Last Minute Shopping Tips

If you still have some holiday shopping to do, you will need to make the most of your time to get it all done with the least amount of stress. Here are some tips to help you get to your happy holiday:

1. Organize- Make a list of everyone you still need to buy for and any ideas you have of items to buy. This way, no one will be forgotten in the rush.

2. Head to the mall- At this point, shopping on line is difficult if you are looking for gifts to arrive by Christmas. The multiple stores in one location will provide you with the most options in the shortest amount of time.


3. For those hard to buy for- Create a theme, like a car wash, spa night or barbecue bash, and fill a container with everything the recipient needs to do the job right.

4. Think outside the box- Stores you wouldn't normally think of have great unique gift ideas. Head to zoos, country shops, craft stores, bakeries, or college shops for some different holiday items.

5. We all need to eat- Gift cards to a favorite restaurant make great gifts for couples- it gives them an excuse to go out together!

6. Use the phone- call ahead to make sure certain stores have the items you want. There's no point in making the trip to a specific store for an item that's no longer there.

7. Get there early- consider shopping when stores first open. Sales people will be more attentive and helpful, and selections won't have been picked through by a days worth of people yet.

8. With no time left- If you have left shopping literally to the last minute, there is still one good solution: travel. Booking trips online is easy and quick, and with the date of purchase hidden, no one will know (or mind) it was left to the last minute.

Preparing Your House to Sell

Preparing your home to go on the market will put you ahead of the competition. Here are some tips for getting ready to sell:

1. Know how much you want to spend- Make touch ups and polishes to your home instead of big changes. Make repairs that have needed to be done, and keep in mind the money you will be getting back during the sale for the changes. If it's not something you will see your money back for during a sale, consider holding off. Keep any planned changes to the house reasonable and in character with the home and the neighborhood.

2. Update your kitchen- If your cabinets are looking a little worn, consider simple updates, like changing the hardware or lighting. Try a fresh coat of paint in buyer friendly neutral colors to cabinets that haven't been painted in years. Often, sprucing up the cabinets can give the kitchen an entirely new look.

3. Clean it up- Break out your cleaning supplies and give the house a good cleaning. Buyers will be coming through with a careful eye, so prepare your house to be criticized. Make sure windows are clear and letting all the light possible into your home. Check baseboards for scuffs, clean carpets, make sure kitchens are free of any food spills or stains, and make sure bathrooms are sparkling and smelling great.

4. Check your lawn- This will be the buyer's first impression of your home, so help your sale by making sure it's a good one. Keep the lawn tidy and gardens weeded. If it's winter, make sure paths are shoveled and stairs are free of ice.

5. Remove clutter- buyers are trying to picture themselves in the space, so give them a hand by making the space free of distractions. Make sure shelves, closets, counter tops, and any storage spaces like attics and basements are cleared away. Buyers will be able to picture themselves in your home, and it will appear spacious as well.

6. Maximize small spaces- Mirrors in small spaces often have the effect of making them look and feel bigger. Add to this by bringing in bright light, either naturally or with a space appropriate light fixture.

7. Take an emotion free look at your paint- Buyers like to see neutral colors that they can picture their furniture with. Make sure you are not turning away buyers with an easy fix like a fresh coat of a new paint color. Neutral wall colors like white and beige offer a blank template where buyers can quickly assess how they will make it their own.

8. Laundry space- clear this space of built up lint and any chemical spills. Keep it clear of piles of clothes, and keep it as orderly as possible.

9. Satisfy the Senses- We make decisions based on our sensory perceptions and when shopping for homes this is especially true. Sight, sound, and smell are all important variables in a home's sale. White tends to be the most popular interior home color, which may be augmented with bright, fresh flowers or area rugs. Keep loud noise at bay by having the kids and dogs away during showings keeping music and appliances turned off. Finally, smell is a deal breaker for many buyers, so clean your home well and air it out so that it smells new and fresh. Avoid using perfumes, candles, incense, or cooking foods with strong smells prior to showings.

10. Brighten Up- People respond more favorably to property that is shown under bright light. Brighten your home with effective lamps and overhead lighting. Clean windows, draw back the shades, and use mirrors to reflect light.

Valuing East Lansing Rental Properties- By Curt Hanson, CSH Valuation Associates

The valuation of income units in the East Lansing student rental market is not unlike the valuation of other traditional income-producing units.  It just involves a greater understanding of the valuation measures and selection of the appropriate unit of comparison for the student rental market.  Professionals, Realtors and appraisers, versed in the nuances of this market should be sought for the knowledge and understanding of the income to the various housing units, and specifically how the relevance of location within the East Lansing student housing community, and the number of license allowed, relates to income to a particular unit or units. 

Income producing real estate is all granted a certain amount of licenses per unit, based on relevant criteria determined by the City of East Lansing.  The income to each rental unit is based on the amount of licenses that are available to each unit.  An appropriate unit of comparison for these properties, that can be derived and analyzed for use in valuation, includes the sales price per license measure.  For income analysis, rent per license and rent per bedroom amounts can be derived and used in the estimation of total market rent, which can then be multiplied by a gross monthly rent multiplier, or gross rent multiplier (annualized).

The importance of the knowledge in location factors figures into the proximity of the units to the campus and main downtown social area.  The highest rents are often seen, per license and per bedroom, nearest to Grand River Avenue.  A downtrend in rents can be seen just several blocks outward from the main locations off Grand River and across from campus, and going northeastward and westward.  An understanding of the many variables in the East Lansing student housing community is essential in both the sale of, and the valuation of these valuable parcels.  Turnover is very rare in the core initial blocks from the campus area and without the essential knowledge necessary in this community, valuation can be problematic.

Choosing The Right Realtor For You

Finding the right Realtor for you may take a little time. It's important to find one that you are confident can meet your needs. The decision to buy or sell a home is a big one, so make sure to choose a Realtor accordingly. 

First, ask people you know who have bought or sold recently if they worked with anyone they would recommend. Ask friends, co-workers, family, and neighbors. Since they have been through the entire process recently, they will know how helpful someone would (or wouldn't) be throughout the process. If no one you know has good recommendations, take a drive around your neighborhood and check out for sale signs. Is one company or person dominating the area? If so, it may be for good reason. Is there an open house nearby? If so, you will be able to see them in action and get an idea of what it will be like working with them. 

Once you have a few options, check out ratings and reviews. Many Realtors will have their own website, but keep in mind they are in control of the content posted there. As well as their site, look at third party ratings to get some non-biased feedback. Don't necessarily get turned away by one bad review, but look at the experiences as a whole and make sure the good feedback far outweighs the bad.

The next step is to interview some agents. Hear from them about their experience, track record, buying or selling style, marketing knowledge, familiarity with appraisals, financing, negotiation, inspections, etc. The important thing during the interview is to make sure you will work with someone you feel you can trust and who you will feel comfortable having guide you through the process. Therefore, make sure you ask the right questions:

• How many homes did you sell in the past year?
• How many of those were in the area I am interested in?
• What is your commission? 
• How will you market my home?
• Can you provide a list of references?
• If you are selling, find out how the Realtor will search for homes for you, how many you can expect to see, and how multiple offers are handled.
• If you are a seller, ask how the agent will market your home, how many photos will be posted, and what current buyers are looking for.

Lastly, set communication expectations. What means of communications will you be using most often? What is an acceptable period of time to get a response within? Make sure you know how you will be kept informed during the process. Setting this tone early will let you know if your communication style meshes, as well as set standards from the get go. 

It is also important to think about what to avoid in a Realtor. If you have a friend or relative who is a Realtor, think carefully before going to them. Make sure you are looking at their qualifications as carefully as you would for any other Realtor. Also, keep in mind how problems that develop through the process could affect your relationship. 

Keep in mind that a low commission doesn't guarantee a good Realtor. It is possible you will be getting what you pay for. The incentive of commission can play an important role in sales. An agent earning a full commission will have incentive to make handling challenges that come along a priority, where an agent earning a small commission would not have that same incentive.

If you are looking for a Realtor to buy and sell a home with, please keep me in mind. You can check out my website to get started. 

Buying Rental Property in East Lansing

     When looking to buy a rental property, you must be mindful of the transfer of the rental license. This post will provide a quick guide to ensuring that everything goes as smoothly as possible during and after your sale.

     Before buying a rental property, go into the Department of Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation. Information for the East Lansing office can be found here. Once there, look at the rental file and included documents. Are there any concerns about the property that haven't been met? Next, look at the rental license. From this, you will be able to see how many people are permitted to rent, as well as any other conditions that need to be met. Staff should be able to answer any questions you have about conditions on your prospective license. Next, look at the most current inspection. Make sure any violations on the inspection have been corrected, and make sure you ask the seller about anything of concern. The staff will know if there is a history of violations at this property, as well as possible conditions resulting from violations. Lastly, obtain a payment history, and ensure there are no outstanding balances on the property. Make sure you address any concerns that come up during this process with the seller.

    Once you have reviewed the property documents and are pleased with your chosen property, it would be a good time to submit a new owner application to the Department of Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation. Although you do have up to a year after the sale to submit this form, if someone is renting and this form is not completed, you could be charged for renting without a license, as the old license expires on the date of sale.

     After the sale, provide notification of the exact date of ownership to the Department of Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation within 10 days, and the license, along with all pre-approved conditions will be transferred to you on the date of sale.

     I would be happy to help you find a rental property to fit your needs. Please feel free to visit my website and get started today.

Understanding Section 1031 exchanges

According to Inman News, Section 1031 exchanges "allows the seller of an investment or business property to postpone recognition of gain provided the seller acquires another, "like-kind" property within the timing requirements spelled out in the law."

Many real estate investors today, seeing the upcoming changes in taxes in 2013 and seeing the possibilities of facing the "fiscal cliff", are starting to do the calculations and see that this option for investments is worth looking into.

When you sell a property for more money than what you bought it for, the profit you make is known as a capital gain. A capital gain tax is a tax imposed on that profit. What a section 1031 exchange allows you to do is defer that tax and buy a "like property". This means that property investors would be able to put a larger chunk of their profit into investing in a new property. Since they were not taxed, they had more gain from the investment with which to put towards another, larger investment. With tax rates looking more and more like they will be on the rise in 2013, this option is peaking a lot of investors interests.

This deferment does have a downside though. It is a tax deferment system, not a tax forgiveness system, meaning that down the line it will come back around and you will still have to pay the tax you deferred. Also, when you do a 1031 exchange, this moves your tax basis to your replacement property, and subjects you to future tax rates.

More investors today are looking at the section 1031 option more carefully. With taxes seeming to be on the rise relatively soon, a deferment of this tax and a larger investment may be the better choice for many facing down bigger losses from taxes in the upcoming year.

Thinking of buying a home?

Joe Joseph, senior mortgage banker for Summit Community Bank writes "Rates are at historic lows coupled with the housing market at historic lows and it is a perfect time to buy a new home.  There are a few zero down programs and many low down programs that make it easy to buy a home.  We offer a 5% down, no monthly PMI program that saves $1000’s over the first 5-7 years.  Strapped for cash?  Take a look at our no closing costs option as well.  Don’t miss out on one of the best environments to buy or refinance a home."

Do you think that you're ready to buy? Here are a few questions to ask yourself to know if you're ready to jump in:

How long will I own it for?

Most people who are buying homes today say that they see their home as an investment. Spending more time in your home should give you more time for it to appreciate, as well as give you more time to do improvements throughout the house.

Can I afford it?

This is a big one. You want to make sure your investment is secure. It may not seem like a problem to have to tighten your spending in order to afford your home, but if its cutting into your lifestyle or other expenses you've come to see as normal, it may be a bigger burden than anticipated. Make sure you take a good look at what you are approved for and then see what it is you can afford. Make sure the decision you make is a smart one for you.

Have I done my research?

Have you looked into the neighborhood? School systems? What shape the house is in and what repairs will need to be made? Make sure you are aware of all aspects of your investment before you take the plunge.

A Few Tricks (and Treats) to Finding the Right Home to Buy

Price

            You want to make sure what you are buying is realistically within your budget. Don’t just look at the money you are approved for, do some number crunching and see how much you can actually afford to buy. 78% of buyers today believe that their home is a good investment. Your money is going into a house, and its something you can see and feel, unlike other investments you can make. Make sure you are putting a realistic amount of money towards this investment, and that when you decide to buy, you are confident its something you can financially handle, keeping your investment safe.

Condition

            Some homes can be a great value if there are repairs needed. However, this doesn’t mean that this is necessarily the right choice for you. If you’re not the kind of person that can handle smaller repairs yourself, large repairs on your newly bought home may not be ideal for you. You can, of course, hire someone to do these repairs for you, but keep that in mind when budgeting for your house.

            On the other hand, if you fancy yourself a budding handyman (or woman), some simple repairs may be right up your alley. This means you can be less concerned with smaller repairs, like the wallpaper that needs to come down, the stuck sliding windows, or the room that would be perfect if only it had a ceiling fan to cool you off. Be realistic with what repairs you can do yourself, figure out easily, or hire someone to do for you.

Size

            In the case of finding the home to best fit your needs, bigger is not always better. Try to get enough space to live comfortably, but not so much that you won’t use it.  A big yard may seem like a perk, but if you aren’t outside much, mowing the lawn and dealing with winter snowfall might seem like a hassle with few rewards. Having 3 spare bedrooms for guests may be practical, but if you aren’t going to have the guests to use them, you may find you have a large upstairs to heat, just for the master bedroom to get warm. Know what your needs are going in, and judge size from there.

           

Layout

            If you plan to make your house the place-to-be for holidays and parties, you will want a more open space that allows for communication throughout several rooms. If you have 3 kids that just can’t get enough privacy from each other, perhaps you want something with a lot of separation between living spaces. Are the two bedrooms in the house on different floors? This may not be the best for tending to young children during the night.

            When looking at homes, keep in mind how you will be using the space.  Find a home where the movement suits you or your family’s movement.  If you find yourself thinking something like “why would they put that room there?” think about if the layout you are looking at would really be the best one for you. Note locations of the rooms and number of stories, along with more obvious considerations like number of bedrooms or bathrooms.

Location

            Some big considerations to take into account when looking at location are:

·      What attractions, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment is nearby

·      School districts for buyers with kids

·      Driving time to and from work

·      What kind of community you want (suburban, urban, rural)

·      Quality of the neighborhood

Some Facts about location from 2011 buyers:

·      Quality of the neighborhood was the biggest factor influencing buyers’ choice of location.

·      The median distance from work buyers bought houses was only 12 miles.

·      73% of buyers said transportation costs were a consideration.

Street Noise

            Look at the street that your potential house is on. Does it have a lot of traffic going by all day? This may mean you can hear it inside the house. Keep that in mind when you head inside. Even then, when windows are open in the hotter months, the noise will be something you have to deal with. If you think it will bother you, this doesn’t mean you have to change location, simply look at where the living spaces are in relation to the noise. If they are farthest from the street, it may not bother you at all.

Should You Buy a New Home or an Old One?

If you're thinking about purchasing a home, an important factor to consider is whether you're interested in a new construction or an older home. It's easy to overlook a few of the components that really set newly-built homes apart from their previously constructed counterparts. Look below for a  few of the pros and cons of each option.

New Homes

The Pros:

• Incentives: Many new homes come with a variety of incentives designed to appeal to potential buyers. Developers want a subdivision that's full, not a half empty one with For Sale signs set up on every third lot, which is why they offer a variety of perks to steer you in their direction. Incentives might include lower sales prices, extra features such as customized kitchens or money back at closing options.
• It's New: Well this is obvious, but there's something to be said for moving into a home that is untouched. It's free of the history, decor and stale remnants of its previous family or families. You get a virtual blank slate upon which to create the home that suits your specific tastes and styles. Newer homes also tend to be more modern and designed to fit current needs rather than those of the past.
• Fewer Repairs: Generally new homes will have fewer repairs and those repairs will costs less. From major stuff like electric that's up to code to new appliances, repairs in newer homes simply tend to happen less. 
• Young Community: This doesn't necessarily apply to age, though it can. Ultimately subdivisions with new homes means you get to be part of the community from the ground up. Everyone is in the same boat having purchased a new home in your community so making friends and organizing social gatherings may happen easier than approaching your neighbors in a community that's existed for fifty years.

The Cons:

• Higher Prices: New homes can get pricey especially if they're in desirable areas. Since everything has been purchased new, such as appliances, and a range of contractors performed services from plumbers to carpenters, costs can get rather steep.
• Location: Most cities and areas close to businesses saw homes built around them decades ago. Thus you may find if you buy a new home, you're commuting twenty or thirty minutes to work everyday. Choosing a new home often means living further out in the country, which can also mean higher taxes because the city pays more for water, sewer and other utilities. 
• Less Room to Roam: Many newer communities are divided into smaller lots, therefore, smaller yards or lawns. This can be nice for the mower in the family, but it can be a pain if you have kids and pets who want space to play outdoors.
• Bad Construction: Since a new home hasn't stood the test of time, you're walking in blind in terms of construction durability. Check the builder's track record and make sure that other homes he's built previously are still in good shape. 

Older Homes

Pros:

• Great Deal: The last several years have seen a definite spike in homes for sale, which bodes well for the buyer's market. Many people own their homes outright and may offer land contract financing or a lower price to sell a house that they no longer want.
• Charm: Many people love the character that is rarely found in newly built homes. From original hardwood floors to elaborate crown molding, many older homes are reminiscent of the era in which they were built.
• Established Area: When you buy an older home, you move into an existing community. Often these communities sprang up for a reason such as nearby schools, churches or parks. 

Cons:

• Maintenance and Repairs: Older homes have older appliances, furnaces and whole-house systems. When you buy a home, you may not be aware of certain issues such as a basement that floods every year or a section of the roof that is in poor condition. Home inspections can catch some of these potential repairs, but many will be overlooked, so it's a good idea to buy the home knowing that some maintenance may be necessary.
• Higher Utility Costs: Older homes are often less energy efficient because they use older appliances, may have poor insulation and drafty windows. Utility costs can get very high, especially if you live in a state such as Michigan with long, cold winters.
• Ghosts of the Past: Probably no literal ghosts, though you never can tell, but definitely you will see aspects of the home's previous inhabitants reflected in the home's design, wallpaper and decor. Plan to spend some time eradicating the old touches to make the home your own.

Whether you're in the market for a newly built home or an older house, I can help you find the perfect property for your needs. As an East Lansing realtor, I specialize in the purchase and sale of Lansing area homes. Please contact me today at MyRealtorRob. 

Real Estate: Buyer's Agents

When choosing to sell their property, most home owners contact several Realtors after researching agents in their area. They ask their friends and family for recommendations and interview possible realtors to make the best choice. They understand that it's important for the successful sale of their home to choose someone who has experience in home sales, knows their area and is connected to a network of potential buyers. Most home owners recognize that their house is on of their main, if not their primary, asset, which motivates them to take the selling process very seriously. However, few buyers put this kind of due diligence into finding a buyer's agent. Many of them simply fall in with a buyer's agent and rarely stop to consider whether they are the best person for the job.

Buyer's agents assist the home buyer in a myriad of ways from securing financing to understanding legal documents and closing paperwork. They help the buyer find a home of their liking, negotiate a sale price and ensure that all of the parties involved have the proper documentation on the day of closing.

When it's time to choose a buyer's agent, make sure you know what you want. For instance, some agents do real estate part time or as a second job, which may mean that they will have less time to show you homes. A realtor with a staff of five people might have plenty of manpower devoted to your housing search, but you may generally communicate with assistants instead of the realtor himself. You may also want to ask prospective agents how many clients their working with to determine how much time they will have for you personally.

Once you have made a decision, your realtor may want you to sign an agreement stating that you will work exclusively with them. This may seem a bit uncomfortable, but it's important to remember that your realtor is doing a lot of work behind the scenes, not to mention using their own money to drive to houses that you might be interested in buying while also spending time showing you homes. You can request an agreement that is shorter term in case you decide that you don't want to work with the agent further down the road, but do remember to respect the financial and time commitment devoted to your home purchase.

If you're considering buying a home in the East Lansing or Greater Lansing area please contact me at MyRealtorRob. As a Realtor with Tomie Raines, I can quickly help you find homes that fit your needs and wants while also assisting you with financing, understanding market values and connecting you with other housing resources.

Chase Offering Mortgage Relief...Finally

If you're one of many homeowners who has attempted to refinance your mortgage in the last several years with Chase, or any other large lending institution, you've probably been through the ringer. Many people discovered, after months of haggling with their mortgage companies, that they still lost their homes despite attempts at getting current on payments or working out refinancing options. Fortunately, the $25 billion dollar settlement between the nation's five biggest banks and the attorneys general and federal government means that Chase and several other banks are now offering refinancing options that actually make sense.

Chase has declared $4.2 billion in mortgage relief to homeowners, which they will accomplish by either reducing mortgage principals or lowering interest rates. The settlement offers more credit to those banks who modify more loans in the first year so Chase has moved quickly, assembling a team to sift through tens of thousands of loans and identify homeowners who qualify for one of the relief options. For the most part only those owners who owed more on their homes than they were worth or who were delinquent on their mortgage payments qualified.

Chase has already begun sending loan modification letters to homeowners. In fact, CNNMoney highlighted Michelle and Bob Irwin who received a surprise letter from Chase informing them that their  interest rate would be slashed and their monthly payment would be reduced by $229 a month. This was especially good news for the Irwins who were 20 months behind on their mortgage payments and fearing foreclosure.

This is also good news for many other homeowners who may see similar letters arriving from their own banks. It's also a positive shift overall for an economy and a housing market that appear to be gradually shifting back into the positive.

If you're a resident of East Lansing or the Lansing areas of Michigan and would like more information about buying a home, selling a home, or getting approved for a home loan, please contact me at MyRealtorRob. As an East Lansing realtor, I can offer you a free market analysis and help you determine how to get the most money for your home right now.

Staying Calm During the Home Buying Process

Buying a home is serious business and it's no surprise that the buying process can get pretty emotional. Finding the perfect home only to be out bid by another buyer is only one of many scenarios that leave home buyers grinding their teeth over the purchase of their future property. However, patience and understanding is key to a successful home purchase and sometimes accepting what is - rather than what you think should be - is the first step in navigating through a peaceful purchase.

Losing the home to another buyer: Usually by the time you've made an offer on a property, you've walked through it a couple of times, considered its potential for your future abode and found it worthy. You might even have started to imagine how your chaise lounge will look beneath that picture window and daydreamed with your spouse about swimming in the underground pool, but there's a reason for the myriad of cliches that go something like "don't count your eggs until they're hatched." Even in a down market people are buying and if you think the property is a great deal, someone else probably does as well. If your offer gets outbid, take a deep breath and recognize that this home simply wasn't meant to be, keeping in mind that until the houses closes, you might still have an opportunity to purchase the property if your heart is really set on it. Regardless, pick yourself back up and start looking again. Chances are you will find an even better option, perhaps around the next corner.

Your loan falls through: Whew this is a painful one and something that many home buyers experience at some point. You're weeks out from closing and the loan suddenly falls out. Before you throw yourself off a bridge or storm the lender's office, recognize that loans fall through all of the time and chances are you can repair the situation. First, contact your lender and find out what's going on. Is the lender closing their doors? Get approved for a loan through another bank. Did the home appraise too low? Negotiate a new purchase price with the seller based on the appraised value. Is your down payment too low? Investigate down payment assistant options in your area and consider where you might pull out extra funds - perhaps from a 401K or a loan from family.

The inspection uncovers some issues: This can be hugely disappointing especially if your home loan is compromised by the cost of repairs. Get multiple estimates on all of the repairs that need to be made and then consider your options. If you or someone in your family is handy, you may be able to make repairs yourself for significantly less than contractor prices. However, you will need to consider how much work you're willing to put into the home. You will also need to negotiate with the sellers for either a price drop or a certain amount of cash placed in escrow to cover repairs.

If you want to buy a home in East Lansing or the Greater Lansing area of Michigan, I can help you find properties in your price range. Feel free to contact me at MyRealtorRob with all of your home buying and selling questions.

Finding Your Home's Value

A lot of factors must be considered when assessing the value of your home. Appraisers look at a variety of things from the date that your home was built to the number of bathrooms. Knowing what adds to or detracts from the value of your home can help you make repairs and improvements prior to your home's appraisal. Check below for a few ways to increase the value of your house's appraisal...

Curb Appeal: The way your home looks on the outside has a relatively significant impact on its value. According to a recent article on CNNMoney, an appraiser may cut up to 3% off the value of your home if the outside is unkempt and dilapidated. This might include chipped and peeling paint, overgrown grass and bushes and other signs of distress.

How to improve it: Give your house a good once over before an appraiser comes out and be proactive in fixing damaged areas, touching up paint and trimming and landscaping your lawn. Consider power washing your home, adding a new coat of stain to your deck and planting flowers to add some color.

Systems: Appraisers are looking for functional electrical, plumbing, heating and other basic systems in your home. If these are not working properly, your home's value maybe drop several percent.

Make Repairs: Ensure that you fix leaks, update electrical and double check the ventilation and other systems in your house. According to Forbes.com, spending $2,000 to fix plumbing issues can generate a $4,000 increase in your home's appraised value.

Trendy Improvements: It may seem like a good idea to convert one of your spare bedrooms into a theatre or a yoga studio, but appraisers understand that trends die and future owners will have to pay to renovate such spaces.

What to do: skip improvements that are likely to go out of style in a few years. Instead opt for things that add lasting value to your home like additional bathrooms or a finished basement.

Efficiency: In this day of rising gas and electrical prices, energy efficiency equals increased value.

How to get efficient: Replace windows and appliances with energy savings options. Many states offer funding for energy improvements so look into these to see if your household qualifies.

As an East Lansing Realtor, I can also offer you a Free Home Market Analysis that considers recent comparables in your area, your home's features and the current housing market to determine your property's value. I can help you buy or sell property in the Greater Lansing and East Lansing areas of Michigan. Contact me today for more information.

Selling Your Home By the Season

Homes look and feel very different from month to month. The lovely three seasons room might be the perfect sunlit reading nook in August, but a frigid cave in January. These major transitions in weather can have a huge impact on how buyers experience your home during showings and open houses. To increase the likelihood of a successful sale, prepare and stage your home for its best face in every season.

Spring Staging

Spring is a great time to sell your home because it's all about new beginnings and many people are ready to shirk off the old in favor of something different. This means transitioning your home from a winter hideaway to a Spring oasis.

• Brighten everything. Open windows, replace burned out light bulbs and replace any heavy curtains, rugs and bedding with lighter, Spring hues. Think whites, light yellows and pastels.
• Plant flowers and bring fresh flowers into your home to give off the scents and energy of Spring renewal.
• Clear out the winter clutter so create more space and a feeling of openness. Maybe even have a garage sale or take a trip to your local thrift store to drop off unwanted goods.

Summer Staging

In the summer, we're thinking outdoor barbecues, dips in the pool and leisurely naps under a shaded backyard tree. If your home is on the market during the hot, steamy months put your efforts into making it summer savvy.

• Maintain your landscaping so that flowers are fresh and bright (not dried and wilting), long grass and weeds are eliminated to deter nesting bugs and no plants are running totally wild making your lawn more jungle than picnic area.
• Get your deck ready for entertaining with a good power wash, new coat of stain and a thorough cleaning of patio furniture. You might even add more ambiance to this area with tiki torches, an above ground fire pit or other deck decor.
• Turn on the AC or get the fans going full blast so that prospective buyers are cool and comfortable when they walk through your home. No one wants to pay for a hundred thousand dollar sauna to spend their summer sweating away in.
• Make the indoors feel light and summery with brightly colored beach towels in baskets, fresh flowers on table tops and lighter colored drapes, rugs and other decor.

Fall Staging

As summer winds down and Autumn brings our first crisp mornings, many people begin to long for the feelings and images of fall. These might include bonfires, holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving, root vegetables and darker hues.

• Use scent to give your home an Autumn touch. Bake a cinnamon apple pie or burn a pumpkin scented candle.
• Give buyers a unique experience by leaving out cups of apple cider or pumpkin flavored cookies for showings or open houses.
• Decorate with oranges, golds and reds to bring the colors of Autumn from the outdoors to the indoors. You might add pumpkins to your front steps or choose hand towels and rugs in dark gold and red colors.
• Make sure the heat is on if the weather has turned cold to ensure that buyers feel warm and cozy while traipsing through.

Winter Staging

When it's cold outside, people long for warmth and creature comforts. You want to decorate and prepare your house to offer prospective buyers a warm sanctuary.

• Turn the heat up, but don't blast it to the point where people get overly hot. Find a nice, warm temperature that feels soothing when they come in from the cold.
• Increase the temp and the ambiance by turning on fireplaces and showcasing a perfect place to warm up in snowy February.
• Clear the sidewalks, driveways and stairways of snow. Sprinkle salt and break up any ice that has formed in areas that buyers might walk.
• Keep areas that get especially messy in the winter like mudrooms and entryways clean of debris, but plentiful with hooks for winter coats and rugs for wiping snowy boots.

If you're thinking of selling your home in the Greater Lansing or East Lansing areas of Michigan and would like more tips of staging or are looking for a qualified Realtor, please contact me at MyRealtorRob. As an East Lansing realtor that is more than familiar with the changing Michigan seasons, I can help you present your home in the most positive light for every season.

Protect Yourself From Homeowner Scams

Owning a home gets complicated enough without the added issue of people attempting to scam you on home repairs or other property related work. However, according to the 2011 Consumer Complaint Survey Report by the Consumer Federation of America, home improvement scams appeared as one of the five fastest growing complaints by American consumers. The report offers personal stories of individuals scammed during a variety of home improvement projects and hopes to inform consumers to reduce the likelihood that they fall victim to similar experiences. The federation recovered more than $147 million last year alone for homeowners who were scammed.

Don't Pay in Advance: Paying up front for home renovations can be a very costly mistake. In one instance reported by the Consumer Federation of America, a school teacher shelled out $17,000 for a home addition only to have the contractor close his business and flee to Asia before even starting the work. Fortunately, he was later tracked down in California and forced to pay the teacher back in full; however, many contractors get away with similar scams because homeowners don't know how to find them or who to call for assistance. To protect yourself, only pay a deposit up front and then pay for the work in increments as it is completed.

Check for Licensure: Nearly anyone can claim to be a contractor, a locksmith or any number of other professionals to gain access to your home or secure money for a future project. Before you allow anyone into your home or pay for any service, check online to ensure that the person you're considering for the job has the appropriate licensing for your state. You can also simply search their name or business name to find possible customer reviews or complaints.

Pay for Items and Furniture with a Credit Card: When you pay with cash or a check for furniture and other items that are to be delivered, you have few ways to recoup your money if the goods never arrive. The Consumer Complaint Report described one New Jersey Company owner who embezzled more than $60,000 in customer payments for furniture that he never delivered, shortly before closing his business. If you pay with credit, you can dispute the payment then your items don't arrive and possibly get your money back.

Be Weary of Door to Door Contractors: It might be tempting to pay the guy on your doorstep who offers to pave your driveway for half what you might pay a traditional company, but fight the urge until you check out his background. One example portrayed in the Consumer Complaint Report involved a "fake" asphalt repairman who collected payments for asphalt and then sprayed consumer's driveways with something else. Do your research and make sure the person is legit before offering them any sort of payment.

If you live in the East Lansing or Greater Lansing areas and need referrals for contractors and home improvement professionals, feel free to contact me at MyRealtorRob. As an East Lansing realtor, I work daily with a variety of reputable property contractors and am more than happy to offer you their information. I can also assist you in the sale or purchase of a new home in the Greater Lansing area.

Read more on MSN's "From Sleazy Contractors to Bedbugs: Homowner Scams on the Rise."

Millionaire Buys All Tax Foreclosures at Michigan County Tax Sale

Close to 300 people arrived for a Macomb County Tax Sale in July only to watch all of the homes sold out from under them. Millionaire Bill McMachen purchased 650 foreclosed properties for $4.8 million dollars. Many other individuals and investors were stunned and disappointed that the county chose to sell the properties in a package deal, when selling them individually might have yielded a higher profit; however, according to Macomb Count Treasurer Tim Wahby, only some of the homes sell for more than the back taxes while many of the properties don't sell at all, leaving the county holding the bag. Still several investors, including a Canadian Company that had spent several weeks preparing a higher bid for the properties they intended to buy, stated their frustration that they'd wasted their time.

McMachen, the Millionaire purchaser, is offering to sell some of the homes for near auction prices to individuals who are still interested. He says that this is actually beneficial to many potential buyers because they can view the homes before they purchase them, which one can't do when purchasing through a county auction. Additionally, McMachen intends to donate any of the homes that he is unable to sell to charitable organizations.

Tax foreclosures are only one example of the many deals that people are currently finding in the real estate market. If you live in the East Lansing or Greater Lansing area and would like to learn about homes for sale in your area, including Michigan foreclosures, please contact me at MyRealtorRob.

Millionaire Buys All Tax Foreclosures at Michigan County Tax Sale

Close to 300 people arrived for a Macomb County Tax Sale in July only to watch all of the homes sold out from under them. Millionaire Bill McMachen purchased 650 foreclosed properties for $4.8 million dollars. Many other individuals and investors were stunned and disappointed that the county chose to sell the properties in a package deal, when selling them individually might have yielded a higher profit; however, according to Macomb Count Treasurer Tim Wahby, only some of the homes sell for more than the back taxes while many of the properties don't sell at all, leaving the county holding the bag. Still several investors, including a Canadian Company that had spent several weeks preparing a higher bid for the properties they intended to buy, stated their frustration that they'd wasted their time.

McMachen, the Millionaire purchaser, is offering to sell some of the homes for near auction prices to individuals who are still interested. He says that this is actually beneficial to many potential buyers because they can view the homes before they purchase them, which one can't do when purchasing through a county auction. Additionally, McMachen intends to donate any of the homes that he is unable to sell to charitable organizations.

Tax foreclosures are only one example of the many deals that people are currently finding in the real estate market. If you live in the East Lansing or Greater Lansing area and would like to learn about homes for sale in your area, including Michigan foreclosures, please contact me at MyRealtorRob.

Michigan Seeing Fastest Comeback

It's becoming old news that the housing market and economy are slowly displaying improvements nationwide. However, Michigan, by far one of the most troubled states during the recession, is experiencing a more rapid comeback than many other states across the country.

Michigan home sales were up 10% through June compared to a national growth rate of only 5% (National Association of Realtors). Home prices have also seen a steady increase, spurring more homeowners to consider selling where-as they might not have considered it even a year ago. Home prices in the Detroit area rose for the twelfth consecutive month according to Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller index.

The housing market is not the only area that Michigan is showing a positive shift. Economically, the state has begun to  see other areas of recovery. In April and May, Michigan's retail sales grew while nationwide they fell .2 percent. The Michigan Retailers Association reported that more than half of the Michigan retailers who responded to their inquiries showed rising sales in May, the highest sales month since January. Business investors also remain hopeful according to a survey conducted by Wayne State University and Institute of Supply Management, which found that many southeast Michigan purchasing managers expect the business environment to improve or, at least, remain stable. 

Considering the steadily improving economy and housing market, now is a great time to buy or sell a home. If you live int the East Lansing or Lansing areas and would like information about current market values or homes for sale, please contact me at MyRealtorRob. I also specialize in the sale and acquisition of licensed rental property so please feel free to contact me by email for information about East Lansing rental housing.

Creative Ways to Expand Your Living Space

When you first bought your home it may have been the perfect size - but several years later and the addition of a child or two, a few new pets and a basement full of Christmas decorations and winter clothes might have your house feeling a bit cramped. Without major renovations like knocking down walls or building additions, the hope of creating more space may seem impossible. However, creativity can always lend itself when you're faced with a difficult challenge, such as making space where there is none.

Try these tips to get more home out of your house:

Do Away With the Dining Room: Dining rooms are often an extra space filled almost entirely with a dining room table and chairs that rarely get used. Unless you host dinner parties on a weekly basis, chances are your dining room is sucking up much needed space in your home. Purchase a smaller table and place it in the kitchen for sit-down meals and let your imagination run wild with how you might use your newly freed space. Any number of possibilities exist from home offices to a new nursery. Take a tip from the Beverly Hillbillies movie and convert your dining area to a billiards room where you dine on the pool table or keep the pool table and stick with eating in the kitchen.

Spill Your Inside Outside: In Michigan, this isn't a year-round fix for expansion, but it's great for summer and often possible during the spring and fall as well. You can get really intricate here and build a new patio complete with outdoor wood burning pizza oven, jacuzzi and fire pit or you can keep it simple with nice patio furniture and some flowers pots. The major issue is whether it serves its purpose and people want to spend time in the space. If you want it to be available when it's raining, consider investing in a covered tent or gazebo.

Make Your Garage More Functional: Garages are great for cars and skis and lawnmowers, but they're also great for recreational areas, workout rooms and even man caves. I recently visited a house where half the garage consisted of leather couches, a flat screen TV and a refrigerator with beer and munchies. The man cave that might have been in the basement had been relocated to the garage to conserve space within the home. This also let's the man inhabiting the cave turn the volume as high as he wants and open the garage door to let some sunshine in if the whole cave thing isn't really his style. Just make sure to prepare your garage so that it's comfortable for the use intended. For instance, a craft room may not go well if it consists of a folding table butting up to a broken down Chevy that stinks of oil.

If you're buying or selling a home in the East Lansing area, please visit MyRealtorRob. On my website you can view my current Lansing area real estate listings, search the MLS and read articles about biuying and selling homes in Michigan.

Governor Snyder Approves Michigan's Housing Tax Credit Overhaul

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently approved the MSHDA's (Michigan State Housing Development Authority) Qualified Allocation Plan, which offers new guidelines for investors and developers taking advantage of the Housing Tax Credit Program in Michigan.

In the U.S., every state receives a certain amount of tax credits annually based on population. Michigan has seen decreases in population over the last several years, thus the total tax credits awarded has dropped as well. To make Michigan more appealing to developers and investors, the MSHDA overhauled their previous framework for awarding tax credits. In order to receive tax credits, developers must compete and they are scored on a variety of factors. If they are awarded tax credits, they can then sell them to investors and raise money to build more affordable housing.

The major changes to the plan are intended to promote community renewal in urban and rural areas with considerations for accessible transportation and other placemaking amenities. A few other changes included community support, cost containment and permanent supportive housing category modifications.

You can learn more about the specific changes at the Michigan State Housing Development Authority Website.

If you live in the Lansing or East Lansing areas in Michigan and are thinking about buying or selling a home, please contact me at MyRealtorRob. As an East Lansing realtor, I can provide you with a free market analysis, help you get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan and answer questions about life in the Lansing area.

Many Young People Not Buying Homes

Once upon a time you went to school, started a career, got married and bought a house. It was sort of like a template for life in the United States and a lot of young people strove to achieve each of those milestones. Today, the template and, more so, the grid that we lay it upon has changed dramatically. Recessions and bursting housing bubbles, struggling economies and overwhelming student debt are only a few of the major transitions that America has seen in the last decade. These changes have a variety of ripple effects on people's lives and one effect is that fewer young people are purchasing homes.

According to a February 2012 article in The Atlantic, half as many young people were getting mortgages between 2009 and 2011 compared to ten years earlier.  The article cites a range of reasons for fewer young homeowners including higher student debts, fewer marriages, decreased earnings and a recognition that many people lost big time investing in real estate. It's no wonder that these factors influence entire generations who might otherwise have walked the path of home ownership like their parents before them and their parents before them.

One young person who wrote into The Atlantic stating their reason for not purchasing a home said, "My generation wants more freedom to travel, to see and live in new places and to experience new cultures. In general, buying a home can seem like a rejection of freedom, and anytime one of my friends gets a home, I just can't help but think how restricted they now are, whether that's true or not." This implies a shift of priorities for younger generations, perhaps moving away from security and towards excitement.

Another respondent said, "I wish I had bought straight out of college. (...) Home ownership is a big commitment, but in my opinion renting is financial suicide." In this person's case, buying made more sense, especially after they spent years paying rent and still had no place to live unless they continued to shell out the monthly payment.

Ultimately buying a home, like most things, boils down to personal situation and preference. A young, single person loaded with student debt who likes flexibility may hate home ownership. On the other hand, young people who have graduated, found a good job and intend to stay put for a while could benefit from purchasing a home and building equity rather than giving their hard earned money to a landlord each month.

If you're considering buying or selling real estate in the East Lansing area, please get in touch with me at MyRealtorRob. With Michigan State University as something of a hub in our community, we have a lot of students and student families who like to purchase while they attend school. If that sounds like you and you would like to learn about the affordable East Lansing housing in the area, send me an email.

Save Money with Home Maintenance

It's easy to overlook home maintenance. After all, most of us subscribe to the old adage "if it isn't broke - don't fix it." Unfortunately, your home doesn't exist in a glass bubble. Instead it is exposed to you and your family, climate conditions, outdoor vegetation, pets and a variety of other elements that cause areas to slowly degrade. You can skip the maintenance, but at some point you will be faced with a hefty repair bill that could have been avoided with some basic maintenance steps.

Avoid Roof Repairs: Roofs are a costly expense, but you can minimize the likelihood that your roof will spring a leak or need to be replaced in the near future.

• Clear Debris: Clean all debris off your roof including leaves, branches and anything else that lands up there. Debris can hold water, which quickens roof deterioration
• Get Rid of Algae: If algae or moss is growing on your roof, clean it off and consider applying zinc control along shingle ridges.
• Ventilate Your Attic: Adding ventilation to your attic helps preserve the roof by reducing the temperature beneath the roof. You can hire a contractor to add vents to your attic or, if you're handy, it can be a weekend project that you do yourself.

Make Your Lawn a Priority: Many homeowners consider mowing their lawn to be the only necessary maintenance; however, neglecting your grass can lead to problems down the road.

• Mow Your Grass Higher: Its tempting to go for the close shave when you mow your lawn, but slightly longer grass reduces water loss, prevents more weeds from growing and strengthens the roots of your grass.
• Skip Fertilizer When it's Hot: Avoid using lawn fertilizer in the summer because grass is already taxed merely trying to survive in the heat. Fertilizer can have damaging effects when your lawn is too weak to handle new growth.

Clean Filters: Filters in your furnace and air conditioner need to be kept clean, otherwise you may find yourself roasting the summer and freezing in the winter.

• Change AC Filters: Change the filter in your air conditioner before summer begins and you start using it. Also make sure to change it once every few months while it is in use. Ensure that the exterior of the unit is clean of shrubs, mildew and dirt as well.

Basic home maintenance can save you thousands of dollars every year.

If you're in the East Lansing or Greater Lansing areas of Michigan and are thinking about buying or selling your home, please contact me at MyRealtorRob.

Homeowners Weary of Mortgage Help

The sheer number of homeowners who faced foreclosure in recent years caused a myriad of federal and state housing programs, designed to assist individuals in avoiding foreclosure, to pop up everywhere. With these legitimate programs came a range of less than ethical opportunists who offered similar programs, which in some cases turned out to be expensive scams that did little to assist the homeowner in anything except going further into debt. A recent article on AOL Real Estate cited an example of a homeowner who waited nearly six years, struggling beneath an unaffordable rising interest rate, before he sought help through the government subsidized housing counselling organization called the NeighborWorks Home Ownership Center. His reason for waiting so long to seek help? He feared that most of the programs were scams.

A survey by Money Management International, a financial counseling organization approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, found that 53% of the homeowners who responded described fears of fraudulent services and scams as the number one reason that they did not seek help from housing counselling programs. It is important for individuals to make educated choices when it comes to housing assistance, but too much caution has led many homeowners to experience foreclosure rather than seek help. A study conducted by HUD found that 70% of homeowners who used housing counselling found a mortgage remedy while another study conducted by the Urban Institute found that individuals who used HUD backed counselling programs were 89% more likely to receive a loan modification.

At the state and federal level, there are a variety of programs that homeowners can consider if they're facing the possibility of foreclosure. It's important that people overcome their fears and seek assistance before their ultimate fear becomes a reality and they lose their home. Visit the Federal Reserve Website to find mortgage and foreclosure resources.

If you're buying or selling a home in the East Lansing or Greater Lansing areas of Michigan, please visit my website at MyRealtorRob. As an East Lansing realtor, I can assist you in the purchase or sale of your home and finding local resources for financing and foreclosure assistance.

New Program for Struggling Michigan Homeowners

Michigan has been, by far, one of the hardest hit states during the housing crisis of the past several years. Rampant foreclosures left many Michigan residents scrambling to find housing amid an economy thin on jobs and heavy on unemployment. To combat these financial obstacles, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) began offering a variety of programs to assist homeowners who were struggling with their mortgages for a variety of reasons from unemployment to overwhelming medical bills. On July 9th, Gary Heidel, executive director of the MSHDA, announced a new Modification Program to help underemployed homeowners in addition to revisions made to the Michigan's Hardest Hit Funds programs.

The new Modification Plan is designed to help homeowners who are struggling with their monthly payments. The maximum reservation for the program is $20,000 and the funds go to the lender for the delinquent amount so that the lender can modify the mortgage and reduce the owner's monthly payments. Homeowners who have a delinquent second mortgage can also take advantage of the program if their first mortgage is current.

In addition to the new Modification Program, Michigan residents have access to several other plans designed to help homeowners prevent foreclosure. These include the Unemployment Mortgage Subsidiary Program, the Mortgage Loan Rescue Program and the Principal Curtailment Program.

The Unemployment Mortgage Subsidiary Program: This plan makes payments directly to the lender in upwards of $1,000 or 50% of the owner's monthly payments for a period of 12 months.

Mortgage Loan Rescue Program: Designed to assist homeowners who are delinquent on their mortgage, this program pays funds directly to the lender to help the homeowner avoid foreclosure. The maximum allowance has recently been increased to $20,000.

Principal Curtailment Program: This program assists homeowners who have a mortgage principal that is higher than the home is worth and are also struggling to make their monthly payments. Homeowners can qualify for up to $10,000 in assistance, which is paid directly to the lender, but the lender must match the total assistance amount and reduce the principal accordingly. The total reduction helps the owner with more manageable payments while also decreasing the total amount owed on their home.

You can learn more about Michigan's variety of homeowner assistance programs at the MSHDA website. If you're buying or selling a home in the East Lansing or Greater Lansing areas of Michigan, please contact me at MyRealtorRob. In addition to providing a free market analysis, I can assist you in securing financing and finding the best loan option for your current needs.

Home Buying: Finding Your Dream Neighborhood

The home of your dreams often has a lot less to do with the size of the master bath than, say, the area that it's located in, the schools nearby and the community that the home is a part of. People often forget when shopping for their future home that much of their life will be lived outside of those neatly painted walls. When it comes to choosing the perfect home, it's usually more important to take a close look at the world surrounding the home including nearby parks, stores, neighbors and schools.

Neighborhood Considerations

• Quality of Schools: You can consider a variety of factors here including the school's location, average test scores, college-bound percentages and spending per student. Gather information about the subjects studied, the teachers' backgrounds and the quality of the school lunches. Check the area to see if alternative school options such as Montessori are available if you prefer to offer your children a more creative environment.
• Education and Income Profile: Consider the household income, education level, occupation and family type of a given neighborhood. You can find some of this information on The U.S. Census Bureau Fact Finder Website. You can also ask people living in the neighborhood and your realtor. If you're single and not intending to have kids, a family oriented community with playgrounds is probably not your best bet. On the other hand, families might do well to avoid communities where a lot of people rent or groups of students live.
• Amenities: This can include a whole range of options from museums to bakeries. Spending Sunday mornings walking two blocks to buy homemade donuts and coffee can be the makings of a dream home so consider what you really love to experience and choose a neighborhood that makes this a possibility.

If you're thinking of purchasing a home in the East Lansing or Lansing areas of Michigan and would like to learn about the right neighborhood for you, please contact me through my website at MyRealtorRob. As an East Lansing Realtor and resident, I can point out popular communities, desirable area amenities and homes that are in your price range that also fit your neighborhood profile.

Housing Permit Requests Rise

Recognizing a recovering housing market involves looking beyond how many houses are selling and what their selling for. Many other factors help determine whether the housing slump is truly coming to an end and one such factor is housing permits. If builders are applying for more housing permits, they are intending to build more houses, which imply willing buyers with the financing to back their future homes.

According to a recent article on CNNMoney, builders applied for permits in May 2012 at the highest rate since September of 2008. This coincides with a National Association of Home Builders survey, which recently found that builder confidence was at its highest since 2007. Though permits have risen, the number of new house starts has not yet grown to match the increasing permits. In fact, housing starts declined 4.8% in May compared to April; however, the increasing permit requests still bode well for the future of the housing industry.

One of the perks to new home building is that it can have a stimulating affect on the local economy and create new jobs. For the building process alone, most homes will employ an architect, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters and laborers. According to the National Association of Home Builders, building a new home creates three new jobs and the impact on the local economy for 100 newly built homes includes a generation of $21.1 million in local income, $2.2 million in taxes and local government revenue and 324 local jobs. For many people still struggling in depressed areas, new homes are symbols of hope.

If you're thinking of buying or selling a home in the East Lansing area, please get in touch me at MyRealtorRob. As an East Lansing realtor I can help you find the home of your dreams and even connect with you with a great local builder if you prefer to be there from the ground up.

Home Seller's Showing Checklist

If you're ready to sell your home, it's important to make a great first impression, which means stellar home showings. There are a lot of tips that your friends, realtor and others will offer you in the realm of home showings including everything from buying fresh flowers to painting in netural colors. Consult the comprehensive checklist below to make sure that you cover the basics when it's time to show your home.

Outdoors

• Lawns and shrubs trimmed
• Lawns and shrubs watered
• Walkways and driveway cleared
• Hoses neatly coiled
• Bikes and cars in garage or shed
• Mailbox in good shape

Home Exterior

• Roof clean and in good shape
• Steps and patios clear and clean
• Windows caulked and clean
• Yard clear of toys, tools and equipment
• Gutters clean

Garage

• Floor is swept and possibly painted
• Garage is organized
• Cobwebs and dirt cleaned
• No clutter

Home Interior

• Floors and carpets clean
• Pets not in view
• All furnishings clean and dusted
• Beds made
• Dishes put away, counters clean, appliances wiped down
• Bathroom well aired and clean
• Sinks and bowls shining

Plumbing/HV AC

• Leaky fixtures repaired
• Under sink clean and dry
• Clutter removed
• Stains scrubbed away

Electrical

• Burned out bulbs replaced
• No frayed wires
• Makeshift extension cords removed
• Outlet plates clean and intact

Decor

• Walls clean and painted if necessary
• Ceilings and ceiling fans cleaned
• Pictures straight
• Blinds clean and orderly
• Fireplace clean and ash free

Final Touches

• No loud noises - TV etc
• Smells fresh, consider air freshener, but not too strong
• Netural temperature, maybe open windows for fresh air
• Well lit

Basement

• Clean and organized
• Laundry area clean, no dirty laundry

If you're selling a home in the East Lansing or Greater Lansing areas and would like more tips on presenting your home in the best possible way, please contact me at MyRealtorRob. As an East Lansing realtor, I can help prepare your home for showings in addition to offering you a free makret analysis.