Popular New Year Resolutions

It's that time of year to make a fresh start in 2008 and for lots of people that means making a New Year Resolution or two. Here are some of the most popular resolutions:

• Lose weight
• Pay off debt
• Save money
• Get a better job
• Get fit
• Eat right
• Get a better education
• Drink less alchol
• Quit smoking
• Reduce stress
• Take a vacation
• Volunteer

One more I would add the list is:

• Love your house - either buy a new one or improve your current one!

Smell Helps Sell Homes

Smell is a very important factor in selling your home. If it stinks it probably will not sell quickly or for as much profit as you hoped. Here are some suggestions to make your home welcoming and smell wonderful.

• Bake cookies, but do not burn them!
• Bake an apple pie.
• Put vases of fresh flowers throughout the house.
• Warm a split vanilla bean or a couple of drops of pure vanilla extract in water on the stove top.
• Simmer cloves & cinnamon sticks in water or apple cider (ideal for around the holidays).
• Get rid of old carpet that can trap offensive smells, especially if you have animals.
• If you have animals make sure to wash their bedding and vacuum up the hair.
• Hide the kitty litter and make sure it's a clean box. Don't just mask those odors with air fresheners.
• Make sure to scrub your house top to bottom to get rid of any mildew. No one likes a musty smelling house.
• Don't smoke inside your house. If the home has been exposed to cigarette smoke run a HEPA air filter at the highest setting. This may help allergy sufferers and eliminate many more obvious odors, but sometimes more in-depth cleanings are needed to get smoke residue out of the carpets, curtains, beds and other places where fabric can collect cigarette smoke.
• Air out the house. Either open the windows up before a showing or run the central fan with clean air filters and set the temperature to an economic level that will keep the place feeling "fresh."
• If you use any type of air freshening/perfumed candles, sprays, oils, etc., use a natural scent. This may help reduce the negative reaction from buyers who are prone to allergies or scent-sensitivity.

Whatever you do make sure it's not overpowering so that buyers don't assume you are trying to hide something.

Safety Tips for Winter Weather

Winter brings bitter winds and dipping temperatures. But perhaps the most chilling result of wintry weather is the marked increase in home injury during this season.

Carbon Monoxide Precaution: Heating Systems and Gas Appliances
• Install at least one smoke alarm and CO alarm on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.
• Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up central heating system and repair leaks.
• Keep gas appliances properly adjusted and serviced.
• Avoid using a cooking stove to heat your home.
• Never use a gas grill inside your home or in a closed garage.

Home Fire Precautions: Fireplaces and Wood Stoves
• Burn only wood- not trash, cardboard boxes, or Christmas trees because these items increase the risk of uncontrolled fires.
• Check the chimneys you use regularly every year for cracks, blockages and leaks.
• Keep all people and flammable objects, including wallpaper, bedding, clothing and pets, at least 36 inches away from fireplaces and wood stoves.
• Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
• Hire a professional sweep to clean your chimney at least once a year to prevent creosote build-up.

House Fire Precautions: Space Heaters
• Turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to sleep.
• Supervise children and pets at all times when a portable space heater is in use.
• Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
• Avoid using space heaters to dry flammable items such as clothing or blankets.
• Keep all flammable objects at least three feet from space heaters.

Power Outage Precautions: Lighting Sources and Perishable Food
• Stock up on batteries, flashlights, portable radios, canned foods, manual can openers, bottled water and blankets
• Use flashlights instead of candles to avoid a possible fire hazard
• Run water at a trickle to help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting if outside temperatures are below freezing for an extended period of time and your home has no heat.
• Store perishable food outside in the snow or in an unheated outside building if power goes out.

Information For Sellers

Home Sales

• 2004/2005 - 43% of Buyers came from open houses


• 2007 - 3% of Buyers came from open houses, 80% of Buyers came from the internet and other Realtors

Prelist Home Inspection

Evaluates and identifies potential and actual problems, gives the seller time to repair or disclose to a buyer upfront to eliminate unpleasant surprises
5 areas mostly concerned with:

• Structural
• Roofing
• Plumbing
• HVAC systems
• Electrical

Creative Marketing with Mortgage Options

• Ameridream – Seller pays Buyers’ closing costs and downpayment *rule of thumb – 5.5% - 6.0% of sales price
• Seller Paid Buydown – 1 or 2 years of interest rate buydown
• Seller pays up to 6 months on Buyers’ mortgage payments (P & I)
• Combination of any

Appraisals and Value

Market values are changing constantly. Appraisers are having a more difficult time with appraising properties. Generally speaking, there are 10% more homes on the market now than this time last year. The number of sold homes is down by approximately 8-36% from last year this time. In addition, the dollar amount (home pricing) is down by 33%, which indicates pricing has gone down. The average days on market are 6-12 months. This is twice as long as last year.

How To Keep Your House Clutter-Free

• Tackle messy rooms one room at a time.


• For every new purchase, get rid of something old.


• Have the kids get involved by making cleaning up fun.


• Imagine what the room looks like clean and it will help you acheive the goal.
  Teach your kids how to sort.


• Go through mail when you get it and throw out the "junk mail" right away.


• If you haven't used it in year, you probably don't need it.


• Ask yourself if you really need something. If you hesitate, you don't.


• Keep the items you use most in the kitchen in easily retreivable places.


• Organize your garage into storage bins by items and holidays (baby clothes, Christmas decorations, etc.)