‘Tis the Season to Buy & Sell!

So you want me to sit Open House for your property?

Sitting Open House is a very passive form of marketing your home. They are used by real estate agents to convince sellers that they’ll be doing everything they can to sell their home, and they disrupt the lives of sellers with little or no value added to their goal of selling their home.

Aloha from Hawaii,

Biz

Getting your home ready to sell?

Some of these tips are geared for Hawaii Homeowners, but they are appropriate for almost all areas. I didn’t include winterizing for cold weather for obvious reasons. And it’s 90 degrees in the shade today and I’m sweating like a horse.

You want to make sure these are in good shape and your windows are sparkling clean for showing. I’ve heard some agents say remove screens so windows shine even more, but I would want to know if I was buying a house the screens are intact. Hawaii mosquitoes are the size of Labrador Retrievers…

8. Consider adding more insulation.

Even if your home is properly insulated, it’s not a bad idea to take a peak in the attic and other visible locations to make sure cellulose or fiberglass insulation isn’t smashed down or blown away in any places-this significantly reduces its efficiency. Good insulation will help your AC system run more efficiently and save on the electricity bills.

9. Paint unfinished exterior surfaces.

A fresh coat of paint will help your home sell. But don’t use it to hide termite or structural damage; you need to disclose this. Or the Lawyers will come back and bite you…

10. Waterproof decking surfaces.

Exterior wooden decks especially should be treated with a water sealant or seal & stain product at least every couple of years or so. Check into how to properly maintain non-wooden surfaces as well, they can sometimes require treatment too.

11. Lawn care and landscaping tune up.

Remember, a lawn that’s well maintained will help your home sell. Plant new landscaping features and trim back the gnarly ones.

12.  Pool cues.

If you have a pool or fountain make sure the lining is not cracked, tiles are not missing and the water is sparkling clean. Nothing says, “Don’t Buy Me” faster than a dirty pool.

13. Repair and seal cracked or loose concrete.

A common problem on driveways, garage floors, and on patios;  chipped or cracked concrete should be repaired and sealed before putting your home on the market.Potential buyers are going to notice a driveway that is in disrepair and assume the rest of your home is as well. Remember those first 90 seconds and a good first impression?

I could probably think of a few more but like I said, it’s 90 degrees in the shade today and I am going to go wallow in my pool with just my eyes above water to cool down.

Does this suit make my butt look big?

Aloha,

Biz

Why I won’t list your House.

You won’t clean up the yard. The inside is cluttered, smells like wet dog and stale greasy food. You will only allow the home to be shown on Sundays from 2PM-5PM. You won’t let me put my Sentrilock Lockbox on the door so we can keep track of who is showing the property.

Oh, and that wet dog smell? You insist on leaving the dogs in the house when it is being shown.

Aloha,

Biz

By law I can’t tell you but I can point you to information

Biz

Watch out for the scam artists!

Be careful, there are a lot of Fast Freddies out there!
Biz

If you are a Hawaii Homeowner facing foreclosure you must read this!

This is an overview of the law from the Honolulu Board of Realtors.

Please get an lawyer if you are going to go through this process, and make sure he or she is familiar with the new law.

The Tax Man Cometh!

I’m not a lawyer or Tax Consultant and I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn last night. This is just a general overview for your information, do seek out the services of your tax professional for more information!

Tips to make your moving day easier.

Not painless, just easier!

Organizing, weeding out stuff, packing it & moving it are some of my least favorite things. So I’ve put together some tips gleaned from my many moving disasters and some successes. Learn form me, Grasshopper!

• Before you move: PURGE! Get rid of old clothes that you think you may diet down and fit again in this century. Do you really need four sets of everyday dishes? Old ratty t-shirts and shorts to do yard work in? (Oh, wait…I don’t DO yard work!) I am famous for moving these things, then throwing them out when I get to my new place, muttering to myself as to why the heck I paid to move this stuff.

• If you have hired movers, be present for the pickup and delivery.  Check the movers inventory sheets, ensuring all items are accounted for. Give the movers an inventory list with serial numbers, make, and model of your key possessions.  Make a floor plan of your new home and label the rooms to help the movers match boxes that say “Bedroom 1”, “Den”, etc. with each room.

• It’s also nice to have cold bottled water in a cooler available for the moving crew. A little kindness goes a long way on a hot day!

• The last thing you want is a child getting injured because they are in the way.  This is a good day to let kids stay with a friend or relative. Pack their belongings ahead of time with them so they feel part of the process, but having them underfoot when the movers are carrying your sofa through the door is a recipe for disaster. Make it a priority to get your child settled into their room first. This helps them feel more comfortable with their surroundings and begin to adapt.

• Pets get really stressed out with a move. I’ve moved with my pets and kept them in a spare room, but really the best thing for them is board them for a day or two. They go from one home to another with a lot less stress. My cats were boarded at the vets this last move and they did much better coming into a new place where I was relatively settled after two days rather than throwing them into chaos.

Remember the Pets don't like to move , either!

• Let  the neighbors know your dates and ask them if they would make arrangements for giving you street space.  It is a courtesy and you will need parking for the moving trucks and friends and family vehicles.  Of course, if you have friends like mine they will conveniently be out of town on your moving day and won’t be able to help, so that solves their parking issues!

• Either hand-carry or send valuables via registered and insured mail services.

• Do a last minute walk through to ensure you have not left anything behind.  Lock the doors and windows, turn off thermostat/lights and make sure the faucets and toilet are shut off (if applicable).

We likez da new place!

Well, that’s it in a nutshell, or should I say moving box… stressful, frustrating and more expensive than you thought; moving is not fun.

I made a checklist you can download here to help you keep on track.

But grit your teeth, get uber organized and “Git ‘er done”.  Once you’re finished it is a great relief to be in your new place.   Go out and explore your new neighborhood. Treat yourself to some chocolate. And you will forget all about it. Until your next move.

Aloha,

Biz

UPDATE 7/24/11

I moved to a new place on June 30th. Did everything like I said in my article. Except for one little teeny thing. Remember that part about Labeling the Boxes? You need to be specific, especially on those last minute boxes that you will be throwing stuff in as the moving van is ready to pull out of the driveway. I labeled a box “Kitchen”. Thinking it was just extra kitch stuff, I left the box unopened at the new place for a couple of weeks. Ever know what a Rubbermaid Container full of cheese smells like after it has been sitting in 89 degree heat in Hawaii, closed up for weeks? I do now! So be VERY specific…and fear the Box O’ Cheese!

Get your finances together first, dudes & dudettes!

Check out WHY here…

Biz