Seven out of ten pet owners consider their pet part of the family. Here are some tips for moving your pets to their new home.

Cats and Dogs
Cats and dogs can be taken in your car. If so, remember to take along the following items:

• Food
• Water
• A leash for letting your pet out of the car.
• Newspaper or sheets to keep your car clean.
• Animals can get carsick and will require frequent stops along the way.
• Make sure you check ahead to see if the hotel where you are staying allows pets.

Depending on the animal’s temperament and size, it might be better to have it shipped by air. Be sure to check if your destination has any local requirements or restrictions on animals. If you ship your pet by air, make sure someone can meet your pet at the destination airport and take care of it until you arrive. Kennels provide this service and if necessary can keep your pet until you have completed your move. (more…)

Renting a truck and moving yourself can make sense for many people. The amount and type of household goods, distance of the move and costs are all factors in that decision process. Here are some guidelines for additional help.

Setting a Move Date
Once you have decided to move it is important to plan your move. The amount of notice you will need to reserve a rental truck will vary depending on the time year and the time of the month you plan to move. Rental trucks companies tend to rent more trucks on weekends rather than during the week. The end of the month is always a busy time. Not to mention that summer months tend to be more demanding than winter months. Pricing can also be affected by the volume of trucks in need. For example, it would be less expensive to move mid-month during the middle of the week in October.

What Truck Size Do You Need?
Most rental agencies provide a size-guide. Remember, it’s always better to error on the side of caution and rent a larger truck, then running the risk of not having enough space, especially if you are moving a long distance. Even if you are moving a short distance, too small of a truck could result in making multiple trips. Trying to switch truck sizes at the last minute will only cause delays.

How Much Will It Cost?
The cost to rent a truck varies greatly. There are many factors that affect the cost, such as: distance being moved, time of year in which you are moving, size of truck, fuel expense, one way fees, insurance coverage, towing an additional auto and packing materials. It is important to compare costs between rental truck companies. Make sure each of the contracts provide the same services, so the fees can be properly compared. (more…)

Planning is an important factor in making your move a success. The moving process can be full of many twists and turns. The timing of your move depends on such factors as the selling of your current home and the purchasing of your new home. Once you have the “where” in your moving process, you can work on the “when”, “how” and preparations for the actual move day.

When will you move?
Put together a general timeline/plan of when you will be moving. Dates may change, but your to-do list will remain the same. Adjustments are easy when you have a good plan. Once the house has a contract and you have a closing date on the new home, adjust and finalize your timeline to accommodate.

How will you move?
Will you be doing a self-haul move? Or hiring professional movers? The following questions will help you decide the method of transportation to use for hauling your belongings:

1. How much is your budget for the move? You may want a professional mover to survey your goods and provide an estimate.
2. How do I find a dependable mover?
3. How do I contact a truck rental agency?
4. What is the cost to rent a truck?
5. How much time do you have to pack, load, drive, unload and unpack your goods? What is your work schedule?
6. How much strength and endurance do you have to move your household goods?
7. Who will be helping at the origin and destination to load and unload your items? Many pieces of furniture cannot be move with just two people.
8. What is the coverage of your household goods? Does your home owner’s policy cover any damage to your belongings or to your residence due to the moving process?
9. Will you be packing yourself? (more…)
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While some agents may put an ad of your home in the local paper and list it in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), there are many additional steps that should be taken to effectively market your home enabling a quick sale at the best price. A devoted REALTOR® will actively market your house using at least a few of the following methods:

1. Advertising in the MLS
Advertising your listing in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is imperative in any marketing plan! It is typically the first place your agent will begin marketing your house and most often directly responsible for the sale of your house. Years ago, it was used as a medium for agents to market homes to buyers agents, however, with the internet evolving it is now available for buyers to search themselves on many real estate websites.

2. For Sale Sign in Yard with Brochure Box
For sale signs with professionally designed brochures displayed in a brochure box in your front yard is also essential. This is an inexpensive way to ensure all passersby’s get a chance to notice your house.

3. Prominent Advertising on Your Agent’s Website
While the MLS is available for buyers to search it is of utmost importance your house also be prominently featured within your agent’s website. While your house is not likely the only listing your agent features you may want to kindly suggest they rotate each listing from the “featured properties” page to the homepage. The added exposure just may help you sell more quickly and your agent will likely appreciate your interest to help.
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Decorating on a budget doesn’t have to be a drag, in fact, it can be a delight. Pick a theme for the room, perhaps a sports theme for a den/TV room, shabby chic for a great room, or a jungle animal theme for a child’s bedroom. Identify what statement you want to make and what will please you, not an audience. After all, it’s YOUR home!

One of the best places you can shop at is a consignment store. They generally carry “gently used” furniture, appliances, televisions, artwork, rugs, you name it! Professional designers know these are great places to find one of a kind, unique items and often times the prices can be negotiated.

If you truly enjoy the thrill of the hunt, garage and estate sales may be just the thing for you. You never know what you’ll find at a garage sale, which is why they are so fun! Since it is apparent the homeowner is anxious to get rid of as much as possible (most garage sales are only a day or two in duration) there is great opportunity to negotiate. Remember, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure!

Estate sales are run differently, usually by a professional company that is representing the seller. Estate sales are generally the liquidation of a household and may include the entire contents of a kitchen down to dishes and cutlery and entire rooms of furniture, as well as valuable and expensive antiques and artwork.

Happy Hunting! Keep your eyes open for those perfect treasures that will make your house a home on a budget!

Obligations to disclose information about a property vary from state to state. Under the strictest laws, the seller and the seller’s broker, if there is one, are required to disclose all facts materially affecting the value or desirability of the property which are known or accessible only to him.

Items sellers often disclose include: homeowners association dues; whether or not work done on the house meets local building codes and permit requirements; the presence of any neighborhood nuisances or noises which a prospective buyer might not notice, such as a dog that barks every night or poor TV reception; any death within three years on the property; and any restrictions on the use of the property, such as zoning ordinances or association rules. It is wise to check your state’s disclosure rules prior to a home purchase.
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In selling your home, you want to sell more than just square footage, you want to sell a lifestyle. To do just that, you need to stage your home for sale.

The goal of successful staging is to make the buyer envision your home as a place they can entertain friends poolside, relax in the hot tub, create gourmet meals in the kitchen, pamper themselves in a spa like bathroom, etc. You get the picture. Making your home as inviting as possible will help the buyer fall in love with YOUR home, leaving the rest of the homes on the market behind and facilitating the sale.

You can make your home stand out from the competition.room by room! Create focal points, edit the current arrangement of your existing furniture to create more room and less clutter, and stage both the exterior and the interior to create a consistent positive impression.

BATHROOMS-
Buyers love a clean, bright, luxurious bathroom. You don’t need to remodel, but you do need to reorganize and decorate. A fresh coat of paint will do wonders, especially with a wallpapered border. Clear all countertops saving a few essential items. Prominently display plush, thirsty bath and hand towels in coordinating colors. Fresh flowers or silk plant arrangements will add a decorator touch, as will decorative soaps and candles. When choosing candles, look for clean colors (compatible with the walls and towels) and scents (lemon sends a clean message or lavender sends a relaxing message). Pictures and artwork are often overlooked in a bathroom, but will add a designer touch and create a special ambiance.
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How fast do staged homes sell? You’d be pleasantly surprised to learn they will sell 32% faster, and generally for 3-10% more! Well staged homes attract both realtors and buyers, often leading to rapid sales and more money in your pocket. Here are twelve reasons for staging your home.

1. Staged Homes Sell Faster Staged homes sell much more rapidly than non-staged homes. Marketing experts indicate that staged homes sell 30 to 50% faster in most areas. This is important, because the longer a home is on the market, the more likely there will be a sales reduction. Buyers are quick to assume that something is wrong with a home if it has been on the market for a long time. They think the homeowner will be anxious to sell and will take much less than the asking price.
2. Leaves a Good Impression First impressions are positive on staged homes and can influence a buyer.
3. Initial Impact Research shows that buyers initially make up their mind in less than a minute on whether they want a home or not. Therefore, curb appeal is essential. After a buyer’s initial decision in the first minute, they will either confirm that decision or rescind it within the next 6 to 20 minutes as they view your home. (more…)
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When pricing your home, you may consider the price you originally paid, add a substantial markup and presume you’re done. This would be a grave mistake; one that could wind up costing you thousands or end in no sale at all. In order to price your home to sell there are many things that should be considered:

Obtain A CMA (Comparative Market Analysis):
When interviewing agents, you should obtain CMA’s from each agent offering an idea of the price your home should sell. A CMA details the prices of similar homes recently sold, on-the-market homes as well as homes that simply did not sell in your area.

Be wary of agents attempting to “buy” your listing. An agent practicing this technique will often sweet-talk you with their elevated price recommendation waiting only a few weeks to insist on a price reduction. Be mindful: a home on the market for extended periods become less saleable. People begin to wonder if there are significant defects with the property or whether the seller is truly motivated.
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Chances are that potential home buyers will drive by at least once when making the decision. It is a fact that increasing your home’s curb appeal will decrease the amount of time it takes to sell your home.

Entrance
It is very important that your home be easy for potential buyers to find, so make sure the house numbers are easy to see from the street. Have an objective person approach your door to see things you might not notice.

1. Does the door need to be painted or replaced?
2. Is there a polished doorknocker or working doorbell?
3. Are the railings secure and sturdy looking?

These initial impressions can help any interested buyers make their decision.
A clean and neat exterior will let the potential buyer know that you have kept the house in good repair. Hire a window-washing service to professionally clean windows and clear away cobwebs and debris.

Siding, Roofing and Gutters
A main concern for most homebuyers is the condition of the roof. No one wants to buy a house that might need a costly new roof in only a few months. Hiring a home inspector will help identify potential problems, like leaky roofing, that could interfere with the sale.
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