Has your listing agent suggested that you “stage” your home prior to putting it on the market? Have you been encouraged to stage it because several weeks have elapsed with no forthcoming offer? Have you concluded that “staging” is that little “extra” that will elevate your home above the competition?
If so, focus on the following “looks” for different rooms:
The living room – if there is a key feature, such as a fireplace, arrange furniture to focus on the fireplace.
If hardwood flooring is a positive feature, use a small area rug to call attention to it.
Enhance light from outside by keeping window coverings to a minimum.
Reduce distractions by removing bookshelves and their contents or reducing same by at least half.
The home office – if cluttered with more than a few pieces of furniture, open up the traffic pattern from entry to windows (light sources).
Remove all but one or two pieces of furniture.
Use a contrasting accent piece on one wall to highlight one “use” area (if you have both a desk and a sitting area in the room).
The master bedroom – consider the color of the room; it should have a restful, soft color.
The carpet should be in neutral shades, the better to “fit” with the buyer’s furnishings.
Open the traffic flow to key areas, such as the master bath and the closet/storage areas.
Keep wall decorations to a minimum and depersonalized (i.e., no family pictures).
In all rooms, consider whether each piece of furniture is necessary. Less is more; that antique end table you inherited from Grandmother may be valuable to you, but if it doesn’t fit with the one couch you leave in the living room, take Grandma’s piece with you when you leave or put it in storage until the home sells.
Key elements include…
light (from the windows) in addition to well-placed interior lighting;
all walking areas, including stairs and their landings should be free of stopping points, such as small tables or similar decorations;and,
neutral colors with contrasting elements such as occasional pictures or carefully placed plants will show well.
Staging does not require furniture in every room; if the home is going to be vacant, concentrate on the living room, master bedroom, and one other center of activity, such as the kitchen, family room, or office. The point is to show how the room might be used without overwhelming the buyer with the seller’s personal “stamp.”
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Bellingham Named “Best” – and Why!
If you are considering moving to Bellingham, Washington, and people you know wonder why, you might want to refer them to the following sources, all of which named Bellingham “best”—for a variety of reasons. And, the list of mentions continues to grow….
September 2001 - One of the top ten “dream towns” - Outside Magazine
Spring 2003 - Among the 15 top “dream towns” for boomers - AARP Magazine
May 2003 - One of the 50 best small cities in which to live (ranked 33rd) - Men’s Journal
August 2003 - Best place to retire – CNN and Money Magazine
September 2004 - Among the Top Ten Adventure Towns - National Geographic Adventure Magazine
November 2005 - Among the Top Ten Dog-Friendly cities – Dog Fancy Magazine
February 2006 – Best Places for active seniors to live – Where to Retire Magazine
April 2006 - Bicycle Friendly Community (awarded silver level by the League of American Bicyclists, the only city in the Pacific Northwest with this designation)
May 2006 - Cleanest air nationwide (among top 11 cities, for the 6th year in a row) - American Lung Association
May 2006 - Fifth hottest boomtown under 150,000 population, based on job growth – INC Magazine
August 2006 - Best paddling town in the USA – Outside Magazine
August/September 2007 - One of the 8 great places people have never heard of – Mother Earth News
September 2001 - One of the top ten “dream towns” - Outside Magazine
Spring 2003 - Among the 15 top “dream towns” for boomers - AARP Magazine
May 2003 - One of the 50 best small cities in which to live (ranked 33rd) - Men’s Journal
August 2003 - Best place to retire – CNN and Money Magazine
September 2004 - Among the Top Ten Adventure Towns - National Geographic Adventure Magazine
November 2005 - Among the Top Ten Dog-Friendly cities – Dog Fancy Magazine
February 2006 – Best Places for active seniors to live – Where to Retire Magazine
April 2006 - Bicycle Friendly Community (awarded silver level by the League of American Bicyclists, the only city in the Pacific Northwest with this designation)
May 2006 - Cleanest air nationwide (among top 11 cities, for the 6th year in a row) - American Lung Association
May 2006 - Fifth hottest boomtown under 150,000 population, based on job growth – INC Magazine
August 2006 - Best paddling town in the USA – Outside Magazine
August/September 2007 - One of the 8 great places people have never heard of – Mother Earth News
Home Buyers’ and Sellers’ Closing Costs
When buying or selling a home, the costs of the home are not all that must be paid for. Below is a list of items that buyers and sellers can expect to pay in most transactions. Obviously, if a buyer is paying cash (not securing a mortgage on the property), those costs relating to a loan would not be required (marked by an asterisk [*]).
Buyers’ fees
1) Document preparation (if required)
2) Notary fees (if required)
3) Recording fees
4) The escrow fee (if required only of the buyer or half of same if split between buyer and seller)
5) Termite inspection (if required)
6) Homeowners’ association transfer fee (if required)
7) Any new loan fees (except those paid by the seller)*
8) Interest charges on the new loan from the date of funding to 30 days prior to the first payment date*
9) Home warranty (if written into the contract)
10) Buyers’ title insurance premium
11) Fire insurance premium for the first year
12) All prepaid deposits for taxes, insurance, private mortgage insurance*, and the like
Sellers’ fees
1) The owner’s title insurance premium
2) The escrow fee (if required only of the seller or half of same if split between seller and buyer)
3) Notary fees (if applicable)
4) Any loan fees required by the buyer’s lender (if included in the contract)*
5) Pay-off of all loans including accrued interest, statement fees, reconveyance fees, prepayment penalties (if they apply)
6) Termite inspection (if required)
7) Home warranty (if written into the contract)
8) Any judgments, tax liens, and the like on file against the seller or the seller’s property
9) Recording fees to clear all documents of record against the seller
10) Prorated and delinquent taxes unpaid at the time of title transfer
11) Any unpaid homeowner association dues
12) Any bonds or special assessments (if written into the contract)
13) Real estate commission
If you have questions about these or other costs, feel free to contact me at realestate@kathyauerbach.com for additional information.
Buyers’ fees
1) Document preparation (if required)
2) Notary fees (if required)
3) Recording fees
4) The escrow fee (if required only of the buyer or half of same if split between buyer and seller)
5) Termite inspection (if required)
6) Homeowners’ association transfer fee (if required)
7) Any new loan fees (except those paid by the seller)*
8) Interest charges on the new loan from the date of funding to 30 days prior to the first payment date*
9) Home warranty (if written into the contract)
10) Buyers’ title insurance premium
11) Fire insurance premium for the first year
12) All prepaid deposits for taxes, insurance, private mortgage insurance*, and the like
Sellers’ fees
1) The owner’s title insurance premium
2) The escrow fee (if required only of the seller or half of same if split between seller and buyer)
3) Notary fees (if applicable)
4) Any loan fees required by the buyer’s lender (if included in the contract)*
5) Pay-off of all loans including accrued interest, statement fees, reconveyance fees, prepayment penalties (if they apply)
6) Termite inspection (if required)
7) Home warranty (if written into the contract)
8) Any judgments, tax liens, and the like on file against the seller or the seller’s property
9) Recording fees to clear all documents of record against the seller
10) Prorated and delinquent taxes unpaid at the time of title transfer
11) Any unpaid homeowner association dues
12) Any bonds or special assessments (if written into the contract)
13) Real estate commission
If you have questions about these or other costs, feel free to contact me at realestate@kathyauerbach.com for additional information.
Save Energy, Save Money
With sensitivity to global warming issues on the news almost daily, it is important to consider how each of us can save energy and do our part to reduce greenhouse gases, and the like. Here are some great ideas for saving energy and for saving money at the same time!
The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 allows homeowners to claim up to $500 on their federal income taxes for qualified energy-saving improvements—as long as they have placed them in service on or before December 31, 2008. Here are some items that qualify:
• Central air conditioning units that meet the highest tier standards set by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE; www.cee1.org). These standards are higher than the Energy Star (www.energystar.gov) standard.
• Upgrades to your home that include such items as insulation, replacement windows, and sealing ducts—which retain cool air—can earn the credit if qualifying products are used. Check the following websites for additional information: www.naima.org, www1.eere.energy.gov, www.efficientwindows.org, and www.energystar.gov.
• Fans for cooling and heating systems that consume no more than 2% of the system’s energy use also can qualify. The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association marks such units with an italicized “e” in its Consumer’s Director of Certified Efficiency Ratings (see www.gamapower.org).
• Appliance manufacturers must certify that their equipment meets the necessary specifications. Ask for a copy of this certification when you purchase a new appliance and keep the certification on file in case the IRS questions your claim.
• Finally, the $500 credit applies to each improvement made in the two years before December 31, 2008; thus, if you take a $350 credit in 2007, you are still able to obtain a $150 credit in 2008.
• To learn more about the Energy Policy Act of 2005, go to the Tax Incentives Assistance Project at www.energytaxincentives.org.
The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 allows homeowners to claim up to $500 on their federal income taxes for qualified energy-saving improvements—as long as they have placed them in service on or before December 31, 2008. Here are some items that qualify:
• Central air conditioning units that meet the highest tier standards set by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE; www.cee1.org). These standards are higher than the Energy Star (www.energystar.gov) standard.
• Upgrades to your home that include such items as insulation, replacement windows, and sealing ducts—which retain cool air—can earn the credit if qualifying products are used. Check the following websites for additional information: www.naima.org, www1.eere.energy.gov, www.efficientwindows.org, and www.energystar.gov.
• Fans for cooling and heating systems that consume no more than 2% of the system’s energy use also can qualify. The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association marks such units with an italicized “e” in its Consumer’s Director of Certified Efficiency Ratings (see www.gamapower.org).
• Appliance manufacturers must certify that their equipment meets the necessary specifications. Ask for a copy of this certification when you purchase a new appliance and keep the certification on file in case the IRS questions your claim.
• Finally, the $500 credit applies to each improvement made in the two years before December 31, 2008; thus, if you take a $350 credit in 2007, you are still able to obtain a $150 credit in 2008.
• To learn more about the Energy Policy Act of 2005, go to the Tax Incentives Assistance Project at www.energytaxincentives.org.
Neighborhood Information and Where to Find It!
Homebuyers considering a particular part of the country, county, city or neighborhood often want "the facts, ma'am!" before writing an offer on a given home. The internet is a great place to obtain all manner of such interesting data.
If you want information about a particular school or district, begin at The National Center for Education for demographic information on schools and school districts. Then go here for a given school's student-teacher ratio, and race and ethnicity entrollment. Check out these two sites as well: http://www.greatschools.net/ and http://www.schoolmatters.com. I also have links on my website under "Neighborhood" (left side of my home page) for every school district and school in Whatcom County.
Crime statistics, in particular sex offender information, can be had at the National Sex Offenders Registry site: http://www.familywatchdog.us/. This site enables you to enter a given street address and will generate a map showing where sex offenders live. For very specific information, call the local police department in the city where you are thinking of moving.
If you want to know about pollution indices, the location of hazardous waste sites, and similar information, go to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) site, http://www.epa.gov/epahome/commsearch.htm. For air and water quality information, go to http://www.scorecard.org/.
Finally, for general information about particlar cities and counties, check out the US Census Bureau website. It contains all manner of socioeconomic data and other details. Just click on http://quickfacts.census.gov/gfd/index.html.
Happy searching!
If you want information about a particular school or district, begin at The National Center for Education for demographic information on schools and school districts. Then go here for a given school's student-teacher ratio, and race and ethnicity entrollment. Check out these two sites as well: http://www.greatschools.net/ and http://www.schoolmatters.com. I also have links on my website under "Neighborhood" (left side of my home page) for every school district and school in Whatcom County.
Crime statistics, in particular sex offender information, can be had at the National Sex Offenders Registry site: http://www.familywatchdog.us/. This site enables you to enter a given street address and will generate a map showing where sex offenders live. For very specific information, call the local police department in the city where you are thinking of moving.
If you want to know about pollution indices, the location of hazardous waste sites, and similar information, go to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) site, http://www.epa.gov/epahome/commsearch.htm. For air and water quality information, go to http://www.scorecard.org/.
Finally, for general information about particlar cities and counties, check out the US Census Bureau website. It contains all manner of socioeconomic data and other details. Just click on http://quickfacts.census.gov/gfd/index.html.
Happy searching!
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