Real Estate Information

The "newest" marketing tool for selling a home in the current market is, you guessed it, HOME STAGING!

For those of you who don't watch HGTV, Wikipedia describes home staging as:

"Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence prior to going up for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to sell a home quickly, and for the most money possible by attracting the highest amount of potential buyers. Staging focuses on improving a property to make it appeal to the largest number of buyers by transforming it into a welcoming, appealing, and attractive product for sale. Staging often raises the value of a property by way of reducing the home's flaws, depersonalizing, decluttering, cleaning, improving condition items, and landscaping. For vacant homes, rental furniture is used to create a living space the buyer could "see" themselves in. Properly executed staging leads the eye to attractive features while minimizing flaws."

Of course, this is something we've been doing for ages.  However, this last year (2007) I finally took a course to earn a designation in home staging-Certified Home Marketing Specialist- of course, I passed with flying colors!

Statistics show that homes that have been staged sell 50% faster and on average for 6-10% more than un-staged homes.  Home sellers need a competitive edge to make their home stand out.

But where to start?  I will try to give you ideas here and there, stop back and check them out.

First, go outside and stand in the street (watch out for traffic) and take a look at your yard, house and the surrounding area.  Put yourself in the buyers shoes, would you stop and stare, or pass on by?  Are you curious to what is inside or have you already decided that it isn't for you?  Where does your eye go upon first looking at your home?  What architectural features are presented?  Are they accented?  Look at every single detail.  Roof, gutters, eaves, siding, windows, doorknob, doorbell, front door, lighting, shrubbery, grass, trees, basketball hoops, driveway, walkways, railings, fences, etc.  You get the picture...everything has to look welcoming, clean and well cared for.  For example, a flowering potted plant near the door, a clean, dark,  welcome mat, flying the  American flag; all these things say "I am proud of my home and take care of it".

Stay tuned for the next installment.....

Hi Folks!

Visit me this Sunday at 1503 Primrose Ln, West Bend, between 11:30 & 1:00pm

or 514 Michigan Ave,West Bend, between 1:30 & 3:00pm.

Hope to see you there!

by Jeff Seawell, House Detective Home Inspection Services

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Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. At high levels of exposure, it can cause death. 

Carbon Monoxide can come from unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline powered equipment; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke.  Worn or poorly adjusted and maintained combustion devices (e.g., boilers, furnaces) can be significant sources, or if the flue is improperly sized, blocked, disconnected, or is leaking. 

CO alarms are designed to detect elevated levels of CO and sound an alarm to alert you and your family of a potential poisoning risk.  Like smoke detectors, CO alarms need to be tested regularly and have the batteries replaced at least once a year.