk about home healthcare as it pertains to maintaining a basic quality of life while still receiving medical treatment. More patients feel that they best way for them to heal and recover is at home with loved ones in an environment that is familiar. It’s hard to argue with this line of reasoning, but you can’t help but feel as though you need more information.

If you’re still not sure about home healthcare and what it can mean for you & your family, here are five things you should know about it:

Discuss It Even When It Seems Far Away – Advanced directives and end-of-life documents are not great conversation topics, but they are important and need to take place. Take care of this stuff while you still can.

There Are Variants of Home Healthcare – Home healthcare can vary from help with errands for the elderly to changing soiled sheets for a bedridden patient. Outlining what you or your family member needs will help you find the right agency to provide services in your home.

It’s All About the Human Connection – Medicine is a sterile, often cold mistress. It’s not friendly. Here’s is where the best home healthcare agencies shine. Their employees make the effort to connect with patients so as to make them feel important & help remove any idea they may have about being a burden.

Training Is Vital to Its Success – As such, it’s important to maintain standards for individuals that will be working with our loved ones. The amount of training can vary for employment, so be proactive and ask about it before hiring someone.

Communication Is A Cornerstone – The biggest complaint about caregivers is that there is a lack of communication with patients & patient families. This is unacceptable. A patient and his or her family depends on a caregiver to be there when needed, and a lack of communication is a sure way to cause irreparable harm to the patient-caregiver relationship.

Home healthcare, like all matters of aging, can be hard to talk about and feel a bit morbid. Nonetheless, it’s important to discuss matters of care and advanced directives because you still can. It does no one any good down the line when cognition has been compromised. You’ve got a lot of good years left. Make the most of them and talk about the hard stuff now so that you can get busy focusing on the great stuff.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg



Source by Morris Raymond

Cowboy Adventures During the Wild West

The Wild West

The Wild West refers to the period from the end of the Civil War in 1865 to around 1900.

It tells the stories of the pioneers, the settlers, the cattle kings, gold mining, railroads and steamboats, the cowboys, Indians, outlaws and gun slingers.

Famous characters of the Wild West include Whyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Billy the Kid, Calamity Jane and Belle Starr.

After the first European settlers arrived in America, many move westward seeking a new life and the promise of prosperity.

The West offered land, good soil for farming and new opportunities to get rich that could not be done in the East.

The Two-Fisted Town Tamer

Thomas James Smith, also known as „Bear River Smith“ (12 June 1830 – 2 November 1870), was a lawman in the American Wild West and a marshal of cattle town, Abilene, Kansas.

Smith was a quiet-spoken lawman with a rugged reputation who came from New York City, where he worked as a police officer.

While working as a police officer in New York City in 1868, Smith was involved in the accidental killing of a fourteen-year-old boy, after which he resigned.

He also served as a lawman in small towns in Wyoming, Bear River and in Kit Carson, Colorado.

Marshal of Abilene

Abilene, Kansas, was a wild cattle town with numerous saloons, brothels and lawlessness.

From 1867, crime had increased to the point where murder and shootings were a regular occurrence.

Tom Smith was commissioned as Deputy US Marshal to bring law and order to Abilene in 1869 and insisted that he could enforce the law by using his fists rather than using guns.

Soon after taking office, Smith overpowered both, „Big Hank“ Hawkins and „Wyoming Frank“ and banished them from Abilene, after beating them both at the same time using only his bare hands.

Smith also introduced a „no guns in the town limits“ law which was extremely unpopular.

Over the next two months, Smith survived two assassination attempts.

His tough reputation and several arrests of law-breakers led him to become widely respected and admired by the citizens of Abilene.

On the 2nd of November, 1870, Smith and a temporary deputy went to serve a warrant to Andrew McConnell and Moses Miles about the murder of another Abilene citizen.

They located the suspects ten miles outside of Abilene where a gunfight erupted.

Smith was badly wounded in the chest and his deputy fled the scene.

Moses Miles then took an axe and decapitated Tom Smith.

McConnell and Miles were captured and arrested in March 1871.

Andrew McConnell got 12 years in prison and Moses Miles spent 16 years and released.

Tom Smith was buried in Abilene, and a huge tombstone was erected with a plaque to honor his service in Abilene.

Smith was replaced as marshal by legendary lawman and gunfighter „Wild Bill“ Hickock.

Ronald Reagan, as the host of the syndicated western television series, Death Valley Days, played Smith in the 1965 episode „No Gun Behind His Badge“.

Colter’s Run

John Colter (c.1770-1775 – May 7, 1812 or November 22, 1813) was a mountain man and explorer who was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803 to 1806 commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, to explore and map the newly purchased American Northwest from Napoleonic France, and beyond after the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

Colter also became the first person of European descent to enter the region which later became Yellowstone National Park and to see the Teton Mountain Range during the winter of 1807-1808.

Blackfeet Indians

In 1809, Colter teamed up with John Potts, another former member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to trap for beaver for the lucrative fur trade near the Jefferson River in what is now Montana when they encountered several hundred of the dreaded Blackfeet Indians while traveling by canoe.

The Blackfeet demanded they come ashore.

Colter complied and was disarmed and stripped naked.

Potts refused and was shot and wounded.

Potts then killed one of the Indian warriors and was immediately riddled with arrows fired by the Indians from the shore.

His body was then brought to shore and hacked to pieces.

Run-For-Life

After the Blackfeet deliberated how to kill Colter, the chief decided to allow him to run for his life and to be chased by the Indians with spears.

They took him to a nearby plain and gave him a three to four hundred yard start.

Colter, knew that he must outrun the Blackfeet if he had any chance of surviving.

He started his run-for-life across the plain and had out-paced the Indians except for one who was about twenty yards behind him.

Determined to avoid the expected spear-throw, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and spread out his arms.

The surprised Indian, too exhausted from running, fell when he tried to throw his spear.

Colter immediately snatched up the spear and killed him then, continued his run with the rest of the Indians following at a distance.

Colter reached the Madison River, five miles from his start, and hid under driftwood near a beaver lodge.

He could hear the yells of the Blackfeet, who looked up and down the river to find him.

He waited till night, then climbed out and walked completely naked and frozen, toward a trader’s fort.

Colter became weaker from hunger and exhaustion, surviving only on roots and bark and had bloodied feet from prickly cactus thorns piercing his feet.

Miraculously, Colter reached Manuel Lisa’s Fort within seven days where he was greeted by his friends.

After a few weeks when he regained his strength, he headed back to Blackfeet country that winter to collect the traps he had left behind.

John Colter lived five more years after his incredible run, dying of jaundice in Missouri, where he lies in an unmarked grave.

Alexander Todd

Former clerk, Alexander Todd got gold fever so, he went to California to seek his fortune.

He soon realized that he didn’t have the physical stamina to endure the backbreaking work at the gold fields in the freezing rivers of the Mother Lode (rich source of an ore or mineral).

However, it didn’t take him long to find opportunities to make money without having to pan for gold.

California Gold Rush

California had grown fast with the gold rush that getting a letter from San Francisco to the Mother Lode country was difficult.

The federal government was shipping mail to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, a route that was as lengthy and uncertain for the mail service as it was for the Forty-Niners (gold seekers in the California gold rush of 1849).

Todd scoured the mining camps and signed up hundreds of lonely miners who yearned for word from home.

The nearest post office was in San Francisco which was a two-week trip there and back.

The miners couldn’t leave their claim that long so they signed-up for the mail service.

On July 14, 1849, Todd began carrying mail to the San Francisco post office charging $2.50 a letter and an ounce of gold, $16 for personal delivery of any mail that he found for addresses in the mining camp.

On his first trip, he delivered $150,000 in gold for some merchants to a company in San Francisco and was paid $7,500.

When Todd handed the clerk at the San Francisco post office the long list of names, the clerk swore Todd in as a postal clerk so he could search the stacks of letters himself charging twenty-five cents for each letter he found.

That didn’t bother Todd because he had discovered another way to make money.

He bought old New York newspapers for a dollar each and sold for $8 back at the gold fields.

Another money-making business he introduced was packing gold from the mining camps to deposit in San Francisco in exchange for five percent of its value.

Everything he Did Turned to Gold

Without having to touch a pick or a shovel, Alexander Todd made a fortune using good old American ingenuity.

Charles Marion Russell (1864 – 1926)

Charles Marion Russell, „the cowboy artist,“ storyteller and author (also known as C. M. Russell, Charlie Russell, and „Kid“ Russell) was born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 19, 1864.

He was an artist of the American Wild West who created more than 4,000 works of art during his lifetime, working in paint, bronze, ink, and wax of cowboys, Indians, and landscapes, set in the Western United States and in Alberta, Canada.

Russell loved the „Wild West“ and would spend hours reading about it and enjoyed speaking to explorers and fur traders who came through Missouri.

He learned to ride horses at Hazel Dell Farm near Jerseyville, Illinois, on a famous Civil War horse named Great Britain from Col. William H. Fulkerson, who had married into the Russell family.

At the age of sixteen, Russell left school to follow his dream of the Wild West as a cowboy on a sheep ranch in Montana then, moved on to work with Jake Hoover, a hunter and trapper who had become a rancher.

From Hoover, he learned much about life in the Wild West and they remained lifelong friends.

In 1882, at the age of eighteen, Russell worked as a cowboy for a number of outfits in Montana.

It was in 1885 when he began to work as an artist.

During the winter of 1886-1887 while working on the O-H Ranch in the Judith Basin of Central Montana, he painted a number of watercolors.

When the ranch foreman received a letter from the owner, asking how the cattle had weathered the winter he sent a postcard-sized watercolor that Russell had painted of a haggard steer being preyed by wolves under a gloomy winter sky.

The ranch owner showed the postcard to friends and business acquaintances and eventually it was displayed in a shop window in Helena, Montana giving Russell his first taste of publicity and to receiving commissions for new work.

His watercolor, „Waiting for a Chinook“, became one of his best-known works.

Native American Culture

In 1888, Russell gained valuable knowledge of Native American culture when he spent time with the Blood Indians, a branch of the Blackfeet.

He became an advocate for Native Americans and supported the Chippewa to have a reservation established for them in Montana.

In 1916, Congress passed legislation to create the Rocky Boy Reservation.

Marriage

In 1892 he settled in Great Falls, Montana and in 1896 he married his wife Nancy.

Between 1904 until his death in 1926, he also modeled 46 subjects to be cast in bronze.

His 1914 painting „When the Land Belonged to God“ is a nostalgic work from an ageing artist looking back on his youth in the Wild West..

Worlwide Acclaim

Charles Marion Russell had now become a celebrity and gained worldwide acclaim.

*Four Russell paintings sold for more than $100,000.

*“Water Girl (No. 1),“ sold for $220,000.

*“Blood Chief“ brought $200,000.

„Portrait of Indian“ sold at $150,000.

His 1918 painting Piegans sold for $5.6 million.

In 1955, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

The Iconic Stetson Hat

John Batterson Stetson (May 5, 1830 – February 18, 1906) was an American hatter who founded the John B. Stetson Company manufacturering the classic cowboy hat in 1865 during the Gold Rush.

The Stetson is probably, the best known hat in the world and is synonymous with the cowboy lifestyle.

It has become an American classic like baseball, apple pie and the Fourth of July.

Stetson, had his name, John B. Stetson Company, embossed in gold in every hatband and became the most well-known hat in the West.

He sold his first hat for five dollars and by 1900, he had the largest hat factory in the world.

John B. Stetson

John B. Stetson was born in New Jersey, the 8th of 12 children.

His father, Stephen Stetson was a hatter so, as a youth, John worked with him until he was diagnosed with terminal tuberculosis.

In 1859, he left the hat-making business to explore his passion for the American West and hoped to cure his tuberculosis in a more natural environment.

While there, he worked during the Gold Rush at Pike’s Peak, Colorado, where an estimated 100,000 gold seekers took part in one of the greatest gold rushes in North American history.

During his time in the West, Stetson also met drovers, bullwhackers and cowboys and noticed their flea-infested coonskin caps, sea-captain hats, straw hats and wool derbies worn by many offered no protection.

He thought that an all-weather hat was better suited for the rugged environment of the West and decided to invent a waterproof, felt-hat that was durable, lightweight and natural in color with a four-inch crown and wide brim with a plain strap band.

„Boss of the Plains“

In 1865 Stetson returned to Philadelphia and founded the John B. Stetson Company as a manufacturer of hats designed in the style worn by the Vaqueros (cowboys) of Northern Mexico for the demands of the American West.

He mass-produced the „Boss of the Plains“ hat as a symbol of authority and elegance.

The wide brim protected people from the hot sun.

The crown could be used to water a horse.

The brim could be used by the owner as a cup to drink.

The hat could be used to shunt cows in certain directions.

And, it could be used to fan a fire.

Famous People Who Wore a Stetson.

Western icons such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley wore Stetsons.

So did famous cowboy actors like Tom Mix, Will Rogers, Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger and John Wayne.

Many U.S. Presidents wore Stetsons which included Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan.

The company also made hats for the Texas Rangers, U.S. Cavalry soldiers and employees of the National Park Service.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg



Source by Andrew Papas

Why To CHOOSE A Specific Real Estate Agent?

Although, there are hundreds – of – thousands, of licensed real estate salespersons, in this country, only, a very small percentage of them, are responsible for the vast majority of the transactions/ deals, and, there is a significant difference, on many levels, between individuals, and how they perform the duties of an agent. Since, for most people, the value of their house, represents their single – biggest, financial asset, doesn’t it make sense, to carefully, CHOOSE the person, you hire, to serve and represent, your best interests? With, that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, what this means and represents, and why it matters.

1. Character; creative; Competitive Market Analysis (CMA); cooperate: Seek someone, with the quality character, which benefits, and serves your best interests! Choose someone, with the combination of knowledge, creativity, and open – mindedness, combined with a willingness to cooperate, with all parties involved! When, selecting a Listing Agent, carefully, inspect, the quality, thoroughness, and professionalism, of their Competitive Market Analysis (CMA), and how he explains it, in terms of suggesting your listing price, and your options, etc.

2. Humane; helps; homes: Many homeowners struggle, with their decision to sell their homes, because of their emotional attachment, and, memories! It’s important for an agent, to proceed, with the humane actions, which helps one, put things into perspective, and make essential decisions, etc.

3. Options; opts; opportunities; optimal: It’s important to carefully, review, a variety of options and alternatives, and opt – for, the best strategic plan, moving – forward! Take advantage of the finest opportunities, in order to provide the optimal service, and representation!

4. Open – minded; Open Houses; organized: There is no such thing, as, one – size – fits – all, when it comes to choosing the finest agent, to represent you! You benefit, when one proceeds, in an open – minded, manner, and, in a well – considered, organized manner! It’s important to thoroughly, consider, examine, and identify, whether the marketing and selling of your home, would benefit, by holding, Open Houses.

5. System; strengths; solutions; service/ serve: Seek someone, who explains, thoroughly, his system and reasoning, and how he might, effectively, emphasize your home’s strengths, while addressing areas of weakness! Professional service means providing viable solutions, emphasizing, serving your best interests!

6. Empathy; excellence; endurance; efforts: Clients benefit, when they choose an agent, with the utmost degree of genuine empathy, which combines, real excellence, and the endurance, to maintain his professional efforts, throughout the process!

When you CHOOSE the real estate agent, to hire, and represent/ serve you. do so, carefully, and thoroughly! Making the wisest, possible decision. benefits you!

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg



Source by Richard Brody

Real Estate Agent Job Description

Real estate agents liaise between home owners and buyers to conduct the sale, purchase or rent of properties. They work for brokers and play a major role in assisting people buy or sell residential, commercial or industrial property. They keep and maintain an up-to-date account of property listing and other relevant housing information to stay abreast with properties available on the real estate market. They subscribe to several listing services to advertise and market properties up for sale. They also contact property and market properties up for sale. They also contact property owners to obtain information regarding a property.

As part of their responsibilities, estate agents present sales and purchase offers to clients for consideration. They advise them on property rates, legal requirements and general market trend. They also interview clients to determine their property preference or specification. Usually, they prepare a list of properties that best match the needs and requirements of clients. They visit and inspect properties in order to establish precise property value. They also proffer recommendations to clients on properties that best suit their budget and preference.

Most estate agents oversee the preparation of closing statements, purchase agreements, representation contracts and other necessary documents required for estate trade. They conduct negotiations between property sellers and buyers to establish price and other terms of sales. They also liaise with pest control operators, home inspectors etc. to ensure the terms and conditions stated in a purchase agreement are met prior to the closing of sales.

In fulfilling their role, real estate agents oversee the closing of property sales, they ensure payment is complete and appropriate documents signed. They maintain contact with clients to offer them real estate services/products and assist with the resolution of issues. They also provide consultation services to clients to recommend strategies for the speedy sale of property. They often conduct training programs for junior/trainee sales agents to enhance their sales skill. This job position requires at least a high school diploma, state license for practice and an aptitude for sales. Qualities needed for the job include persuasion, interpersonal skills and problem-solving skills.

Real Estate Agent Job Description Sample

Given below is a sample of the job description usually handed real estate agents by most employers:

  • Act as liaisons to conduct real estate trade between property buyers and sellers
  • Present sales offers to clients as well as bid on available properties
  • Carry out investigations to determine client credit status and ability to complete payment
  • Inspect properties to appraise its value and estimate the worth on the property market
  • Interact with clients to identify their requirements and proffer recommendations on properties that best suit their budgets
  • Assist home sellers in promoting their buildings on property listing services to attract clients for purchase
  • Prepare and deliver sales pitches to clients in order to secure real estate contract
  • Provide clients with a list of properties available for sale to assist them in making choice selection
  • Conduct price negotiations between property buyers and sellers to ensure a fair bargain for both parties
  • Provide clients with a tour of residential, industrial or commercial properties to showcase and explain property features
  • Carry out investigations to confirm clients have clear property titles
  • Provide appropriate reply to client’s enquiries concerning property appraisals, financing, maintenance etc.
  • Examine property premises to recommend maintenance measure required to improve the face value
  • Assist clients in evaluating mortgage options to obtain the best rate and terms
  • Attend conventions, conferences and seminars to improve existing job knowledge and expand personal network.

If you are a recruiter needing the best real estate agent to hire, you can use the sample job description above in making one for your company, for use in hiring and assigning duties to the successful candidates.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg



Source by Dan Faris

Property Buyers – How They Work

Today there are a plethora of property buyers springing up all across. If you’re a house owner, wanting to sell your house for some reason, because of a certain constraint, either you’ve been unwell or you have less sufficient time to manage your property investment, here’s the right place to seek out property buyers who will help you to manage your property and help you to sell your precious investment in a smart, simple, secure and hassle-free way.

It’s important to seek for the right home buyers to help you through the journey of selling. The following points will help you make your property selling decision a faster, smoother and hiccup-free one.

1. KNOW YOUR PROPERTY BUYERS WELL:

Being a home owner, it is your right as well as privilege to know your property buyers credentials beforehand itself. A reliable property buyer will ensure a smooth and transparent sale. While it is important that both sides are mutually aware of the property sale in question, you need to share mandatory information with your house buyers and keep all communication channels open and flowing for a step-by-step, peaceful and amicable transaction.

2. EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT YOUR OWN PROPERTY:

Before initiating a sale and reaching out to property buyers, it is important to keep yourself up-to-date regarding all matters pertaining to your property. Any house buyer will want to know that you have all of the relevant papers and supporting documents for your property. Therefore, it is pertinent to keep accurate records of all papers and supporting documents in a neat and organised manner for your property sale to go in a smooth and hassle-free way.

3. DO A COMPLETE LOCATION RECCE:

There are many reasons why you should insist on a location check along with property buyers beforehand. A professional house buyer helps you to gauge the true potential of your sale, thereby quoting the right price to the customer. A property buyer has visited many properties before yours and as a result can suggest new areas, competent rates and interesting ideas. As a result that can definitely get you more depth from your property sale. This is possible when you take him on a complete tour of your property and allow him to ask you questions, seek answers and try to gain knowledge out of the experience of the property buyers previous assignments.

4. BE PREPARED FOR ANY SITUATION

Property buying is not everyone’s cup of Tea. It is important to be aware of the risks and obligations involved in property ownership before you buy or sell. The best insurance against any uncertainty is making sure that you are educated. Learn about the latest trends in property management, involve yourself in various property anti-risk measures and be proactive in dealing with the current scenario in a time-bound manner. This will surely help you to be prepared for the future by all means.

5. SEEK INFORMATION, GATHER RESOURCES,

When seeking information pertaining to your property, be lightning fast, whereas making a decision regarding the same in a slow and steady manner will help you in the long run.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg



Source by Lisa Davis

How to Save for a House Down Payment – 5 Awesome Tips

Top 5 awesome tips to save for a down payment

Want to own your own house? Well, who doesn’t? You may not be looking to buy a house now but eventually you will. Owning a house is a dream of most people but only a lucky few manage to get a home that they really want. You are not alone if you are worried about saving enough money for a down payment. Hopefully, our tips for saving money will help you gather the amount required for the down payment on the flat that you have been eyeing.

Your bank will finance almost 80% cost of the house/flat (in some cases 90%). The balance is down payment that you will have to self finance. This is a substantial amount for a middle class family. For example, If your 2 bedroom kitchen costs Rs. 30 Lakhs, then your bank would finance up to 24 lakhs and the rest 6 lakhs has be self financing.

Home buying is a complex decision especially if you are a first time home buyer. You will need professional help that will help you get the best homes at best price. Enough money in the bank before going out shopping for a house will give you confidence and peace of mind while choosing a home. We are going to share some tips For saving money here that will help you take control of your finances and save for that daunting looking down payment.

1. Track your spending and expenses

OK, we admit this is one of the most boring and clichéd tips for saving money BUT tracking your spending really works. There are a plethora of apps and websites that help you track your spending and keeps a running total of the amounts you spend on specific items or categories.

This process is an eye opener for many. Sometimes we don’t see the obvious until an app tells us!! You will need to cut down on luxuries and divert money towards savings. Finding out where your money goes is the first step in figuring out how to keep more of it in the bank.

2. Invest in Mutual Funds- Don’t be afraid, Research

Do a simple research on the power of compounding or power of compound interest and you will understand why mutual funds are one of the most popular methods of investing these days. India has seen, in the recent times, a sudden spurt in the number of people investing in mutual funds. While there are many things that you need to consider before investing in mutual funds, we recommend that you start a monthly SIP in an equity fund that matches your risk appetite.

Generally, equity funds are the best since they offer you high rates of returns. These funds are also risky because the market fluctuations in these equity funds can be regular affair but over a period of time Mutual Funds usually offer better returns than the Bank FD rates.

Go to a website named valueresearchonline.com and read about Mutual Funds. The end decision is yours but we speak from personal experience-mutual funds offer good returns on investments. There are multiple number of SIP calculators that will help you plan the exact amount of savings, you require each month to reach your down payment in a particular period of time. For example if you are planning to buy a house in 2020, A mutual fund SIP calculator will tell you how much money you need to start saving for your 20% down payment.

This method of investing is not one of the usual tips for saving money but is a method that helps grow your money.

3. Make a Monthly budget and stick to it

Sticking to a monthly budget will be tough especially if you are used to a life of indulgence and luxury. Sticking to a strict budget often isn’t a lot of fun and is challenging. Remember, A penny saved is a penny earned. Having said that allow yourself an occasional treat or two but treat it as an exception and ALWAYS make up for the cost of this exception in other activities. Some belt-tightening now is a minor sacrifice that will quickly be forgotten when you are getting the keys to your new home.

4. Start Saving Early

Have you heard of the saying well begun is half done? One of the major deficiencies of our education system is that we are not taught financial literacy at a young age. We are not taught how to save and why to save. We don’t know about long term and short term financial goals.

Although our moms always insist on saving, majority of us lack proper financial literacy. Start saving early, dedicate at least 15 to 20% of your salary savings each month. Start with your first job when responsibilities are less. Some people save as much as 50%n of their savings while they can. Among numerous Tips for saving money this one is the most powerful.

Benefits of starting to save early is that by the time you reach 30 you will have enough money for a down payment on your house.

5. Look for ways to boost your income

For most of us middle class salaried people, there is only one source of money coming in (i.e. monthly salary). At the most, both husband and wife are working so in such cases there are two sources of money coming in. The number of avenues through which the money goes out is always more than the number of ways through which money comes in. Consider your income and expenses as an upside down funnel. Every successful person understands that additional sources of revenue need to be created in order to save money.

There are many ways through which you can create an alternate source of money. You can consider starting a blog, YouTube channel or simply affiliate marketing. You can start an online store and make good money if you have done proper research. There is multiple number of videos online through which you can learn about online businesses.

You don’t need a considerable investment to start any of these activities. All you need is a laptop and some time. There is TedX video on YouTube which says that you only need 20 hours to learn a skill to a satisfactory level.

Your budget consists of two parts: money coming in, and money going out. You’ll get the best results if you make improvements on both sides.

Open a saving bank account for the purpose of down payment and consider it untouchable. Barring a major emergency, don’t even toy with the idea of spending any of that money until you are ready to purchase a home. It’s easier to keep an off-limits down payment fund if you set up a separate account dedicated solely to this purpose.

Treat this bank account as a black hole in which light goes in but nothing comes out.

Here is a video with some more tips for saving money

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYUUCA0MpD8&t=141s?rel=0

Conclusion

We hope these tips for saving money for a down payment on your home have helped you. Saving for a down payment on your home is tough but not impossible. There are other things that you can do to get financial benefits. For Example, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is a great scheme that has benefited millions.

Also Listen to the Podcast

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg



Source by Ankit Kashiv

Real Estate Statistics Explained

Basic Real Estate Statistics Explained

We are going to define some of the basic real estate statistics that get thrown around on a regular basis. To do that, we will use one real estate market, located in Hood County Texas. Even more granular, we will use the single family numbers for homes in Granbury Tx, a small town of approximately 8,000 residents which has seen substantial real estate growth in the past 12 months. It is important when reviewing real estate statistics to use a group of numbers large enough for consistency, but granular enough to tell your story.

The statistics that we will be referencing are true and accurate for the year discussed but are being used to define the real estate statistic itself.

We have chosen Granbury Tx as our example because the growth of the local real estate market there make the statics stand out.

Anytime you are evaluating statistics, especially in real estate, the source of the numbers are extremely important. In most instances, the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) provides the most accurate numbers when referring to real estate. This is because they have all listings by all local real estate brokers in their database. For the sake of explanation of the data, we will be looking at the numbers for home sales in Granbury Tx, directly from the MLS. These numbers are meant to give an example of how to read the statistics themselves. Anytime you evaluate real estate numbers, its important to pay close attention to how the numbers are gathered. In this instance, we will be using ONLY single family properties in the city of Granbury.

Basic Real Estate Statistics

  • Number of Sales – This one is pretty self explanatory. It is simply the number of single family homes sold in a particular month. In January of 2015, they had 51 single family homes sold. One thing to pay attention to when looking at this statistic is are they using the Under Contract date or the day the property actually went to closing. These two dates are usually between 30 and 60 days apart, so its critical that you know which one is being referenced. In addition, many of the homes that get calculated, if you are using the „under contract“ number may not actually close! In our example, we are using the number of homes that actually closed. In January of 2016 they had an increase of over 49% which brought the total to 77 from 51. Growth of that level is very seldom ever seen.
  • Sales Volume – Sales Volume is simply the total amount of dollars spent on single family housing within that month. Once again, when reviewing this statistic, its important to keep the property types consistent. If you are comparing two areas to see which one has grown more and you include vacant land in the number for one area, you must include it in the other too. As previously mentioned, our examples only include single family properties. With Number of Sales looking at the units, you would expect the Sales Volume to go up appropriately, but in this instance, it went up even more than the units (by percentage). The total Sales Volume of single family homes in Granbury in January of 2016 was $15,191,500 as opposed to the January of 2015 number of $9,281,915. That is an increase of over 63%. Because the Sales Volume went up at a larger rate than the number of units, this reflects the average home sale being much larger in 2016 than 2015.
  • Months of Inventory – This is a commonly referred to statistic when examining a real estate market. This statistic refers to at the current rate of sales, how long will it take to sell through the existing level of inventory. This reflects the supply and demand for the market. In our example, in January of 2015 the level of inventory was 9 months and in January of 2016 it had dropped to 6 months. That is a 33% drop in available inventory! This means if you are looking to buy a home in Granbury Tx, it will be a little tougher in 2016 as there is less inventory available to buy.
  • Median Days To Sell – This stat simply refers to how long it takes for single family properties to be put under contract. Don’t let the „to sell“ confuse you. To accurately show the demand for active homes, you really want to track how long it takes to go „under contract“. The process of acquiring final lender approval, insurance and getting to a closing can vary on a variety of factors. In January of 2015, the Median Days to Sell was 88. That number dropped by over 30% to 61. Once again, this tells you if you are looking for homes in Granbury TX, you better get your offers in quickly as the most desirable homes are going fast!
  • Average Price – This statistic can be derived in a variety of ways. We are going to use it in its most raw form and simply be the Average Price of Homes Sold within that month. Be careful when looking at this statistic printed anywhere as how the user defines the date sold can vary. Needless to say, Average Price can be used for active homes for sale or for the homes that sold. The Average Price of ACTIVE homes for sale is generally a pretty useless number as you can list a home for any price, without any possibility of it ever selling. Many homes listed for sale are at unrealistic prices thus the Average Price of Active homes for sale can fluctuate dramatically and give little insight into the market. You will want to look at the Average Price of SOLD homes. In January of 2015, the Average Home Sale was $181,998 and it jumped to $199,888 in the same month in 2016. This is an increase of almost 10%. This is not a number that truly tells the increase in home values across the board, but simply of the homes sold in that month, what the average was.
  • Median Price – The Average Home Sales Price can be skewed by a variety of factors. All it takes is one 5 million dollar home sale to throw those numbers off. To get a better view of the overall increase in value, it can be better to look at the Median Sales Price. Median Sales Price takes the number that is perfectly in the middle. For instance, if you have 11 homes that you are using in your statistic, you would take the sales price of the 6th one. This leaves 5 homes sold higher and 5 homes sold lower. In this instance, they are pretty close as the Median Sales Price increase from January 2015 to 2016 was 9.69%. This shows that we didn’t have the Average Price skewed too much because of an extremely large or extremely small sale.

There are hundreds of ways to look at the same numbers, when referencing to real estate, so be very careful to read the fine print on exactly what numbers they are using. When making comparisons, you will want to make absolutely sure that both are referencing the same property types, dates etc. It like the old saying says… there are lies, damn lies and statistics.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg



Source by Dean Cacioppo

Tips To Find the Best Homes For Sale

Are you on the verge of buying a new home in the city? It can be a thrilling episode altogether if you’re planning to change the neighborhood or moving to a new city. The townhouses stand to be a favorable choice for most property buyers interested to move to cities. The traditional narrow and terraced houses with more than two to three floors are good choices for families looking forward to budget homes. Again, investors consider buying such properties for their future benefits. But, if you and your family are excited to get a new residence in the town, few suggestions might help you.

Make your priority list

If you have a family with you, then you guys should sit along and discuss the priorities based on which choose the townhouse. For instance- a single person’s apartment differs from that of a family. If you are a family person with one or more kids, you need sufficient space for the children. You’ve to think about the future when your kids will grow up and will seek individual rooms. If you have are intending to buy this property as your permanent address, you have to consider the future. Moreover, you need some extra space, if you’ve pets along with you.

Stick to the additional features

Along with the spacious rooms and the living area for the family, you might have the interest in some special and additional features. It might include the number of balconies, how the rooms are faced, whether the rooms are receiving ample light and air and so on. If you have kids, you need to buy an airy home that receives ample sunlight and fresh air. You can also have a preference of choosing a sea facing or a riverside property so that you can enjoy the view from your townhouse.

Location matters

The location has a very important role to play when you are looking for the house. You gave to stick to the priorities and the location that might also include the priority list when you are about to choose a new residence. Make sure the area has easy access to the marketplaces, gas stations, medical stores, hospitals etc.

Take the help of a reliable real estate agent to find the best homes for sale in your preferred location. Make sure, the professional has the reputation of having the most updated property listing in the area. Besides, the agents help throughout the whole process of selecting and buying the house.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg



Source by Rajesh B Sanghvi

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