Getting Your House Ready to Sell Many sellers will hire an agent to put their house in the MLS and then they wait for showings to occur.  While this will probably generate a few showings, they are definitely not taking advantage of the market.  It is a buyer's market and sellers have got to learn to think like a buyer. Follow these steps to not only make your house more livable but to reach your goal...to receive an offer in a shorter period of time. Keep the front of your house looking nice.  The curb appeal is the first thing that the buyer sees when he looks at the house online and also when they pull into your driveway.  This means have the bushes trimmed, the flowerbeds weeded, the grass seeded/mowed and have the gutters cleaned.  If the buyer views a house that is not taken care o... 10/05/2009

DO YOU TAKE A FULL DAY OFF EACH WEEK?  No ifs, ands or buts about it. You have to take at least one full day off each week. This will help generate energy, peace of mind, and time to do what you want to do. Time for yourself can only help you. Seperating  yourself from the many tasks a Realtor has to do each and every day gets tiring. A "day off" will rejuvinate you...mind, body and spirit. Taking a day off means no real estate calls, no answering your cell phone, no negotiating offers, no taking ad calls, no taking sign calls, no meeting with clients or prospects. The minute you do any business activity, it’s a workday, even if it’s for five minutes. You are deserving......The 24/7 weekly approach to the real estate business leads to family frustrations and burn out. This will help yo... 10/03/2009

Plan on selling your New Hampshire house in the near future?  Wondering what you can do to increase your chances of finding a buyer and selling it fast? If you're fishing for buyers, you need to use the right bait.Unfortunately there are a lot of other New Hampshire sellers with their hooks in the water right now and those buyers have a lot to choose from.In order to get their attention, you need to have the shiniest house.  Your house has to be attractive, appealing, and memorable.  The secret is in the preparation.You can't do anything about the location.The market will determine the price.Condition is the one thing you have the most control over. The way you prepare your New Hamphsire house for sale could determine just how long your house sits on the market and just how long you sit... 10/01/2009

MEMORIES ON ACTIVE RAIN - September 29, 2009 Over the last two years or so I have been apart of the Active Rain community. There are some very nice memories along the way of those who have been of particular help and support to me. This is the first time I've been involved in the social media concept and while the first year I only dabbled in it, this second year I've put myself out there with comments and blogging. I remember a  very memorable response along the way  from Gary Wotal. He is an active member as well and he had written a blog that had a wonderfully, funny photo called "the packed truck"  that I fell in love with. I emailed Gary and asked about it and he promptly sent me the link to this funny picture.  Take a look for yourself......http://www.gwoltal.myfastmail.com/files/... 09/29/2009

Get a Free List of Websites of Government and Bank Foreclosure Listings in Portsmouth, NH There are a number of websites that contain free listings of government and bank foreclosed homes in Portsmouth, NH. These websites contain descriptions, color photos, and addresses of the foreclosed homes for sale in Portsmouth, NH. And, most of these websites have government and bank foreclosure listings nationwide. There's no charge to search the foreclosure listings on any of these websites, and there's no 7-day free trial period either. Virtually all of these websites do not require any personal information to get access to the government and bank foreclosure listings. You can access these foreclosure listings anytime you want and as often as you want - free of charge! Click here to get your o... 09/22/2009

FHA, VA, and USDA Rural Development Loans in Portsmouth, NH Are you looking for a home mortgage loan in the Portsmouth, NH area? Then you’ve come to the right place! Northeast Community Mortgage is a mortgage broker serving Portsmouth, NH, and many of the surrounding areas. When you decide to buy a home or refinance a mortgage in Portsmouth, NH or in the surrounding area, your search for a home mortgage loan should start and end here.  With so many lenders to choose from in the greater Portsmouth area, you should choose one you can trust to find the mortgage loan that will best meet your needs. As a mortgage broker, we help our clients obtain a loan from the lender who has the terms that best matches their needs. In terms of mortgage programs, we specialize in FHA, VA, and USDA Rural De... 09/22/2009

The Mortgage Interest Rate Lock Advisory for September 22, 2009 Here are some of the events affecting mortgage interest rates today in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. What the Mortgage Backed Securities Market is Doing Today: The price of the FNMA 30-Year 4.5% MBS coupon opened down 1/32 this morning to 100.38. The price of the FNMA 30-Year 4.5% MBS coupon closed down 3/32 yesterday to 100.41 (as shown by the white line). MBS is currently trading up 3/32 to 100.50 (as shown by the blue line). Remember, on mortgage backed securities (MBSs), as the price goes up, the yield comes down - and mortgage interest rates come down with it. I expect that mortgage interest rates will essentially be the same in price today as compared to yesterday Economic Reports, News, and Events Affecting Mortgage Int... 09/22/2009

150,000 POINTS ON ACTIVE RAIN AND COUNTING...... A couple of years ago a friend who is an Active Rain member suggested I join the social network and after checking it out I did join. In the beginning I didn't really do too much with it. I would go on every few days and see if there was any blogs of interest to me at the time. It was about a year later that I actually started to blog. As time went on I realized how much worthwhile information there is among the members and started spending more time on AR. It soon became a daily routine. I began to blog occasionally which soon lead to more. I was amazed to find so much worthwhile information existed among the members. Generally I looked for blogs with real estate related information. Photography is a passion of mine and I was delighted ... 09/12/2009

The First Day of School - August 31, 2009 the day that every mother in the country has been waiting for!  Yippee! The First Day of School - August 31, 2009 the day that every mother in the country has been waiting for!  Yippee! What a beautiful day it is, perfect weather indeed, sunny warm temperatures of 75 degrees here in seacoast NH and it's the first day of school  Alone at last, this is the day that every weary mother has been waiting for. Counting down the days on the calendar to get closer to packing off the kids. After a busy summer vacation, run here-go there, today every mom will breath a sigh of relief. For seven hours today moms across the country are breathing a sigh of relief. Alone at last we mothers can call our soul our own. Or can we? There's the cleaning, the laundry,... 08/31/2009

The biggest bang for your buck, by far, is using paint to improve your home's appearance.  Paint will make a room cleaner, fresher, brighter, and more stylish.  It gives buyers the impression that the house has been well maintained and cared for.  It makes your home more competitive with new construction. Paint can be used to help minimize negative features and to help showcase positive features.  It can be used to create a flow throughout the house and to create a lasting positive impression.Many people have trouble choosing paint colors or are afraid of making the wrong choice.  Many times sellers choose colors that they personally like, without taking into consideration the need to be appealing to all potential buyers.It is very important that the colors you choose are neutral, but n... 08/25/2009

One big mistake many sellers make is underestimating the importance of preparing their bathrooms for sale.I recently did a staging consult for a seller who responded "it's the bathroom, it's supposed to have toothbrushes in it" when I told him to remove his toothbrush from the counter. There is no room in the house more personal than the bathroom, and it is the last place buyers want to be reminded that you live there.As buyers, we know other people are living in the house and obviously use the bathrooms, but emotionally, we don't want to think about it.  It's like staying in a nice hotel...when we arrive the bathroom has been made to appear as though we are the first person to ever use it.  We know hundreds of people have been there before us, but right now...there are clean towels, br... 08/23/2009

The visual appearance of a home prompts potential buyers more than any other factor.  Once they step inside, buyers decide within the first ten seconds whether they want to buy your home.  They should be greeted with a spotless, move-in ready home, which gives the appearance of being well maintained and cared for.Clean or freshly painted walls, spotless or new carpeting are a must.  Hardwood floors must be in excellent condition.  Floor tile should be a light neutral color, with clean grout lines. If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you. Previous Tips:Tip #1  Update Lighting Fixtures Tip #2  Identify Red FlagsTip #3  Pre-Pack Your Stuff Tip #4  Define Space & Function Tip #5 ... 08/21/2009

Did you know that only 10% of buyers can actually visualize a room any other way than how you show it to them.It is very important, when preparing a house for sale, to clearly define the space and function of each room. Don't expect potential buyers to try and figure out how to better arrange the furniture because your furniture is not working in the room.If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.Previous Tips:Tip #1  Update Lighting Fixtures Tip #2  Identify Red FlagsTip #3  Pre-Pack Your Stuff  Tip #4  Define Space & FunctionBuyers looking at this room on the MLS have no idea what room it is.  It seems to be a home office for a clock collector.  The dated window treatments an... 08/19/2009

I understand that dealing with years of accumulation can be overwhelming for you.  But, think about how overwhelming it is for potential buyers to have to look past all your stuff.  You at least have a sentimental attachment to the stuff.If you want buyers to consider making your house their new home, you need to remove all evidence of you and your family. If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.Previous Tips:Tip #1  Update Lighting Fixtures Tip #2  Identify Red Flags Tip #3  Pre-Pack Your StuffIt is more commonly known as decluttering.  Supposedly, sellers know they have to "declutter" and yet, the evidence says otherwise.  The mistake most sellers make is in determining wha... 08/17/2009

If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.If you missed it, Tip #1 was Update Lighting Fixtures Tip #2  Identify Red FlagsDo you know what a "red flag" is? A signal of danger or a problem can be referred to as a red flag.  In real estate, a red flag is something that gives potential buyers the impression that there is an existing problem, was a problem in the past, or could be a problem in the future.I find red flags in most of the houses that I stage.It is very important that you go on a "search and destroy" mission throughout your entire house and identify your red flags.  What are you looking for?  Here are three examples:1.  Evidence of Past DamageThe most common red flag I... 08/15/2009

New Hampshire Home Stager reveals secrets to selling.  Secrets to selling your house?  Can there be any secrets left?It seems with all the home staging information out there and so many home staging shows popular on HGTV, all the secrets must be told by now. And yet...take a look through your local MLS and see the pictures that people are using to represent their "product for sale."Home staging is still a fairly new concept in New Hampshire and most other parts of the country, and it is obvious that the secrets are not all out of the bag just yet.Over the course of the next two weeks, I will be sharing some of the things I believe to be very important when preparing your house for sale, things that most sellers don't think of.  Every other day, I will post a new "secret" strategy that y... 08/13/2009

TAKE A TARGETED APPROACH TO FINDING THE RIGHT HOME FOR YOU....If you are buying a home, one of the first things I like to  do before taking you on home tours is to discuss with you and try to determine the type of house you want and need. Style, size and number of rooms is important. However, just as important is the type of community you want to live in.  Knowing what your requirements are will help narrow your home search and save time. To expedite the house-hunting process, start by making a list of the dream home factors  the "wish list" as it's called that are most important to you and your family. Consider style, location, proximity to work and schools, yard size, near all major highways, and price. Whether you have children or not, buying a home in a community with good schools i... 07/30/2009

SELLING YOUR HOME FAST IN A DOWN MARKET.... Selling your home fast in a down market takes guts. It usually means you'll sell it for less than you hoped you'd get. However, that's the way it is going west in the real estate market today. To sell your house quickly realistically let it go for 10% to 15% lower than other listings in your neighborhood have sold for recently.  If you need to sell your house fast they take the emotion out of it. Price it at the lowest price point that you are willing to accept immediately, don't wait to see what's going to happen and then reduce. This is detrimental truly.....pick a reasonably/low price and list it there!  People don't want to see a hous that hangs on for months with small price reductions. It gets old fast, very fast. CURB APPEAL IS EVERYTHI... 07/28/2009

What does home staging cost in Portsmouth New Hampshire?  For many New Hampshire sellers the concept of home staging remains a fairly new concept, even though it has become very common in other parts of the country.  Even with all the television shows and media attention, there is still alot of misunderstanding when it comes to the subject.  Many sellers are under great financial stress and truly believe they can't afford this service.   Home staging in New Hampshire is often perceived as expensive, and unfortunately, by some realtors, as unnecessary. In many cases, the perceived definition of home staging is the problem.The most common representation of home staging involves a total remodel - all new furniture and accessories brought in by a team of workers...costing thousands of dolla... 07/26/2009

"EXPERIENCE ISN'T EXPENSIVE....IT'S PRICELESS!"  I love this phrase and it's so true I think. At least for the most part it's true.  When I'm looking for a doctor I always look at his/her experience, how long they been practicing, where they went to medical school, what is their specialty, are they Board Certified and so on.  When I'm looking for "legal advise" I generally feel that those attorneys with the most experience have an edge by virtue of there experience. Years of practical work in court and dealing with the many different leagal cases must give them the knowledge one is seeking for advice. Do those sellers and buyers looking into the real estate market look for Realtors who have years of experience? Do Certifications like Buyer Agency, Sellers Agent, GRI, Licensed in more th... 07/25/2009