Gene's Bit of Blogging
Real Estate Advice
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Guest Blogger - LaNita Cates, Re/Max Realty of Joliet, IL: Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2012 10:52 AM
Buyers Decide Within 8 Seconds Whether They Are
Interested In a Home
I am a huge fan of Real Estate Agent and Mogul Barbara Corcoran. Barbara is a Real Estate Contributor on NBC's Today show and the wonderful addition to ABC's Shark Tank.
 Per Barbara:
"BUYERS DECIDE WITHIN 8 SECONDS WHETHER THEY ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR HOME."
I'm not surprised by this at all. It's the first impression when
walking in and hearing, "Wow, this is cute" - or - "Ugh, what is that smell?" Pretty much sums of the next few minutes of the tour of that home.
I always tell my buyers that they will know when they walk in if this
is their home or not. If they aren't feeling it within the first 10
seconds, let's move on. They never believe me... AT FIRST. But usually
by the 4th house, they agree that they know pretty much immediately if
they are interested or not when walking in the door.
So buyers pretty much know. Sellers - remember that! That first
impression (or at least the first 8 seconds) can decide whether the
buyer is interested in your home!
* LaNita
Cates of REMAX Realty of Joliet has been serving the Joliet,
Plainfield, Naperville, Crest Hill, Bolingbrook, Shorewood and
surrounding areas, helping buyers and sellers with all their real estate
needs.
Call or Contact: LaNita Cates REMAX Realty of Joliet today ...
Office: 221 Springfield Ave., Joliet, IL 60435 Office Phone: 815-609-0887
Office Fax: 815-364-1267 Cell: 630-341-1545 |
Buying a Home, Real Estate, Real Estate Advice, Will County, Agents and Brokers, Home Improvements and Curb Appeal, Maintenance and Upkeep of Your Home, Selling Your Home, Staging your Home, Remodeling, Real Estate Professionals, Home Maintenance & Repair, Home Buyers, home buying, Deciding Which Home is Best to Buy, Home Staging, Realtors, Preparing your home for sale
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Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender: Posted on Friday, March 09, 2012 5:37 PM
Is that the smell of sweet success in your home ... Or ???
I'm an advocate of staging services when selling homes. I think, especially in the present challenging housing market, that sellers often-times need every advantage possible to gain the sale they seek.
I'm also the husband to a chronic migraine sufferer. And to anyone that knows and loves someone that deals with this horrendous affliction ... you know that many things can prove to be a "trigger" for a headache. And that includes smells.
 It has been said that nothing is more memorable than a smell. And that can be good ... or bad ...
It only stands to reason, that if a home smells like animals, litter box, stale, musty, or of cigarettes ... many potential buyers are going to balk at buying. If those odors are bad enough, carpeting, window treatments, and even drywall may have to be replaced. And that means extra expenditures for buyers.
Uh-oh. Can you say "peeeee-uuuuuuu"?? Compare that home with odors to a similarily-priced home without ... and there's not much of a guess as to which home is going to sell more quickly.
That's a simple comparison. But it's been my experience as someone that has lived with a migraine sufferer for 35 years, that smells that are typically thought of as pleasant to most ... can be unpleasant or toxic to someone that gets severe headaches.
ANY smell can be someone's "trigger". The reaction can be immediate, with the mere whiff of the "trigger" smell enough to start a long and painful migraine episode requiring medications ... or a retreat to bed or a bathroom. (Be aware, that this can also be the reaction for someone with respiratory problems, as well.)
So as strongly as I advocate finding the "sweet smell of success" through the talents of staging professionals and the use of their staging techniques during the sale of properties ... I also advocate and urge all professional Stagers, real estate agents/brokers, and home sellers themselves ... to NOT place scents, perfumes, candles, potporri, air fresheners, herbs, flowers, i.e. ANY odor-producing items in properties while they are actively being shown for sale.
Should they be utilized,you may be innocently and inadvertently placing a potential buyer at health risk ... and the view/sale of the home in jeopardy.
Remember, a potential buyer will neverbuy a home that they cannot enter or view ...
* Smell the "sweet success" of selling your home ... or buying a new one. With over 35 years of successful mortgage business behind me, I can offer you referrals to real estate's finest home staging and agent/broker professionals ... besides my own mortgage services. Should you need answers to your questions or assistance, please contact me. I'll be happy to hear from you and put my experience and expertise to work for you. Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331 Skype: 630.219.1316
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Linda Kemp, Keller Williams Infinity - Naperville, IL: Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2012 6:51 PM
Kitchens--The Heart of the Home! Part Two
Welcome to part two in my kitchen series. The kitchen is one of
my favorite rooms in my home. I cook great meals there, we laugh
through our family dinners, and we indulge the many desserts that come
out of my oven. One thing is certain--it has to feel good.
If you have
been struggling with different ideas on how to remodel your space with a
shoestring budget take a read through the following article. Do your
homework on all building materials and your options and you will be
quite pleased with the results. And then mangia!
Linda
Budget Kitchen Remodeling: 5 Money-Saving Steps
Can't afford an entire kitchen remodel in one fell swoop? You can
complete the work in 5 budget-saving stages (and still cook dinner
during the down time).
Stage one: Start with a complete design plan
Your plan should be comprehensive and detailed — everything from the
location of the refrigerator to which direction the cabinet doors will
open to whether you need a spice drawer. To save time (and money) during tear-out and construction, plan on
using your existing walls and kitchen configuration. That’ll keep
plumbing and electrical systems mostly intact, and you won’t have the
added expense — and mess — of tearing out walls. Joseph Feinberg, vice president of Allied Kitchen and Bath in Fort
Lauderdale, Fla., recommends hiring a professional designer, such as an
architect or a certified kitchen designer, who can make sure the details
of your plans are complete. You’ll pay about 10% of the total project
for a pro designer, but you’ll save a whole bunch of headaches that
would likely cost as much — or more — to fix. Plus, a pro is likely to
offer smart solutions you hadn’t thought of. For a nominal fee, you also can get design help from a major home
improvement store. However, you’ll be expected to purchase some of your
cabinets and appliances from that store.
- Cost: professional designer: $5,800 (10% of total)
- Key strategies: Once your plans are set, you can hold onto them until you’re ready to remodel.
Stage two: Order the cabinets, appliances,
and lighting fixtures
Cabinets and appliances are the biggest investments in your kitchen
remodeling project. If you're remodeling in stages, you can order them
any time after the plans are complete and store them in a garage (away
from moisture) or in a spare room until you're ready to pull the trigger
on the installation. Remember that it may take 4-6 weeks from the day you order them for your cabinets to be delivered.
If you can't afford all new appliances, keep your old ones for now --
but plan to buy either the same sizes, or choose larger sizes and
design your cabinets around those larger measurements. You can replace
appliances as budget permits later on. The same goes for your lighting fixtures: If you can live with your old ones for now, you’ll save money by reusing them. You’ll have to decide about flooring, too — one of the trickier
decisions to make because it also affects how and when you install
cabinets. You’ll need to know if your old flooring runs underneath your
cabinets, or if the flooring butts up against the cabinet sides and toe
kicks. If the flooring runs underneath, you’ll have some leeway for new
cabinet configurations — just be sure the old flooring will cover any
newly exposed floor areas. Here are points to remember: Keep old flooring for cost savings. This works if your new cabinets
match your old layout, so that the new cabinets fit exactly into the old
flooring configuration. If the existing flooring runs underneath your
cabinets and covers all flooring area, then any new cabinet
configuration will be fine. Keep your old flooring for now and cover it or replace it later.
Again, this works if your cabinet configuration is identical to the old
layout. However, if you plan to cover your old flooring or tear it out and
replace it at some point in the future, remember that your new flooring
might raise the height of your floor, effectively lowering your cabinet
height. For thin new floor coverings, such as vinyl and linoleum, the change
is imperceptible. For thicker floorings, such as wood and tile, you
might want to take into account the change in floor height by installing
your new cabinets on shims.
- Cost: cabinets: $16,000 (27% of total); appliances and lighting
fixtures: $8,500 (15% of total); vinyl flooring: $1,000 (2% of total)
- Key strategy: Keep old appliances, lighting fixtures, and flooring and use them until you can afford new ones.
Stage three: Gut the kitchen and do the electrical
and plumbing work
Here's where the remodel gets messy. Old cabinetry and appliances are
removed, and walls may have to be opened up for new electrical
circuits. Keep in close contact with your contractor during this stage
so you can answer questions and clear up any problems quickly. A major
kitchen remodel can take 6 to 10 weeks, depending on how extensive the
project is. During this stage, haul your refrigerator, microwave, and toaster
oven to another room — near the laundry or the garage, for example — so
you've got the means to cook meals. Feinberg suggests tackling this
stage in the summer, when you can easily grill and eat outside. That’ll
reduce the temptation to eat at restaurants, and will help keep your
day-to-day costs under control.
- Cost: $14,500 for tear-out and installation of new plumbing and electrical (25% of total)
- Key strategies: Encourage your contractor to expedite the tear-out
and installation of new systems. Plan a makeshift kitchen while the work
is progressing. Schedule this work for summer when you can grill and
eat outside.
Stage four: Install cabinets, countertop, appliances, flooring, and fixtures
If
you’ve done your homework and bought key components in advance, you
should roll through this phase. You've now got a (mostly) finished
kitchen.
A high-end countertop and backsplash can be a sizable sum of money.
If you can't quite swing it, put down a temporary top, such as painted
marine plywood or inexpensive laminate. Later, you can upgrade to
granite, tile, solid surface, or marble.
- Cost: $12,000 (21% of total)
- Key strategy: Install an inexpensive countertop; upgrade when you’re able.
Stage five—Final phases: Upgrade if necessary
Replace the inexpensive countertop, pull up the laminate flooring,
and put in tile or hardwood, or buy that new refrigerator you wanted but
couldn't afford during the remodel. (Just make sure it fits in the
space!).
By: Gretchen Roberts Published: January 19, 2012 Reprinted from House Logic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
Are you looking to get your home on the market in time for the Spring
market? This is it! Don't know where to begin? Let me help you
navigate through the process of getting your home ready for sale. Not
interested in selling but just need some design help? No problem!
Call Linda Kemp at 630.688.5121 for help and advice. It's always my pleasure to assist you!
Buyers you can search for properties from the comfort of your living room right here! You will find the most up-to date listings direct from our multiple listing service. Have fun and happy house hunting!
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Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender - Chicago Bancorp: Posted on Wednesday, February 08, 2012 3:16 PM
Don't "Cut Your Nose Off and Spite Your Face" when it comes to your Mortgage Financing
There's an old saying ...
"You're cutting your nose off and spiting your face" ...
Stretching the point just a bit, I want to use this saying to get a message across regarding interest rates ... and the intense focus that most home buyers, and those refinancing, place on them.
Now I know that sounds a bit ironic coming from me, a mortgage lender. But as much as I think the interest rates we are seeing right now are a huge HUGE advantage to those seeking mortgage financing ... I also think that the extreme attention and importance placed on rates by consumers can be rather myopic and ultimately end-up being detrimental to their long-term financial health.
Using a play on another old adage, I believe ... "man/woman cannot (and should not) live on interest rates alone". And too many times I see mortgage clients doing just that. They make decisions based SOLELY on interest rates.
Typically a lower interest rate, and the subsequent lower payment attached to it, puts a "fire out". Meets a need in their mind. They see a tangible difference in the numbers they're going to shell-out each month ... and that's obviously important. I understand that ...
No one ... NO one really WANTS a
mortgage. No one WANTS to pay money out of their pocket each and every
month. But the need is there, right? And call it the financial planner in me, but a home buyer or homeowner is typically talking the biggest financial "stake" and financial need they have in their lives when speaking to me about their mortgage financing.
 So I ask you ... Why not get the "biggest bang for your buck" that you can from it? Utilize it? Maximize the benefits you receive?
A wise decision on your mortgage rate and mortgage program CAN do that for you. And simply put, the lowest interest rate ... and the mortgage program/term attached to it ... may NOT be the best overall financial decision for you.
But you have to be working with a mortgage lender that has the expertise, experience, and knowledge ... and will take the time ... to explain ALL options available to you. Options that may serve a better financial purpose for you in the short and long-term. Options that may leave you much healthier financially for the future.
Many times the difference in interest rates between mortgage programs can be small ... but still carry a HUGE and reverberating impact on your finances. The importance of working with a mortgage lender that can and will "paint the picture" for you regarding the short and long-term benefits of each of your mortgage options cannot be overstated.
I believe making your mortgage selection based solely on interest rates can be like ... "cutting your nose off and spiting your face".
So I suggest ... don't make the decision hurredly. Take the time to and do the homework necessary to find the mortgage lender that can provide you all the information, products, and services you need. Then listen intently to what they say. Take notes. Ask questions. Get ALL the facts regarding ALL the mortgage options and interest rates currently available to you. Have the mortgage lender you're speaking with "paint you the picture" in hard numbers. Consider carefully the comparisons provided you.
Then and only then, make your final financing decision. That way when you move ahead with your financing you will know for a fact that you chose the right mortgage lender. On your Closing Day, you will know for a fact that you have the best mortgage financing for YOU personally ... in the short-term AND long-term.
You'll feel .. and be ... much happier and healthier financially for it.
 * Work with a Mortgage Lender with 35 years of experience, expertise, and knowledge in mortgage lending, appraising background, and financial planning. Contact me today. Together we will discover the mortgage financing that best suit your needs, in the short-term and long-term both. I can be contacted through any of the following: Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331 Skype: 630.219.1316
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Buying a Home, Financing, Mortgages, Real Estate Advice, Financial Planning, First-Time HomeBuyers, Obtaining Mortgage Quotes, Pre-Approvals, & Info, Money-saving Strategies, Mortgage Closing Costs, Asking credit and mortgage questions, Seeking Advice, home buying, Mortgage Costs, Closing Costs, Interest Rates, Interest Rate Lock-In
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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR® - Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate, Prudential CT Realty, Guest Blogger: Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2012 11:50 AM
I thought Peggy's information of such value, that I immediately asked her if she would be willing to share her post here on my website blog. She was gracious enough to say, "yes".
I hope that.should you be in need of professional real estate representation out in Hartford and Tolland Counties in CT ... that you will contact Peggy Chirico. You can do no better than utilizing her expertise as you navigate the area's housing market and sales.
Should you be in the process of downsizing and buying a new home in the Chicagoland area ... I hope you will contact me. I'll be happy to assist you in all phases of the mortgage process, from initial credit check to successful closing and beyond.
Hope you find Peggy's post beneficial and as interesting as I did ...
In the Baby Boomer Series,
I am going to address topics that pertain to people of my
generation--baby boomers who are planning for the next steps in their
lives.
Baby Boomer Series ~ Cleaning Out the Attic
Contrary
to conventional wisdom, at least in my opinion, the most important step
is not deciding where or how one wants to spend his or her retirement
years; the most important step is CLEANING OUT THE ATTIC!
 Regardless
of whether you plan to stay in your home, move across town, or relocate
to the sunny south, you must clean out the attic. If you are like me,
you have lived a considerable number of years in the same house and have
amassed a lot of memories in the attic.
Why
do I think cleaning out the attic is the most important step? Because
it will allow you make a quicker decision if you have to. If you clean
out the attic now, well in advance of any decisions you need to make,
you will be able act upon your decision quicker. And if you choose to
spend your retirement years in the same house, you won't be leaving the
dreaded task of cleaning out your attic to your family.
This post was prompted by two events:
- The first was a showing I recently had
where the buyers wanted to close in six weeks. The seller, however, had
so much stuff everywhere (and the attic was jam-packed) that it would
have taken her a month of Sundays to clear it all out. Her stuff
included tons of memorabilia, restaurant menus, knickknacks, books,
clothes, and some stunning antiques and artwork. There was a lot that
would simply have to be thrown out, and some of it shouldn't be thrown
out. But in the heat of the moment, when someone is under pressure to
clear out the house, mistakes will be made. Valuable things may be thrown out and worthless things will remain.
- The second event was my own trip into my attic. I call my attic Limbo because
that's where I throw everything that I don't know what to do with. It's
also a one-way street. It goes up, but it never comes down. So after 35
years of living in the same house, I know there is a vast amount of memories up there.
Cleaning
the attic is an onerous chore; no one really wants to get caught in the
trip down memory lane that will take years to complete. Trust me, I
know. I had boxes of cards, gifts, memorabilia, and stuffed animals for
each of my children. It took me an entire afternoon because, of course, I
had to read every card! And that was just one box.
So here are some of the suggestions that worked for me; maybe they will work for you.
- Get some help. Enlist the aid of your children, spouse, or a professional service. They will keep you on track.
- Tackle it one box at a time. Bring the box
down from the attic and decide on the contents' final destination:
garbage, recycling, donating, giving to a family member, selling it, or
having it appraised.
- Set up a minimum goal of how many boxes you will deal with each week and hold yourself to it.
Toss It
I
am all for recycling and reusing wherever possible, but there is
probably a good amount of junk that simply must be tossed, such as old
Halloween costumes, decomposing papers sprinkled with glitter, melted
plastic items, etc.
Give It Back
If
you have been saving someone else's memories, put the stuff in a pile
and give it to the person. Chances are they will have a much easier time
of throwing it out than you would. When I presented each of my children
with boxes of their kindergarten homework, they thought I was nuts.
They looked through it for old time's sake and just as quickly tossed
it.
Give It Away
You
may have useful items in the attic that someone else would love to
have. I had 16 place settings of Christmas dishes that I hadn't used in
twenty years and knew I would never use them again, so I gave eight
place settings to each of my daughters. My son decided he would rather
have an old turntable that was up there. If there are things that your
family or friends can use, offer it to them. Wouldn't you rather see
them enjoy it than have it rot in the attic? There are also plenty of
charitable organizations that would be glad to accept donations. A rule
of thumb: If you haven't seen it, used it, or thought about it in five
years, you probably don't need it now. Appraise It
For
the valuable things in your attic, like silver candlesticks, old
collectibles, or antiques, consider having them appraised to see if they
really are worth anything. You may just have cash in the attic that
will help pay for your next vacation!
Sell It
If
you have valuable items that you want to sell, consider selling it to
an appraiser, on eBay or Craigslist, or at a tag sale. If you have
things that are not really valuable but that someone might want to buy
anyway, a tag sale may be the quickest way to get rid of a lot of stuff.
Save It
You
don't have to get rid of everything! There may be some items that you
want to hang on to, and that's fine. Just make sure to keep them in the
open so you can truly enjoy them and not just have them collecting dust
in a storage area.
Cleaning
out the attic will be the hardest task, but it is the most important
task. By paring down your stuff, separating trash from treasure, and
keeping only what is essential, you will be ready when you want to make a
decision about where and how you want to spend your retirement years.
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