http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/choosing-a-school-before-you-move.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/choosing-a-school-before-you-move.html Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Whatever the region you are moving to, chances are they have a city web site. These usually have a list of local schools. If this isn't possible, ask your real estate agent if they have any information about local schools or districts.

While public schools don't necessarily have their own web site, school districts often do. Private schools, at least the good ones, will definitely have their own web sites. Many communities have more than one denominational school as well as a variety of specialty schools such as Waldorf, Montessori or those offering an advanced or university prep curriculum.

Online schools are gaining popularity and many school districts now offer distance education programs, which essentially act as online extensions of their regular curriculum. These allow students the flexibility of studying from home at their own pace, while providing them with a teacher to email their questions and assignments to. These programs work well if you have an advanced, self-motivated teen, live in a very rural area,if you move often and want to maximize academic consistency for your child, or if you work from home and can monitor your children's activities. However they don't work well if your child is the type to spend their day playing computer games.

City web sites are also usually a wealth of demographical information. If you want to know the average income or racial profile for a city or sub-area within a city, this information should be there. It can help you to understand the area you are moving to, and in extension, the types of kids yours will be going to school with. Perhaps you've chosen a home that's close to a new job, but the best schools are in another part of town. You'll want to know, and plan your routines in advance. School District web sites should have contact information for individual schools, allowing you to find information about available bussing, school start and end times, etc.

Waiting until you move to research local schools could mean your child misses more school days than they have to. In addition,6 a.m. the Monday morning after your big move is NOT when you want to be wondering whether the local public school will suit your child, or if a bus goes by the neighborhood of your chosen school. Planning in advance will save you stress at moving time, and considering everything that is involved in a move, the more stress you can remove, the better.



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Preston Guyton is a professional Realtor® serving the Myrtle Beach real estate market. For more information on Myrtle Beach homes & properties, contact Preston today or visit www.prestonguyton.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/good-renovation-ideas-for-your-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/good-renovation-ideas-for-your-home.html Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Houses with a distinct theme can be some of the most beautiful homes on any given market. A cohesive and unified theme to a home is more inviting than a mismatch of differently themed rooms. If you are thinking about your bottom line asking price then one thing you will have to consider is new appliances. Updating tired old stoves, sinks, refrigerators, washers and driers will raise the asking price significantly and give cleaner and more attractive lines to the rooms that they are in. Other good ideas for these rooms are new countertops and fixtures. Over years, countertops can become stained, discolored and marked by knives and other objects. New countertops can light up a room like nothing else. If you really want to boost you home's asking price, opt for granite countertops. They are well worth the expense.

Another good idea for renovations is to redo that tired old deck. If you deck has seen better days then this is a great place to refurbish. Even though decks are a seasonal luxury, they play a big part in the exterior appearance of a home and as such, their appearance can easily alter a home's value.

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Preston Guyton is a professional Realtor® serving the Myrtle Beach real estate market. For more information on Myrtle Beach homes & properties, contact Preston today or visit www.prestonguyton.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/home-buying-exterior-concerns.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/home-buying-exterior-concerns.html Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
One of the most common exterior surfaces is wood. Unfortunately wood is more susceptible to the elements than other surfaces and termites and other bugs can become a problem if not discovered early on. Before buying a home with a wood exterior make sure that you inspect the wood for weather damage and wear. All exterior wood should be properly weather sealed and maintained on a regular basis. With stucco there are a different variety of concerns. If improperly prepared, stucco can be porous and allow moisture beneath the surface of the home. Also, all seams and corners must be properly sealed to prevent leakage. Water damage can lead to stucco crumbling and to the materials beneath it rotting.

Brick and stone brings another concern to the table, this mainly refers to the cracking of the mortar that holds the stones in place. It is something that can be fairly easily repaired but the difficulty comes in recognizing the problem when it begins. Hopefully this article has not spooked anyone on buying a home. These problems occur when homes are constructed improperly or when mistakes are made during building or renovation. Be sure when you buy a home that you take every aspect of the home into consideration before committing. It will ensure that you are a happier home owner in the long run.

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Preston Guyton is a professional Realtor® serving the Myrtle Beach real estate market. For more information on Myrtle Beach homes & properties, contact Preston today or visit www.prestonguyton.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/new-construction-vs-established-homes.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/new-construction-vs-established-homes.html Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Let's examine the pros and cons of each in turn. New construction homes are simply that; new. Everything in them is shiny and usually the latest model/style. New homes will typically conform to all current community standards, and be more energy efficient. Another asset is that these homes are usually in newer developments that have excellent landscaping and services, and the area itself usually has quite a high property value. Now, there are some cons as well. New homes are being constructed at such a rapid rate and such a high cost that many contracts are going to the lowest bidder. Some contractors that bid low are able to do so by rushing through the building process and cutting corners by using cheap supplies and labor. This, again is not to condemn contractors, simply that it is an issue that needs to be considered in new construction homes. Also, if you take a look at the average new development you will notice that the actual size of the properties is much smaller than those of established neighborhoods.

As stated above, if you are looking for a larger piece of property then an established area might be a better choice. It is also said that the level of craftsmanship utilized in the building of older homes exceeds that of many new developments. This opinion is hit and miss. Like any area of business there are those who excel and those who do not, no matter what year it is. Also, many older homes have a "character" that it is almost impossible to duplicate in new homes. Many new homes are built utilizing these "character" elements but the effect is never the same. With either form of housing the final choice is, of course yours. Simply make sure that you consider all the aspects of the homes construction, property, benefits and drawbacks so that you can make an educated decision on which type of home to purchase.

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Preston Guyton is a professional Realtor® serving the Myrtle Beach real estate market. For more information on Myrtle Beach homes & properties, contact Preston today or visit www.prestonguyton.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/buying-a-second-home-in-myrtle-beach.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/buying-a-second-home-in-myrtle-beach.html Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
As the focus has moved away from these markets there are a few different areas that have started to emerge as areas of potential growth. One such area is Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach is an extremely popular resort destination and along with such a designation comes the opportunity for real estate investment. Like many other destination areas, Myrtle Beach has a booming vacation rentals industry that is only showing signs of growth in past years. This has presented a great chance for real estate investors to get in on the ground floor of this booming area.

If vacation rentals are not to your liking and you prefer the stability of long-term renters then you need not worry as Myrtle Beach is also a great place to live and work. The solid industrial core and diverse economy have created a environment of economic growth and prosperity that bodes well for the future of this area. There is also a great system of education here that includes both public and private schooling and a variety of post-educational options including Webster University.

The future is looking bright for Myrtle Beach. With a thriving vacation industry and the emergence of a strong business sector, this area will continue to see growth for many years to come. This is a great time to invest in Myrtle Beach as getting in on real estate in this area will show a great ROI no matter what vein of real estate you choose to place your money in.

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Preston Guyton is a professional Realtor® serving the Myrtle Beach real estate market. For more information on Myrtle Beach homes & properties, contact Preston today or visit www.prestonguyton.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/atlantic-luxury-homes.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/atlantic-luxury-homes.html Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Recent years have seen the evolution of Myrtle Beach into one of the most popular destinations on the east coast. This has resulted in the creation of a thriving investment atmosphere with vacation rentals forming a solid backbone for the real estate industry. This takes nothing away from a historically active and stable residential core that also has created a secure and thriving business sector. It could be said that Myrtle Beach possesses "the full package" when considering a location for a new home or investment property.

Is it time to treat yourself to that dream home that you deserve? There is really no better place to look than Myrtle Beach. This area can boast excellent choice for entertainment and recreation. Of course the ocean provides any number of sporting options as well as great fishing and and the most breathtaking scenery available. There are really any number of reasons to consider a move to Myrtle Beach, but then again, you likely already have your own reasons....

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Preston Guyton is a professional Realtor® serving the Myrtle Beach real estate market. For more information on Myrtle Beach homes & properties, contact Preston today or visit www.prestonguyton.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/clean-home-easy-sale.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/clean-home-easy-sale.html Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600
There is a common line of thought that home buyers want to see the "personality" of the homes current owners. This is not true. Buyers want to be able to see their belongings in the home. They want to put their personality into it to see if they could see themselves living there. A backlog of your stuff will get in the way of them doing this. Go through every room in turn and remove the clutter! This includes the closets, shelves and cupboards. Also remove excess furniture if the room seems too crowded. Here is another important thing to remember, don't put all this stuff in the garage! Buyers will go through the garage like any other room in your home. Hire a storage locker if it is really necessary. Aside from that, use this as an opportunity to rid yourself of those things that you never use.

The minimalist approach is a good thing to utilize when showing your home. The lack of personal effects will make it easier for buyers to place themselves in your home. This will also make the moving process easier on you. With less things to pack when moving day comes, you can dedicate more time to creating your perfect space in your new home.

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Preston Guyton is a professional Realtor® serving the Myrtle Beach real estate market. For more information on Myrtle Beach homes & properties, contact Preston today or visit www.prestonguyton.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/examining-the-power-of-curb-appeal.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/examining-the-power-of-curb-appeal.html Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600
First take care of the obvious: Poor exterior maintenance will have potential buyers wondering what else you didn't keep up. Clean moss off the roof and plants out of gutters; wash the windows and pressure wash dirty decks or siding. Clear weeds growing from the front walk. Take care of the details. If your driveway has faded, it's time to re-seal it. Fill the cracks in your sidewalk. Trim back unruly bushes, mow the lawn and add mulch to tidy up garden beds. Put away tools and other yard clutter - the property should look well taken care of.

Spruce up your front entrance. You may want to change your front door for something more eye-catching, perhaps engraved wood or one with decorative glasswork. Changing the door's hardware can also help it stand out. The doorknob and knocker should be polished. Placing planters near the front door can add a pleasing visual as well as contributing fragrance to further the sensory experience. A front doormat can also be welcoming touch.

Changes that cost more can also increase the selling price. If you can afford to paint the house, look for examples of eye-catching color combinations in design magazines, online and in your city. If you can't afford to paint the whole building, just do the trim and shutters. Adding window boxes can also brighten the exterior.

Landscaping is another opportunity to increase the value of your property. You could hire a professional, but just adding a few shrubs and flowering bushes should do the trick. A well placed bench can help potential buyers imagine themselves sitting in their new garden.

You can ensure potential buyers notice your home just by giving the exterior a little extra attention. Remember, your traffic and often your selling price will increase with your home's curb appeal.

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Preston Guyton is a professional Realtor® serving the Myrtle Beach real estate market. For more information on Myrtle Beach homes & properties, contact Preston today or visit www.prestonguyton.com.

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