Articles by Raynor James on ArticleSnatch.com

A Word of Warning About Home Inspections When Buying

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

When you make the decision to purchase a home, you are committing to a lot of debt. You want a home inspection, but be careful with your choice of inspectors. A Word of Warning About Home Inspections When Buying When purchasing a home, it should be required that the buyer set up a home inspection on the home. This home inspection is designed to ensure the home is in good condition and to notify the buyer of any potential problems in the home. However, there are some things that potential buyers should be aware of when having a home inspection done. In order to ensure that the home inspection goes properly, it is important for the buyer to be careful about which home inspection service to go with. Often times, the seller or seller’s realtor will make a suggestion for a home inspection service. Often, they will even offer discounts for using the service. Should you go with the discounted service offered by the seller? Sure, the discount can be good, but you could potentially be setting yourself up for a big loss in the future. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> home inspection]]> inspections]]> seller]]> buyer]]> realtor]]> agent]]> commission]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the site - FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Who Is Responsible For Closing Costs

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Buying or selling a home is a euphoric experience for both of the parties involved. This euphoria can cool when you learn which party is responsible for the closing costs. Who Is Responsible For Closing Costs When looking to buy or sell a home, every person eventually arrives at the question of funding closing costs on the transaction. To put it simply, both buyers and sellers typically are responsible for some of the closing costs. However, the exact amounts paid can vary significantly from area to area and depending on what agreements the buyers and sellers come to in the offer-counteroffer process. It is important to research the area you are looking to buy or sell in and be knowledgeable regarding any laws and standards of practice for the area. Yes, the requirements are different in each state and often each city. Know what you will have to pay ahead of time so you can be prepared to cover these costs. Here are some examples of what buyers and sellers generally have to cover. Buyers typically pay the following: fees charged for obtaining a mortgage; inspection fees; homeowner's insurance (must be prepaid for one year at closing); **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> escrow]]> settlement]]> buyer]]> seller]]> closing]]> costs]]> fees]]> taxes]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the site - FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Should You Pursue Lease Options To Purchase a Home

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

The real estate market is a place where people can get very creative. This brings us to the rent with option to buy programs you see on the market. Should You Pursue Lease Options To Purchase a Home Leasing is a fairly popular form of living arrangement since it basically involves renting over a pre-set period of time, usually 3, 6, or 12 months at a time. Leases provide lower rates than a month by month rent. However, when looking to lease, one will often come across the “Lease Option.” A lease option is essentially the same thing as a lease except that it provides the option to purchase the property at a future date. The option is just that, an option. It may be an interesting offer for some renters, but others will want to pass it up. The option does not have to be taken, since there is a fee required to purchase the option. Although the amount can vary, the fee is usually up-front and paid when entering the lease. In general, lease options are offered in times of slow real estate markets, since generally owners of property look to simply sell during the hot times. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> rent]]> lease]]> option]]> home]]> house]]> investor]]> flip]]> deposit]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the site - FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Closing Costs When Purchasing A Home

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Buying a home is a financial strain if you are making a sizeable down payment. This can lead to problems if you forget the hard, cold cash you will need for closing. Closing Costs When Purchasing A Home Everybody looking to purchase a home no doubt wonders what the average closing costs will be. It is only natural to wonder, especially considering how expensive the closing costs can truly be if you are not careful. In truth, the costs aren’t much given the amount of money the home typically sells for, but they can cause problems because they usually must be paid now and in cash. Essentially, they add to the down payment amount and can cause cash flow problems for buyers. As you might imagine, closing are not easy to quote. Closings in one state involve different things and costs compared to another. Closing costs related to things such as points and property taxes are dependent on the particular deal and geographic location. Some states, for instance, do not collect property taxes, which means no deposit against them must be collected at closing. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> home]]> homes]]> house houses]]> closing]]> costs]]> purchasing]]> buyer]]> escrow]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the site - FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Sell Your Property Without An Agent

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

For the longest time, owners would always turn to agents to sell properties. These days, you can sell your property without an agent and save a bundle on commissions. Sell Your Property Without An Agent One thing that many property owners get caught up in that they don’t necessarily have to is dealing with a real estate agent. When looking to sell, many property owners think that they need a real estate agent to sell their property. This simply is not so. Sure, a real estate agent knows the ropes (hopefully), but the commission charged is not exactly cheap and often times property owners would be better off selling the property by themselves. Selling your property without an agent is something that every property owner in the market to sell should definitely consider. It can save a lot of money and allow the property owner to end up with quite a bit of extra cash in their pocket that would have gone to the real estate agent instead. The real estate agent will indeed know the ropes of listing the property and dealing with buyers, but doing these things is not as hard as some thing. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> property]]> homes]]> houses]]> selling]]> realtor]]> fsbo]]> agent]]> real estate agent]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the site - FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Tips on Selling Your Property

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

As the red hot real estate market starts to return to normal levels, sellers must return to fundamentals. Here are some tips on how to sell your property. Tips on Selling Your Property For the last five years, tips on how to sell property were focused on one thing – just put it on the market. The demand was so high that many homes were sold within a few days. The glory days of this sellers market appear to finally be coming to an end as demand cools given the increase in energy prices and interest rates. If you are a seller, this means we need to return to some fundamental tips on how to sell a property. The first tip is to get your property in pristine condition. Potential buyers are committing to a lot of debt and need to view your property as a dream home. This means you need to put forth your best when showing the property. Everything should be clean, including the garage. Plants should be alive and manicured, including along the side of the property. Any areas showing wear, particularly paint, must be cleaned up or repainted. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> homes]]> houses]]> property]]> tips]]> selling]]> buying]]> landscaping]]> debt]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the site - FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

An Overview of a Quit Claim Deed

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

The deed to a property is a legal document that establishes ownership. There are different types of deeds. Here is an overview of a quit claim deed. An Overview of a Quit Claim Deed Quit claim deeds are a form of deed used in the transfer or sale of property when a grantor, a person who owns an interest in the property, is essentially allowing the transfer of that property to another person. The grantors do not actually own the property but rather simply have responsibility over it. For this reason, grantors have the legal right to sell the property but there is a catch. The quit claim deed offers little protection for buyers down the road. Although the property will be transferred to the grantee from the grantor, the quit claim deed does not legally protect the grantee from future claims to the property. The grantor does not legally own the property and so that leaves a back door open for potential future problems regarding the property. Quit claim deeds are often used in a couple situations due to their relative simplicity compared to many of the other forms that have to be filed during property transfer and/or sales. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> buy]]> sell]]> home]]> house]]> homes]]> houses]]> deeds]]> quit claim]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the site - FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Understanding Deeds When Selling a Home

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

When selling a home, there are a few fundamental topics you need to understand. This brings us to the issue of the different types of deeds you will run into. Understanding Deeds When Selling a Home The process of selling property is easier if you understand the basics of the sales process. Marketing the property and dealing with buyers and/or the hassles of real estate agents can be aggravating, but the piles of paperwork and all the different forms involved are really the biggest issue. Among these many forms and papers are deeds. We’ll help make selling property a little easier for you by clearing things up a bit. A warranty deed is a pretty basic deed that, for the most part, states the seller owns the property and there are no liens (debts, etc) against the property that will be transferred over. It is stating that the property is legally owned and there are no hidden tie-ins the buyer should be aware of. This deed ensures buyers that the property they are buying is actually owned by the person they are dealing with and they won’t be met with any surprises later on. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> home]]> house]]> deed]]> deeds]]> homes]]> houses]]> property]]> sell]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the site - FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Selling Property without A Real Estate Agent

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

I am going to sell my property without an agent. This refrain is being heard more and more these days as the Internet and real estate market evolves beyond the realtor-based transaction. Selling Property without A Real Estate Agent FSBO is an acronym meaning for sale by owner. The advantages of selling as a FSBO are numerous. With real estate commissions of six percent, you are looking at immediately saving tens of thousands of dollars in commissions. If for some reason this does not entice you, keep in mind you can use the savings to undercut the prices of similar homes in your area. This will move your house quickly off the market and let you get on with your life. The key to selling your property is to be prepared. First, you need to find out the value of the property by looking at comparables in your area or trying an online valuation service. Once you have the value in mind, you need to determine whether this is acceptable. You also need to determine what you are really willing to accept as a sales price once haggling is completed. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> fsbo]]> for sale by owner]]> internet]]> fsbo site]]> realtor]]> real estate agent]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org. Visit our sell my own home page to learn more.

An Overview of the Escrow Account

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Whether buying or selling real estate, you will inevitably deal with an escrow account. If you are not familiar with an escrow account, here is an overview. An Overview of the Escrow Account A real estate transaction is a high dollar transaction. In fact, you will probably never make a bigger one in your life regardless of whether you are buying or selling. Given the high stakes and the fact that feelings can sometimes get ruffled on each side of the fence, the escrow account was created. An escrow account is really a part of a larger beast known as escrow. To keep the real estate transaction running smoothly and organized, escrow is undertaken. A third party, known as the escrow agent, is retained to collect documents, money and such. Since people can be tense during transactions involving large sums of money, it is important to have a party involved that is not emotionally attached. The escrow account is an industry term that can mean a few different things. In its strictest sense, the account is a trust account opened to hold monies deposited by the parties for appraisals, inspections and remedial work. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> escrow]]> appraisal]]> inspection]]> property]]> home]]> house]]> sell]]> buy]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org. Visit our sell my own home page to learn more.

Is FSBO For You?

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Selling your home yourself can save you thousands of dollars in commissions. However, that doesn’t mean you should necessarily do it for the following reasons: Demanding Work Selling your home yourself is demanding. What if you spend enormous amounts of time, energy, and concentration in your business or profession? What if you have to travel a lot? Entertain a lot? Invest long hours? Do a great deal of study reading just to stay as good at your work tomorrow as you were today? People whose work life includes those sorts of demands probably don’t need another project that requires time and attention. My suggestion is that if your work is exhilarating, challenging, and consumes large amounts of time, you will probably be better off working with a Realtor. Take the time when you first put your home on the market to interview an agent or two. Ask how they market their listings. Ask if they keep their clients informed about the status of their property’s marketing. Ask for references. When you find one you feel can and will do a good job for you, sign a listing agreement. **End Summary** Topics: fsbo]]> sell your home yourself]]> sell home]]> real estate agent]]> realtor]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

The Difference Between Appraisals and Assessments

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Many people think appraisals and assessments are the same thing or at least that they should be for the same amount. The truth is they can vary greatly. Let’s look at each of them. Appraisals An appraisal is an estimate of market value. An appraiser can use many methods for coming up with this estimate. For income producing property, the appraiser may capitalize the value of the income stream. (It would take “x” dollars of capital invested at a “y” rate of return to produce an income equal to the rental income generated by this property.) For other properties, an appraiser may use “replacement value.” (It would cost “x” dollars to build this structure if it were being built today.) Appraisers usually use “comparable sales” when evaluating the market value of a home. They look at nearby properties with similar characteristics, which have sold in the recent past to see at what price they sold. They typically give the most weight to the property they deem to be most like the property they are appraising. **End Summary** Topics: assessments]]> appraisal]]> market value]]> appraiser]]> value]]> comparable sales]]> market value]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Home Styles

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Whether you’re buying or selling, reading real estate ads can be confusing. Here’s a primer on the styles mentioned in the ads. Home Styles What’s the difference between a Tudor and Colonial style? What about a Colonial and Dutch Colonial? Read on to find out. “Colonial,” “Georgian,” or “Federal” style Terms used when talking about a two (could be 3 or two and one half) story house that is very symmetrical. The front door is in the center of the house. There are an equal number of windows on each side. There is an upstairs window over each downstairs window and over the front door. There are usually exterior shutters at the windows. (Note: The houses which inspired this very traditional style were built in the early days of our country and are seen mostly in the East.) “Tudor” style A style of home that borrows from merry old England. It typically has exposed heavy dark beams. Some of the beams are perpendicular, some horizontal, and some at a forty five degree angle. The exterior walls are usually stucco between the beams. The lower story is usually of brick or stone. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> home styles]]> meanings]]> tudor]]> colonial]]> georgian]]> federal]]> spanish]]> hacienda]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Increase You Home Value With Bathroom Improvements

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Many home owners look for ways to add value to their homes through improvements. One of the best ways is to have a go at your bathrooms. The Almighty Bathroom Today’s bathrooms are wonderful. Showers that “rain” on you, warm air hydrotherapy bathtubs, sinks that look like water worn boulders. You can pamper yourself now and smile on your way to the bank when you sell because homes with good kitchens and bathrooms are in demand. The only caveat is don’t make it so grand that it’s above your neighborhood’s standards. It’s hard to get your money out when yours is the most expensive house in the neighborhood. Explore and Plan The scope and style of your bath update needs to fit the style and price range of your home and your family, and you’ll face space constraints. One way to approach the project is to canvass various places that sell bathroom fixtures, see what you like, comparison shop, and then see if there’s an outlet for your price range with a good design staff to help you on a “freebie” basis if you buy from them. Lowe’s and Home Depot are useful if you are very price conscious. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> home]]> bathroom]]> improvement]]> improvements]]> sink]]> faucets]]> shower]]> tubs]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Home Improvements - Questions and Answers

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

When considering home improvements, it is important to ask family members for their opinions. So, how do you evaluate the answers? Typical Discoveries Talking with family members about home improvements will lead to surprising answers. You and your husband each have times you need to be alone (computer work, business planning), and times you need to be alone together (initial discussions about family plans, a new job, the budget, travel, etc.). This varies by age of course, but children have similar needs for being alone, alone with friends and with the family. There are times you and your husband will decide the children need your supervision no matter what their preferences. Decisions After discussions and interviews with family members, you are ready to map out a plan for how the various areas of the house are to be used. Do the initial plan and then discuss it with your husband or wife. Don’t discuss it with the children until the two of you are pretty much in agreement. Obviously, tastes are specific to individual people. You and your husband must come to an agreement based on the following considerations: 1. **End Summary** Topics: home improvements]]> planning]]> family]]> budget]]> family members]]> business planning]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Improving Bathrooms In Your Home

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

One of the best ways to increase the value of your home is to improve the bathrooms. Here’s a primer on things to consider. Sinks Villeroy and Boch makes a sink that mimics a boulder worn into a bowl by water flowing into it. It can be quite handsome in a minimalist home or a rustic one. You can see it and others at villeroy-boch.com. Concrete Jungle makes some dramatically simple concrete sinks and vanities that surprisingly look very modern, or very farm-house. Check concretejungleonline.com if that idea appeals. Walker Zanger’s designs include a perfectly simple sink in white marble for a dressier look. They also have a sturdy dark wooden “table” base that gives it dramatic contrast. You might enjoy visiting walkerzanger.com for more ideas. Showers A shower separate from the tub is one of today’s favorite luxuries. Some of them have been designed to feel like rain (at least part of the time). Dornbracht has one called “RainSky M” which can be checked out at dornbracht.com. Large frameless (or nearly frameless) glass shower enclosures are showing up in more and more homes. **End Summary** Topics: home improvements]]> bathroom]]> tubs]]> showers]]> improve bathrooms]]> acryline tubs]]> sinks]]> maxx]]> boch]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Real Estate Ads - Home Style Terms and Their Meanings

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Whether you’re buying or selling, reading real estate ads can be confusing. Here are explanations of more style terms used in real estate ads. “Split Foyer” style A home entered by a foyer with a half flight of stairs up to the upper level (where the living spaces and one or more bedrooms are usually located) and a half flight of stairs to the lower level (typically housing the family room and additional bedrooms). “Tri-Level” style A home with three levels. It is typically entered on the middle level and has half flights of stairs to the highest and lowest levels. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are usually on the middle level. The bedrooms are usually on the highest level. The lowest level may be unfinished or have family room, laundry, and perhaps a garage located there. “Contemporary” style These vary greatly, but none looks as if it could have been built prior to 1900. Some are almost entirely of glass. Some are almost entirely under ground. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> ads]]> home styles]]> real estate terms]]> victorian]]> contemporary]]> split foyer]]> tri level]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Home Improvements - Making Decisions

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

If you have a family, planning home improvements should be a family matter. Still, you want to stick to ideas that work. Ideas That Work We’ve all seen families who get along well most of the time and families who are constantly at odds with each other. One common denominator among families who get along are homes that work for them. Let’s talk about ideas seen more than once in homes that work. It may help you explore what will work for you. Many families with school age children have a computer and homework area near the kitchen. It’s often a computer desk and the breakfast area table. This is usually sandwiched between the kitchen and family room, and all three areas are open to each other. It’s an easy area for parents to make themselves available to help and supervise the children while they themselves perhaps cook, talk, read, or have a cup of tea (or other beverage) before or after dinner. Family rooms are also great for TV, movies, and computer games. A finished basement provides an ideal place for a “home theater” for the same sorts of things, but supervision becomes tougher. **End Summary** Topics: home improvements]]> family planning]]> breakfast area]]> dining room]]> planning home improvements]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Thoughts on the Future of the Real Estate Market

Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

You hear it everywhere. The baby boomers are starting to retire. The stock market and real estate market will suffer as money is pulled out. This hardly seems true for real estate. Thoughts on the Future of the Real Estate Market Baby boomers are those individuals born during the period from roughly 1945 to 1964. Following World War II, peace and economic prosperity occurred for roughly twenty years. Along with this came an explosion in the birth rates in the United States. This increase in birth rates created a bulge in the overall population, to wit, the baby boomer generation. As economists and pundits look to the future, they worry about what will happen when baby boomers move out of the job market. Who will replace them? What happens to their money? Will the drain on the stock market from 401k distributions wipe out the stock market? What about real estate where baby boomers are starting to pass their peak earning years? Is everything going to crash? No. The first reason the real estate market will not die is the boomers. They do not just disappear when they retire. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> home]]> house]]> real estate market]]> houses]]> homes]]> baby boomers]]> stock market]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our sell my home page to get a free 1 month listing.

FSBO Sellers â The Real Estate Agent Is Not Your Enemy

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

If you are selling your home without a real estate agent, you need to realize the agents in your area are not your enemy. In fact, they may prove very useful in moving your property. FSBO Sellers – The Real Estate Agent Is Not Your Enemy A common mistake made when people decide to list their home for sale by owner is to assume real estate agents are to be avoided. This is a mistake for a number of reasons and can significantly hinder your efforts to sell the property. Consider the following. A majority of buyers will use a real estate agent to locate and make offers on real estate. I am sure this is hardly a shocking revelation to you. Given this fact, many FSBO sellers make the mistake of treating real estate agents rudely. If you receive a call from an agent, you need to realize the person offering their services may be the same person that calls a week later with an interested buyer. If you burn bridges by being rude or hanging up on real estate agents, you run the risk of missing out on potential buyers. **End Summary** Topics: fsbo]]> for sale by owner]]> real estate agent]]> realtor]]> home]]> homes]]> house]]> houses]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our sell my home page to get a free 1 month listing.

When Your Home Is Not Selling

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

As the real estate market returns to a normal pattern of buying and selling, some sellers are easily frustrated. If your home is not selling, here are a few practical tips. When Your Home Isn’t Selling Selling a home is similar to a job interview or a first date. Presentation tends to go a long way in determining the outcome. That might sound a bit shallow, but it is simply a fact of life in many endeavors including real estate. To this end, sellers have developed bad habits when it comes selling their home out of the recent hot seller’s market. A few basic tips can get you back on track. Most real estate comes with a garage. If you have lived in the property for any amount of time, you have undoubtedly stored numerous things in your garage. I have! When the time comes to sell your property, however, you need to give your garage the once over. Items you consider priceless heirlooms might be considered junk by buyers. A messy garage is also a negative. Remember, buyers expect you to have the home in pristine condition. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> home]]> homes]]> house]]> houses]]> sell]]> selling]]> market]]> marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Final Walk-Through - The Value of Your Contract

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

A walk-through is an important step in a real estate transaction. To get the most out of it, make sure you understand the terms of the purchase contract. Check Things the Contract Specifies When you signed the contact to purchase your new home, certain elements and characteristics were specified. If the home does not match those elements on the walk-through, the contract will give you leveraging position. Consider the following: If there’s a hole in the wallboard caused by the leg of a table going through it when the seller was moving out, the house is not in substantially the same condition as when you wrote the contract and the wallboard was intact. If you fill up that lovely, large Jacuzzi tub and the jets won’t work, there is a problem with the working systems of the home. If you start the dishwasher, and it leaks before the cycle is finished, that appliance is not in normal working order. If all the surface burners on the stove won’t light (if gas) or heat to red hot (if electric), ditto. If the heat or air conditioning won’t come on, we have another problem with the working systems. **End Summary** Topics: buy new house]]> walk through]]> contract]]> real estate transaction]]> purchase contract]]> terms]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the FSBO site - FSBOAmerica.org - homes for sale by owner.

Meaning of Catch Phrases in Ads For Homes

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

If you are buying or selling a home, the chances are good you struggle with the meaning of descriptive real estate terms. Here’s the first in a series of articles explaining them. The Wise Seller Be very truthful if you are a seller advertising your home. Mention your home’s best features, but do not exaggerate. If someone comes to look at your home and feels disappointed, they are not apt to buy. You are probably wasting your time and advertising money if your ads mislead. The Wise Buyer Take advertisements with a grain of salt and don’t get too excited until you’ve seen the property. Many sellers do not take the advice given above. Now let’s examine some of the terms themselves and what they commonly mean. “Open Floor Plan” Describes a home in which rooms open out of each other and it’s possible to see from one room to another. Often entertaining rooms (living room, dining room, sun room, entrance foyer) are open to each other, and family living areas (kitchen, breakfast room, family room) are open to each other, while bedrooms have doors and open off a hall in a more traditional way. **End Summary** Topics: real estate ads]]> dormer window]]> real estate terms]]> split bedroom]]> floor plan]]> seller]]> buyer]]> home]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the FSBO site - FSBOAmerica.org - homes for sale by owner.

Sell Old Home or Buy New Home First?

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Buyers who are “moving up” or “downsizing” often have a dilemma. They can’t decide whether to put their home on the market first, or contract to buy their new home first. If they put their home on the market, it might sell and then they might find it impossible to find what they want. Alternatively, if they find a home they’d love to buy, they realize they could lose out because their old home won’t sell quickly enough or the sellers won’t wait. What is the best approach? Alternatives We’ve noted so many times that there is seldom a “right” answer. This is another such instance. Looking at some of the alternatives and how they could work for you might make it easier to figure out how to approach getting from where you are to where you want to be. Home of Choice Clause Let’s say you decide to put your home on the market first because you want to be sure of the amount of money you’ll have to work with. You (or your Realtor if you have one) can market it with the provision that settlement is contingent on your finding the home of your choice. **End Summary** Topics: home buyers]]> moving up]]> bridge loans]]> home equity loan]]> home of choice]]> realtor]]> contingent clause home improvements]]> practical stuff]]> planning home]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the FSBO site - FSBOAmerica.org - homes for sale by owner.

Home Improvements - The Fun Stuff

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Planning home improvements necessarily involves addressing numerous practical matters. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the fun stuff! The Fun Stuff The first thing to plan for in home improvements is the practical stuff. The second thing you need to talk to family members about is the fun stuff. Most people have colors they like and colors they don’t like. They have things that interest them and things that don’t. Get your family to talk to you about those things. Each person’s bedroom, or bedroom area, should reflect his or her taste and interests. A boy who likes green, football, and backpacking can easily have a sage green (it “reads” as more neutral than many shades of green if re-sale of your home is a concern) room with cream woodwork, cream interior shutters, and cream ceiling. Framed football posters and wilderness scenes might be pleasant. Bedding with a rustic motif (rows of stylized pine trees?) from L.L. Bean or Plow and Hearth would work right in. Add a touch or two of a bright color like red or yellow. Does he need a desk in his room? A chest of drawers? A bookcase? **End Summary** Topics: home improvements]]> practical stuff]]> planning home improvements]]> bedroom area]]> home improvements]]> practical stuff]]> planning home improvements]]> bedroom]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Raynor James is with the FSBO site - FSBOAmerica.org - homes for sale by owner.

Articles by Raynor James on ArticleSnatch.com

A Word of Warning About Home Inspections When Buying

Who Is Responsible For Closing Costs

Should You Pursue Lease Options To Purchase a Home

Closing Costs When Purchasing A Home

Sell Your Property Without An Agent

Tips on Selling Your Property

An Overview of a Quit Claim Deed

Understanding Deeds When Selling a Home

Selling Property without A Real Estate Agent

An Overview of the Escrow Account

Is FSBO For You?

The Difference Between Appraisals and Assessments

Home Styles

Increase You Home Value With Bathroom Improvements

Home Improvements - Questions and Answers

Improving Bathrooms In Your Home

Real Estate Ads - Home Style Terms and Their Meanings

Home Improvements - Making Decisions

Thoughts on the Future of the Real Estate Market

FSBO Sellers â The Real Estate Agent Is Not Your Enemy

When Your Home Is Not Selling

Final Walk-Through - The Value of Your Contract

Meaning of Catch Phrases in Ads For Homes

Sell Old Home or Buy New Home First?

Home Improvements - The Fun Stuff

FSBO Sellers â The Real Estate Agent Is Not Your Enemy