http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/starting-on-your-move-early.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/starting-on-your-move-early.html Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
What is required for a home to show to it's full potential? Well, the major pieces of furniture are essential. There is nothing worse than selling a home with no furniture in it at all. It becomes harder for buyers to imagine what furniture will look like in the home. What can go is all of the little things that we tend to collect in our homes. Go through each room and find the things that you do not use daily. You would be amazed at how the removal of these things can open up a home. Essentially a home simply needs enough furniture to give buyers an idea of the available space.

Another mistake that many people make is thinking that their personal items like pictures and curios help to make the home "warm and inviting." This is not so. In fact, this makes it more difficult for viewers to feel at home. They are trying to imagine themselves and their family living in the home, pictures of someone else's family can very easily get in the way of this.

The best way to eliminate these items is to get an early start on your packing. If you have purchased another home already then move your belongings over there, or to a storage unit. Of course you can start to organize your packed items in the garage, but be careful to do this in an organized manner as the garage is still part of the home and will likely be "poked through" like the other rooms.

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Katie Lancelot is a professional and experienced Jacksonville, FL Realtor For elite service is the purchase or sale of Florida homes & condos, contact Katie soon or visit Lancelot's Castles at www.lancelotscastles.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/closing-on-your-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/closing-on-your-home.html Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
As the buyer you have a few responsibilities and an entitlement or two. Of course these are all defined by the contract and the parameters of the offer & acceptance. It's important to make sure every aspect of the sale is recorded in detail and in writing. Any subjects must be signed off on by both the buyer and seller, this includes anything that is or is not included in the sale. So be clear about what you expect to be included in the deal. Most importantly this is the part of the process where the final version of the contract gets signed by both parties. This will finalize the transfer of the home, leaving only the payment of escrow items and closing costs outstanding.

The actual closing happens when all concerned parties gather to finalize the contract. Usually it is quite the gathering, including representatives of the buyer, seller and mortgage provider, title provider, attorneys and so on. This is where the actual finalization and payment of outstanding costs occurs. The end result being that you are deeded free and clear title to the property in question. If you pay close attention to all the steps involved in the process it can be a highly educational process as well as highly rewarding.

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Katie Lancelot is a professional and experienced Jacksonville, FL Realtor For elite service is the purchase or sale of Florida homes & condos, contact Katie soon or visit Lancelot's Castles at www.lancelotscastles.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/renovating-where-to-start.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/renovating-where-to-start.html Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600
If you are renovating to improve the value of your home there are two definite areas that you should tackle first. The kitchen and the bathroom. As the highest traffic areas in any home, these areas become run down much quicker than other rooms. Also, appliances wear out and wear and tear can cripple any countertop or bathtub. In looking at these two rooms there are certain areas that if improved, will dramatically raise the value of a home.

The Kitchen - Its a simple fact that new kitchens sell homes. This is usually the most social and utilized room in the house. Its also one of the rooms that is most open to wear and tear and to personal tastes. A major selling feature of homes is always new appliances. Get rid of that old avocado-green stove and fridge and replace them with some new modern pieces. Stainless steel is currently very popular and goes with just about any kitchen theme. Black is also a popular choice and is easy to keep looking great. Aside from the appliances, new countertops are always a good selling point. Granite counters are all the rage these days and look fantastic, but they can be pricey. If you don't want to spend to much on the counters, there are a number of options that resemble granite and are a fraction of the cost. at the end of the day you want to have a kitchen with clean lines and an open feel.

The Bathroom - Bathrooms can be a great area for some personal design expression. Custom bathrooms are very popular and are adding thousands of dollars onto homes asking prices. One good thing to consider in the bathroom is whether or not the existing fixtures are attractive and up to date. Old cabinets can make a bathroom look drab and out of date. If you have cabinets in the bathroom, try putting on new doors or if you are so inclined, a pedestal sink. If you are willing to dedicate a few bucks to the process, nothing goes better with a pedestal sink than an old style claw foot tub. These have made a huge comeback in recent years and are a beautiful focal point to any bathroom. Remember, the bathroom is a very utilitarian area, but it can still be a discussion point and a beautiful addition to any home if done properly.

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Katie Lancelot is a Realtor:® specializing in the Jacksonville real estate market. For thoughtful and intelligent assistance in buying or selling a home in Jacksonville contact Katie today or visit our team at www.lancelotscastles.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/things-to-look-for-when-buying-a-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/things-to-look-for-when-buying-a-home.html Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Do your research on the home itself. This involves things like title searches and other important legal info. Also don't be afraid to ask neighbors at the home in question about the home. Maybe they have some info that the listing realtor doesn't have or doesn't want you to know. People that have lived in the area for quite some time might be able to tell you things about the home or the previous owners, not just the ones that you are thinking about purchasing from. Also it might be a good idea to find out about any plans for the neighborhood in terms of construction or development. This can help to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Make sure that you have the home throughly inspected. If the typical home inspector does not inspect for mold, then find one who specializes in it. Mold can severely effect the stability and integrity of a home as well as aggravating allergies and health conditions. Be sure to find out about any easements on the property too. Sometimes these are nothing too worry about such as the local fisheries department has access to the ocean/river/lake that your home sits on, or as annoying as government has the right to park excess trucks in your front yard, however that's an exaggerated example. This brings up another point, if your home sits on waterfront property, have there ever been flooding problems when there are high rains? If you live in certain areas this can also be caused by run off of melting snow from local mountains.

There are so many things to consider when purchasing a home, just make sure you take your time and make an educated decision based on solid facts and assets rather than basic your choice on pure aesthetics.

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Katie Lancelot is a Realtor:® specializing in the Jacksonville real estate market. For thoughtful and intelligent assistance in buying or selling a home in Jacksonville contact Katie today or visit our team at www.lancelotscastles.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>