Latest Articles by robm

Home Staging Appeals to Buyers' Emotions

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Emotional attachment to our home can lead to lost equity when we prepare to sell it. Most of us have an emotional attachment to our home, but it is best if we can be detached from it when it comes to the sale of our house.

Emotions can influence a home sale in many ways. For instance we may think that our home is so wonderful that we believe it should be higher priced than the real estate agent is suggesting. This can lose us many interested buyers as it may not even fit inside their price range. If we finally drop the price in frustration two months later, it does not have the same effect, prospective buyers feel cheated and it does not encourage a positive outlook for later negotiations.

Appearance of our home is another big area where our emotions play out. It is our home and the parts of it that have our stamp of identity are the parts where we most recognize the home as ours.

Yet, it is for just this reason that our personal items should be removed. Any prospective buyers will not want to feel as if they are intruding on your personal space. You want them to feel an emotional attachment to your home, to be able to imagine THEIR things in it, and to visualize the house as THEIR house.

Therefore, if you are hoping as most sellers do, to sell your home quickly, schedule a quick walk through the house with your real estate agent to help you to identify any areas that may have missed the home staging procedure. There are employable experts in the field of 'home staging' but it is also something that you can achieve easily with a little advice from your agent. It is not very expensive, or troublesome, and it only requires that a few simple rules be followed.

Being aware that you can make a difference by home staging is the first step. Its only when you accept the positive impact you can make on your buyers' emotions, that you will feel motivated to prepare your home as a show place. The buyer will not want to feel that he or she is intruding in your space, and home staging helps this feeling to dissipate.

In trying to sell a house, we are really attempting to make someone else want it for their own. Therefore we must allow them to visualize it with a view to it becoming their home. This means that they do not want to see your kids' latest art work on the fridge door, or granny's faded family portrait hanging in the hall.

Any religious or cultural artifacts which may deter others from feeling comfortable in your house should be removed. It will also be helpful to have some of your husband's golf trophies packed up in advance, and get them out of the way too.

The personal ornaments and photos that you so proudly display must be packed into boxes, thus exposing clear and clutter-free surfaces that will make your home look more spacious - and more like a show home. Remove your DVDs and take most of the books from your shelves. Apply the same de-personalizing rules to the bedrooms (teenagers will NOT like this idea!)

In the bathroom, do not have any shampoo bottles showing, or toothbrushes or baby's training potty! Think show home! Spend a few dollars on a couple of plug in deodorizers so that you know the bathroom and the hall will always smell nice.

In the living room, keep all the side lamps on and if you have wooden floors, remove the rugs and show it off. If your living room feels overcrowded put an armchair in the garage and make more space. Play low volume easy listening music.

In the kitchen, fix any dripping taps and have the appliances sparkling clean. They will look newer. Check the caulking around the taps. Remove those fridge magnets and tuck toasters etc in a cupboard. Empty counter tops give a suggestion of more counter top space.

Finally - have you checked for curb appeal? Ask your real estate agent for advice on this. Have you washed the windows and swept the driveways? Removed your garbage cans? As you open the front door will the smell of smoke or wet dogs waft out to greet your prospective buyers? A no-no! Remove all coats from hooks and the stair rail and all shoes from the front door.

Smile; now you are ready.

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Rob Muller, a professional REALTOR® working in the Metro Atlanta real estate area. If you're looking to buy or sell Marietta GA real estate properties, visit Rob at RelyOnRob.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Kick Your Car into the Street

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Are you jealous of your car? Does it have a bigger room than you do? Kick it into the street and give your family something they can really use. Garage conversions are the easiest and cheapest way to add living space to your home and instantly improve your family's quality of life.

When you need more space, there are a whole host of reasons to convert your garage instead of building a brand new addition. One of the most appealing of these is that the renovation won't disrupt your existing living space while it's underway. Not so with a new addition or attic conversion where contractors need to be traipsing in and out of your house or up and down the stairs for days on end.

If maintaining order while you're making your home bigger isn't a big selling point for you, how about this: Most of the work is already done. Simple. If your garage has a good foundation, roof and good siding you're over halfway there before you even start. No excavator, no concrete, no beams, no shingles, no drainage. It's easy to see why this is usually a much speedier and cheaper route to increasing the square footage of your home when compared to building a new addition or buying a bigger house. If you're really lucky, you'll also have plumbing and electricity already installed, but not having them installed won't put you too far back. Because the garage is part of the house, all you'll need to do is extend these systems into the room.

Of course, just because most of the work is already done, don't assume the job will be easy. Carefully weigh the pros and cons of hiring contractors to complete the work before you hitch up your tool belt and go charging ahead. Professionals can save you. Here's a brief outline of what you'll need to accomplish for a basic garage conversion:

- Remove the garage door and frame in the opening

- Install insulation between the studs, cover with a vapor barrier and then finish with drywall or paneling

- Install an insulated sub floor.

- Create an insulated ceiling or loft

- Add windows

- Extend plumbing and electrical wiring into the room (if necessary)

A good contractor can work within a budget and keep the project on schedule but most importantly, they can offer a wealth of experience and skill could save your sanity. If you want to save a bit of money on overall costs, you can take care of some of the grunt work, prep and finishing touches yourself. Now, where are you going to park the car?

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Rob Muller is a Cherokee County Real Estate agent and Georgia certified home inspector. If you're looking for Canton real estate and homes for sale in Cherokee, Cobb and North Fulton Counties, visit RelyonRob.com and start your home search without leaving your computer.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Getting Some Air in Cherokee County: Bike Park Gives Woodstock a New Place to Play

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Sure you can ride your mountain bike just about anywhere but there's nothing like riding miles of winding hand-built single track (just wide enough for one) through the forests of North Georgia. But where? Unfortunately, mountain bikes have been unceremoniously kicked out of public parks all over the Southeast for their tendancy to erode paths built for hikers and even collide with the hikers themselves. The solution? Well if you live in Woodstock Georgia, you wrangle your own park and build your own trail.

The Southeast Off-Road Bicycle Organization (SORBA) is responsible for the wildly popular Blankets Creek trail system that skirts Blankets Creek at the edge of Lake Allatoona. Other nearby SORBA projects include Atlanta's Morningside Nature Preserve trail that links Midtown Atlanta with Buckhead through a 30 acre forested trail, and Big Creek Park in Roswell.

BLANKETS CREEK

Almost entirely built by hand by a team of volunteers, Blankets Creek Park is Cherokee County's only designated bike park and is proving itself to be one of the state's best rides. Right in Woodstock, just off Sixes Road, not too far from downtown and just 25 miles outside of Atlanta, the park draws over 100,000 bikes annually. Kids, men, women, families, couples, lone wolves, seasoned riders and even hikers all converge here for the great trails, a good workout and fun times.

The park has three short loops that let you choose your own adventure - from beginner trails to hair-raisers that demand technical skill. The group is currently building a fourth for a total of 16 miles of off-road goodness. The North Loop will be complete in spring 2008 and is going to bust the guts of all but the most experienced cyclists. With breakneck climbs and headlong descents, you really have to know how to handle your bike if you want to make it to the end of this four mile trail. Fortunately there's plenty of opportunity to train up.

The Mosquito Flats trail and the slightly more challenging Mosquito Bite Trail (1.3 miles total) are fun easy rides perfect for kids and beginners or to get your heart rate up before taking on the more challenging trails. Intermediate riders can try the Dwelling loop (3.5 miles) and advanced riders can try the South Loop (4 miles) for a steady stream of switchbacks, climbing, rock gardens, roots and log crossings.

Though all previous trails were built by hand with rakes, shovels and a lot of back-breaking labour, the new North Loop trail is being blazed by a mini-excavator. The main benefit is that the trail will be complete in less than half the time it would take to build it by hand.

GETTING HERE

Blankets Creek is located in Woodstock on the shores of Lake Allatoona. To get here, take I-75 north to I-575 north and take exit 11. Turn left on Sixes Road, go about 1.8 miles and turn left into the trail head parking lot. The park is open every day, but closed for rain. Check the trail direction before you begin as it changes daily. Admission is a $1 suggested donation.

WHAT TO BRING

- A helmet. You can't ride the trails without one.

- Tool kit and tire pump

- First aid kit

- Water and snacks

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Woodstock GA is a great community to live in! To find Homes for Sale in Woodstock near Blankets Creek right now, visit www.relyonrob.com or contact Rob Muller, Cherokee County Real Estate Agent.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

EarthCraft Atlanta: Setting the Standard for the SouthEast

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

With successful green building programs like EarthCraft House, Metro Atlanta is slowly defining what it means to be green in the Southeast US. The city now has over 5,500 EarthCraft certified homes and condos and six EarthCraft communities. The standards have proven to be so successful at producing homes that Georgians want to live in that they've been adopted in Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

The EarthCraft standards were developed for Metro Atlanta in 1999 as way to measure and encourage energy efficient building practices in the booming Metro Atlanta region. In order to be certified by the EarthCraft program, homes have to meet standards for environmental impact, pollution prevention, energy efficiency, comfort and conservation.

The real estate market in Metro Atlanta is now full of homes with the EarthCraft seal of approval. The program offers training and technical assistance to builders interested in building green homes. After just eight years, hundreds of builders in Georgia specialize in building certified Earthcraft houses.

Though it may feel good to live in a green home, the popularity of the EarthCraft standards and the homes that get the EarthCraft Seal of approval aren't about tree-hugging. What's really making people take notice is the added value that certification guarantees. Because they're energy efficient with higher standards for building materials and indoor air quality, Earthcraft buildings are designed to be cheaper to operate and save owners money. These homes are also longer-lasting and healthier to live in.

The success of the EarthCraft House program is one of many signs of Atlanta's aspirations to go green and not a moment too soon. The population of Metro Atlanta has exploded over the last five years and the area has grown faster than any other major metropolitan area in the states. It's significant that a city famous for its sprawl should also be the birthplace of such a successful eco-program. The Earthcraft program takes its place alongside world-class community projects like Atlantic Station, Georgia Tech's recent success in the 2007 Solar Decathlon and one of the highest percentages of LEED certified buildings in the US. Programs like these are testimony to the city's effort to catch up with itself and grow sustainably.

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For more information on Green Homes in Atlanta contact Rob Muller, Metro Atlanta Real Estate agent. www.relyonrob.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Create a Green Baby Nursery

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

In our attempt to revert back to a Green lifestyle, it's only fitting to use Green principles when designing a baby's room. After all, a newborn will spend an average of 17 hours a day in their nursery, and it should be an environment filtered from toxins.

Here are some of the key points to consider when setting up a Green baby nursery.

Paint: Use one of the new water-based, low-volatile organic compound paints and take your friends or family up on their request to help. If you're pregnant, you shouldn't be doing the painting. Try and complete the paint job at least a month before baby arrives to give it time to cure.

Flooring: Carpets are nice and soft for babies to crawl on, but they can harbor toxic material and bacteria. VOC's can be found in the fibers, backing and glue as well as any stain resistant treatments that may have been applied. If you must go that route, choose an all-natural, biodegradable carpet made from wool fibers and no toxic adhesives. A better choice is a solid floor such as linoleum, cork or wood. Use natural fiber throw rugs with a non slip backing.

Crib: Choose real wood with natural finishes since the press wood versions can emit formaldehyde. The bedding should be an organic untreated material made from cotton or wool.

Window Coverings: Aluminum mini-blinds or wooden shutters are easy to keep clean and do a great job of adjusting the light levels.

Toys: Most toys are made of plastic, which is a major contributor to indoor air pollution. Try to purchase natural cloth or wood toys wherever possible.

Airflow: Make certain there is adequate ventilation in the nursery that allows for fresh air, but no drafts. An Air filter is also very effective, but use one that has both a HEPA filter and activated military carbon cloth. Change your furnace filters every three months to reduce dust and pollen.

Cleaning: Use 100 percent biodegradable nontoxic cleaning products.

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This article was submitted by ReMax Town and Country, your number one choice for Metro Atlanta real estate. For a professional consultation, speak to Rob Muller, Cherokee County Realtor.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Atlanta Green Home Lights the Way

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Energy efficient homes that go easy on the environment are turning heads in Georgia with their low-maintenance appeal, cost efficiency and natural good looks. With Georgia Tech's recent success in the 2007 Solar Decathlon and world-class community projects like Atlantic Station, Metro Atlanta is well on its way to being a model of eco-building in the Southeast.

Georgia's green power was most recently demonstrated by Georgia Tech at the 2007 Solar Decathlon. The innovative contest, sponsored by the US department of energy, is a green building competition with an emphasis on solar energy. Twenty teams from universities all over the world were handed the task of building the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered home they could imagine.

Over the five day judging period, the Decathlon Homes had to demonstrate the ability to use nothing but solar energy to power a washer dryer, oven, TV, computer and generate hot water. The homes also had to be architecturally sound, marketable and they had to look good.

Though it was their first year to participate in the contest, the Georgia Tech team won 6th place for their innovative light-house, a completely off-the-grid solar powered home. First place went to a team from Darmstadt Tech in Germany. Though the Georgia Tech team didn't take home first place this year, the house is part of the significant contribution that that Atlanta's architects and engineers are making to what we know about building smart.

"Many of the advances that are demonstrated in this house will come to the mainstream," said associate professor Russell Gentry of the Georgia Tech house, "they will have to come to the mainstream if we're going to save the energy that we promised to."

The innovations in the Georgia Tech house set a new standard for energy efficiency and eco- friendliness for Atlanta homes. Atlanta already has a number of model solar projects like the EcoManor, the Southern Living Idea House, and the Brookhaven Zero Energy Home.

"35% of the energy consumed in the US is consumed in buildings. It's important for us to develop technologies that save that energy," says Gentry. "Everything we do here is about making buildings more energy efficient and smarter."

The Georgia Tech Light House is steel and wood construction with a modern open floor plan, hardwood flooring, and a semi-transparent solar roof that subtly lets lights into every room in the house while it insulates and generates power. Designed to be easy to build, expandable and accessible, the plans accommodate from one to three bedrooms and up to two baths. The cost of the prototype is $280K.

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For more information on Green Homes in Atlanta contact Rob Muller, Metro Atlanta Real Estate agent. www.relyonrob.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com